Name/Title
Thompson Family: Ole and Renaug Thompson, 1872 settlers near Frog Point (Belmont), Dakota TerritoryEntry/Object ID
2023.309.1Description
Ole and Renaug Thompson, 1872 settlers near Frog Point (Belmont), Dakota TerritoryContext
This family history folder includes a 10 page document (pages 6-15, from a larger document), which is titled "The Thompsons". This family history was written by Judy Swenson Reeves, and was donated by Rouer Swenson, a grandson of Randina Thompson, who was the first child born to Ole and Renaug Thompson. Ole was born in 1841 on Svendgaard (farm) in Buskerud County, Norway, and his Norwegian name was Ole Torgerson. Renaug was also born on Svendgaard, and her Norwegian name was Ronnaug Svendsdatter. In America, after about 1879, they consistently used the name Thompson.
The Ole and Renaud Thompson's were among the first settlers in Traill County, arriving at Frog Point (later Belmont) in 1872. Ole and Renuag were married on 12 February 1873 by a US Army chaplain at Frog Point. They settled and farmed lands in Section 10, 15 and 8 in Belmont Township as shown on Atlas maps from 1892 and 1900. Here they raised their children, Randina (b. 1873), Thomas (b. 1874), Stina (b. 1879, Lena (b. abt. 1884), Tilda (b. 1887), Selmer (b. 1890), and Anna (b. unknown). In 1893, Ole, Renaug and family moved to Alberta, Canada, although Randina first went to Canada, but returned to Belmont to marry John Swenson. Thomas Thompson did not go the Canada, and stayed to farm Thompson and other land in Belmont Township.
This Thompson family folder also part of a general store ledger or record of purchases book for the period 16 April 1879 to 13 May 1880. Although as yet unconfirmed, this ledger book was likely from the Robert Ray General Store because Roy Johnson in his book "Red River Valley" wrote on page 239 that account books had been saved by son Charles Ray from this store (see image). Roy Johnson also took a photo of the Ray General Store in 1951 before it was demolished (see image). The account book, pages 85 to 323, was donated by Rouer Swenson, and documents numerous purchases by Ole Thompson and son Thomas Thompson, as shown in the example for 1 November 1879. Examples of other names in this book in addition to Ole and Thomas Thompson included: Knut Rouk, Karl Rouk, John Sandvig, Thomas Klepp, Levie Myeers, Esten Embretson, John O'Brian, Jens Severson, Carl Larson, Christ Larson, Lewis Larson, Elling Ellingson, Hiram Ellingson, Charles Johnson, Levie Steenerson, Andrew Steenerson, Christian Hanson, John Hanson, Hans Peterson, Halvor Lunass, John E. Johnson, Ole Rust, Charley Olson, Ole Estenson, Peter Estenson, Sam Elseth, Paul Halverson, Levie Myers, Even Myerland, Iver Bjerge, Hans Berg, Jorgan Knutson, Peter Bye, Jacob Evenson, Jorgan Knutson, Hans Mortenson, and Iver Myeon.Acquisition
Accession
2023.309Source or Donor
Rouer Swenson
