Anton Ouren (1877-1972) was born in Ostren Toten, Norway. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. Jens Jenson. He came to Litchville, North Dakota, in 1896 where he had an uncle, Hans Hendrickson. Mr. Ouren worked for farmers in the vicinity among them being Erick Olson, and it was there he met his wife Mathilda Olson (18821965). They were married in 1900. Her parents, Erick and Helena (Johnson) Olson were pioneers that came from Norway to Fillmore County, Minnesota, and then by wagon train to Norma Township, Barnes County, Dakota Territory in 1880. They homesteaded in Norma Township and lived in a sod house, then Mr. Olson built one of the first frame houses built in that neighborhood and that house with additions is still standing. The Olson children were: Minnie - Mrs. Ole Olstad; Mathilda - Mrs. Anton Ouren; Emma; Helena; Gena- Mrs. Edwin Maasjo; Edwin.

Mr. and Mrs. Anton Ouren farmed in Norma Township until 1939 when they bought a home in Valley City and lived there the rest of their lives. They had two daughters: Emma, who lived with her parents and worked at The Fair Store for twenty-nine years; Mabel worked at the Story Shoe Store for several years. In 1930 she married S. T. Johnson and they had a shoe store in Valley City; later they moved to Breckenridge, Minnesota, where they owned and operated a shoe store. They had one son, Sherman T. Johnson, who carries on the family shoe store business. Mr. Johnson died in 1957 and his wife died in 1964.

O'Niel Maasjo is farming the land his grandfather Erick Olson homesteaded.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 189