In 1979, Orville Norland compiled a 70-page genealogical record of the Norland family tree and he published and distributed 300 copies of that information. In the dedication of that record, Orville commented that 40 years previous, his father, Olaus P. 'Ole' Norland had gathered together many of the vital statistics from his own father's family history. In presenting the results of his 10-year effort, Orville said: "Please forgive me for any errors I may have made. If you will notify me of the errors, I will correct the record so that someone in the future may wish to update this geneaolgy." Now we have the opportunity to place portions of this record in a somewhat revised format on a website on the Internet where anyone who may have an interest can view it. And we now extend that same request to please provide any corrections and/or additional information that will improve both accuracy and completeness.

1824 Peder Norland was born on the Norland family farm which was located on the west coast of Norway. From Stavanger, Norway, you cross a fjord to Tau and from Tau you travel about five miles. The farm is in a beautiful setting in the rolling hills high above the fjord.

The Norland home served many generations of Norlands. It is the same house in which Peder, and his father and his son Ole was born. As of 1979, the home was not occupied, but was still in good condition. The widow of Thormod Norland, a grandson of Peder, whose name is Emma and her son Tormod Ingvar live on the farm and have built a beautiful new home very near the original farm.

Little is known about the family of Peder Norland, his father, mother, brothers, and sisters. He had an older brother by the name of Jonas P. Norland who was born on January 6, 1819. This brother married Serie Strand, who was a sister of Peder Norland's wife Serena Strand, Ole's mother. The Jonas Norlands had two sons and two daughters when they came to America in 1853. They had nine more children after they came to America, three of whom died early in life.

The Jonas Norlands lived most of their lives in Benton County, Iowa, after coming to America. That became the 'home' for many of the Norway folks and especially the other Norlands who came to America later. One of their daughters, Anna Marie, married a Tow and they had 17 children. Another daughter, Ubjor J., married Tjossem and had 14 children. The only Norland sons of Jonas to marry and have families were Jonas J. and Sam J.

Peder Norland and his wife Serena (Strand) Norland had seven children.

1862 Olaus P. 'Ole' Norland (by Orville Norland 1978) In the 1930's, Ole made many factual records of the Norland family up to that time, and many of the vital statistics used in this genealogy are taken from those records. Ole was born in the Strand area of Norway. His wife, Annie (Halverson) Norland (b: Dec 2, 1868 - d: Feb 27, 1914) was born a short distance to the west. The Strand area of Norway is across the fjord from Stavanger in an area referred to as Solbakk, which, in English means "Sun on Back." The west coast of Norway is considered by many to be the most beautiful area of Norway. Ole and Annie did not know each other in Norway and they never had the opportunity to return to Norway after coming to America. At age 16, Ole came with his only sister Eliana to America. His older brother, Peder, had come to America earlier and married Gonla Halverson, who was Annie's oldest sister. Ole and Annie had known each other early on, but married much later at the home of Annie's sister Jergina who had married a Jacob Peterson who had lived near Badger, Iowa. This was in July of 1887. They lived and farmed in the Badger area for the next five years, where their first two children were born.

Being pioneers, they moved to O'Brien County in Northwestern Iowa near Paullina where they lived and farmed for another four years. They thought that since this was a newer area in Iowa it offered greater opportunities. While there, they had two more children.

In 1896, they moved to Nobles County, Minnesota, about 60-miles further north from where they had lived in Iowa. This area, near Brewster, was a new area and was the land of golden opportunity. It was to become the home of the Norland family as well as for a brother, Axel, and several of Annie's brothers in the years to come. The land was gained by homestead rights, but was considered cheap and it is believed that Ole paid $10.00 per acre for that land, consisting of 192 acres. Ole said he was not sure how he would ever be able to pay for that land, but the one who sold the land to him assured him that all he needed to worry about was to make enough so that he could pay the interest on the mortgage. That, in itself, was a big order, as it must be remembered that there was, to use Ole's term, "not a stick or a tree on the whole place." There was some water, however, as a creek ran across one corner of the property, and a trail that did not properly follow the section line was also there where the home was eventually built.

