On December 15, 1855 Halvor C. Johnson was born to Knut Johansen Hyttedalen and his wife, formerly Gro Halvorsdatter Hombredk in Oifjeld, near Rauland, Telemarken, Norway.
When Halvor was living in Norway he was known as Halvor Johnansen and he chose to retain this name in America, only Americanizing it to Johnson. He first worked as a farm laborer near the Twin Cities in Goodhue and Dakota Counties and spent his winters working in the woods near Northfield and Dundas. He took out his Homestead Rights in McPherson County, near Frederick and Leola, South Dakota. He saved up enough money to put up a shack and buy a small amount of equipment to put in a few acres of crop.
In 1889 Halvor's father passed away at his home in Norway. He bought a round trip ticket and went to visit his mother, brother and sisters. At the same time he renewed acquaintance with Anne Groven in Aamotsdol. Unbeknown to him, she had received a ticket to come to Hannaford from her brother E. H. Groven. Halvor and Anne came on the same boat, he steerage, and she second-class. They came by train past Niagara Falls on the way to the Groven home in Hannaford. Here they stayed for a short time before going by train to Ellendale, North Dakota on their way to his Homestead in South Dakota. While in Ellendale she had her wedding dress made by a seamstress. They were married in Ellendale in 1890 and drove to the Homestead. It turned out to be a hot, dry summer and they lost their crop to drought and grasshoppers. Halvor sold the Homestead Rights and land to a Russian for $100. He got a promissory note for the amount, but never collected on it. They loaded their light wagon with their possessions and drove back to Hannaford across country leading a horse and a cow. This was the fall of 1890. Back at Hannaford they set up housekeeping in the house on the Custer place near town.
There was need for rock to be shipped out to Bismarck where the Northern Pacific Railroad was building a bridge across the Missouri River. Rocks were picked on the bluffs of the Bald Hill Creek, loaded on flat cars to be shipped to Bismarck, by the men of the area. This was one of several temporary jobs that helped support the family after coming back to Hannaford. Their two oldest sons, Carl and Henry, were born during this time
Carl, December 15, 1890 and Henry, January 23, 1892.
Halvor looked over land in Barnes County and bought a half Section of Section 1-143-59 for $2.75 an acre. A few years later the school land to the north in Griggs County was up for bids. Several prospective buyers were on hand at the Court House in Cooperstown and bidding lasted throughout the day. He bought the S1/2 of Section 36-144-59, Griggs County, for $18.00 per acre. After they moved onto the farm in 1893, their third son, Albert, was born on November 24. Joseph was born February 20, 1897 and daughters Hazel, March 8, 1899 and Ellen, December 14, 1900.
The first barn was made with posts and poles across for a roof covered with hay or straw. Snowstorms would cover the barn with snow that had to be shoveled to get the door open in order to reach the stock inside. The later barn, still on the farm, was the first hip roof in the area. The original house was replaced by a larger one in 1903 and was built by the three Carrol brothers.
Treeless prairies of the Dakotas were a common sight. River bottoms were well covered with a variety of trees and berry bushes. In order to start a shelter grove around the homes, trees and bushes were brought from the Sheyenne, four miles to the east. Cottonwood and a few ash seedlings, in addition to willow cuttings were planted on the west side of the farmstead. Gooseberry and currant bushes were also brought the same way. It wasn't long before tree agents came directly to the farms taking orders for young trees. These were shipped in and distributed. The box-elder grove north of the buildings was started this way in 1906. Apple trees were added about the same time.
In those early days Indians would camp on the school Section on their way between reservations. They would dig ginseng roots, which were supposed to having healing qualities. The Indians would stop at the house for food or water and would offer game in return.
The children attended grade school in the Ladbury School about 2½ miles away in Barnes County. Henry was needed on the farm so only finished the 6th grade. Carl, Albert, Joseph and Ellen attended Concordia Academy. Carl also attended a term at St. Olaf Academy in Northfield, Minnesota, while Joseph and Albert finished college at St. Olaf.
The Lutheran Church at Hannaford was organized in 1898. Halvor was one of the charter members and a trustee until the late 1930's. Before the Hannaford church was organized they attended services in Walum.
In 1920 the parents retired from farming, moved to Hannaford, and within two years built a house in town. Carl then took over the farming. Henry had died in January 1919 of the dreaded 1918 flu-pneumonia. Albert became a practicing attorney and was vice-counsel for Norway for 25 years. He married Alma J. Peterson of Pelican Rapids and they became the parents of three children, Robert, Ruth and Rebecca. They made their home in Fargo. Alma passed away in January of 1971 after which Albert married Mae Haroldson. Joseph also became an attorney. He was a member of the FBI for 22 years and following his retirement taught criminal law at the University of Louisville, Kentucky. He married Elizabeth Buckley in 1932. Joseph passed away August 17, 1970 at Tampa, Florida. Hazel passed away March 28, 1914 having been ill since childhood. Ellen married Louis Larson of Hannaford, June 1, 1927. They farm near Hannaford. Anne Groven Johnson died in July of 1932 and Halvor in December 1939.
Carl lived on the family farm until 1945 when he moved into Hannaford. He married Emma Haugen Johnson, daughter of John J. Haugen, November 1, 1923. She was a widow with a son Ernest. The children born to the couple were Willard, Arthur, Esther, and twins Richard and Roland. Carl died in June 1962. He had served on the board of directors of the Karnak Farmers Elevator, as president of the Board of Directors of Security State Bank of Hannaford, as a member of the 1947 state legislature, as a county commissioner from 1954 until 1958, as a member of the Griggs County Hospital Board and as a trustee of Faith Lutheran Church.
Ernest Johnson married Della Nelson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Anton Nelson, and they farm near the Johnson home place in Barnes County. Their children are:
1. Wayne and Mavis (Mrs. Albert Grorud). Willard was killed in action in the European Theatre during WW II. Arthur married Florence Loge, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Loge. They have two children, Nancy and Gary. Arthur is superintendent of the school at Carrington. Esther lives in Long Beach, California with her husband Ronald Neuman and their children Carolyn and Jerry.
Roland farms and lives on the SE quarter of Section 32-14459 in Griggs County. His wife, Helen Poe, is from Modesto, California. They have four children, Connie, Dean, and twins Gwen and Gail.
Richard lives on and farms the home farm, which had been farmed by his grandfather and father before him. He married Phyllis Bjugstad of Barron, Wisconsin and they have four children, Sandra, Lynn, Kenley and Laurie.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 140