Erick Heyerdahl was born January 1, 1859 in Pierce County, Wisconsin. His parents, Christopher and Margaret Heyerdahl were both born in Norway. When Erick was old enough to work, he helped his father on the farm and worked in the woods in winter.
In the spring of 1882 he came by train to Dakota to homestead. There was prairie all around except here and there a shanty. April 16, 1882 Erick filed on Section 30-144-60 and broke thirty acres of land. In the fall of 1882 he built a claim shanty 14' x 16' and rented out his land until 1888.
Erick Heyerdahl worked for Charley Mosley, Helena Township, for five years and in the fall of each, he went back to Wisconsin to work in the woods. He hauled wood for Mr. Mosley the first years. He hauled from the Sheyenne River twenty miles from the farm. He left in the morning at three o'clock with horses and sleigh and got back in the evening by nine o'clock.
In 1887, he married Mable Warberg. He bought his first machinery in 1888; it consisted of a binder, plow, wagon, and drag. He got no crop that year as all the crops were frozen.
Five children were born to these Heyerdahls. They were Melvin, Gilbert, Carl, Elmer, and Myrtle. Erick and Mable lived to celebrate their 60th Wedding Anniversary. Most of their lives were lived in Griggs County.
Carl, who was born January 18, 1897, attended UND for two years. He spent one year in the navy, and then on April 1, 1919 he married Anna Sad. They farmed the home place. They raised seven children: Eleanor, Earl, Charles, Margaret, Eric, Dorothy, and Barbara.
Carl ran a grocery store in Walum from 1926-1939, and then was rural mail carrier at Hannaford.
Carl and Anna's sons Earl and Charles are now farming Erick Heyerdahls homestead. Charles and his wife Martha (Lunde) are the parents of four children: Linda, Pamela, Eric, and Gary. Eric and Gary also farm with their father and uncle on this home farm.
Another Heyerdahl is familiar to us in name only. He is Thor, the Norwegian anthropologist adventurer who sailed the Pacific with five men in a raft they built of balsa wood and named the KON-TIKI. He is also author of the book by that name. When Thor spoke in Fargo, the Bartley Township Heyerdahls were his guests. These Heyerdahl relatives resemble each other, not only in looks, but also in the spirit of adventure. Compare traveling the seas in a small raft and the many dangers our pioneers found in Dakota where they brought their families to live.
Source: Cooperstown, North Dakota 1882-1982 Centennial page 80