Olaus and his wife, Ellen Johanna Olsdatter Lovass Kjelland and their four children, Karen, Lars, Anna and Otilla, settled in Green Township in 1885. Here the children grew up, here a mission society was formed, a Sunday School formed and later a church built. The six Kjelland families worked and socialized together and they and their spouses are all buried in the same cemetery.
In 1904 Olaus and Ellen paid a visit to Norway, the land of their birth. Karen, who learned dressmaking, married Mathias Hetland. Anna also learned dressmaking and she in turn married Alfred Kjelland in 1905. Otilla became a teacher and married William Kjelland in 1904. Lars married Eda Meldahl in 1914.
In 1916 Olaus and Ellen moved to Valley City. Olaus passed away in 1920 and his wife died in 1946. She was honored on May 5, 1946 by the Pioneer Daughters as the oldest living Territorial Mother.
Jacob Klink Family. Back Row: Chris, John, Fred and Charlie. Front Row: Christine, Rosie and Jacob.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 126