| Summary: | THE PETER GULLESON FAMILY Among the settlers of the early 1880's were Peter and Maren Gulleson, who settled two miles east of Rutland. The first steps toward the organizing of the Nordland Lutheran Church were made at a meeting at the Gulleson home. Peter Gulleson had discussed the need for a church with some of his neighbors, and since his was the largest home in the area, a meeting was held there. They had four sons; Nels, Martin, John and Conrad and one daughter, Synneve. Nels married Alette Jacobson and moved to an adjoining farm, where he lived until his death. They had two children, Arthur and Clara (Mrs. Gustav Ruther). Martin married Anna Larson and they also moved to an adjoining farm where he lived until his death. They had four children: Clifford, Price, Grant and Luther. His wife Anna, and sons, Clifford and Grant all died during the flu epidemic of 1918. He later married Clara Anderson. To this union four children were born: Helen (Mrs. Herlin Nordin), Clifford, (deceased), Grant and Gladys (Mrs. Gene Landseidel). Conrad married Esther Peterson and lived at Fergus Falls when he died. John lived most of his life on the old Gulleson home site. He died at a rest home at Moorhead where he spent his last years. Synneve married Bernt Giske, who came from Norway as a young man. He settled on a farm in Ransom Township where he farmed all his life. He was an ardent worker in the early church, especially teaching parochial school, Sunday school, and as a choir director. Ten children were born to them: Olga (Mrs. Engvald Jacobson), Marie (Mrs. M. E. Anderson), Peter, (all deceased), Johannes who died in infancy, Hannah (Mrs. Carl Christian- son), Albert, Clara (Mrs. Ole Breum) Lydia who died in infancy, Ruth and Bennie. lady ahead of him. He never found out who she was. Then he dug rocks for a fellow. All he received those days was 50 cents a day. One of the winters, either 1887 or 1888, was the worst snowstorm they had ever seen. Dad worked in the livery barn for a man whose name was Guy. While he was out unloading the storm hit and he could not see a thing, not even the horses. He thought the only way he was able to get home was to give the horses the reins and they did take him right back to the barn. Dad homesteaded the quarter that Lloyd Hanson of Forman now owns. Father worked on the railroad that was being built into Forman. Before Forman had the railroad they had to drive to Milnor to get their supplies. Father turned the first sod with oxen on the Charley Lawson land now owned by Mrs. Johnson. He helped Charley plant trees and later when the trees grew it became a very nice picnic grounds. There were many celebrations and ball games played there. Oscar Swanson had a band that always played out there. There was horse racing and I must say I am proud to say Father had the fastest horse in the county. He was a very, very hard riding horse so Father never rode him too often. Father served 12 years on the school board and a few years on the township board. He was married to Ellen Anderson who also came from Sweden in 1893. I was the only child they had. Then I was married to John A. Hoistad, who came from Norway. We had 6 boys and 6 girls but two boys have passed on. The rest of the children live in California, Kentucky, Minneapolis, Fargo and Moorhead. All are married and have children, so I have 41 grandchildren and 6 great grand-children. Three of the boys live near Rutland and one girl near Forman. Father was also a well man. He had a well rig so he dug many wells and repaired all over the county.—By Mrs. John (Mabel) Hoistad THE LOUIS P. LARSON FAMILY My Father, Louis P. Larson, came to the USA about 1885. He came to Fargo, was there for awhile, then came to Rutland. He worked for different people than his parents and the rest of the family came and they homesteaded on the place once owned by Henry Nathe. Father went home then to help out as Grandfather passed away. Those days most of the people had to haul water in barrels from the railroad well. Father would get up at 3 a.m. and start for Rutland. Father said it did not make any difference how early he came to the well, there was always a John Hadly and H. L. Greene looking west towards Main Street. Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited with Multi-Page TIFF Editor.
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