August (Olson) Palm was born in Sweden on October 26, 1856. He grew up in Sweden and came to America in 1880.
Selma (Johnson) Palm was born in Nerke, Sweden on October 18, 1857. It was in 1881, that she came to America and eventually to Chicago where she stayed until November of the following year when she came to Mayville. On May 22, 1884, she became the bride of August Palm. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Ohman in Hillsboro. Two weeks later the newlyweds came to Bartley Township to live on the farm where Mr. Palm had erected a sod house the previous year. This sod house was quite different from many sod houses at this time as it was boarded on the inside while others had no frame work excepting the window frames and door cases. This was to be their home until in 1887, when they moved into a small frame house, the lumber for which was hauled from Valley City. Ten more years tolled on when C. L. Peterson was hired to build an addition to the house.
Besides taking care of a family of nine children, Mother Palm laundered clothes for neighboring hired help. This included patching also and netted her $3.00 a week. All the clothes worn by the family were sewed by hand until in 1894, when she became the owner of a sewing machine. All the mittens and socks were also handmade and for these she spun the yarn. Another way in which she earned extra money was to board the school teacher which was her job as long as the one room schools were in use.
During the haying season, Mr. Palm would cut the hay before going out to work and it was Mrs. Palms duty to rake and bunch the hay with a hand rake.
As the years rolled by more land was acquired until at one time eight quarters were owned and operated by Mr. Palm and all the work was done by horse power. Threshing time came with even more work. For Mother Palm it meant the added task of cooking for 24 men without additional help.
Going to church on Sunday mornings was another real pioneer experience as they traveled in a lumber wagon for 20 miles.
Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Palm: Charles, Henry, David, Marcus, Fritz, Arthur (twin sister Jennie died at birth), Gustav, Oscar, Minnie and John (who died at six months).
Mr. Palm passed away in 1915, at the age of 59, and Mrs. Palm passed away in 1950, at the age of 92.
Source: Hannaford Area History North Dakota Centennial 1889 - 1989 Page 214