Andrew Sonju was born in Dane County Wisconsin, January 2, 1856. After a short duration his parents moved to St. Croix County, Wisconsin near Hammond where he grew to manhood attending grade and Normal school at River Falls. He taught school for a few terms and had the experience of a log roller on the Menomonie River floating logs from the woods to the Saw Mills.
In 1883 he immigrated to Griggs County where he worked in construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad between Hannaford and Cooperstown. He spent the winter in a dug out with a Mr. Fortney located on a hillside of the SW quarter of Section 12 in Bartley Township. The site is still plainly visible. In 1888 on October 29, he filed for Homestead Rights on the SW quarter of Section 10-144-60, acquiring more land as time went by.
Andrew was united in marriage to Omaranda Fosness, November 1903 in St. Paul, Minnesota There were eight children:
Mrs. Sonju passed away in 1918 and Andrew in 1936. They were early members of St. Olaf Church at Walum.
Theodore Sonju married Gerda Martens in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1929 and now lives in Seal Beach, California. They have three children Jon, Marlene and Theodore, Jr.
Alfred Augustine born in 1908 married Eileen Andreas and they had seven children, Margaret, Irene, Andrew, Eleanor, Alfred and Michael, Stephanie. Alfred passed away April 1955.
Amor, Pine River, Wisconsin, was born in 1910 and passed away December 1965. His children are Allen, Eileen, Suzanne, and Lee.
Elswerth born in 1912 was married to Vera Campbell and they had two children, Richard and Sandra. Elswerth died December 1960. A daughter Joan preceded him in death.
Maynard born in 1914 married Jean Ann Chester and they live in Libby, Montana with their children Tammy, Steven, Richard, Joan and Debra.
Eleanor was born in 1916 and died in 1965. Her children are Annah, Patricia, and Karen O'Brien.
Raymond born in 1917 lives in Minneapolis with his wife June. Their children are Craig, Gary, Jean, David and Daniel.
HERBERT was born December 30, 1904 and married January 15, 1948 to Hilda Hoehn of Milwaukee, Wisconsin He attended the Palm and Campbell Schools and was in the first eighth grade class which graduated from the Bartley Consolidated School.
Herb has been engaged in farming since 1931 and has occupied the home farm in Bartley Township since the spring of 1942. He was a breeder of registered Shorthorn cattle for 26 years.
Hilda has baked and decorated wedding and other special occasion cakes since coming to live in Bartley Township.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 230