John O. Goplen was born March 28, 1873, in Nord Torpa, Norway, and at the age of 20, came to Richland County, Wisconsin. He worked on farms there and in North Dakota before beginning to farm in Greenfield Township in 1902, together with his twin brother, Gilbert. In 1906, John moved to the former Martin Mossing farm in Section 22, Greenfield Township, where he continued to live throughout his lifetime. Gilbert and his wife moved back to Wisconsin.
John married Anne Odegaard in 1911. She was born in Nord Torpa, Norway, also on April 8, 1889, and came to the United States in 1909. They had three sons: Orville, Carl and Gilman. John died April 10, 1958, and Anne on December 20, 1976.
Orville Goplen, born February 1, 1912, married Esther Nelson in 1943, and she died in 1975. He is a retired United States Information Agency officer and lives in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Their twin sons, John and Richard, also live in Florida. In 1977, Orville married Mary Bach.
Source: Hannaford Area History North Dakota Centennial 1889 - 1989 Page 122