Kathryn, North Dakota
is a farmer. He was born in Gaarden Aas in Vestnes on February 28, 1866 and emigrated to America in 1884 to Valley City, North Dakota,. He purchased farm at Sandprairie in 1893 and has lived ther since as a farmer. He now has 800 acres of good land and a beautiful home which was built in 1907.
His wife, Maria Martinsen, was born in Wisconsin of Norwegian parents who emigrated from Østerdalen. Her mother, Mrs. Marit Flaaten lives on a farm one mile from their home. Her father is dead. They have eight children. The two oldest sons, Herman and Melvin, are on the farm. The the two oldest daughters, Gjertrud and Martha, are also at home and they are smart and helpful in his home. The remaining children, Josef, Hagni, Emma and Josefine are still of school age. Henrik Helland is the director of the Farmers State Bank in Kathryn, North Dakota and has been at the start of both this and the Farmers Flour Mill in Kathryn. He is also on the building committee for Romsdolernes new Church at Sandprairie. He is an industrious, active man and has done well for the remaining Romsdolingers at Sandprairie.
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When I met with Henrik Helland I also had the opportunity to meet a graduate from Concordia College, Miss Bella Tollofsen, who holds Norwegian School and lives with Helland. On an automobile trip from a youth meeting in Voldheim Church she reminded me of a young girl that I one time gave a book to as a prize at a meeting of students associated with Concordia for her superior declamation of "Strange Me”, which I had a chance to see. It was Miss Tollefsen. Now I see that she teaches the Romsdolernes children "Arne’s Song."
Source: Norwegians and Norwegian Homes in America by Hans Jervell - 1916 - Page 55