Note
Anne Howard's life was a most extraordinary career of indomitable energy, patience and perseverance, guided by a true Christian spirit.
Having been left a widow in 1868, her husband passing away after a long illness, with five children, ranging from one to thirteen years, and their farm home having been encumbered to meet the sick and other expenses incidental to the death of her husband, she started out to battle for life's existence for herself and children, to who she was greatly devoted and desired so much to give them every educational advantage she possibly could.
In 1872, realizing the better opportunities for her children to succeed in the United States than in the old country (Norway), she sold the old home, her equity bringing barely sufficient funds to pay transportation to this country, secured passage on an old sailing ship, Rukan, making the ocean trip in about six weeks.
During the voyage across the Atlantic, her only daughter (Signe) died and was buried at sea. (Signe was ten years old.)
She and her children were in Houston County, Minnesota for one year. With a yoke of oxen and covered wagon in the summer of 1873, she drove from Houston County to Glyndon, Minnesota near which place she filed on a quarter section of land, which with the help of her sons, farmed and acquired title to.
In 1882 she sold the homestead and moved to Hillsboro, North Dakota, where her eldest son Gunder was in business.
(Summary by Patricia Ann Wickman, great granddaughter of Anne Howard)
