Christ N. Gronneberg was born August 24, 1883 at Larvik, Norway. He came to America in 1900 and became a farm hand at Kenyon, Minnesota.
After four years of saving his money, he was ready to try his wings. He took off for Divide County and homesteaded a quarter Section of land near Crosby. After breaking and tilling this land for three dry years, he had produced 16 bushels of flax in a slough. With these results, Christ left his homestead and his Minnesota nest egg there and ventured to Hannaford, North Dakota to again be employed as a farm hand.
He met and became acquainted with Inga Bjornseth born September 1, 1890 at Bottineau, North Dakota. They were married December 20, 1911. After a honeymoon trip on the train from Bottineau to Walum, they made their first home on a rented farm Southeast of town. The following October, Arnold came to make his home with them. Christ, Inga and their son lived in that first home until 1914, when they rented the Furas farm three miles Southwest of Hannaford, moving in there on Thanksgiving day. That fall Inga looked forward to the arrival of a girl, but it was Clarence who made his appearance on December 29! Arnold and Clarence were baptized in the Walum church. After approximately three months the landlord sold the farm. Christ then decided that renting was no good, so he bought a quarter Section joining Knute Thompson to the East, moving into the Eidfjord neighborhood in April 1915
Dover Township.
Clifford joined the happy family on November 9, 1917.
In 1919 Christ realized that the horse and buggy days were gone so he purchased his first Ford. Owning such a fine, fast vehicle they decided to take a trip to Bottineau to visit Inga's family and old friends.
They dressed and fed the boys, packed a lunch, and started out in their new car. Zigzagging along the prairie trails northwesterly, reaching their destination after two full days.
In 1920 and 1922 two more husky farmers joined the family, Elmer and Milford, respectively. The dry years came, and having a good sized family to provide for made it necessary for Christ to look for a larger farm. He sold the quarter and rented the Widje farm near Revere, moving in there in 1923. Arthur was born in this home. Clifford, Elmer, Milford and Arthur all were baptized in Eidfjord Lutheran Church.
In 1929 Christ saw the opportunity for a change for the better and purchased the Urquhart farm, two miles West and half a mile South of Revere. This came to be the real "Gronneberg Home." Sadness came to this home in 1934 when little Arthur was suddenly taken away at the age of ten.
Arnold and Clarence were confirmed in the Mabel Lutheran church of Sutton since Eidfjord did not have a pastor at that time. Clifford, Elmer, and Milford were confirmed in Eidfjord. Clifford served as Chaplain in the Navy in the Pacific theatre and Elmer served in the European theatre during World War II. Clifford went into the ministry, while Arnold, Clarence, Elmer and Milford chose farming. Christ served as County Commissioner for several years while they lived here.
Christ and Inga celebrated their Golden Anniversary in 1961. One year after their golden anniversary, the family was saddened by the sudden death of wife and mother. Inga passed away July 11, 1962. Father passed away on May 22, 1969.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 358