Ben Hans Overby

Ben Overby's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hans Overby, lived in Norway.  Ben Hans Overby was born in Norway January 25, 1873.  He came to America in 1875 to southern Minnesota where he was in the lumbering business.  He came to Cooperstown in May 1886, and began raising cattle.  Ben was the cowboy and herded cattle between Cooperstown and New Rockford.  Ben and his parents first lived on Section 12 in Bryan Township.  They lived in a sod house and barn combination.  Ben's farm burned in a prairie fire.  Ben never took part in a buffalo hunt but he did gather up buffalo bones and hauled them to Cooperstown for $16 a ton.  Ben married Sarah Larson, a sister of Ole Larson, in 1904.  They first lived on Section 12 in Rosendal but later moved to Section 34.  His children were: 

  1. Anne - Mrs. Henry Hagle.  She now lives in Cooperstown

  2. Emma - Mrs. Clarence Hackenson who now lives in New Rockford

  3. Hazel - Mrs. Floyd King

  4. Hans - now lives in Binford

  5. Sigfred - Mrs. Andrew Hagle who now lives in Valley City

  6. Leonard - now lives in Minneapolis

  7. Clara - Mrs. Ted Nelson and later Mrs. Eddie Wells.  She lives in Cooperstown

  8. Alma - Mrs. Raymond Watne of Binford

  9. Albin.

Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 417