At some point in time, Thomas immigrated to America from Norway. Little is known about when, how, with whom or why he came. Except he came by way of Black River Falls, Wisconsin. In Goodhue County, Minnesota he met brothers Ole and Knute Gronna. "…This was in the early spring of 1878. With oxen and horses they crossed the state of Minnesota. By late May they had arrived at their destination in Dueul County. Close to one another they selected their building sites. Sod and stone and hard labor made their first homes…" from Historical Collections: Deuel County"
After settling in South Dakota, Thomas paid for the passage of his sister's sons who came to work on his homestead. The sons, John, Peter and Sever, each came separately, all around the time the time they turned 18. When the youngest, Peter, came, his mother, Gurina, also came as their father and her husband, Jakob Olsen, was no longer living. Upon arriving to the US, the spelling of the sons' first names were anglicised and their last name was changed to Wattnem.
* * *
The following excerpt, written by Herb Hatlestad, is from the book "Historical Collections: Deuel County"
"Hatlestad Thomas G. and Martha, Grange Township
In the spring of 1878 [sic.1887], from the vicinity of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, Mathias M. Thompson [FaGID#46626611 separate write-up in "Historical Collections Deuel County"] and family, with their oldest daughter Martha, just recently married to Thomas G. Hatlestad, started out for the prairies of Dakota Territory. In Goodhue County Minnesota, they were joined by two more families, Ole J. Gronna [FaGID#41885187 separate write-up in "Historical Collections: Deuel County"], and Knute Gronna [FaGID#80020220]. The journey was naturally slow. Travel by ox team and horses was a tedious process, but by late May they had arrived in Deuel County and selected their homes of the future.
They chose and divided among them, Section four of Grange Township. Mathias M. Thompson chose the northeast quarter, and Ole J. Gronna the southwest quarter.
After settling temporarily on their chosen pieces of land, the menfolk drove by ox-team to Sioux Falls to file claim for the homestead rights in Dakota Territory. Upon returning home, Ole Gronna notices that his name had not been entered properly on the registration certificate. Rather than drive back to Sioux Falls by ox-team to correct the error, he decided to leave it and use the name Granner, as compared to Gronna, the original name of the family when they immigrated to Dakota Territory.
The first winters were full of hardships and trials for all, but settlers persisted. They started raising crops the following year on the virgin prairie they had broken up the fall before.
The years rolled by and improvements were made. New homes and barns were built to replace the sod houses and stables they had erected for the first years on the Dakota Prairies.
Twenty-four children were born to these pioneers in the sod houses on the prairie, three of whom are with us today. The Ole Granner family had eight children; two are still living, Oliver of Fargo, and Lillie (Mrs. Rice) of Minneapolis. Hatlestads had six children; two died in infancy. Knute Granners had three children, none survive. The Thompsons family totaled nine, one of whom is living today, Sever Thompson of Estelline.
The land on which the pioneer folks started their homes in Deuel county in the year of 1878 has never been transferred out of their family that originally filed on June 8, 1878.
After a number of years, the Knute Granner family gave up their claim to the homestead. Ole Granner then took it over, and it is now the "Granner Estate" and still owned by the family.
The Thompson homestead was owned and operated by the youngest son, Henry.
The Hatlestad homestead went to Louis T. Hatlestad. He passed away in 1942 and his wife, Helena, in 1957. Two sons, Maynard and Allen, of Los Angeles, still retain possession of the original homestead quarter.
In the spring of 1878, Thomas left Black River falls, Wisconsin with his recent bride Martha and her parents Mathias M. and Serena Tharaldson Thompson (both born in Norway), to homestead in South Dakota. Thomas settled the NW quarter of Section 4 in Grange Township and the lower SW half of the adjacent Section 33 of the Hidewood Township. Thomas's name is written on Map of Deuel Count published by E. Frank Peterson in 1898. This map is held in the Library of Congress collection and can be viewed online in detail."
After settling in South Dakota, Thomas paid for the passage of his sister's sons who came to work on his homestead. The sons, John, Peter and Sever, each came separately, all around the time the time they turned 18. When the youngest, Peter, came, his mother, Gurina, also came as their father and her husband, Jakob Olsen, was no longer living. Upon arriving to the US, the spelling of the sons' first names were anglicised and their last name was changed to Wattnem.
* * *
The following excerpt, written by Herb Hatlestad, is from the book "Historical Collections: Deuel County"
"Hatlestad Thomas G. and Martha, Grange Township
In the spring of 1878 [sic.1887], from the vicinity of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, Mathias M. Thompson [FaGID#46626611 separate write-up in "Historical Collections Deuel County"] and family, with their oldest daughter Martha, just recently married to Thomas G. Hatlestad, started out for the prairies of Dakota Territory. In Goodhue County Minnesota, they were joined by two more families, Ole J. Gronna [FaGID#41885187 separate write-up in "Historical Collections: Deuel County"], and Knute Gronna [FaGID#80020220]. The journey was naturally slow. Travel by ox team and horses was a tedious process, but by late May they had arrived in Deuel County and selected their homes of the future.
