Paul C. Ulsrud was born May 17, 1820 in Christiania, Norway and Lena, his wife, was born June 27, 1836 at Lillehamer, Norway. They came to America in the late 1860's in a sailing vessel with their three children and several relatives. The three children were: Bertha, Ole and Augusta. Their first stop was at Liverpool, England and it took six weeks to reach this country. They settled in Fillmore County, Minnesota. Their first child to be born in America was Julia; born July 9, 1871 at Harmony, Minnesota. Three other children, Minnie, Laura and Pauline, were born in Minnesota. Augusta and Laura died in Minnesota. Bertha married a young man from England and lived in Minneapolis. They had five children, Lenebell, Maud, Effie, Ralph and Russet.

Paul C. Ulsrud was a carpenter and violinist and often away from home. Mrs. Ulsrud had many tales to tell about the Indians. The family slowly moved westward across Minnesota finally arriving at Fargo which was not very big at that time. They finally settled on a small farm ten miles south of Valley City in the early 1880's. Their children attended the Ellis school. When Julia was twelve years old she went to Minneapolis to live with her sister Bertha where she attended the Whinier school.

Paul C. Ulsrud died at his home in January 1916 at the age of 96. Lena died in . March 1928 almost 92 years old, in Valley City.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 254