The John Hobbis family came from England, settling first in Vermont and later in Illinois. John married Carrie Everett in 1880. She was born in Rochester, New York.

In 1884, John Hobbis came to North Dakota to Page where he worked as a laborer on the Ed Davis farm while he filed on a claim in Barnes County. In the spring of 1885, his wife and child joined him on the homestead which was located in Minnie Lake Township. On October 10, 1889 he proved-up the claim. In 1903 the family returned to Illinois. Five children were born to this union; two girls and three boys. The oldest, a girl, married Andrew Brudevold, who, with two brothers, had settled on Section 35, Pillsbury Township in 1897. This farm was just across the road from the Hobbis farm.

In 1912 Andrew Brudevold sold his farm to Gladstone Harrington and moved to a smaller farm in Minnie Lake Township. His brothers, now named "Benson", established a hardware store in Pillsbury in 1911. Floyd Brudevold, the son of Andrew Brudevold, hauled the first load of hardware stock from Page to Pillsbury, since there was no depot agent as yet in Pillsbury.

The great snow fall of 1896-97 was long remembered by these pioneers. There were four feet of snow on the level - haystacks were little mounds and the tops of some trees could barely be seen. Tunnels were dug between buildings. After a storm, the entire house would be dark as all windows were blocked by the snow. Tunneling out of the homes, the snow removed had to be brought into the home, since there was no place to throw it. Here it was melted. People were forced to walk, as the roads were four feet deep with snow. Spring made the roads impassable.

Floyd Brudevold carried on, farming the family farm. His son, Russell, is now operating the farm.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 37