Christ Sonju was born in Eiker, Norway, June 27, 1853. In May 1879 he emigrated to Baldwin, Wisconsin where he lived for seven years. On October 20, 1883 he was united in marriage to Ellen Dorothea Fjerdingstad who also came from Eiker, Norway in 1883.
In 1886 they came to Bartley Township after the grasshoppers had destroyed everything in their area of Wisconsin. They built a small house on their homesteaded land and for the first year kept their cattle at the OLE FOGDERUD farm three quarters of a mile away. Mrs. Sonju often told how she tied up her two youngsters to be sure they would be safe - then walked to the Fogderud home where she milked the cows and carried two pails of milk back home. Usually she had to pump water for all the cattle before she could start milking. How she must have hurried to get back to the children.
They were charter members of the Hannaford Lutheran Church.
To this union three children were born:
GUSTAV married Delia Brumberg December 25, 1919. To this union three children were born:
Gustav was an active member of the church council and served as Township treasurer for 35 years.
WALDEN is the third generation of Sonju's to operate this farm. Besides his large farming interests he finds time for a hobby - raising quarter horses. You can imagine how the nephews and nieces love to visit Uncle Walden and Grandma who is still on the farm with Walden. Grandma, also a great grandmother, is a mighty sharp lady. She has not given up her work with her church or other outside activities and gives no hint of the fact that she will be 79 in September 1975. She is an avid bowler and plans to attend their National Convention in Denver this summer.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 230