John Enerson came to Barnes County in May 1880 from Glencoe, Minnesota, where his parents farmed. He was born in Telemarken, Norway in 1856 and came with his parents to the United States in 1861 ,locating in Kenyon, Minnesota. They moved to Glencoe, Minnesota, after the Civil War and reared their family of nine on their farm. John drove a team of horses hitched to a wagon into Valley City with his personal belongings, and had to ford the Sheyenne River. He worked for McCullough and Blackwell in their lumber yard located on the south side of Third Street, N.W., in the 300 block as of street numbers today in 1975. In 1888 he married Hilda Hendrickson of Valley City and they lived in a home on the north side of Third St., Northwest in the 300 block. They owned the lot west of their home also. A son, Palmer, was born to them in January 1890 in their home. John served as alderman in Fourth Ward from 1903-1904, and also farmed his land south of Valley City.

In 1914 the Enersons built a new home on their lot west of the small residence and moved into it before Christmas that year, and it was open to relatives and friends to enjoy for many years.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 63