Andrew L. Fogderud was born in Eker, Norway, November 8, 1861. At the age of 20, he left his homeland and came to the United States. He lived in Wisconsin for two years. Most of that time was spent in lumber camps in northern Wisconsin where he endured many hardships.
In 1883, he came to North Dakota and homesteaded three miles east of Walum on the Southwest quarter of Section 22 in Greenfield Township. April 8, 1888, he was married to Ellen Anna Mossing.
Ellen Anna Mossing had also come from Norway. She was born on March 25, 1868, in Aasen, Norway. Her parents were Peter P. Mossing and Ingeborg Olesen, daughter of Bord Olesen and Mali Lia Haugen. There were three other daughters in the family:
1. Bina, who was married to Martinus Monson;
2. Oline, married to Tom Mossing; and
3. Hanna, married to Isaac Mossing.
When Ellen Anna was 15 years old, she decided she wanted to come to America. Her father had gone to Brandon, Minnesota, the previous year. She made the trip alone and the crossing took three weeks. The ticket cost $53, and she had to work more than a year to pay for the ticket.
Three years later in 1886, her mother and two of her sisters also came to Brandon, Minnesota. The family then left Brandon and went to North Dakota. They traveled in a covered wagon drawn by oxen. They brought cows with them. They had to be urged along so part of Ellen Anna's time was spent walking behind the covered wagon. They traveled a distance of approximately 200 miles and it took them almost two weeks to make the trip.
Peter Mossing, a farmer and foreman on a road crew, homesteaded three miles east of Walum on the Northeast quarter of Section 22 in Greenfield Township, so it happened that Ellen Anna and Andrew were neighbors when they met and later decided to be married. The marriage was performed in the Gunderson School located about one mile south of Walum. There was no church building in Walum at that time. When St. Olaf Lutheran Church was built, they were charter members.
Six children were born to this union: Peter Ludvig (died in infancy), Cora, Alfred, Laura, Eva and Conrad.
1. Peter Ludvig (died in infancy)
2. Cora married Eric Wallin and later moved to Steele, North Dakota, where Eric was an elevator manager. Eric passed away in 1969, and Cora in 1976. They had five sons: Clarence (deceased), Norman, Wayne, Ralph (deceased), and Lloyd.
3. Alfred married Millie Bjugstad. Alfred farmed in the Hannaford area. Alfred passed away in 1957, and Millie in 1988. They had four children: Floyd (deceased), Harley, Gerald and June.
4. Laura worked and lived in Steele, North Dakota. She passed away in 1965.
5. Eva taught school in many schools in North Dakota, was the Griggs County superintendent of schools, and later worked for the North Dakota State Library in Bismarck. Eva passed away in 1987.
6. Conrad married Sylvia Syvertson. Conrad continued to farm the land his parents had homesteaded. Conrad passed away in 1970. They have two daughters: Myrna and Connie.
Even though Andrew and Ellen Anna's brothers and sisters moved to Canada and California, Andrew and Ellen Anna remained on the original homestead. Both of them were active workers in the community and church. Andrew passed away in 1926, and Ellen Anna passed away in 1953.
Source: Hannaford Area History North Dakota Centennial 1889 - 1989 Page 114