These stories can also be heard on Sunday mornings around 10 am on WILD 102’s “Look Back in Time” program. Each week’s radio story will be posted here on our website.
Weekly radio stories are researched, compiled, and read by Sheila Winstead, RCHS Board Member.
January 21, 2024
Olaf Holdahl was a prominent early resident of Roseau County, starting back in the days before it was a
separate county from Kittson. In 1939, starting in the January 26 issue of the Roseau Times-Region, his
autobiography was published in several issues called, “Mile-Stones in My Life’s History (at the Request of a
Friend)”. He had a lot of experiences in common with many of the first settlers of this region. His story starts in
a different part of the world, and I’ll read from the first segment of it today.
Descending from plain folks, I was born in Valdres, the central part of Norway, January 23, 1871, of parents
Tolleif and Ingeborg Holdahl. I was supposed to be named after a relative name Ole, but was christened Olaf.
Being the fourth son in a family of seven boys and six girls, and not having an older sister, I was expected to be
of aid to mother in the dairy and household duties as soon as I became of age and size to become useful. The
older boys were privileged to help father in the more manly duties of caring for the horses, hauling and other
work that was classed as a man’s job.
It was the custom in Norway that anything pertaining to dairying was the work of the women-folks – so, when
I reached the age of thirteen years –that period of unrest in boys – I felt like so many do at that age, that I was
not treated right in being assigned work that belonged to the women. I received many compliments that I was
a good helper, but I also had it thrown up to me that I was a dairyman, and this I very much resented. In order
to reconcile me on this point, father provided me with a turning lathe for my amusement. For this act I was
everlastingly appreciative and it served not only to remove from my mind that I was a mere dairy hand, but
that I was then on my way to learn a trade – one that would be a credit to any man. A tradesman was well
thought of, and it is needless to state that I ground up many pieces of wood on that machine. I made a
number of useful articles that became relics.
In the fall of 1885, it was decided that I was to have the opportunity of more school. What was termed the
common school of those days was religious instruction, and while other subjects had been introduced, the
instruction and effort were very limited. The Amt school, consisting of two instructors and small equipment,
was a portable school that would remain in a community for one or two years after which it would be
transferred to another community which could furnish a suitable building for it. It was to this kind of school
that I was sent. It was held in Vestre Slidre, a neighboring community. I was slow in maturing and what benefit
I received at school was earned by hard work. I did not take an examination, but I have a certificate from the
school stating I had made good progress.
My understanding of life’s problems at this time was limited, but I recall talks about unemployment and hard
times. The future for young folks was anything but bright, and it was no wonder that young folks looked
forward to getting out of the country, for the United States advertised opportunities for emigrants at that
time. I must say that I hardly knew what it meant, but I set my mind on going to the United States of America,
come what may.
This opportunity came early in 1888, when I was sent a prepaid ticket by a relative living in Kansas. To this
destination I was accompanied by a sister, and my brother, Soren, being ticketed to North Dakota,
accompanied us until we took passages on different liners leaving England. My sister and I arrived at Everest,
Kansas, our destination, on May 4, 1888. The greeting I received from the man I was to work for has often
since come to mind. After telling him about another brother coming to America, he gave me such a surprised
look and asked why the older brother could not have come there. He may have been justified in his
disappointment, as my weight at that time was less than one hundred twenty pounds.
The next day I was put to work driving a horse before a corn planter. When it came to doing chores and caring
for cows, I was at home and it did not take long before the farmer expressed himself as being satisfied. I had
learned to be a handy man and that trait took me a long ways.
I received $15.00 per month for six months the first year. The customary hire for any newcomer was $15.00
per month from March 1 st to November 1 st , and the other four months (winter) they generally worked for their
board. The second season I received $18.00 per month for eight months, and all was well, but I had no
opportunity to go anywhere and the craving for learning to converse in the language of the country became so
strong that in 1890 I hired out to an English-speaking farmer. For a short period during the following winter I
attended the country school and received some training that I sadly needed.
At the close of the farming season in 1891, I decided to visit my parents and other members of the family in
Wisconsin. My parents left Norway in the spring of 1889, and after the experience of being shipwrecked,
arrived in Pierce County, Wisconsin, where they later bought a farm and where they resided the remainder of
their days. During my stay in Kansas I had saved all my earnings except for the bare necessities for clothes.
With these savings as reserve I decided to attend the River Falls Normal School. River Falls was about twenty
miles from my parents’ farm. I walked the distance a number of times going home over the weekends.
Being about twenty-one years old when I entered the school, and having instructors of understanding, I
received the first benefit of education in this country. My roommate at the boarding place was a young man of
excellent habits and I benefitted much from his patience with me in conversation.
During the summer that year I was employed on a truck farm, where I received varied experiences. The
following fall I again registered at the River Falls school, but my health failed me to the extent that I chose to
stay at home with my parents for the last half of the winter. In the spring I commenced working with a
carpenter and continued so until the famous depression period of 1893 stopped all activities.
Having observed that opportunities were limited in that section of the country and also having heard about
the great Northwest, I suddenly decided to go out west. I had no idea of my destination. Arriving at Crookston,
I was approached by a farmer and asked if I wanted to work. To this I replied in the affirmative, and I agreed to
go with him to the community of Climax.
After a few weeks work there at $2.00 per day, the harvest and threshing from shocks being done, and they
decided to cut the wages in two, the workers quit so I decided to leave that place and to visit my brother,
Soren, who was located west of Portland, North Dakota. On learning that I was located about twenty miles
from the nearest railroad, and considering the cost of the railroad ticket, I decided to walk across country to
visit him. I walked without stops for rest except camping in some grain shocks by the side of the road a short
period during the night and stopped for breakfast at a hotel in Mayville, North Dakota.
I was invited to dinner with the threshing crew of my brother’s employer, and after visiting a few minutes,
learned that about four miles farther on there was a possibility of work. Starting out walking again, I came to
the place where I had been directed and got in a quarter of a day’s work.
I’ll continue reading from Olaf Holdahl’s autobiography next week.
Thank you to (www.roseauonline.com) for letting us share our county’s history with your listeners by donating air time, studio time, and production staff every week.