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.
July 27, 2025
In 1956, Esther and Salmon Salmonson were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in Salol, Minnesota. The Roseau Times-Region interviewed them for the May 31, 1956, issue, and this is the story they published along with a photo of them with the cake served that day.
Two county pioneers, bright-eyed, cheerful and very Swedish, celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary Sunday at the First Lutheran Church at Salol with a host of their friends and relatives on hand to wish them well. They are Mr. and Mrs. Salmon Salmonson, who have farmed on their homestead east of Salol since 1912.
Mr. and Mrs. Salmonson were both born in Sweden. He was born in Lovnas, Vesterbotten on May 5, 1876, and she was born in the same town on April 15, 1885. They were married in Sweden on February 2, 1906, and moved to this country in February, 1908, after he had worked in western Canada for three months.
Coming to Warroad in February of 1908, he worked for ten months on the railroad and then spent some time in the woods while still living in Warroad. They moved to the homestead [they claimed in 1913] near Salol, Norland township, and have lived there since.
Their original homestead was 40 acres of brush and no houses. He worked hard for many years to clear the brush and trees from his tract and build buildings for farming. He did all the work himself … including building his buildings.
Tragedy struck in 1917 when their home was destroyed by fire, but he went right to work and rebuilt it in such a solid manner it still serves very well. He later bought a quarter of land adjoining his and worked to clear that and farm it. He recently sold it to his son, Harry, who farms nearby and so continues the original homestead which has been the family home for so many years.
Mr. and Mrs. Salmonson had six children, four of whom are living. A daughter died when she was four and the oldest son was killed in an automobile accident in May of 1951. They have ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
The sons, two of whom farm near the home place, are: Edward, who lives in Cedarbend; Gust, a mile west of the home place; Harry, who lives near the home place, and Wilmer, who works for Mando in International Falls. They have ten grandchildren to brighten up the home place when the children visit too.
Mr. Salmonson has served as constable for about five years in Norland township and served in Norland township and served as Deacon of the First Lutheran Church of Salol for
three terms. Mrs. Salmonson has been an active member of her Ladies’ Aid for 30 years and is now an honorary member.
Both are spry and bright with keen enthusiasm which indicates many more years of happy marriage. The Times-Region issues its congratulations to the Salmonsons on their milestone.
Salmon Salmonson died in 1963 and wife Esther in 1973. Both are buried in the Spruce Cemetery, east of Roseau.
Thank you to 
for letting us share our county’s history with your listeners by donating air time, studio time, and production staff every week.