Peter John Finstuen and Gitta Bjugan were born and grew up on neighboring farms in Goodhue County, Minnesota. They were married there on September 19, 1900. They lived on a rented farm the first year of their marriage.
In the meantime Peter P. Finstuen, John's father, had made a payment on two quarters of railroad land in Bryan Township in Section 32 and Section 35. John and his brother, Oscar, who was single, left for North Dakota in the fall of 1901 and dug wells, built stables and started to build a house. When winter set in they returned to Minnesota for the winter.
In the spring of 1902 John and Oscar left for North Dakota with equipment, seed, household goods, food and livestock loaded in railroad boxcars. One horse had gotten down, trampled by other animals, and so had to be destroyed. John had only a hammer and jackknife to do the job. In mid April Mrs. Finstuen and 9-month-old son, Hartvig Finstuen, arrived. They rode on a quilt spread on top of a load of lumber needed for the farm buildings. They rode across the prairie, crossing creeks, sloughs and going around a few hills to make it easier for the horses. The house was not completely shingled so they could see the stars shining between the roof boards at night.
Their greatest comfort as early settlers were the neighbors who helped where and whenever help was needed. Among these were the Hogie family. Mattie Hogie, who grew up to be Mrs. Meldor Solee, was the girl who often came to baby-sit and help Mrs. Finstuen.
Andrew Dybwad stopped by one day when hauling lumber from Binford to his home in the Glenfield area. They spoke the same kind of Norwegian, and gave the Finstuens their first dinner invitation and the friendship began which still exists today.
All the babies were born at home, often without a doctor's care. They were a healthy family but 1917-1918 was different. During a three-day blizzard 10-year-old Arnold became very ill. Dr. Truscott diagnosed his illness as appendicitis. There was no train service to Binford because of snow-blocked cuts. He was taken to Sutton to catch the train to Fargo. Arnold recovered from the ruptured appendix but picked up a virulent type of measles, which he shared with the family. His seven-year-old sister had to be taken to Fargo for mastoid surgery, but passed away in April 1917. Illness plagued the family until the spring of 1918.
Peter John Finstuen died in March 1924 but the children carried on until they started homes of their own. Mrs. Finstuen and daughter, Thelma Finstuen, tended the Binford switchboard for the Griggs County Telephone Company
At present the family members live in the following places:
Hartvig Finstuen, Arizona
Mrs. Harold (Valborg) Nelson, Ohio
Palmer Finstuen,
Arnold Finstuen and
Evelyn Finstuen (Mrs. Warren Bruns) all of Tacoma, Washington
Thelma Finstuen (Mrs. Clifford Christopherson), Marysville, Wisconsin, and
Ruth Finstuen (Mrs. Edward Moe) in Binford.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 245