Ole Knutson, son of Reinhart and Ingeborg Knutson, was born in Egersund, Norway on May 12, 1887. He came to the United States in 1905, at the age of 18. After arrival in North Dakota, he worked or his brother, "Tom" Knutson, on his farm in the Binford area where he met and married Caroline Thune, daughter of Ole and Karri Thune of Norway. They were married September 9, 1911. ''Lena" Thune was born in Binford, North Dakota, on February 2, 1892.
Ole and Lena farmed west of Binford until 1932. In 1939, they settled in Greenfield Township north, of Hannaford. Mrs. Knutson passed away on January 2, 1971, at the age of 79. Mr. Knutson passed away on October 6, 1981, at the age of 94. He had spent some winters in California with his son and daughter. After leaving the farm, he lived in an apartment in Cooperstown until ill health forced him to enter a nursing home in Cooperstown for about one year.
Of their 13 children, two died in infancy; Rueben in 1921, and Eunice in 1928. Irene died at four years of age from scarlet fever in 1927, and Clayton was killed in a car accident in 1946, at 24 years of age. He served in the Army in Germany during World War II. He had returned home shortly before his accident.
The remaining children are:
Conrad Knutson, born at Binford, North Dakota, and attended school at Binford. He served in the CCC Camp and in the United States Army in World War II as a Military Police. He married Faye Nielson at Moorhead, Minnesota. They had four children: Jerry, deceased; Judy and Jeannie, twins; and Gregory, all at Pennsylvania. Conrad was employed at the steel mills at Aliqquipa, Pennsylvania, until his retirement.
Ruth Knutson, born at Binford, North Dakota. She married Alvin Ramsey of Binford, North Dakota, and they are now living on a farm west of Hannaford, North Dakota. They had seven children: Orville, Delores, Arlene, Sharon, Dennis, Peggy and Steven.
Mildred Knutson, born at Binford, North Dakota. She married Charles Hetland of Hannaford, North Dakota, where they made their home for 48 years and then retired to Valley City, North Dakota. They had three sons: Charles, Jr., David and Allen.
Thelma Knutson, born at Binford, North Dakota. She married Albert S. Erlandson of Norway. They had three sons: Wayne, Terry and Peter, who was deceased in 1976, from cancer. All live in Stockton, California
Hillard Knutson, born at Binford, North Dakota, and graduated from Hannaford High School, North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota, and the University of Colorado. Hillard holds a Masters Degree in Social Service Work and is employed at several schools in Sioux City, Iowa. He served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. He married Ann Schwarz of Sauk City, Wisconsin. They had two children, Jason, 19; and Amy, 17. Ann also has a Masters Degree in Social Service and is employed as a marriage counselor in Sioux City.
Melvin Knutson, born at Binford, North Dakota, and attended Hannaford schools. He volunteered for the United States Navy at the age of 17, and served faithfully for 20 years. He holds a record of never being tardy or absent while in the Navy and received several decorations while in active duty in World War II. Since his honorable discharge, he has been employed at Honeywell International of Los Angeles, California. He holds a record there of never being absent or tardy in the 28 years and eight months of employment. He received a medal for his loyalty and achievements at Honeywell International from the astronaut from Hawaii just one week before he lost his life in the shuttle explosion. Melvin will retire April 28, 1989. Melvin married Constance Fulmer of Conneaut, Ohio. They had four children: Saundra, a registered nurse, married and has two sons, Gene, who is employed as a certified public accountant; Dean and Allen, employed in the Los Angeles area.
Elna Knutson, born at Binford, North Dakota. She married Floyd Olson of Cooperstown, North Dakota. They had four children: Jerry, Cynthia, Karen and Kimberly.
Robert Knutson, born at Binford, North Dakota, and graduated from Hannaford High School and attended Valley City State College. He taught school, worked on the railroad for a time, and is presently employed with the telephone company at Minot, North Dakota. He married Marie Monson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Laurence Monson of Cooperstown. They had five children: Paul, Barbara, Ruth, Dale and Kathryn. Robert served in the United States Army.
Gordon Knutson, born at Cooperstown, North Dakota, and graduated from Hannaford High School. He married Rebecca Monson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Laurence Monson of Cooperstown. They had three children: Vicki, employed at First State Bank of Cooperstown; Terry, married and living in Minnesota (teacher); Traci, first year student at NDSU in Fargo, North Dakota. Rebecca is employed at City Hall in Cooperstown. Gordon is manager of the Oasis at Cooperstown, North Dakota. Gordon served in the United States Army.
