Peter Aas was born August 3, 1854 at Vestnes Romsdalen, Norway. He came to America in 1880 at the age of 26 years to LaCross, Wisconsin where he worked as a carpenter. In Norway his name was Peter K. Aas but when he came to America he changed his name to Knutson. In 1881 he came to Dakota Territory with Ole Sjegstad and homesteaded on the Sand Prairie, and lived there as a farmer. (This is now Section 28 of Oak Hill Township, Barnes County). They were the first Romsdalingers that homesteaded on the west side of the Sheyenne River.
Peter made several trips back to Norway, the first in 1888. He returned to America in 1889 and on May 11 of that year married Marit Helland, also of Vestnes, Norway. They lived on the farm all of their lives and endured all the hardships of the early days.
Peter Marit were blessed with seven children, namely: Martha, the eldest, was a graduate nurse at St. Lukes Hospital in Fargo. She passed away in 1936. Emma graduated from the Normal School in Valley City and taught school for four years. She married Elmer Blackwell and moved to Old Lyme, Connecticut. She passed away in January 1949. Alma went to high school and business school in Fargo and was also a theatre organist. She married AI McConn of Moorhead and died there in 1957. Knute was a farmer until 1929 when he left for Connecticut and worked there as a carpenter. He passed away in 1970. Carl farmed for a while and later located in Connecticut, too, as a mechanic and carpenter. Maynard, the youngest, a graduate of the North Dakota
Agricultural College, worked as a mechanic in Fargo, until his death in 1943. Olaf married Florence Salberg November 23, 1928, and took over the family farm. They are still living on the farm and farming with their son, Omar, who is also a carpenter. Omar married Marlys Hoffmeyer and they have three children; Marcia, Bradley and Gregory. Omar and family live in their own home which he built on the farm. Olaf and Florence's daughter, Shirley married Vernon Nelson, who live with their two sons, Danny and Dennis, on their farm in Sand Prairie, LaMoure County. Their daughter, Janice, married Dan Olafson of Valley City and have a son, Mark Dean, the Olaf Knutsens' first great grandchild.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 128