By Edgar N. Mickels, Mapes, North Dakota.
Ole and Betsy Mickels were born in Wenneshick County Iowa. Father was born April 1862 and Mother was born May 1869. They were married in March 1893. In March 1893 they moved to North Dakota and purchased the south 1/2 of Section 34 in Lenora Township from G. C. Thomas and Andrew Lyneer. They lived and farmed in Lenora Township until the spring of 1917 when they moved to McVille, North Dakota where they spent the rest of their lives.
Their children were Edgar, Mae, Ruth and Lloyd. Edgar was born August 21, 1894 in Lenora Township. On August 18, 1918 he married Josie Dahl, who was born August 2, 1895 at Michigan, North Dakota
They have four girls and three boys, 17 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Two boys and one girl served in the air force during World War II. One boy served in the Korean War part time in the field artillery and later in the Headquarters Company. Three grandsons were in Vietnam. Edgar served a time in World War I.
Thankfully everyone came back safely.
Mae was born in Lenora Township on June 16, 1896. On March 1920 she married Elmer Gudim at McVille, North Dakota. They live in Pillager, Minnesota. They have one daughter, four grandchildren and one great grandchild. One son passed away in infancy.
Ruth was born in Lenora Township on November 8, 1901. In July 1928 she married Melvin Thorson. They are now semi-retired and live in Oakland, California. They had one boy born in 1929 who passed away in 1973.
Lloyd was born in Lenora Township on December 6, 1905. He worked as auto mechanic in Fargo for several years and also out on the west coast. On June 1935 he married Marie Johnson at Fargo who passed away on January 1963. He is now semi-retired and lives in Oakland, California.
Edgar and Josie celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in August 1968. His brother and sisters were present and all but one of the grandchildren and several of our old neighbors from down in Lenora.
There is always some nostalgia when we think of our years in Lenora and of the happy memories there.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 343