They chose and divided among them, Section four of Grange Township. Mathias M. Thompson chose the northeast quarter, and Ole J. Gronna the southwest quarter.
After settling temporarily on their chosen pieces of land, the menfolk drove by ox-team to Sioux Falls to file claim for the homestead rights in Dakota Territory. Upon returning home, Ole Gronna notices that his name had not been entered properly on the registration certificate. Rather than drive back to Sioux Falls by ox-team to correct the error, he decided to leave it and use the name Granner, as compared to Gronna, the original name of the family when they immigrated to Dakota Territory.
The first winters were full of hardships and trials for all, but settlers persisted. They started raising crops the following year on the virgin prairie they had broken up the fall before.
The years rolled by and improvements were made. New homes and barns were built to replace the sod houses and stables they had erected for the first years on the Dakota Prairies.
Twenty-four children were born to these pioneers in the sod houses on the prairie, three of whom are with us today. The Ole Granner family had eight children; two are still living, Oliver of Fargo, and Lillie (Mrs. Rice) of Minneapolis. Hatlestads had six children; two died in infancy. Knute Granners had three children, none survive. The Thompsons family totaled nine, one of whom is living today, Sever Thompson of Estelline.
The land on which the pioneer folks started their homes in Deuel county in the year of 1878 has never been transferred out of their family that originally filed on June 8, 1878.
After a number of years, the Knute Granner family gave up their claim to the homestead. Ole Granner then took it over, and it is now the "Granner Estate" and still owned by the family.
The Thompson homestead was owned and operated by the youngest son, Henry.
The Hatlestad homestead went to Louis T. Hatlestad. He passed away in 1942 and his wife, Helena, in 1957. Two sons, Maynard and Allen, of Los Angeles, still retain possession of the original homestead quarter.
In the spring of 1878, Thomas left Black River falls, Wisconsin with his recent bride Martha and her parents Mathias M. and Serena Tharaldson Thompson (both born in Norway), to homestead in South Dakota. Thomas settled the NW quarter of Section 4 in Grange Township and the lower SW half of the adjacent Section 33 of the Hidewood Township. Thomas's name is written on Map of Deuel Count published by E. Frank Peterson in 1898. This map is held in the Library of Congress collection and can be viewed online in detail."
At some point in time, Thomas immigrated to America from Norway. Little is known about when, how, with whom or why he came. Except he came by way of Black River Falls, Wisconsin. In Goodhue County, Minnesota he met brothers Ole and Knute Gronna. "…This was in the early spring of 1878. With oxen and horses they crossed the state of Minnesota. By late May they had arrived at their destination in Dueul County. Close to one another they selected their building sites. Sod and stone and hard labor made their first homes…" from Historical Collections: Deuel County"
After settling in South Dakota, Thomas paid for the passage of his sister's sons who came to work on his homestead. The sons, John, Peter and Sever, each came separately, all around the time the time they turned 18. When the youngest, Peter, came, his mother, Gurina, also came as their father and her husband, Jakob Olsen, was no longer living. Upon arriving to the US, the spelling of the sons' first names were anglicised and their last name was changed to Wattnem.
* * *
The following excerpt, written by Herb Hatlestad, is from the book "Historical Collections: Deuel County"
"Hatlestad Thomas G. and Martha, Grange Township
In the spring of 1878 [sic.1887], from the vicinity of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, Mathias M. Thompson [FaGID#46626611 separate write-up in "Historical Collections Deuel County"] and family, with their oldest daughter Martha, just recently married to Thomas G. Hatlestad, started out for the prairies of Dakota Territory. In Goodhue County Minnesota, they were joined by two more families, Ole J. Gronna [FaGID#41885187 separate write-up in "Historical Collections: Deuel County"], and Knute Gronna [FaGID#80020220]. The journey was naturally slow. Travel by ox team and horses was a tedious process, but by late May they had arrived in Deuel County and selected their homes of the future.
They chose and divided among them, Section four of Grange Township. Mathias M. Thompson chose the northeast quarter, and Ole J. Gronna the southwest quarter.
After settling temporarily on their chosen pieces of land, the menfolk drove by ox-team to Sioux Falls to file claim for the homestead rights in Dakota Territory. Upon returning home, Ole Gronna notices that his name had not been entered properly on the registration certificate. Rather than drive back to Sioux Falls by ox-team to correct the error, he decided to leave it and use the name Granner, as compared to Gronna, the original name of the family when they immigrated to Dakota Territory.
The first winters were full of hardships and trials for all, but settlers persisted. They started raising crops the following year on the virgin prairie they had broken up the fall before.
The years rolled by and improvements were made. New homes and barns were built to replace the sod houses and stables they had erected for the first years on the Dakota Prairies.
