Omund Nelson Opheim was born September 29, 1829 in Norway. He and his wife, Kari, came from Decorah, Iowa to Dakota Territory in 1879 and settled on Section 12, Washburn Township. They were the first settlers in Griggs County. Many of the early settlers came to the Opheim home and from there spread out to their own homestead sites. The log cabin built by the Opheims and now located on the courthouse lawn in Cooperstown, was the first home in Griggs County. The lime used for the house was obtained by burning limestone found on the premises. Their first crops were sown by hand, cragged by a homemade drag, and cut with a flail. This farm remained in the Opheim ownership for ninety-five years. Omund and Kari Opheim had two children, Nels J. and Martha. Martha married Gustaf Olson. They had five children:

Johnny, Oscar, Martin, Katrina (Anderson), and Clara (Johanson). Mr. Olson left his family and Martha and children went home to live with her mother and brother, Nels. Due to Martha's health, the grandmother raised the children except Clara who was raised by the Ole Bolkans. Nels J. Opheim married Ingeborg Larson Haugse in 1893. They had three sons and one daughter

Omund Norman (18941970) married Alice Pramhus

George Edward (18951963)

Carl (1900-1952) married Helen Wohlman. They have two children:

Carl, Seattle and Mrs. Richard (Karen) Stone, Cheyenne, Wyoming

Clara (1898), Valley City, married William Bostrom. They have two sons, Claris William and Floyd, both of Valley City.

Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 487