Think about this: A young Norwegian couple traveled by team and wagon for some 60-miles with all their worldly possessions without buildings or even a fence and really without any money to establish for themselves a new home. We give lip service to pioneer stories, but little do we realize the true spirit it required, together with the abilitiy it took to say nothing of the labor it required.

At first they built what was later called a summer kitchen and that was their first home. Later, they built a new home, farm buildings, planted shade trees and fruit trees, put up fences, and farmed the land. Ole liked to refer to this place as the "Maple Hill Farm." Here Annie gave birth to six more children.

After building the farm home, it was necessary to have a school for the children and also a church. Ole and Annie were always available when there were problems to be solved. Not only were the school buildings built, but Ole served for many years on the school board and the church board, after having given freely of his time in construction of both the school and church buildings, as well as having shared in bearing the materials costs. When it became known that there was such a thing as a telephone, Ole was there to help with the construction of the telephone lines and often helped to service the telephone when there was trouble. Also, Ole was a major promoter of the Farmer's Elevator Company of Brewster, which was a huge success and he served on its governing board all the years he remained in the vicinity.

Ole and Annie sold "the old home place" in 1912 for a price of $105 per acre with possession to be taken on March 1, 1913. There was another farm that Ole especially liked just 3/4ths of a mile south that could be bought for only $65.00 per acre and it was directly across from the one-room school house which all 10 children attended. There were seven still in school at that time with the youngest about to start. Just think, no more school lunches to make up after all these years. Instead, the children could now come home for a hot lunch.

The new farm, however, as with the first one, had "not a stick nor a tree" on it. But there would be new woven wire fences so the whole place would be "hog tight," and this new place would have, and did have, an all new modern home. This was not the average home of that day as few, if any, farm homes were modern. This new house was 32 feet square with a full basement finished and partitioned and with a third floor finished. There was heat in every room from a furnace in the basement. There were gas lights and running water and a bathroom and even an indoor toilet. There were bedrooms so that only two had to share a bedroom instead of the customary four to a bedroom. There would be room to sleep all of the family comfortably. There was a pantry with all the cabinet room mother could wish for and a kitchen that had room to feed everyone at the table during the week, and when company would come on Sunday, there was a dining room.

Shortly after the sale of the "old home place," it was not long until things were put into motion and with a new hen house, we would have a temporary kitchen and place to eat with one end curtained off for father and mother's bedroom. Also, the two youngest girls were to share this room. The new grainery with its new grain bins was ideal for the two older girls who were still at home. The boys used the other grain bins and even the hay mow made fine bedrooms in case of need. These were built in the fall and winter of 1912-13 and by the time moving day came on March 1, 1913, things were in quite good order. Then with the building of the new house during the summer and fall, the family was soon to be located in the new home. This was accomplished and the family managed to move in and have Thanksgiving dinner in the new home on that Thanksgiving Day of 1913. It was only to be mother's new home until February as she got pnemonia on Monday, February 23, and passed away on Friday, February 27, 1914.

Father understandably had some bad moments, but he did keep the two youngest girls with him for the next several years. Although he was only 51 years of age at the time of mother's passing, he never married again. There seemed to be just too many memories and reminders of what had been and what might have been continuing to live in the Brewster area. So much so, that he decided to sell the place and, once again, move farther north to a new place. In 1918, he sold the "new place" and moved to near Arthur, North Dakota where he purchased a farm that had nearly new buildings on it.

The poor crops that followed for the next few years made this farm a bad investment and he turned it over to his oldest son, Harry, who held it for a number of years before finally selling it. That farm was beautiful and could almost be considered to have been landscaped. Father had paid $110 per acre for the land and in the fall of 1979, the owners at that time said that they would not consider selling it for $1,500 per acre.

Father left North Dakota in about 1924 and for his remaining years, went from one of his children's homes to another to live. He was always welcome wherever he went and all of his children were always glad to have him come and sad to see him leave. After a trip to Rochester and the Mayo Clinic to try to find the cause of the stomach pains he developed, doctors advised against by-pass surgery. So, Ole asked to be moved to Worthington, Minnesota, to be "closer to his last ride" as he put it. He died a week later on November 2, 1943. Services were held at the Norwegian Lutheran Church in Brewster, Minnesota.

