| Summary: | Myrtle and Arthur were married at Devils Lake in 1928. They had two daughters: Virginia was born in 1936 and Gertrude in 1940. Virginia married S. Hendrickson. They have two children and reside in Hanford, Calif. He is in the Dairy Nutrition for West Coast Grain. Gertrude married C. Pierce and they have four children and reside in Lynwood, Wash. Mr. and Mrs. Art Roholt live in Snohomish, Wash. PAUL CHRISTOPHER ROGNLIE Paul Christopher Rognlie was born on a farm near Spring Grove, Minn., June 25, 1871. His parents were Syvert Bertinus Rognlie and Marie (Solum) Rognlie. He was the second of nine children. In Paul's words: "After a high school was established in Hillsboro, I attended it for four years and later attended the Wilmar Seminary and Business College located at Wilmar, Minn. My intention was then to take up the study of law at the University of Minnesota but the panic of 1893 prevented me from doing that, so the following year, 1894- 95 I traveled with the Rognlie and Framstad Concert Company as a dramatic reader and humorist. Brother Sivert, an accomplished violinist and composer, was the main attraction. We traveled with considerable success through North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois. By this time I decided to go back to Benson County where I had made a visit in 1882 and had a ride from Devils Lake to West End (now Minnewaukan) on the maiden trip of the Minnie "H". I had also been in Benson County in 1889 and 1891. This last time I came to take a homestead and while proving up on this homestead took employment as store manager for T.L. Quarve in his Viking Store at Viking and later went into the hardware and furniture business at Manfred. Then in 1901 I built and operated the first hardware and furniture store in Esmond, which I continued for a period of 27 years. During the legislative session of 1901 I served as assistant secretary of the N.D. Senate. From 1917 to 1923 I was secretary of the Hardware Mutual Fire Insurance Company with offices at Fargo. In 1922 1 sold my hardware and furniture business to B.I. Steig of Esmond. After 1924 I devoted all my time to the Nursery business that I established at Esmond. I also started a fruit orchard at Esmond in 1901 and have maintained it ever since during which time I have originated several new varieties of plums, apples, raspberries, strawberries, shrubs and trees." Many people of the younger generation recall their parents telling about "Rognlie the Plum Man" driving into their yards with the old Dodge car loaded with delicious plums which he sold for a dollar a pail. He was noted for his beautiful yard with many flowers, shrubs and trees at the south end of town. Many remarked that it was just like a park. He planted the first evergreen trees in Esmond and many of them are still alive. He had many evergreen trees planted over the land amongst a great variety of plum and shade trees. He grafted many plum trees, originating some new varieties. He won many awards showing off his sweet tasting, fruits. One year he received a silver cup from the North Dakota Horticulture Society and the Northwest Nursery for his display of fruits at the State Fair. He was interested in other people becoming involved with the nursery business and helped many get started along this line of work. He was Justice of the Peace at Esmond for about 45 years. There are many other activities that would be of interest but space does not permit. On June 1, 1902 Paul Rognlie married Inez Signild LeGrand. She was born in Sweden of French-Swedish parents and died at Esmond, in August, 1914. He met her at Manfred. To this union were born five boys and one girl, all at Esmond. W.E. Donaven, married Lillian Grorud at Williston. They have one daughter, LaDonna and four grandchildren. Donaven, a semi-retired professional photographer and wife reside at Kalispell, Mont. Forrest J. loved the outdoor life and would walk out to Buffalo Lake many times with his buddies and camp, swim and hunt for several days. He married Gertrude Jacobson at Somers, Mont. They had two daughters and one son, and six grandchildren. Forrest passed away in December 1973. Verdi B., retired from the Federal Aviation Administration, now lives near Kalispell, Mont. Alden M., a Navy veteran of World War II with service in the Pacific theater, operated an orchard in the Flathead Valley of Montana until he passed away in 1968. Inez Rhema Genevieve, married Reinart Reierson in 1932. They are retired and live in Esmond. They have one daughter and two grandchildren. Harry L. resided in Esmond his entire life except for a few years spent as manager of the Arrowwood Wildlife Reserve near Kensal and in military service. He was a veteran of more than three years Army service in World War II, serving in Panama and Alaska. He was a member of the VFW Post 4251 at Esmond. He died April 28, 1960 at the Veterans Hospital in Minneapolis at the age of 47. In 1916 Paul Rognlie married Juliana K. Jenson, who was born in Alvso, Helgeland, Norway in 1895. During the war years they worked in the shipyards in Washington and then moved back to North Dakota and made their home in Fargo. Mrs. Rognlie worked at the Veterans Hospital at Fargo for many years. To this second marriage there were born three children: Myrthle married Gerhard Faleide at Esmond Trinity Lutheran Church in 1938. They live in the Viking community south of Maddock. They have two daughters, two sons and six grandchildren. Myrtle teaches school in New Rockford. Gerhard has an electrical shop in New Rockford. Philip, Army veteran of World War II, with service in Europe and now Director of the Upward Bound program at Fargo, lives with his wife Marget at Fargo. Philip has three sons. Jarl J., a teacher, and wife Inez, live in Fargo. They have one daughter. Paul Rognlie died March 27, 1952 at his home in Fargo. Mrs. Rognlie died in December 1973 at Fargo. Mr. Rognlie was long active in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He held the title of Past Grand Patriarch and Past Grand Representative among others. He was also Adjutant General of the Department of Patriarchs Militant. 178 Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited with Multi-Page TIFF Editor.
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