Thore Bendiksen, a prominent merchant of Walcott, near where he resides on a well-improved estate, is an early settler of North Dakota. He has extensive business interests in the town of Walcott and is an influential and enterprising citizen of Richland County.
Our subject was born in Norway, October 30, 1848. He was reared on a farm in his native land, where he lived until 1870, when he came to America, crossing the Atlantic in a sailing vessel in July of that year. He landed at Quebec and at once proceeded to Crawford County, Wisconsin, where he worked on a farm and attended school till the following spring, and then engaged as clerk in a general store at Mt. Sterling, Wisconsin. He was employed there about six months and then spent some months in Iowa, going from thence to Minnesota, He followed different occupations for two and a half years, and then returned to his native country, remaining there until 1881. He then came again to America, and at once proceeded to North Dakota. He spent about nine months in Walcott, and then took tip a homestead claim in Walcott Township and engaged in farming for three years on that land, and then removed to the farm where he now resides. His buildings are substantial and the estate is furnished with all of the conveniences of farming, and he is now the owner of five hundred and fifty acres of land. For three years he was employed by the Minnesota & Dakota Elevator Company at Walcott as wheat buyer, and during that time engaged in the hardware business in that town, and after operating the business one and a half years he disposed of his interests, and was wheat buyer for the Farmers' Grain Association, at Kindred, Cass County, North Dakota. On his return to Walcott in 1896 he purchased a stock of general merchandise, and conducts the business in connection with his farming.
Our subject was married in Christiania, Norway, January 10, 1875, to Miss Martha Thue, a sister of O. R. Thue, of Walcott. Mrs. Bendiksen was born in Norway, September 24, 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Bencliksen have been the parents of eleven children, as follows: Bernhard; Rika; Julia; Maren; Rongvald; Peder died at the age of fifteen months; Peder; Oluf; Theodor; Martin and Daniel. Mr. Bendiksen takes an active part in local affairs, and has held all of the township offices in Colfax township, with the exception of justice of the peace. Politically he is a Populist. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
Source: Compendium and History of North Dakota 1900 Page 207