1877 (apparently Ole's nephew?) (from a 1978 writing by Selma Norland Holden) Peder Norland was born on the Norland farm near Tau and Stavanger, Norway and he owned a fishing business in Norway. At the age of 22, he decided to move to America and he settled in Iowa and worked for his uncle for a while. He then moved to Minnesota where he worked for a German family. That is where he learned to speak English. In 1904, he homesteaded northwest of Burke, South Dakota. Later he met his wife Annette who worked in a hotel in Burke. He used to say, "She was the prettiest woman that walked the streets of Burke." Annette was born in Vtbjoa, Norway, the oldest child of Kari and Stain Sevenson. She was the only one of her immediate family to come to America. She came to Chicago where she had many relatives. Later, an Aunt and Uncle persuaded her to go to South Dakota to homestead. That is where she met and eventually married Peder in October, 1910. They moved to Tripp County near Colome, South Dakota, on Annette's homestead, and that was their home for the rest of their lives. They were both hard workers and Peder was very handy and could do almost any type of work. On October 3, 1944, Annette was killed in a car wreck on a blind corner and the neighbor did not see the on-coming car. Peder died on January 9, 1954. As of 1979, their son Arthur still lived no that same farm that had belonged to Peder and Annette.

1889 Pauline Norland Ohme - buried at Hersey Cemetery Brewster, Minnesota
For everything there is an appointed season. And a time for everything under heaven. A time for sharing. A time for caring. A time for loving. A time for giving. A time for remembering. A time for parting. You have made everything beautiful in its time. For everything you do remains forever.

1899 Adolph Norland moved to Arthur ND in 1918 and returned to Minnesota two years later. Married Esther Anamy Carlson on June 9, 1920 at the Lutheran Church Parsonage in Brewster. Children: three sons and two daughters. Lived in North Dakota until 1928 when they returned to Minnesota and farmed in the Heron Lake, Wilder, and Windom areas. Adolph suffered a heart attack in 1955 and was forced to discontinue farming and moved to Windom. He worked for Toro Manufacturing Company in Windom for eleven years after moving to Windom. Adolph was active in the Delafield Lutheran Church where he served on the church council. He was very concerned about the welfare of his family and others in the communities in which he lived. He was a member of the Heron Lake School Board, a 4-H leader, a member of the Farm Bureau, and active in the Toro Employee's Union. He enjoyed fishing as a hobby as well as doing carpentry work, and he helped with the Cottonwood county Historical building and the Delafield Church. Adolph could always be counted on for support in time of crisis by his family and friends. A week before he died, he suffered a heart attack and was in the Windom Hospital, apparently recovering well when he suffered another attack and passed away on November 11, 1976. Preceding him in death were thre ebrothers and one son, Donald Wayne. Surviving him were his wife Esther, two sons and two daughters: Neil Gordon Norland, Mrs. Lyal (Ardith May) Langland, both of Windom; Mrs. Ralph (Carol Faye) Pauquette of South Hadley Falls, Massachusetts, and Bruce Norland of Heron Lake, Minnesota, plus eight grandchildren, one great grandson, five sisters, and one brother. Adolph's wife Esther was born Aug 27, 1900 at Heron Lake, Minnesota and died Mar 22, 1985 in Windom MN. She was the daughter of John and Minnie (Anderson) Carlson. She was baptized on March 14, 1920 and confirmed on Sep 26, 1920. On June 9, 1920, Esther and Adolph Thomas Norland were married at the Lutheran parsonage in Brewster MN. The moved to North Dakota until 1928 and then returned to Minnesota, making their home at Pipestone, Heron Lake, and Wilder before moving to Windom in 1955. Member of Delafield Lutheran Church near Wilder and actively participated in church work as a Sunday School teacher and member of the Altar Guild and Ladies Aid. She was also a member of the Town and Country Garden Club. She had 11 brothers and sisters and five children: Donald, Neil, and Ardith Langland in Windom; Carol (Mrs. Ralph Paquette) of South Hadley Falls, Massachusetts; and Bruce Norland of Heron Lake. 8 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren. Brothers Claude Carlson of Heron Lake and Leonard Carlson of Birchwood Wisconsin; 2 sisters, Pearl Schemmel and Mabel Seleen of Windom.

