One of the first settlers in Willow Township was Jacob Myhre. He was born in Ringebu, Gudbransdalen, Norway, on March 7, 1843.

In the spring of 1867, he was married to Mathia Berg, and shortly after that they left by sailboat for America. It took them 13 weeks to cross the ocean. They first settled in Fillmore County, Minnesota. Jacob and Mathia had seven children, of which four died while still in Minnesota. He also lost his wife there on August 19, 1876.

In the spring of 1882, he came, with his three remaining children, to North Dakota They made the trip in a covered wagon and oxen, bringing 20 head of cattle, plus household goods. It took them three weeks and four days to complete the journey to Griggs County. They made their home in the covered wagon for two months before making a dug-out, with a sod roof and dirt floor, which was their home until 1896. The nearest town was Mayville, 50 miles across country, where Jacob would go by oxen and a hayrack. To help keep his feet warm, he would put hay in gunnysacks. He became a citizen of the United States October 29, 1894. John Oie and Knute Thompson were the witnesses.

The three remaining children contracted diphtheria. Two boys, Kindor (11 years) and Ole (8 years), died en-route to Griggs County, leaving Mr. Myhre with his only daughter, Janna (7 years), who then had to take over the household duties.

Jacob Myhre was a member of West Prairie Lutheran Church. Janna was in the first class to be confirmed there, officiated by Reverend Larson in 1889.

Later he transferred to Trinity Lutheran at Binford of which he was a member until his death on January 13, 1925.

Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 500