The following is an except from 'Courage Enough Mon-Dak Family Histories Bi-Centennial Edition' a book about the life and times of homesteading in Montana and North Dakota, which included a reference to Anton Enstulen and his twin brother Ole, and his son Christan and sister (Anna Olsdotter Skedsvold (Enstulen)).
Twin brothers Ole and Anton Enstulen, and Christian, Son of Anton.
Ole Enstulen came to brocket, North Dakota from Norway in 1903, working there until 1909 when he came to McKenzie County to homestead in the area now known as Hay Draw, which is about 12 miles from the Montana-Dakota border.
His twin brother, Anton, had come to this country in 1906 and followed Ole to homestead in the same area in 1910. Here the brothers struggled with the elements and the many hardships of the new settlers, putting up their homes with the barest of tools and their own hands.
The sister of the two men soon followed her brothers and settled on her own land nearby. Anna Enstulen Skedsvold (Enstulen) lived in the area until her second child was growing up and as there was a need to provide schooling, they decided to move near Alexander, where the Skedsvolds now live in the town.
These sturdy Norwegians had come to America to try for a better life. They came to the area with nothing more than their willing hands and a determination to succeed.
Anton helped a neighbor, John McRae, a Scotsman, to break horses on his land as Mr. McRae had never handled horses and did not know how to harness or work them.
What a time they must have had with one speaking Norwegian and the other Scottish. They and their families became fast friends.
In 1922, Christian (Christ), the son of his twin brother Anton, left his mother (Anne Torsteinsdotter Bosmen 1885 – 1971) and sister ‘Kari Antonsdotter Enstulen 1905 – 1989) in Norway, and followed his father to this country, coming to a very different world than the one he left.
One of the things he had difficulty in getting used to, was the poor water, for in any of the streams in his native county, one could always get a drink of fresh water. He found here, very stale or unclean water. He washed his hair and thought he had gotten something in the water for his hair felt so sticky.
There was a constant struggle with life, for everyone had little to do with each other, and lived far from town. Everyone had to help and depend on their neighbors. Roads were merely wagon wheel tracks and the transportation of most was by wagon, saddle horse, or by walking.
One trip taken by Ole’s brother Anton, was to walk to Alexander to get supplies. Upon getting 50 pounds of flour, sugar, coffee, ham, and a dozen eggs, he returned to the homestead the same day, making a complete 50 mile round trip. When Anton got home he put the coffee pot on to have a cup of coffee. Thinking he would rest a while waiting for the coffee to boil, he fell asleep, not waking until morning! A good thing it wasn’t an electric stove.
There were many good times, and of course, funny things happened to tickle the funny bone. One instance Christian recalled, when a young lad staying with the men, was sent to the root cellar for butter, returned bug-eyed and with not butter. Ole was led to the cellar. Upon descending the steps and opening the door, there stood their big two year old steer!. The steer had gotten out, walked over the cellar, and had fallen through the roof.
Anton operated a threshing rig for many years, up and down the Hay Draw and also north, almost to Alexander North Dakota.
He threshed all through the good and bad years, receiving his pay often in the form of farm animals or grain.
The grain was hauled to Cartwright and Alexander, North Dakota and Sidney. Sidney was the town they went to most often. They would take most of the day and a half to complete the trip to Sidney, for they would have to wait for the ferry and if the river was too low, or had ice in it, then there would be no crossing.
The neighbors of the Enstulen’s, were the Haywards, the McRaes, the Moes, the Hudsons, the Hiltons, the Bayes, the Daughtees and several others. The men often received from Mrs Hayward, crocks of butter and bread, even though the men did bake much of their bread and sometimes even made butter. Their baking was done on rainy days or Sundays when their outside work was less.
The danger from snakes was well proved to Olaf Horton, cousin of the Enstulen brothers. During an evening thunder storm, he stepped out of the door, barefooted, to check the horses. Just as he stepped out, a rattlesnake lying on the step struck his bare foot. He jumped high in the air and on landing was struck again. Re-entering the house, he took a knife and cut out part of his instep. He then walked to Ole’s home which was north of Antons place a mile and a half. Upon his arrival, he found his shoe filled with bood. Word was gotten to Anton and he returned to take Olaf to the doctor in Alexander. The doctor told him he’d done a good job.
Ole was handicapped by arthritis in his later years. He spent the last two months of his life in a hospital in Williston, North Dakota with cancer. He was 82.
