Andrew Dybwad came to the United States as an immigrant from Stjordal, -Norway in the year 1890 and settled at Colman, South Dakota. His wife to be, Margrethe Hegre, came a year later and they were married in January 1892. They rented a small farm near Colman and lived there until 1900 when they decided to move to North Dakota because of loss of crops from hail and drought. By now they had been blessed with five children, but the first born, a son, lived to be only 21 months old. The others were Peter, Agnes, Helen, and Haakon. They came to McHenry, lived with a relative the first winter. The next spring bought a quarter of land on the west edge of Griggs County in Kingsley Township. A small house was built on the place where the Dybwad farm is now. Here the rest of the family were born
Anna, Alma, Inga and Nina. There was no school near for the older children to attend when they reached school age, but by 1909 a schoolhouse was moved to within a mile and one-half of the home so the other children could start at the right age. This was called the Leininger School.
The closest town was McHenry, ten miles away and with horses the only means of travel. There were many hardships to endure especially in the winter when groceries and coal were needed. Papa suffered a stroke in October 1909, which left him so paralyzed for three months that mother had to feed him. As time went on he improved so rapidly that when the harvest season arrived he walked with crutches to the binder. The horses had been harnessed and hitched to the binder by Peter and Haakon. Peter was only fifteen years old at that time. That fall Papa cut all the grain. Besides caring for papa, mama had to care for the youngest, who was only ten months old. She also had to help with the outside chores. It was also mama who had to make the necessary trips to McHENRY.
Mother was a charter member of the Lutheran auxiliary and she helped organize by using a horse and buggy going to visit the ladies of the congregation.
In 1912 a larger house was built and also that year the Surrey Cut-off of the Great Northern railroad came through so many little towns sprung up along the line with Glenfield being only five miles away. Father passed away July 13, 1932. Mother passed away January 13, 1933.
This family as of now:
Peter still on the home place
Agnes Molskness a widow lives at Colman, South Dakota
Helen Walen a widow lives near Glenfield
Haakon left for his Heavenly home in January this year (1975)
Anna Lampert lives near Glenfield
Alma Walen a widow lives with Peter on home place
Inga Rorvig a retired schoolteacher lives at Binford and Nina Christopherson a pastor's wife lives at Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.
Written By Mrs. Martin Rorvig (Inga Dybwad)
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 324