Twenty-four children were born to these pioneers in the sod houses on the prairie, three of whom are with us today. The Ole Granner family had eight children; two are still living, Oliver of Fargo, and Lillie (Mrs. Rice) of Minneapolis. Hatlestads had six children; two died in infancy. Knute Granners had three children, none survive. The Thompsons family totaled nine, one of whom is living today, Sever Thompson of Estelline.
The land on which the pioneer folks started their homes in Deuel county in the year of 1878 has never been transferred out of their family that originally filed on June 8, 1878.
After a number of years, the Knute Granner family gave up their claim to the homestead. Ole Granner then took it over, and it is now the "Granner Estate" and still owned by the family.
The Thompson homestead was owned and operated by the youngest son, Henry.
The Hatlestad homestead went to Louis T. Hatlestad. He passed away in 1942 and his wife, Helena, in 1957. Two sons, Maynard and Allen, of Los Angeles, still retain possession of the original homestead quarter.
In the spring of 1878, Thomas left Black River falls, Wisconsin with his recent bride Martha and her parents Mathias M. and Serena Tharaldson Thompson (both born in Norway), to homestead in South Dakota. Thomas settled the NW quarter of Section 4 in Grange Township and the lower SW half of the adjacent Section 33 of the Hidewood Township. Thomas's name is written on Map of Deuel Count published by E. Frank Peterson in 1898. This map is held in the Library of Congress collection and can be viewed online in detail."
After settling in South Dakota, Thomas paid for the passage of his sister's sons who came to work on his homestead. The sons, John, Peter and Sever, each came separately, all around the time the time they turned 18. When the youngest, Peter, came, his mother, Gurina, also came as their father and her husband, Jakob Olsen, was no longer living. Upon arriving to the US, the spelling of the sons' first names were anglicised and their last name was changed to Wattnem.
* * *
The following excerpt, written by Herb Hatlestad, is from the book "Historical Collections: Deuel County"
"Hatlestad Thomas G. and Martha, Grange Township
In the spring of 1878 [sic.1887], from the vicinity of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, Mathias M. Thompson [FaGID#46626611 separate write-up in "Historical Collections Deuel County"] and family, with their oldest daughter Martha, just recently married to Thomas G. Hatlestad, started out for the prairies of Dakota Territory. In Goodhue County Minnesota, they were joined by two more families, Ole J. Gronna [FaGID#41885187 separate write-up in "Historical Collections: Deuel County"], and Knute Gronna [FaGID#80020220]. The journey was naturally slow. Travel by ox team and horses was a tedious process, but by late May they had arrived in Deuel County and selected their homes of the future.
They chose and divided among them, Section four of Grange Township. Mathias M. Thompson chose the northeast quarter, and Ole J. Gronna the southwest quarter.
After settling temporarily on their chosen pieces of land, the menfolk drove by ox-team to Sioux Falls to file claim for the homestead rights in Dakota Territory. Upon returning home, Ole Gronna notices that his name had not been entered properly on the registration certificate. Rather than drive back to Sioux Falls by ox-team to correct the error, he decided to leave it and use the name Granner, as compared to Gronna, the original name of the family when they immigrated to Dakota Territory.
The first winters were full of hardships and trials for all, but settlers persisted. They started raising crops the following year on the virgin prairie they had broken up the fall before.
The years rolled by and improvements were made. New homes and barns were built to replace the sod houses and stables they had erected for the first years on the Dakota Prairies.
Twenty-four children were born to these pioneers in the sod houses on the prairie, three of whom are with us today. The Ole Granner family had eight children; two are still living, Oliver of Fargo, and Lillie (Mrs. Rice) of Minneapolis. Hatlestads had six children; two died in infancy. Knute Granners had three children, none survive. The Thompsons family totaled nine, one of whom is living today, Sever Thompson of Estelline.
The land on which the pioneer folks started their homes in Deuel county in the year of 1878 has never been transferred out of their family that originally filed on June 8, 1878.
After a number of years, the Knute Granner family gave up their claim to the homestead. Ole Granner then took it over, and it is now the "Granner Estate" and still owned by the family.
The Thompson homestead was owned and operated by the youngest son, Henry.
The Hatlestad homestead went to Louis T. Hatlestad. He passed away in 1942 and his wife, Helena, in 1957. Two sons, Maynard and Allen, of Los Angeles, still retain possession of the original homestead quarter.
In the spring of 1878, Thomas left Black River falls, Wisconsin with his recent bride Martha and her parents Mathias M. and Serena Tharaldson Thompson (both born in Norway), to homestead in South Dakota. Thomas settled the NW quarter of Section 4 in Grange Township and the lower SW half of the adjacent Section 33 of the Hidewood Township. Thomas's name is written on Map of Deuel Count published by E. Frank Peterson in 1898. This map is held in the Library of Congress collection and can be viewed online in detail."
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