Arndt and Ella Johnson Taxdahl

Upon his return to Griggs County in 1905, Arndt rented the farm where Syvert and Hannah Arneson later made their home.  It was here that Ella Johnson came to keep house for him, and on October 20, 1907 they were married.

Ella, a seamstress from Norway, was the daughter of Isaac and Ingrid Johnson of Cooperstown, North Dakota She was born in Vaage, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway on January 30, 1883 and came to America in 1906 with her parents and three sisters.  The family settled in Cooperstown.  All the daughters worked as "hired girls" until they married.  Ella had one brother, Syvert, who had come to America in 1888 at eight years of age with his grandparents, John I. and Anna Johnson settling with them and his Uncle Andrew Johnson in Riverside Township, Steele County, North Dakota.  She also had a sister who died at fourteen years of age in Norway.

After their marriage, Arndt purchased two quarters of land about seven miles northwest of Hannaford, in Section 13, Helena Township He erected a house and outbuildings and farmed the land until the time of his death in 1927, at which time his wife assumed the responsibility, working the land until 1940, with the aid of her sons.

Arndt Taxdahl died of heart failure on November 7, 1927 at the age of 51.  Mrs. Ella Taxdahl passed away on December 1, 1965, at the age of 82.  They are both buried in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery, southeast of Cooperstown.

Arndt and Ella had eight children:

Hartvick was born in 1908.  He is married to Violet Feske and they reside in Cooperstown.  They have four children, Norma, Milo, John and Joanne.

Eugene (Gene) was born in 1910.  He married Margaret Sorum.  They farmed near Cannon Falls, Minnesota until his death in 1953.  They had three children, Marlys, Donna and Gary.

Elmer was born in 1912.  He married Marie Bickel and they farm near Nerstrand, Minnesota They have two adopted children, Evelyn and John.

Arthur was born in 1913.  He was married to Bernice Feske.  They had three sons, LeRoy, Ronald and Roger.  Arthur Taxdahl died in 1970 at Arlington, Washington.

Myrtle was born in 1917, passed away in 1921.

Olaf born in 1919, passed away at the age of 2 months and 12 days.

Irene was born in 1922, married Bert Westman.  They live in Waseca, Minnesota.  They have two sons, Paul and James.

Archie was born in 1925.  He married Maxine Mueller.  They have four children, Janet, Joyce, Jeffrey and Jon.  They live at Waseca, Minnesota.

Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976  Page 320