Severe heat and drought in the late '20s and '30s was the cause of several farmers having to move off their farms, especially those who had built up farmsteads and owned their own land, which was the case of my parents. It is a very difficult time in one's life to move off a farm built up that should have been a dream of a lifetime. So vividly, as if today, I remember when the day came to move out. That day the house was cleaned after the furniture was moved, floors were swept and mopped for the move down the road to a not so nice house three miles from our home. Our parents drove the Model T with the younger children and the boys herded the cattle to their new home. My sisters and I walked sadly away from our beautiful home carrying the brooms and mops with us. We were accompanied by some of our neighborhood girl friends who felt equally as badly as from then on it was a constant move until 1939, when my parents purchased a small farm northwest of Hannaford. This became home, small but well kept.
Mother and Dad worked in the school cafeteria and spent some winters in California with two of their children. Mother also cooked in the Walum Cafe. They adjusted to their new home and loved the Hannaford community that was home to them now.
My parents saw all of their sons leave for the service, the Army or Navy. They all came home safely only to have my brother, Clayton, killed in a car accident shortly after he returned home.
Those were trying times; mother was a strong person and I often wondered how she kept her sanity with so much sadness in her life. I can still visualize the day we came home from my three-year-old sister's, funeral. Feeling better being outside, we all worked together cleaning the garden. Suddenly the sky clouded up and became dark leaving no doubt but a storm was brewing to add to our sorrows. Hail completely destroyed the crops. No harvest for us and no hail insurance.
In the year 1927, our entire family was critically ill with scarlet fever. We were all vaccinated but everyone in the household got the disease. We were quarantined which was in effect until everyone was well. We could not sell any produce for fear of it being contaminated. Who ever got to feeling better would take care of the chores. Calves, pigs and chickens got the milk. Neighbors would bring food and leave it half way up the driveway for us to pick up. Everyone was afraid of catching it. We were fortunate to have Uncle Knute Thune and Aunt Annie. They would bring us groceries and talk to us through an open window. This way we had help in supplying medical needs, etc.
It was a sad morning when my three-year-old sister died from scarlet fever. She had been very ill that morning. She opened her eyes and recognized us. Mother asked if she would like some breakfast and she nodded her head. Mother went to prepare her some food and when she came back to the bed, she was dead. She was such a fun loving little girl. To see her so sick and not being able to do anything to help stayed with us forever. Mother and Dad had to prepare her for the casket brought into our porch by Uncle Knute and Paul Vangen. They took the body to the cemetery and the funeral was held without the family. We missed weeks of school as we had to fumigate the entire house with formaldehyde and we couldn't be in the house when this was being done. We had to camp out in a granary for a few days - at least we finally got out of the house so it didn't seem so bad.
Then I remember the evening mother and I were doing chores. My older sister and younger sister were to prepare the evening meal. As I looked out from the barn door, I screamed to my mother that my sister was on fire. She came running to the barn and mother told her to lie down and roll; when she did, the fire went out but there was a very serious burn on her back. As my younger sister was putting into the gas stove, the can caught fire. She ran for the door and my older sister ran in front of her causing her clothes to catch fire. My younger sister had severe burns on her hand and had dropped the can in the house which could have caused the house to burn.
My older sister was bed ridden for several months and missed a year of school. Mother did a beautiful job of caring for her dressing on the burn everyday. My sister suffered much pain and has the scars to prove it.
Mother worked hard, helping in the fields and stacking hay. Many a night we would wake up to the hum of the sewing machine. She would be sewing dresses for us girls for some special occasion. She was always there for us at night when we had earaches, toothaches, etc. Her home remedies always seemed to relieve us. She never complained no matter how much her sleep was interrupted.
Another tragedy was when we had to do away with our best work horse. Dad was coming from town one evening when it was getting dark. A car came along without lights and drove into the horses and one's leg was broken. We all felt badly as this horse had been so special to the family.
There were certainly other instances of bad luck, but we did have good times, too. Lots of picnics, sociable neighbors and a mother who was always there for you, fun loving and kind. Gypsies were frequent visitors and our mother always gave them food. We kids were not really comfortable around them for fear of them grabbing one of us.
Then there were other peddlers coming often to the country, selling woolen clothing and magazines. They would accept old batteries and chickens instead of money and would throw in a premium of kettles and roasters, all of good quality tin. Often wondered how they made a profit but they were always invited to eat a meal with us.
Source: Hannaford Area History North Dakota Centennial 1889 - 1989 Page 185