Ole Hansen Grina was born on the Grina farm to Hans Pedersen and Elina Olsdtr, who had married at Gran, Norway on 17 November 1823. On 23 November 1846 he married Marthe Olsdtr Moger. On 28 March 1854 the couple and sons Hans, Ole, Iver, and Peder left Norway for America. Crossing the Atlantic is said to have taken 15 weeks.

The family first settled in Marion Township, Clayton County, Iowa. Ole worked hard and subsequently purchased a 160-acre farm. The tract at the time of purchase was one of the undeveloped tracts of wild prairie land. In time he developed and improved it, and there he engaged in general farming for close to twenty years. There sons Martin, Brady, and Edward were born. (They also had another 7 children, who all died young in Iowa: Elina, Mary the first and Mary the second, baby Edward, and 2 very young twin girls (b. abt 15 Nov 1868) who were said to be killed when a cannon exploded during a July 4th celebration.)

In about 1873 Ole and Martha moved to Otter Tail County, MN to join their son Iver O. Grina. Ole bought two hundred and fifty acres of land from the school land reservation in Norwegian Grove Township, thirty-four acres of which was in timber. He was possessed of much business acumen; he was a hard worker and a splendid manager and one who took great interest in all local affairs, and was held in high regard by all.

His first wife Martha died in Minnesota on 11 September 1873. He then married Bertha Haughtvedt on 25 February 1875 in Rothsay. Of their 9 children, most died young, with the exception of the second Melvin and Theodore. Bertha died 11 April 1909. It was while clearing the lumber tract of land, that Ole was taken ill and died on 19 July 1908. He is buried next to both of his wives in the South Immanuel Cemetery, in rural Otter Tail County, MN.

~Written and submitted by Find A Grave member Lindalee #47950808.