Christian had visited his uncle very faithfully and through the weeks, had became acquainted with one of the hospital workers. Later, after his uncle had passed away, he decided that he missed the lady with whom he had visited with during his uncle’s illness. In 1968, he and Ruth Bjerke were married. They are still living on the homestead of his father, raising cattle.
Twin brothers Ole and Anton Enstulen, and Christian, Son of Anton.
Ole Enstulen came to brocket, North Dakota from Norway in 1903, working there until 1909 when he came to McKenzie County to homestead in the area now known as Hay Draw, which is about 12 miles from the Montana-Dakota border.
His twin brother, Anton, had come to this country in 1906 and followed Ole to homestead in the same area in 1910. Here the brothers struggled with the elements and the many hardships of the new settlers, putting up their homes with the barest of tools and their own hands.
The sister of the two men soon followed her brothers and settled on her own land nearby. Anna Enstulen Skedsvold (Enstulen) lived in the area until her second child was growing up and as there was a need to provide schooling, they decided to move near Alexander, where the Skedsvolds now live in the town.
These sturdy Norwegians had come to America to try for a better life. They came to the area with nothing more than their willing hands and a determination to succeed.
Anton helped a neighbor, John McRae, a Scotsman, to break horses on his land as Mr. McRae had never handled horses and did not know how to harness or work them.
What a time they must have had with one speaking Norwegian and the other Scottish. They and their families became fast friends.
In 1922, Christian (Christ), the son of his twin brother Anton, left his mother (Anne Torsteinsdotter Bosmen 1885 – 1971) and sister ‘Kari Antonsdotter Enstulen 1905 – 1989) in Norway, and followed his father to this country, coming to a very different world than the one he left.
One of the things he had difficulty in getting used to, was the poor water, for in any of the streams in his native county, one could always get a drink of fresh water. He found here, very stale or unclean water. He washed his hair and thought he had gotten something in the water for his hair felt so sticky.
There was a constant struggle with life, for everyone had little to do with each other, and lived far from town. Everyone had to help and depend on their neighbors. Roads were merely wagon wheel tracks and the transportation of most was by wagon, saddle horse, or by walking.
One trip taken by Ole’s brother Anton, was to walk to Alexander to get supplies. Upon getting 50 pounds of flour, sugar, coffee, ham, and a dozen eggs, he returned to the homestead the same day, making a complete 50 mile round trip. When Anton got home he put the coffee pot on to have a cup of coffee. Thinking he would rest a while waiting for the coffee to boil, he fell asleep, not waking until morning! A good thing it wasn’t an electric stove.
There were many good times, and of course, funny things happened to tickle the funny bone. One instance Christian recalled, when a young lad staying with the men, was sent to the root cellar for butter, returned bug-eyed and with not butter. Ole was led to the cellar. Upon descending the steps and opening the door, there stood their big two year old steer!. The steer had gotten out, walked over the cellar, and had fallen through the roof.
Anton operated a threshing rig for many years, up and down the Hay Draw and also north, almost to Alexander North Dakota.
He threshed all through the good and bad years, receiving his pay often in the form of farm animals or grain.
The grain was hauled to Cartwright and Alexander, North Dakota and Sidney. Sidney was the town they went to most often. They would take most of the day and a half to complete the trip to Sidney, for they would have to wait for the ferry and if the river was too low, or had ice in it, then there would be no crossing.
The neighbors of the Enstulen’s, were the Haywards, the McRaes, the Moes, the Hudsons, the Hiltons, the Bayes, the Daughtees and several others. The men often received from Mrs Hayward, crocks of butter and bread, even though the men did bake much of their bread and sometimes even made butter. Their baking was done on rainy days or Sundays when their outside work was less.
The danger from snakes was well proved to Olaf Horton, cousin of the Enstulen brothers. During an evening thunder storm, he stepped out of the door, barefooted, to check the horses. Just as he stepped out, a rattlesnake lying on the step struck his bare foot. He jumped high in the air and on landing was struck again. Re-entering the house, he took a knife and cut out part of his instep. He then walked to Ole’s home which was north of Antons place a mile and a half. Upon his arrival, he found his shoe filled with bood. Word was gotten to Anton and he returned to take Olaf to the doctor in Alexander. The doctor told him he’d done a good job.
Ole was handicapped by arthritis in his later years. He spent the last two months of his life in a hospital in Williston, North Dakota with cancer. He was 82.
Christian had visited his uncle very faithfully and through the weeks, had became acquainted with one of the hospital workers. Later, after his uncle had passed away, he decided that he missed the lady with whom he had visited with during his uncle’s illness. In 1968, he and Ruth Bjerke were married. They are still living on the homestead of his father, raising cattle.
