The first white settlers in Hobart Township, Mr. and Mrs. Hans Jensen Flatner, better known as Hans Johnson, immigrated to our country from Norway and his wife Maria from Sweden and settled in Rushford, Minnesota. They later settled in Hobart Township in May of 1878 along with their son John A. Johnson, age 5, and a daughter Annie, 6 weeks old. They first lived in a dugout in a hillside until they were able to build their first home which burned about a year later. Again they rebuilt their home and as more settlers came, he dug wells to earn enough money to buy an ox and a horse to start farming.
Their son John A. Johnson who later became Supt. of Schools in Barnes Co., was married to Emma Carlson and they had two sons Bruce and Emmitt.
Their daughter Annie, married Martin Gudmestad who also immigrated from Norway, and they then operated this farm after her parents' death. To this marriage was born four sons, Albert, Raymond, George, Lawrence, and a daughter Marguerite. After Martin and Annie Gudmestad passed away, their daughter Marguerite and her husband William Kehoe owned the farm. They raised a daughter Lenora and a son, Richard Bartz who now owns and operates this same farm along with his wife Marlene and children Scott and Jody.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 114