Hans Solfield was born in Helgeland, Norway on June 14, 1851. He married Helmine Sophie Stenerson, (1866-1935), in Norway, while there he made his living being a fisherman. Their three eldest children were born in Norway.
He came to the Lake Park, Minnesota area in 1893, but the family followed later. At first he worked on a farm, later rented and then bought one, which he sold in 1912.
In 1912, they came to Cooperstown, where he did odd jobs and cabinet making.
About 1918, he bought 160 acres along the Sheyenne River in Washburn Township (location, SW quarter of Section 14). The barn and house were connected together as one building. Early that spring the house and barn burned down. The rest of the family was still living in Cooperstown at the time of the fire. Some of the boys went to check how their father was making out and found him sleeping in a piano box. The pioneers were a hardy group.
A two-room house and a barn were then built.
The following children were born to Hans and Helmine Solfield:
Olaf, Catherine, Alfred, Herman and Barney - deceased
Axel, who lives in Minneapolis and has four children.
Elaine, who lives in Chicago.
Harry, who lives in Cooperstown. He married Lydia Hannu of Finlayson, Minnesota. They have two daughters:
Mrs. Edgar (Bernice) John and Mrs. Allan (Kathryn) Larson who attended schools in Griggs County.
Herman, (1903-1969), married Thelma Eide (19071960) and lived in Washburn Township on SW quarter of Section 14 and later bought Section 16 and lived there about 22 years. Their children were:
Bernard - deceased
Janice - living in Cooperstown
Mrs. Leon (Carol) Roesler of Leonard, North Dakota
and Mrs. James (Dorothy) Lura - Cooperstown.
James and Dorothy Lura are now living on Section 16 of Washburn Township and have four children:
Denise of Fargo, Janel, Sandra, and Mark at home.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 490