Oscar Ouren was born in Norway in 1886 and was five years old when he came to the United States with his sisters Bertha (Bess) and Christine and his mother. His father, Jergen Johnson, a sea captain, had died some time before. His mother was a sister of Ed Stai, Mrs. Henry Gullickson and Mrs. Christ Nolen. His mother, Bertha, married Simon Ouren, a widower with three children in 1892. They lived on Simon's homestead. Later Bess married Thorvald (Tom) Vigesaa. Christine became a registered nurse and was never married.
Oscar tried his luck at homesteading near Grassy Lake, Alberta, Canada and in 1909 came back to Cooperstown and married Edna Johnson, daughter of Andrew Johnson, and they both returned to Canada. Oscar farmed and also did carpentry work until 1911 when they returned to Cooperstown due to the illness of his mother. Their first son Clifford had been born in Canada.
In 1914 he built a house in Hannaford and moved his family there. He worked as a carpenter/contractor, and at one time had two crews of men working for him. They built many barns and houses in the area. During the depression he repaired barns and property for the Bank of North Dakota.
Oscar and Edna had seven children:
Clifford of Fargo - married Lorraine Barry, worked for a bread company of Fargo, and also the Fargo Park Board. No children. Marvin of Reno, Nevada. Worked with his dad doing carpentry for some time, then worked 25 years as Standard Oil Bulk agent in Hannaford before moving to Reno. He married Lillian Walen of Hannaford. Their children are:
1. Virgil, Carolyn, Janice and Richard. Bernice - missionary in Mexico since 1944. She never married. Thelma - Mrs. Otto Watne, of Cooperstown where they farm. Son Paul. Glenn of Huntsville, Alabama. Married Audrey Skjeret of Dazey. Children are:
2. Glenn Allen and Candace. Claire - Mrs. Kenneth Lunn of Hannaford where they farm. She had spent 11 years in West Pakistan as a missionary prior to her marriage. They have two children - Joanne and James.
Stanley of Jamestown. He married Estella Runnels. They have two sons - Steven and Gregory. He works for the Burlington Northern Railway as a cook.
Oscar died in 1942 and Edna in 1971. Grandson Virgil, a grade school principal, was killed in Reno, Nevada, in 1972.
During WW II Clifford and Glenn served in the Air Force and Stanley in the Navy.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 page 152