The following is an except from 'Courage Enough Mon-Dak Family Histories Bi-Centennial Edition' a book about the life and times of homesteading in Montana and North Dakota, which included a reference to Anton Enstulen and his twin brother Ole, and his son Christan and sister (Anna Olsdotter Skedsvold (Enstulen)).
Twin brothers Ole and Anton Enstulen, and Christian, Son of Anton.
Ole Enstulen came to brocket, North Dakota from Norway in 1903, working there until 1909 when he came to McKenzie County to homestead in the area now known as Hay Draw, which is about 12 miles from the Montana-Dakota border.
His twin brother, Anton, had come to this country in 1906 and followed Ole to homestead in the same area in 1910. Here the brothers struggled with the elements and the many hardships of the new settlers, putting up their homes with the barest of tools and their own hands.
The sister of the two men soon followed her brothers and settled on her own land nearby. Anna Enstulen Skedsvold (Enstulen) lived in the area until her second child was growing up and as there was a need to provide schooling, they decided to move near Alexander, where the Skedsvolds now live in the town.
These sturdy Norwegians had come to America to try for a better life. They came to the area with nothing more than their willing hands and a determination to succeed.
Anton helped a neighbor, John McRae, a Scotsman, to break horses on his land as Mr. McRae had never handled horses and did not know how to harness or work them.
What a time they must have had with one speaking Norwegian and the other Scottish. They and their families became fast friends.
In 1922, Christian (Christ), the son of his twin brother Anton, left his mother (Anne Torsteinsdotter Bosmen 1885 – 1971) and sister ‘Kari Antonsdotter Enstulen 1905 – 1989) in Norway, and followed his father to this country, coming to a very different world than the one he left.
One of the things he had difficulty in getting used to, was the poor water, for in any of the streams in his native county, one could always get a drink of fresh water. He found here, very stale or unclean water. He washed his hair and thought he had gotten something in the water for his hair felt so sticky.
There was a constant struggle with life, for everyone had little to do with each other, and lived far from town. Everyone had to help and depend on their neighbors. Roads were merely wagon wheel tracks and the transportation of most was by wagon, saddle horse, or by walking.
One trip taken by Ole’s brother Anton, was to walk to Alexander to get supplies. Upon getting 50 pounds of flour, sugar, coffee, ham, and a dozen eggs, he returned to the homestead the same day, making a complete 50 mile round trip. When Anton got home he put the coffee pot on to have a cup of coffee. Thinking he would rest a while waiting for the coffee to boil, he fell asleep, not waking until morning! A good thing it wasn’t an electric stove.
There were many good times, and of course, funny things happened to tickle the funny bone. One instance Christian recalled, when a young lad staying with the men, was sent to the root cellar for butter, returned bug-eyed and with not butter. Ole was led to the cellar. Upon descending the steps and opening the door, there stood their big two year old steer!. The steer had gotten out, walked over the cellar, and had fallen through the roof.
Anton operated a threshing rig for many years, up and down the Hay Draw and also north, almost to Alexander North Dakota.
He threshed all through the good and bad years, receiving his pay often in the form of farm animals or grain.
The grain was hauled to Cartwright and Alexander, North Dakota and Sidney. Sidney was the town they went to most often. They would take most of the day and a half to complete the trip to Sidney, for they would have to wait for the ferry and if the river was too low, or had ice in it, then there would be no crossing.
The neighbors of the Enstulen’s, were the Haywards, the McRaes, the Moes, the Hudsons, the Hiltons, the Bayes, the Daughtees and several others. The men often received from Mrs Hayward, crocks of butter and bread, even though the men did bake much of their bread and sometimes even made butter. Their baking was done on rainy days or Sundays when their outside work was less.
The danger from snakes was well proved to Olaf Horton, cousin of the Enstulen brothers. During an evening thunder storm, he stepped out of the door, barefooted, to check the horses. Just as he stepped out, a rattlesnake lying on the step struck his bare foot. He jumped high in the air and on landing was struck again. Re-entering the house, he took a knife and cut out part of his instep. He then walked to Ole’s home which was north of Antons place a mile and a half. Upon his arrival, he found his shoe filled with bood. Word was gotten to Anton and he returned to take Olaf to the doctor in Alexander. The doctor told him he’d done a good job.
Ole was handicapped by arthritis in his later years. He spent the last two months of his life in a hospital in Williston, North Dakota with cancer. He was 82.
