Peter P. Idsvoog was born in Valestrand, Norway, on August 6, 1860, to Peter and Selie Idsvoog. He was confirmed at his home in Norway in 1874 and thereafter left to be employed on sea vessels, coming to America in 1883. He continued his sea life along the Atlantic Coast. A year later he came to Deerfield, Wisconsin, and spent two years there before coming to Griggs County. He began to farm in 1887, and in December of that year, he was married to a widow, Mrs. Peter Mathison, whose maiden name had been Christine Pederson Romness. Three boys were born to this union, Oscar, Arthur, and a boy who died in infancy.
Peter P. Idsvoog, while living in Romness Township, had a lively time with a runaway fire in April 1900. He started to burn some stubble and a brisk wind came up and forced the fire back toward him. Peter had to jump into the river to save his life, and when he got home he looked like a drowned rat.
In 1904 the family moved to Cooperstown and lived there a few years before moving to Binford, where he operated a mercantile store with the help of his sons, Oscar and Arthur.
Mrs. Idsvoog was born in Telemarken, Norway, March 6, 1858. At the age of two years she came to America with her parents and settled in Rushford, Minnesota. In 1880, she was united in marriage to Peter Mathison, who was a government surveyor. They came to Dakota Territory that same year in the company of Mr. and Mrs. John Hogenson and their children Hellene and Edward. The first winter they lived with Hogensons in a 14x16-foot log cabin. On May 17, 1881, their son Elmer Mathison was born.
Later Peter and Christine settled on their own farm, in what is now Romness Township. When the first post-office was set up after the petition of the people, Peter Mathison was appointed postmaster with his wife as assistant.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 396