Solomon G. Sarsten and Ane Benson Okland were united in marriage November 5; 1888. They were married at the Ottis farm, just west of Axel Formos. They both worked on the Ottis farm that previous summer. They both came from Norway.
After their marriage the Sarstens moved to their homestead (Blake farm). On January 24, 1890, a daughter, Jennie (Mrs. I. O. Hanson) was born in the cellar where they lived. The other children born here were George (deceased), Henry of Fairbanks, Alaska, and Sam (deceased). The Sarstens continued to live here until the spring of 1902 when they moved to Litchville. S. G. Sarsten was the first pastor of the Elim Evangelical Free Church, receiving a formal call in 1904. In those days, the pastors were not paid a living wage from the church so had to do other jobs. Rev. Sarsten sold cord wood, had a harness shop (north of Curt Flach's station). He and S. J. Sortland, also had a furniture store in Litchville. Two girls, Martha (Mrs. Harold Ott of King City, MO) and Berniece (Mrs. Kenneth Johnson of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota) were born to the Sarsten family in Litchville.
The World's Fair was held in Norway in 1914. Governor Hannah of North Dakota, appointed Rev. S. G. Sarsten to represent North Dakota in presenting the statue of Abraham Lincoln to Norway. That fall Rev. Sarsten had special meetings in Devils Lake, North Dakota, and later contracted typhoid fever and died November 22, 1914. Jennie Sarsten started school in Svea at a school located on the northwest corner of Section 20, across from the St. Thomas Church. She started sewing for other people when about 14 years old. In 1912, she and Olive Sortland (Mrs. Thorvald Thompson, deceased) had a dress making shop and sold hats in Litchville. March 31 , 1915, Jennie Sarsten and John Halvorson were united in marriage at the Elim Evangelical Free Church with Rev. Swen Wufflestad officiating. John Halvorson came from Norway in 1904. After their marriage, they lived one year on the Andrew Larson farm, farming together with John Roberstad. The partnership dissolved and Roberstad moved to the Charley Berg farm (Carl Nordquist) and the Halvorsons to the Ekeberg farm (I. O. Hanson farm). Three days after moving here a daughter, Alice (Mrs. Norris Nelson) was born. Later another daughter, Harriet of Great Falls, MT, was born to this family. John Halvorson died in 1918 at the age of 34 during the flu epidemic. December 8, 1920, Mrs. Halvorson married I. O. Hanson in Moorhead, Minnesota.
I. O. Hanson came from Norway to Chicago, Illinois, where he had two brothers. He worked on farms and for the Implement Company in Litchville. He and Mr. Chose went to Montana and homesteaded near Malta and farmed until 1920 when he came back. Mr. Hanson took over Ole Benson's Photo Studio in Litchville in 1921 for a few days a week when needed. The Hansons continued farming.
To this union were born: Inez (Mrs. Paul Gunkelman, Fargo, North Dakota); Avis (Mrs. Robert Bourland of San Diego, California) Lois (deceased), and Richard of Valley City. In 1960 Mr. and Mrs. I. O. Hanson moved to Valley City and their son Richard took over the farm. I. O. Hanson died October 28, 1970. Mrs. Hanson continues to live in Valley City. January 24, 1975 Mrs. Hanson celebrated her 85th birthday.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 214