Christian had visited his uncle very faithfully and through the weeks, had became acquainted with one of the hospital workers. Later, after his uncle had passed away, he decided that he missed the lady with whom he had visited with during his uncle’s illness. In 1968, he and Ruth Bjerke were married. They are still living on the homestead of his father, raising cattle.
Twin brothers Ole and Anton Enstulen, and Christian, Son of Anton.
Ole Enstulen came to brocket, North Dakota from Norway in 1903, working there until 1909 when he came to McKenzie County to homestead in the area now known as Hay Draw, which is about 12 miles from the Montana-Dakota border.
His twin brother, Anton, had come to this country in 1906 and followed Ole to homestead in the same area in 1910. Here the brothers struggled with the elements and the many hardships of the new settlers, putting up their homes with the barest of tools and their own hands.
The sister of the two men soon followed her brothers and settled on her own land nearby. Anna Enstulen Skedsvold (Enstulen) lived in the area until her second child was growing up and as there was a need to provide schooling, they decided to move near Alexander, where the Skedsvolds now live in the town.
These sturdy Norwegians had come to America to try for a better life. They came to the area with nothing more than their willing hands and a determination to succeed.
Anton helped a neighbor, John McRae, a Scotsman, to break horses on his land as Mr. McRae had never handled horses and did not know how to harness or work them.
What a time they must have had with one speaking Norwegian and the other Scottish. They and their families became fast friends.
In 1922, Christian (Christ), the son of his twin brother Anton, left his mother (Anne Torsteinsdotter Bosmen 1885 – 1971) and sister ‘Kari Antonsdotter Enstulen 1905 – 1989) in Norway, and followed his father to this country, coming to a very different world than the one he left.
One of the things he had difficulty in getting used to, was the poor water, for in any of the streams in his native county, one could always get a drink of fresh water. He found here, very stale or unclean water. He washed his hair and thought he had gotten something in the water for his hair felt so sticky.
There was a constant struggle with life, for everyone had little to do with each other, and lived far from town. Everyone had to help and depend on their neighbors. Roads were merely wagon wheel tracks and the transportation of most was by wagon, saddle horse, or by walking.
One trip taken by Ole’s brother Anton, was to walk to Alexander to get supplies. Upon getting 50 pounds of flour, sugar, coffee, ham, and a dozen eggs, he returned to the homestead the same day, making a complete 50 mile round trip. When Anton got home he put the coffee pot on to have a cup of coffee. Thinking he would rest a while waiting for the coffee to boil, he fell asleep, not waking until morning! A good thing it wasn’t an electric stove.
There were many good times, and of course, funny things happened to tickle the funny bone. One instance Christian recalled, when a young lad staying with the men, was sent to the root cellar for butter, returned bug-eyed and with not butter. Ole was led to the cellar. Upon descending the steps and opening the door, there stood their big two year old steer!. The steer had gotten out, walked over the cellar, and had fallen through the roof.
Anton operated a threshing rig for many years, up and down the Hay Draw and also north, almost to Alexander North Dakota.
He threshed all through the good and bad years, receiving his pay often in the form of farm animals or grain.
The grain was hauled to Cartwright and Alexander, North Dakota and Sidney. Sidney was the town they went to most often. They would take most of the day and a half to complete the trip to Sidney, for they would have to wait for the ferry and if the river was too low, or had ice in it, then there would be no crossing.
The neighbors of the Enstulen’s, were the Haywards, the McRaes, the Moes, the Hudsons, the Hiltons, the Bayes, the Daughtees and several others. The men often received from Mrs Hayward, crocks of butter and bread, even though the men did bake much of their bread and sometimes even made butter. Their baking was done on rainy days or Sundays when their outside work was less.
The danger from snakes was well proved to Olaf Horton, cousin of the Enstulen brothers. During an evening thunder storm, he stepped out of the door, barefooted, to check the horses. Just as he stepped out, a rattlesnake lying on the step struck his bare foot. He jumped high in the air and on landing was struck again. Re-entering the house, he took a knife and cut out part of his instep. He then walked to Ole’s home which was north of Antons place a mile and a half. Upon his arrival, he found his shoe filled with bood. Word was gotten to Anton and he returned to take Olaf to the doctor in Alexander. The doctor told him he’d done a good job.
Ole was handicapped by arthritis in his later years. He spent the last two months of his life in a hospital in Williston, North Dakota with cancer. He was 82.
Christian had visited his uncle very faithfully and through the weeks, had became acquainted with one of the hospital workers. Later, after his uncle had passed away, he decided that he missed the lady with whom he had visited with during his uncle’s illness. In 1968, he and Ruth Bjerke were married. They are still living on the homestead of his father, raising cattle.
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