Paul Overby

In January of 1908 Paul Overby made a trip to Northfield, Minnesota, its purpose unknown to the family.  On the 25th of January that year he was joined in wedlock to Sophia Jorgine Haugen, daughter of Gilbert Nelson Haugen and Ingeborg Isabel Estrem.  On returning to Binford on a cold winter day he met his brother Hans on the street and asked him to take his horse and wagon and go pick up his wife at the store.  Hans didn't believe he was married and neither did anyone else in town that day.

That winter Paul and Sophia lived with his parents and in the spring they moved to Andrew H. 's quarter of Section 12.  Then after crops were in that spring they dug a basement in the middle of the flax field on the NW quarter of Section 11.  A Mr. Nordstrom was hired to build their frame house.  He made it four feet longer than the foundation as he said it made for better rooms.  The cost of that house was about $2, 000.00.  It wasn't until about 1940 that the bedroom to the west of the house was added.  Then in 1909 the old barn that Andrew H. had gotten from Andrew Thorne was moved again and put on Paul's farm.  Paul raised the roof about four feet to make a haymow.  In 1909 they dug the well.  It was dug by a machine powered by horses going around and around.  Then they went over by Jessie, dug small trees, and planted them north of the house.  A little later they ordered box elders and finished their planting.

Paul and Sophia had ten children.  Twins, Hans and Clara were born October 7, 1908, and died about the age of two weeks.  Inga, born in 1909 became Mrs. Leon Willett, Emma, born in 1911 (Mrs. Paul Baker)

Andrew born in 1913

twins, Clarence Herman (killed in World War II) and Clara Hermina born November 8, 1916

Byron Gilbert born in 1919

Roy Palmer, in 1922 and a baby girl who died at birth.  Cleon Moe born in 1934 was adopted by Paul and Sophie.  His mother, Paul's sister Mattie, died shortly after Cleon's birth.

Even as late as 1928 when their last baby was born and died, everything was taken care of at home.  The morning the baby was born Paul awoke all the children much earlier than usual and they were all instructed to go to work in the potato field.  Paul then went and got Martha (Mrs. Nels Overby) who at that time lived where the Johnny Overby farm is now located.  She came over and delivered the baby girl who died at birth.  Had there been medical facilities available and used it is very likely that the baby could have been saved.  After the baby was born the children were called back to the house.  They all watched while Martha bathed and dressed their dead little sister.  Paul made a little wooden coffin and Martha lined it with pink fabric and placed the baby in it.

Paul and Sophie lived to enjoy 64 years of married life together and nearly all of that time was spent in the same house they built the first year they were married.  Sophia Overby died on April 30, 1972, and Paul on

December 28, 1972.  They are buried at the Binford cemetery.  They were a wonderful couple and their children and grandchildren have some very special and cherished memories of them to carry with us.

Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976  page 250