Ole Groff born in Gol, Halingdol, Norway and Bergit Rotniem born June 12, 1829 also in Gol, were married there and came to the United States sometime in the 1880's. First to Minnesota, then to Dakota Territory, they settled near the Sheyenne River, East half of Section 24, Pilot Mound Township, Griggs County. Later they moved to 40 acres in Lenora Township, South East corner of Section 23.
Ole Groff was a brother of Mrs. Ludvig Stokkeland's Grandmother, Lina Groff, who was married to John Johnson living near Cooperstown, North Dakota
Ole Groffs had seven children:
Käri married Thorbjorn Huso from Telemark, Norway. They lived near Aneta in Lenora Township.
Barbo married a Hanson and lived in Minnesota.
Belsey married Sveinum Knutson. They lived near Aneta and later moved to California.
Ole married Bella Lestul.
Mabel married a Helgeland near Kloten, North Dakota
Seword married a Kloten lass, lived in Tacoma, Washington.
Engebret lived in Minnesota.
Berget died in 1893 and Ole Groff married again to a Swedish girl, Belsey. They lived on this farm of 40 acres. They had one son:
Charley. Ole Groff raised mostly cattle and in her youth, Mrs. Ludvig Stokkeland herded cattle for them.
Ole Groff died July 22, 1926. 89 years old.
Belsey Groff died March 23, 1924. 79 years old.
Belsey was a midwife and was on hand when Manley Torgerson was born at the home of Nels Torgerson.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 371