Otto Anderson

Otto Anderson was born May 26th, 1863 in Holland, Sweden the son of Anders Samuel and Anna Severina Anderson. Otto immigrated to this country at the age of 17. He was a pioneer farmer in Norma Township where he homesteaded the Southeast quarter of Section 3 in 1890.

On June 25, 1893 Otto Anderson and Maria Ullrika Salberg were married at his farm home in Norma Township. Maria Salberg was born in Sweden on June 1, 1875 the daughter of Frank and Christine Salberg. At the age of eight (1882) Maria set sail with her parents for their new home in America. After short stops in Chicago, Illinois and the state of Michigan they arrived on the West Prairie in Dakota Territory where they homesteaded near what is now Litchville, North Dakota. Maria grew to womanhood there.

All the joys and sorrows of pioneering in Barnes County came to Maria and Otto. The joy consisted of a well and happy family which was always their prime interest. There were nine children

  1. Mrs. Sigurd Thompson (Ida);

  2. Mrs. Ed Holm (Esther);

  3. Mrs. Herman Nix (Amallia);

  4. Mrs. Henry Anderson (Edna);

  5. Mrs. Henry Sullivan (Mabel);

  6. Mrs. Anton Roberg (Emma);

  7. Mrs. John Twight (Elsie); and

  8. three sons Hjalmer,

  9. Edwin and

  10. Rudolph Anderson.

Mrs. Otto (Maria) Anderson died January 15, 1938 at the age of 63. Otto Anderson died July 8th, 1943 at the age of 80. Both were laid to rest in Woodbine cemetery. The event we have heard mentioned the most was the fire on December 3, 1928 which destroyed the Anderson Home. As was the custom in the early years the neighbors all rallied to their aid. Even with all the help the fire which started in the chimney could not be controlled. The kitchen stove, the cream separator and some canned goods were all that was saved. A house was pulled in from the Northeast quarter of Section 2 and this was built onto so the family had a place to live. Truly fire was one of the greatest fears of pioneer days.

The Otto Andersons were charter members of the First Lutheran Church, Fingal and Mrs. Anderson was a charter member of the Ladies Aid. Also a member of the Barnes County Pioneer Association.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 18