Erick Heyerdahl was born January 1, 1859, in Pierce County, Wisconsin. His parents were Christopher and Margaret Heyerdahl and were both born in Norway. When Erick was old enough to work he helped his father on the farm and worked in the woods in the winter.
In the spring of 1882, Erick Heyerdahl came by train to Dakota to seek a homestead. There was prairie all around except here and there a shanty. April 16, 1882, Erick filed on Section 30-144-60, and broke 30 acres of land. In the fall of 1882, he built a claim shanty 14 feet by 16 feet and rented out his farm until 1888.
Erick Heyerdahl worked for Charlie Mosley, Helena Township for five years and in the fall of each year went back to Wisconsin to work in the woods. The first few years, Mr. Heyerdahl hauled wood for Mr. Mosley from the Sheyenne River 20 miles from his farm. He left in the morning at 3:00 with horses and sleigh and got back in the evening around 9:00.
Erick Heyerdahl was married in Valley City in 1887, to Madle Warberg. They came to Griggs County and started farming. Mr. Heyerdahl bought his first machinery in 1888, which consisted of a binder, plow, wagon and drag. He got nothing out of his crop this year as all the crops around were frozen.
Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Heyerdahl and all were born in Griggs County. They were Melvin, Gilbert, Carl, Elmer and Myrtle. Elmer passed away when three years old. The other boys farmed in the area. Carl farmed the home place until he left the farm to be mail carrier out of Hannaford.
Charles and Earl did farm the home place. Now Erick and Gary farm the home place, making the fourth generation there. It is also a Centennial Farm as it was homesteaded over 100 years ago.
Mr. and Mrs. Heyerdahl farmed for many years there going through the usual hardships of the early days. Their home burned in 1889, and a new home was built in 1900, same year as the first Eidfjord Church was built and that year they had no crop as it dried up. They bought a home in Valley City so as to be close to school. For many years the schools were open only a few months during the summer.
Daughter, Myrtle Michaelson can remember them making trips to Valley City with a horse and buggy. Also them telling of trips they made to Maddock, North Dakota, where they had relatives.
Mrs. Heyerdahl came from Norway with her mother, brothers and sisters. She was 17 years when they came here and went directly to Fergus Falls, Minnesota. She came to North Dakota to visit a sister, Mrs. Christ Sabby, who had come here earlier. She got a job at the Charles Mosley home where Mr. Heyerdahl was employed at the time. They lived in Griggs County most of their lives and celebrated their 60th anniversary in 1947.
Their son, Melvin, married Gertrude Nelson and farmed in Barnes County. Gilbert married Agnes Halvorson. They farmed for a few years and then moved to Minneapolis where he was a carpenter. Their daughters, Alpha and Elizabeth, live in Minneapolis. Myrtle married Omer Michaelson.
Carl, born on the farm January 18, 1897, lived at home and went to UND for two years. He spent one year in the Navy being stationed at Great Lakes Naval Training Center. On April 1, 1919, Carl and Anna Sad, whose parents homesteaded in Dover Township, were married at Moorhead, Minnesota, and farmed the home place. There were seven children born of this marriage: Elenore Jordan, Fargo; Margaret Agnew, California; Dorothy Lommen, Bismarck, North Dakota; and Charles Heyerdahl, Hannaford, North Dakota. Deceased are: Eric, 1945; Barbara Mahlke, 1979; and Earl, 1986.
Carl ran a grocery store in Walum from about 1926-1939, and then was a rural mail carrier at Hannaford until he retired. Carl passed away May 26, 1968, and his wife, Anna, August 24, 1971.
Charles, Carl's son was born February 22, 1925, on his grandfather's homestead in Bartley Township. On December 31, 1948, he married Martha Lunde at Williston, North Dakota. There were four children born of this marriage: Linda Dahl, Horace; Pamela Hanson, Fargo; Eric and Gary farm the home place Centennial Farm.
Source: Hannaford Area History North Dakota Centennial 1889 - 1989 Page 156