Fingar Larson of Raaen married Kari Erickson of Updahl, Numedal, Norway. In 1881 they came to Hill City, Dakota Territory, now known as Hillsboro, North Dakota He worked on a farm for $8.00 a month.
In the summer of 1882, he walked to Nelson County carrying a scythe to put up hay for the winter. In the fall they bought a team of oxen, a covered wagon, and a few things they would need and moved to their preemption in Nelson County, Section 33. It was October, and the day after they arrived there was a snowstorm.
Mrs. Larson did not feel safe in the covered wagon, so they tipped the box over and lived under it until they got the sod shanty built. Frost was on the ground each morning. They had one girl, Gurina, 10 months old.
They bought a cow that was to have a calf in 2 months, but this blessed event failed to occur. So milk was bought from a neighbor and carried home. It was so cold that it froze and busted the jug. They later remedied that by freezing it first in a container, then carrying it home to thaw.
In 1884 they moved one mile east to Section 5 in Pilot Mound Township in Griggs Company, where he had a homestead and built a log cabin. The Severson Brothers helped him build, this being heavy work. He later built onto the house and built a barn. Two barns were lost in prairie fires.
Potatoes and milk was the main diet through the first tough years. Ten years passed before they had a fair crop. In 1888 the crop froze in August, in spite of smudges burnt from flax straw.
Mr. Larson hauled grain to Cooperstown. The 20-mile trip took all day. He also drove to Larimore for supplies.
They walked 5 miles for the mail to Lee post office by the Sheyenne River after it was established.
In 1927 Mr. Larson bought the first combine used in eastern North Dakota from his son Martin, who sold them in western North Dakota Neighbors laughed, thought it would never work. The elevators were also disbelieving at first, but found out that not one bushel was lost from spoilage. The combine was shipped to Cooperstown. Ingvald and Clarence went to bring it home. A farmer saw it coming down the road, came out and asked what it was. After telling him, he shook his head and said it would never work.
The Larsons were members of the West Prairie Lutheran Church until 1900 when the Norway Lutheran Church was organized.
The family had 14 children. Mr. Larson died in 1928 at the age of 68. Mrs. Larson died in 1959 at the age of 98 years, 10 months. She spent her last years with sons and daughters.
Clarence, the youngest son, spent all his life on the farm. He purchased the estate and married Hazel Koloen of Binford, North Dakota on June 9, 1931. They have one daughter, Betty who is married to Osborne Brekken of Pekin, North Dakota They have three children, Rodney, Patti and Janet.
Clarence retired from farming in 1972.
On June 24, 1972 Rodney Brekken married Jane Henningsgard of Tolna, North Dakota They came in 1973 to rent the farm. On August 4, 1974 Kristopher Allen Brekken was born.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 374