Jorgen Pederson was born in Horsdal, Gildeskol, Norway. He came to the United States in 1898, as a seaman working aboard ship as a carpenter. In 1899 he married Sina Gilbertson. They bought a farm and farmed five miles north of Binford in Willow Township. Jorgen built the home on the farm and also several homes in the community. They had two children:
Inga Pederson born in 1900 and
Palmer Pederson in 1904. Jorgen passed away the first part of the year of 1912.
John Pederson came to Binford, North Dakota, in April in the year of 1911, from Horsdal, Gildeskol, Norway. He came from Norway to his uncle, Jorgen Pederson. On December 12, 1912 John married Sina Gilbertson Pederson at their home.
Inga Pederson married Reverend John Thompson. To this union were born six children:
Jennings Thompson in Minneapolis,
Bernard Thompson in California,
Norman Thompson and
Eleanor Thompson in Illinois,
Irene Thompson in Florida and
John Thompson Jr. in California.
Inga passed away in 1952.
Palmer married Julia Hoffick of Minneapolis and they had a daughter, Lorraine, born in 1925. He was separated from his wife and some years later married Inga Leean from McHenry, North Dakota They had three children, Clinton, Betty and Doreen. All living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Palmer lived in Minneapolis until his death in 1965. His widow still lives there.
John and Sina lived on the farm until their retirement in 1943, when they bought a home in Binford, North Dakota Lorraine, their granddaughter, lived with them from infancy until she married in 1943.
Sina passed away in March of 1958. On October 10, 1959 John Pederson married Ellen Kristinson from Bodin, Boda, Norway. They lived in Binford until his death in August 1967. His widow lives in Binford.
On July 2, 1943 Melvin I. Olsen and Lorraine Pederson were married. In the fall of that year they moved on the farm. In June 1947 a daughter Joan Marie Olsen was born. In November 1951 a son Barry Olsen and in February 1955 a son Neal Olsen.
Joan Marie Olsen married Allan Richard from Dunseith, North Dakota in 1970 and have made their home there.
In February 1972 Melvin passed away after a short illness. Barry Olsen and Neal Olsen, then only 20 and 17 years old took over the job of farming.
On June 7th, 1975 Barry Olsen married Sandra Zimprich of Aneta, North Dakota They are now living in a mobile home on the farm. Neal and his mother live in the farm home.
After 4 generations the great-grandsons of Jorgen Pederson are farming the same farm, and hoping it will continue on from generation to generation.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 502