Herbert and Hilda Hoehn Sonju have lived on Section 10-144-60, Bartley Township since their marriage January 15, 1948. This is where Herb's father, Andrew filed for homestead rights on October 29, 1888.
Herb was born December 30, 1904. He attended the Palm and Campbell Schools and was in the first eighth grade class which graduated from the Bartley Consolidated School. He was engaged in extensive grain farming since 1931, and occupied the home farm since the spring of 1942. He was a breeder of registered Shorthorn cattle for 26 years. He was a member of the American Shorthorn Assn. Herb was the clerk of Bartley Township for 17 years, a member of the board of directors of the Hannaford elevator for many, many years, and a trustee and active member of St. Olaf Church in Walum and the Trinity Parish Council. In 1956, he was chosen Soil Conservationist of the year in Griggs County.
Hilda Hoehn was born in Gladstone, Manitoba, Canada, the daughter of August and Louisa Hoehn. She was one of eight children in the family. In 1926, Hilda moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she was a cateress. After her marriage she continued her vocation of cake baking and baked beautiful wedding and special occasion cakes for people for miles around. She has been a very active member of St. Olaf Church where she served as president of their women’s organization for over 20 years. Work with the altar guild has been of special interest to her. She organized their Altar Guild and continues to be a part of it.
Herb's father, Andrew H. Sonju was born in Dane County, Wisconsin, January 2, 1856. After a short time his parents moved to St. Croix County, Wisconsin, near Hammond where he grew to manhood, attending grade and Normal School at River Falls. He taught school for a few terms and had the experience of a log roller on the Menomonie River floating logs from the woods to the saw mills. In 1883, he immigrated to Griggs County where he worked in construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad between Hannaford and Cooperstown. He spent the winter in a dug out with a Mr. Fortney located on a hillside on the Southwest 1/4 of Section 12 in Bartley Township. The site is still plainly visible.
Andrew married Omaranda Fosness, November 1903, in St. Paul, Minnesota. She was born at Stenkjaer, Norway June 22, 1880. Eight children were born to Andrew and Omaranda: Herbert, Theodore, Alfred A., Amor, Elswerth, Maynard, Eleanor and Raymond. Mrs. Sonju passed away in 1918, and Andrew in 1936. They were early members of St. Olaf Church at Walum. Alfred A. died in 1955, Amor in 1965, Elswerth in 1960, Eleanor in 1965, Raymond in 1978, and Herbert June 22, 1977.
Hilda continues to live in her home on the farm and keeps active with church activities, quilting and other hand work. She is a member of the St. Olaf Church Council and still works with the Altar Guild.
Source: Hannaford Area History North Dakota Centennial 1889 - 1989 Page 233