My parents Halvor and Bertina Urness were born at Lansboro, Minnesota, in Folmore County. They were married March 29, 1894. Five of the children were born in Minnesota Halvor came to Griggs County and thrashed for 2 falls, then in 1905 they moved here and bought land. Four more children were born and one died in infancy.
I was born in Cooperstown Township and at the age of three we moved to Tyrol where Dad built the big Urness house. It is still standing.
We went to country school about two miles from our home. Sometimes we'd walk or we would be allowed to drive horse and buggy. I had a trap-line and would often check my traps on the way to school. I wanted to save money to buy an accordion. When I was 13 years old my folks gave me one for Christmas. Oh! How I would practice. Mother had to call up to me to go to bed. I finally got so I could play for many house parties. I also played for P. T. A. at school.
My brother Nels was going with a girl and he introduced me to her sister, who I later fell in love with and married. Agnes Halvig was her name and she was from Aneta.
In 1935 Agnes left for California, I thought I had lost her forever. I finally got up enough nerve to write her.
I got her address from her sister Alfield who was by then married to my brother. In 1938 I wrote and asked her to marry me. She said she would, she was not happy in California We were married in the Parsonage in Aneta by Reverend Overbo, the same minister who confirmed us both. It poured down rain that day. When we got home my Mother and sisters had a big wedding reception for us. There were about a hundred guests and many gifts.
We lived with my Mother and farmed with her for 5 years. Later we bought the Ost place and started to remodel it. We put in bathroom and running water. We had to have a big tank upstairs for water pressure. Later we got R. E. A.
Our Mother Bertina Urness lived to attend the 25th Wedding Anniversary of all her children. She was 93 when she died.
My sisters and brothers:
Bertha, married Henry Quam. They bought a farm in Griggs County. They were both deaf mutes, but they did real well. She died in 1946.
Nels married Alfield Halvig. They farmed till they bought a house in Cooperstown where they ran a Drive In and Nels worked at the Hospital. They have two girls, Beatrice, married to Sydney Harvey of Finley. Arlene is married to Clarence Bednar of Bald Hill.
Carl is married to Florence Nierenberg. They also farmed till they retired in Cooperstown. They have two children, Edward and Mavis. Edward lives on the Nierenberg Homestead. He married Julianne Erickson. They have four daughters:
Linda, Brenda Kay, Eva Jane, and Luanne, and one son Mark.
Ida married Max Borchert. They still live on the Borchert farm in Tyrol.
Andrew married Clara Wahl. They have a son Harlan who lives at home and a daughter, Beverly, married to Earl Palmer who live at rural Sharon with their children, Marlene, Janine, Kevin, and Keith. The Andrew Urnesses purchased the farm where they live in 1938 from Dr. Almklov located in Cooperstown Township.
Bernice married Elmer Arndt they farmed in Tyrol.
Their only daughter is Elaine. Bernice died on April 20, 1973.
Agnes and I have three in our family. Allen is married, has four children. He taught 2 years in Chico University. Harold is a licensed contractor. He also is married and has three children. Shirley's husband has his own tree service. They have four sons.
We moved to Chico, California in 1955 where I work at Victor Industries. We sold the farm in North Dakota, so we don't go back as often now, but we will never forget all the good memories we have as children growing up in Griggs County.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 279