Andrew L. Fogderud was born in Eker, Norway on November 8, 1861. At the age of twenty, he left his homeland and came to the United States of America. The first two years he lived in Wisconsin. Most of that time was spent in the lumber, camps in Northern Wisconsin where he endured many hardships.
In 1883 he came to North Dakota and homesteaded three miles east of Walum on the SW quarter of Section 22 in Greenfield Township. April 8, 1888 he was married to Ellen Anna Mossing.
Ellen Anna Mossing had also come from Norway. She was born March 25, 1868 in Aasen, Norway. When she was 15 years old, she decided she wanted to come to America. Her father, Peter Mossing, had gone to America, to Brandon, Minnesota, the previous year. She made the trip alone and the crossing took three weeks. The ticket cost $53, and she had to work more than a year to pay for it.
Three years later, in 1886, her mother and two of her sisters also came to this country to Brandon, Minnesota. The family then left Brandon and went to North Dakota. They traveled in a covered wagon drawn by oxen. They also brought a few cows with them and they had to be urged along, so part of Ellen's time was spent in walking behind the covered wagon. They traveled a distance of about 200 miles and it took them almost two weeks.
PETER MOSSING homesteaded three miles east of Walum on the NE quarter of Section 22 in Greenfield Township, so it happened that Ellen Anna and Andrew were neighbors when they met and later decided to get married. The marriage was performed in the Gunderson School located about one mile south of Walum. There was no church building in Walum at that time. When St. Olaf Church was built, they were charter members.
To this union were born six children:
Peter Ludvig died in infancy.
Cora married Eric Wallin and later moved to Steele, North Dakota.
Eric passed away in 1969. They had five boys:
- Clarence
- Norman
- Wayne
- Ralph
- Lloyd
Clarence passed away in 1964.
Alfred married Millie Bjugstad. Alfred passed away in 1957. They had four children:
- Floyd
- Harley
- Gerald
- June
Laura lived in Steele and passed away in 1965.
Conrad married Sylvia Syvertson. Conrad passed away in 1970. They had two daughters:
- Myrna
- Connie
Cora and Eva live in Steele, North Dakota.
Even though their brothers and sisters moved to Canada and California, Andrew and Ellen remained on the original homestead. Both of them were active workers in the community and church. Andrew passed away in 1926, and Ellen passed away in 1953.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 293