As a young man Laures McCallsen came from Lansboro, Minnesota, to work in his uncle Thinglestod's Hardware Store at Binford, North Dakota for a while. In 1905, he came to Hannaford, North Dakota and found employment as a clerk at the Claus Jackson Store.
Laures father Conrad McCallsen and his mother Johanna, came from Hardingar, Norway. They settled around Lansboro, Minnesota on a homestead of 80 acres of land. Conrad was a Methodist minister and preached throughout the area in the pioneer homes. The offering usually consisted of pennies from the families.
Conrad and Johanna had eight children and both parents passed away young. The oldest boy, Albert, continued the farm and the oldest girl, Amelia, took care of the children and house. They kept the children together.
Ida Efteland came from Shelly, Minnesota in 1905 as a young lady seeking work. Some of her friends from Shelly had come to Hannaford a few years before. Ida found employment as a waitress at the Nording and Alm Hotel. Ida's parents were born in Norway. Her father Enock Efteland was born in Helleland, Norway. He came by ship to Canada, and then went to Coon Prairie, Wisconsin, where he spent three years doing various jobs. He came to Norman County, Minnesota, where Shelly is now, and took a homestead of 160 acres. A part of his home became a part of the townsite of Shelly. He acquired and farmed 320 acres or more of land.
When Ida and Laures McCallsen were married in 1906, they lived upstairs in the house now owned by Oscar Ashland, the former Omen Westley house, and Rasmuss Olson and his wife lived downstairs. Mr. Olson was a blacksmith.
Laures worked at the store for about a year, than he changed jobs, and sold Dr. Wards Medicine in a medicine wagon around the country.
In 1909, he built a house, which is owned by his son LeRoy and wife Mae. The same year he became a rural mail carrier, a position he held for 34 years. The pay was only $60.00 a month. He had miles for the mail route. His slogan was, "the mail had to be delivered, rain or shine, even in snow storms in the coldest weather". He had an open cutter in winter snow and his only heat was a foot warmer, good horsehide robes, and good warm mittens. He drove his 32 miles a day. In the winter, when he had gone half the route, he stopped to feed the mules and had a hot dinner. There were so many kind patrons on his route. Some of the older women knitted wool wristlets, and mittens, which helped to keep him, warm during the winter months. I remember a couple names
Hetlands, Swensen, and many more that Dad said were so kind to him.
When I was a child, I remember Dad coming home in the dark in the winter. He was chilled to the bone on the cold days. Then he had to put the mules in the bam and hurry to the post-office with the mailbag. When he came home supper was ready, and then he had the chores to do. When son LeRoy got older, he always did the chores for his Dad, and so did Raymond when he got older. The mules had to be led over to Jackson's well to be watered, which was about a block away.
Dad had to haul mail on Christmas Day in the early years but on Christmas Eve when the children had their program at the Lutheran Church, which was located about a mile from our house. Dad would take mother and all us small children in the cutter to the church program (after he had been on the route all day). He was a very kind Dad. He would then wait until the program was over and come and get us.
Ida and Laures had five children, Claris, married to Bert Kent, in Casselton, North Dakota Then there was Edna who passed away at the age of fifteen years. LeRoy who married Mabelle Cederson, who lives at Hannaford, North Dakota, Mildred who is married to Earl Sager at Anaconda, Montana, and Raymond who lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Ida passed away in 1955, and Laures passed away in 1967.
LeRoy and Mae McCallsen (son of L. A. McCallsen and Mabelle, daughter of Charles and Jennie Cederson) are living in Hannaford. Both were born in Hannaford.
A daughter Judith (Judy), and a son Jerome are the two children. They are both graduates of Hannaford High School.
Judy married Donald Isaacson in 1960, and has twin boys, James and Jeffrey who were born in 1963. Mr. Isaacson is an employee of Bell Telephone.
Jerome graduated from University of Grand Forks and a C. P. A. now employed with Minnesota State Legislature. He resides at St. Paul, Minnesota.
LeRoy, employee of Great Northern Maintenance of Ways at Hannaford for 29 years. He served in the Military Services in World War II.
Mae has been employed throughout the years at Fred Mathisons Hotel, C. M. Jacobson Cafe, Joe Meyers Cafe, operated "Mae's Cafe" for five years, Donald Knauss Mercantile, Don Lende Cafe in Walum, and now in 1975 has been employed for eleven years at the Stri-King Cafe.
The greatest and most welcome surprise in our family was the birth of twin grandsons, James and Jeffrey Isaacson.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 149