1903 Orville Norland Lived most of his life in Burwell NE, Broken Bow NE, and Sun City AZ. Businessman and community leader. Born to Ole and Anna (Halberson) Norland. Graduated from Barnes Commercial College with a degree in business administration. Married Zola A. Bonebright (b: Nov 6, 1899 d: Feb 3, 1985) of Lincoln, Nebraska on Aug 14, 1928. Retired to Sun City in March 1970. Mrs. Norland died Feb 3, 1985. Orville came to Nebraska from Wyoming withi his brother Harry, opened department stores in Broken Bow and Burwell in 1929. A store in Sargent was added in 1945 and he managed those stores until 1960. Served as Burwell's mayor until becoming manager of the Broken Bow Chamber of Commerce in 1965. Elected president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce Executives. President of the Burwell Board of Education and served on its building committee. Also served on the Community Memorial Hospital building committee and bought the land for the Burwell airport. Member of the Masonic Lodge, Wheatland, Wyoming, Blazing Star Lodge of Burwell; Scottish Rite and Shrine of Hastings NE. While serving as master of the Burwell Masonic Lodge, he was instrumental in getting a new lodge building constructed. Member of the Congregational Church board of trustees in Burwell and helped organize a Sunday school classrooms addition. A member of the Church of Palms in Sun City and charter member of the Sun City Lodge. Served as president of the association to implement earlier completion of highway 91. Survived by one son, Lyle Norland of Corona, California; seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one sister, Mabel Lowder of DesMoines, WA. Preceded in death by his wife and one son, J. Don.

1905 Ellen Norland's first husband was Harley Byron Thomas. He was born Aug 11, 1908 in Elwood, NEbraska and died Nov 13, 1950 at St. Anthony, Idaho. He was a Veteran of Foreign Wars, Pony Express Post 5132, Gothenberg, Nebraska.

1908 Mabel Enger Norland Lowder  was born at Brewster, Nobles County, Minnesota and received her early education ina one-room school which all the Norland children had attended. At age 11, she moved to North Dakota with her father, two brothers, and sister Ellen. Some time later, she and her father had a little grocery store in Badger, Iowa where they lived for about two years. From there, Mabel moved to Wheatland, Wyoming and worked for her brother Harry in his dry goods store.

In 1929, Mabel moved to Broken Bow, Nebraska, where she met and married Edward Lowder. (See the Lowder Family Tree for more details.) Ed was born in Grand Island, Nebraska and, at the age of two, moved with his family to Broken Bow where he lived for 63 years. He graduated from Broken Bow High School in 1924.

A machinist by trade, Ed worked with his father in the Lowder Machine Shop until 1944 when his father retired and Ed assumed ownership of the shop. After seven years, he sold the shop and operated a Texaco Super Service Station for four years and also sold Ohio National Life Insurance.

In 1955, Ed and Mabel bought the Davis Paint and Gift Store in Broken Bow and after 11 successful years, they retired when Ed reached the age of 65. At that time, they moved to Seattle, Washington where life took on a great deal of thrills and many changes for a retired couple. First Ed became an Account Executive for Continental Bank, serving primarily as a good will and public relations ambassador. Later, he also worked part time as a desk clerk at the Landmark Hotel in Burien while Mabel worked for Margy's Dress Shop in Burien. Together, they thoroughly enjoyed Washington State and many new friends.

Ed and Mabel were married on November 9, 1930, at Broken Bow, Nebraska where they raised two children, Joe Gordon and Judy Ann. Both children completed their entire schooling from kindergarten through high school graduation in Broken Bow and both graduated from Hastings College in Hastings Nebraska.

In 1971, Ed and Mabel moved to Seattle to be near Joe and his family and they fell in love with the Great Pacific Northwest and decided to make it their retirement home.

Mabel's obituary