Ole Overby (1848-1922) and his wife Anna Thorson (1860-1934) were natives of the Kongsvinger area of Eastern Norway. They came to the United States in the early 1880's, staying their first year with friends in the Motley, Minnesota area.
The following year they came west to Griggs County and began farming in Romness Township. Their first home was a log house a few feet north of the Ringsaker Church. The Overbys lived in their log house until about 1890 when they moved about three miles west and built, the farm where Selmer Dahl now lives. In 1902 they moved back into the valley and built the farm now occupied by Elmer Overby. They had six sons and three daughters.
T. P. (Pete) Overby (1883-1935) was employed by Greenland Lunde of Cooperstown and his son, Kermit, now resides in Falls Church, Virginia. His daughter Alfhild Loucks is in Winona, Minnesota and Lorraine is at Madison, Wisconsin.
Casper Overby lived on the family farm until he retired and moved into Cooperstown, North Dakota His son Elmer now occupies the farm.
Edwin Overby (1885-1903) lived on the farm until his death.
Alph Overby (1889-1964) lived at Finley, North Dakota where he operated a Chevrolet Garage, was employed by the FHA and later had a Real Estate and Insurance Agency. He had four children, Alph, who lives at Cooperstown, Margaret Alberg of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Philip of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Floyd of Oakland, California
Oscar Overby (1891-1964) was a member of the St. Olaf College faculty at Northfield, Minnesota. Mr. Overby was married to the former Gertrude Boe of Finley who for many years was the soloist for the St. Olaf College Choir. They have four children, Solveig Tschaan of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Osmond of Columbia, Missouri, Rolf, deceased, and Carl of Phoenix, Arizona
Alma Overby (1895-1973) married Severin Sola. They farmed in Romness Township and retired to Cooperstown, the Solas had two sons, Oscar, deceased and Arthur who farms their home farm in Romness. Severin Sola was born in Sola, Norway on April 1886. He came to the United States in 1912.
Klara Overby (1899-1973) married Ernie Duea of Sharon. The Dueas operated a hardware store in Sharon until they retired. They have a daughter Ruth Lillo of Hillsborrough, California
Mabel Overby married Emil Carlson and they lived at Martinez, California where he was employed by the Shell Oil Company until his retirement when they moved back to Cooperstown. Mrs. Carlson lives in Cooperstown at this time. The Carlsons did not have any children.
Melvin Overby died at the age of three.
The following second generation Overbys are residents of Griggs County:
Oscar Sola farmed in Romness Township. He was married to the former Lillian Quanbeck of McVille, North Dakota MT. Sola died in a car accident in 1960. His children, Sidney, LaNita, Adrian and Marshall live with their mother at Buhl, Minnesota.
Arthur Sola is married to the former LaVaine Larson of Binford, North Dakota They live on the Severin Sola Farm, in Romness Township where they farm with their son, Marvin. Their other children are, Warren, employed on the farm and in local construction, Kathryn, employed at the Mayville Nursing Home and Michael is employed at the Farmers Elevator in Cooperstown.
Elmer Overby lives on the original Overby farm. He is married to the former Edna Everson of Walum and their children are, Wanda Stark in Arizona, Linda Otto at Towner, North Dakota, Lloyd of Fargo, North Dakota and Wayne, Lonnie and Westley at home.
Alph Overby is married to the former Meriel Haugen of Gilby, North Dakota. Mr. Overby is an attorney at Cooperstown, North Dakota Their children are:
Signe Nelson of Omaha, Neb., Peter, Eric and Sonia, at Cooperstown.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 405