Minot, North Dakota
was born in Voss on April 12, 1877 and came to North Dakota in 1893. He worked for seven years worked as a farmworker, Saddle maker, Accountant and Teacher. In the summer and fall to earn the means for his residency at the Normal School in Mayville, North Dakota from which he graduated in 1900. In the fall of that same year he registered with Wisconsin University and graduated from there in 1902. The next fall he began to study law at North Dakota University and graduated and obtained authorization as an attorne in June of 1904, whereupon he began a law practice that same summer in Minot, North Dakota.
During his residency in Wisconsin he next became very interested in the work that LaFollette had done for the people of the state, and he has always since taken a large interest in tax reform and other progressive apportionment regulations likewise as a county manager and a state manager in its entirety. He was a member of the Legislature in 1911 and the chairman of the Tax Law Committee and got several tax reforms through.
He was elected as state attorney in 1912 and reelected in 1914 with a large majority. He took retirement and then he placed himself as a candidate for Senator from North Dakota in the Primary election in 1916.
Source: Norwegians and Norwegian Homes in America by Hans Jervell - 1916 - Page 86