| Summary: | A history of Finley, North Dakota including family biographies. 141 pages : illustrations 29 cm. On January 28, 1931, a meeting was held in the Beaver Creek Center Schoolhouse to discuss the possibility of digging a channel or ditch from the creek so as to divert the overflow of water into what was known as the Tobias Slough. This quarter was homesteaded by Tobias Johnson in 1881. On February 2, 1931, 74 persons with pick and shovel met up, and on the 3rd the ditch was finished—a ditch 4 to 6 feet wide, 11 feet in places, and 171 feet long. A metal culvert 60 feet long by 48 inches in diameter was installed. It was added to in length later. This was the start of Tobiason Lake. The first directors, elected April 6,1932 were Carl Klabo, Arthur Gronhovd, H. J. Ness, Andrew Lerol, Nels Berge, Edgar Bjerke and Gilbert Erickson. They bought 55 acres of land from the Klabos at $20 an acre, and 21.2 acres from the Federal Land Bank at $15. A bath house was built. Also a lunch room, where hamburgers, etc. were sold; a pop and ice cream stand, a roller skating floor, a bandstand, and an ice house. In June 1946 the lake property was sold to the North Dakota Farmers Union and they built it up to be a beautiful camp, with a large auditorium, two dormitories, office, home for the caretakers, and a recreation area. Lakeside Store was started in 1934 in a room of the garage that started in 1933 by John A. Bjerke and Paul Thompson the store. Mr. Thompson operated a cream truck route for the Hatton Creamery for a time. Lakeside Garage was also operated by Gilman Thompson as Mr. Bjerke's successor. In 1947 Mr. and Mrs. Tilford Thompson joined the operation, which was a partnership for many years. Now Tilford operates his own store in Hatton. The Garage is closed but the store was in need of more room—a larger building was moved in. The store was welcomed by everyone out there as it is far from town. It is still in operation by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Thompson. Some of the early settlers and homesteaders, and present owners and operators are: ANDREW TOSTERUD homesteaded on this land in 1884. It is known as the Elmer Tosterud farm. Now operated by Elmer Erickson, who is married to Elmer Tosterud's daughter. MARTIN RASMUSSEN homesteaded in 1889. Has been owned by a son Harry, and now owned and operated by a grandson Howard Rasmussen. JOHN O. BUAN came to Beaver Creek in 1887. This farm is owned and farmed by a grandson, Allan Pederson. ANTON K. HUNDEBY homesteaded and tree claim—1889. This land was purchased by Gilbert Gronhovd about 1895, later owned by his son Arthur. The land is now owned and operated by James Gronhovd, a son of Arthur. Another quarter of land acquired about the same time from Ole Brunsvold, the SEV4-7—he had homesteaded here. On this farm there was a store, and Andrew Holmen operated a blacksmith shop. OLE DAHL came to America in 1877. Homesteaded on the present Gilmore Berge farm, who is a grandson of Ole Dahl. Donald Berge, who is Gilmore Berge's son operates the farm. Gilmore Berge's mother, Guri Dahl Berge, was the first baby bom in Beaver Creek Township. EVEN E. SONDREAAL came to America in 1878. Homesteaded on the farm his family lived on until a few years ago. The farm was sold to Berges. E. G. ERICKSON came to Minnesota in 1862—came from Norway by sailboat which took 11 weeks to cross the ocean to Quebec, Canada. Mr. Erickson came to Beaver Creek in 1883, homesteaded the farm that Kenneth Gronhovd lives on. He is a grandson. OLINE BYE FARM homesteaded by Amund E. Bye in 1880. It is now owned by Andrew Jacobson, operated by his son Alvin. ORVILLE NESS—the NWy4-7 was homesteaded by Lars Hoyeba in 1883. It was also owned by Bertin Johnson and Julia Johnson of Northwood and their daughter Lillian. PETER OSTMO homesteaded in 1882. Marius Ostmo, a son, now lives on the farm. His son Morris operates it. GUNDER K. SANDA came to Beaver Creek in 1883, settling on the farm now owned by his son Sam Sanda. Jerry Sanda operates the farm with him. KNUTE BENSON homesteaded this quarter in 1882. Subsequent owners were Martin Ramussen, Andrew Tosterud and Andrew Lerol. Walter Hannestad owns and operates it now. KNUDT JOHNSON was one of the earliest settlers in the area, coming about 1881. He lived and raised his family on this farm, and today his grandson Arden Johnson owns the farm. 76 Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited with Multi-Page TIFF Editor.
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