Name/Title
Norby family: Oscar and Pauline (Olson) Norby, early residents of Norway Township, Traill County, NDEntry/Object ID
2025.35.1Description
This family history folder has a copy of a brief article published on page 146 in Vol. I in the Traill County History book on the life of Oscar Norby, Ole and Marie's oldest of four children [see article, below]. Oscar was born on 18 June 1886 in Bloomfield Township in Traill County, where he was then raised and schooled until his parents, Ole and Marie Norby, moved to the City of Hillsboro [see TCHS Family History Catalogit entry 2023.429.1].
In the 1900 US Census, Oscar was 13 at the time of the census was taken in Bloomfield Township on the home farm. By the time of 1910 US census, Oscar's parents, Ole and Marie, and sister, Laura, had moved to the City of Hillsboro where Oscar, single and age 23, was employed as a "Deputy County Treasurer".
On 15 July 1913, Oscar Norby, 27, married Pauline Thea Olsen, 25, of Hillsboro [wedding photo, left]. Pauline was born on 22 May 1888 in Minnesota, and in the 1900 US Census lived with her parents, Chris and Martha Olsen, and six siblings on Sargeant Street in Hillsboro.
After they married, Oscar and Pauline lived on the Ostlund farm in Norway Township, which was located in the east -half of Sect. 33 [see 1909 plat map, below]. Note that the farmstead was located near the Goose River, and a school was located nearby in Sect. 34.
By June 1917, Oscar and Pauline had moved to 1107 W 4th in Grand Forks, ND, where Oscar was a bookkeeper at the First National Bank [WWI Draft Registration Card]. On his registration card, Oscar was described as being of medium height, stout build and with light blue eyes and dark brown hair.
From 1914 to 1918, Oscar and Pauline had three children [family tree, below].
Their oldest daughter, Marian Thelma Norby was born on 20 May 1914 in Grand Forks, ND. In the 1920 US Census for Norway Township, Marian was 5. By 1930, Marian, 15, had moved with her family to Chestnut Street in Grand Forks, ND [1930 US Census]. In the 1940 US Census, Marian, 25, still resided at Chestnut St., and interestingly, a lodger, John D. Brown, 33, was in the household. On 27 September 1941, Marian Thelma Norby married John Dean Brown in Grand Forks [ND Marriage License, Grand Forks County]. John was born on 13 August 1906 in St. Paul, MN. After John and Marian married, they first lived in Grand Forks, but by the time of the 1950 US Census, they had moved to St. Paul where John was a "Lawyer" in a "Law Office". John and Marian had three sons, John David Brown, James Patrick Brown and William Dean Brown. Marian (Norby) Brown passed away, age 73, on 3 February 1988 in Minneapolis [Obituary, Star-Tribune, 4 Feb. 1988, below]. Some records, such as the US. Soc. Sec. Death Index, have Marian's date of death as 25 April 1982, however, the obituary is clear about Marian Thelma (Norby) Brown's passing on 3 February 1988. John Dean Brown lived to the age of 87, passing away on 25 December 1993 in St. Paul, MN.
Oscar and Pauline's only son, Chester Orlyn Norby, was born on 26 February 1916 in Grand Forks [baby photo, below]. Chester was 3 in the 1920 US Census. At the time of the 1930 US Census, Chester was 14 and lived with his father Oscar, stepmother Mattie, and sisters, on Chestnut Street in Grand Forks, ND. In 1940, Chester, 24, continued to reside on Chestnut Street, and he was employed as a "Salesman" in a "Retail Furniture Store". On 7 June 1943, Chester O. Norby married Lois L Kruschke. Lois was born on 6 March 1926 in Ridgely in Nicollet County, MN. Chester served in the US Army during WWII, and Chester and Lois Norby's first daughter, Paula was born in Georgia. By 1950, Chester and Lois resided on Nth 10th Street in Breckenridge in Wilkin County, MN [1950 US Census]. In 1950, Chester was employed as a "Merchant of "Retail & wholesale tools". Also in 1950, Chester and Lois had another daughter, Barbara Norby, born on 1 August 1950 in Breckenridge, MN. Chester Orlyn Norby lived to the age of 86, passing away on 26 March 2002 in Fargo, ND [ND Death Certif.]. Lois lived to the grand age of 97, passing away on 24 June 2023 in Fargo. Chester and Lois were interred in the Riverside Cemetery in Breckenridge, MN.
Oscar and Pauline's second daughter, Florence Clara Norby, was born on 3 April 1918 in Grand Forks. In the 1920 US Census, Florence was 1. I did not find Florence Norby with her family in the 1930 US Census because when her mother, Pauline died in 1920, Florence was only 2, so Florence was raised, and later adopted, by her uncle and aunt, John and Minnie Dicker of Grand Forks. Florence (Norby) Dicker graduated from Grand Forks Central High School with the Class of 1936 [Sr Photo, below]. In 1940, Florence, 22, graduated in chemistry and dietetics from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks [obituary info, below]. While employed as a dietician at Fort Stewart in Savannah, Georgia, Florence Clara (Norby) Dicker married William A. Henderson on 2 September 1942, where William was serving in the US Army. William was born on 8 October 1910 in Illinois. After serving during WWII, William and Florence returned to the Midwest. Unfortunately, William A. Henderson died at age 46 on 27 May 1957 in Minneapolis, MN [obit info]. William was interred in the Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis. On 10 July 1965, Florence (Norby-Dicker) Henderson married widow Walter Phillipe Feehan in Clear Lake, MN. Walter was born on 27 March 1900 in Wabasha County, MN. Walter and Florence resided in Waite Park and Clear Lake, MN. Walter Feehan died, age 93 on 11 September 1993 in St. Cloud, MN, and was interred in Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis [obit, St. Cloud times, 14 September 1993]. Florence (Norby-Dicker) Henderson-Feehan died, age 89, on 5 August 2007 in Sartell in Benton County, MN [obit, St Could Times, 10 August 2007]. Florence was interred in Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.
As noted earlier, Oscar Norby's wife, Pauline Thea Norby, died at the age of only 32 on 27 September 1920 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, after a goiter operation [Obit, Hillsboro Banner, 1 October 1920]. After a funeral service in Hillsboro, Pauline (Olsen) Norby was interred at Hillsboro's Riverside Cemetery.
Four years after Pauline's death, widower Oscar Norby married Mattie Barabara Shaw on 27 November 1924 in Polk County, MN [Minnesota Marriage certificate W/52]. In the 1930 US Census, Oscar, Mattie and family lived in a house on Chesnut Street in Grand Forks, ND. Oscar, age 43, was employed as an Assistant Cashier at a Bank. In the 1940 US Census, Oscar, 53, was a recorded as a "Bank Teller". Mattie, was 46 in 1940. In the 1950 US Census, Oscar, 63, and Mattie, 57, continued to reside on Chestnut Street, and Oscar continued to work as a "Cashier" at a "Bank".
Oscar Norby passed away, age 81, on 20 May 1968 in Grand Forks [ND Death Certif., below]. Oscar was interred at Memorial Park Cemetery in Grand Forks [Grave-marker photo, below]. Mattie (Shaw) Norby lived to the grand age of 99, passing away on 31 January 1992 in St. Paul [MN Death Index]. Mattie was also interred at Memorial Park Cemetery in Grand Forks [US Find-a-Grave info].Acquisition
Accession
2025.35Source or Donor
David Brown, great grandson, Ole & Marie Norby, Paula (Norby) Sanders, great granddaughter, Ole & Marie NorbyLocation
* Untyped Location
Resource RoomBuilding
Plummer House
