Written by Edna Brand Anderson as a theme, also used for Grandfather's obituary (copy received from Vivian Ehren)

Amund Clemetson, my grandfather, was born on Oct. 15, 1851 in Kongsvinger District, Norway. His father was a farmer and a miller combined, so they were quite well-to-do. Grandfather was the next to the oldest of a family of 6. He spent his childhood on his father's farm and received his education in the Norwegian country school.

When grandfather was twenty years old, his parents decided to move to America. The oldest brother had gone to America in 1869, and had taken a homestead in western Minn. and he had written and wanted his parents to come to America because they could get free land here. Having sold their farm and mill, grandfathe rand his parents, one brother and one sister left Christiania, Norway inApril 1871. (Two sisters had died before this in Norway.)

The steamer on which they sailed stopped for one week in Scotland so the passengers had a chance to see a part of that country. Grandfather, not being used to the ocean, was ill onthe journey across so he did not enjoy the ocean voyage. They arrived in New York but while there they underwent some excitement. One of the girls in the company became lost and they had to ttravel on without her. However, the immigration agent located her so she caught up with them before they reached Minneapolis. They traveled on to Benton, Minn., and arrived there on Whit Sunday. Grandfather's brother, Ole, had written thayt he would meet them in Morris as they had friends there. So grandfather and a few other men decided to walk to Morris and from there they would send somebody back after the rest of the group in Benson. The distance was greater than they had thought it to be, and they realized they could not reach Morris that evening. Seeing a camp in the distance, they hastened toward it, and asked the men for some food and a place to sleep. These men couldn't understand that they wanted food but they gave them a tent to sleep in. Early the next morning, they set out and met a Swede who told them that further on they would come to a farm where a Norwegian girl worked. They hurried there and after they had told their story, they were given food.

Grandfather's brother, Ole, met them inMorris, driving a team of oxen. They set out for Ole's home after the others in teh group arrived. On their way, they passed through Fergus Falls, which had only one building at that time.

The same year as they arrived grandfather's father took our his first naturalization papers, and then filed on a homestead in Clay County, Minn. Grandfather made his home with his parents until he became of age.

The happenings of the first few years in America reamined the most vivid in his memory because of the strangeness and differences in his life. He worked odd jobs helping the farmers with their field work. During these first years, the crops were greatly damaged by grasshoppers until the spring of 1877 a terrible hail storm destroyed the crops and also the grashoppers.

In the fall of 1871, grandfather worked on the railroad which was being built between Detroit Lakes and Moorhead. They camped at Glyndon which was but a shanty-town then.

In 1872, he bought a team of oxen and broke land for the neighbors. One day, in early summer, two men came on horseback and told the settlers that the Indians had broken loose. This frightened the settlers and they built a fort at Lake Park. They telegraphed the soldiers to be ready in case they were needed. People near aHitterdal also moved nearer the fort. No Indians came, and the settlers later found out these men had frightened the settlers so that they could "Jump" their land. The scheme didn't work so the settlers kept their land.

To get their mail and provisions the settlers would drive to Oak Lake, a place four miles west of Detroit Lakes. This was over twenty miles from grandfather's home and would be a two day trip by oxen.

Sorrow followed the family to the new country. Grandfather's sister passed away in 1873, and in 1878, his younger brother passed away. His mother and father lived to enjoy the comforts of their new home in America, and lived to an old age.

Grandmother came from Norway in 1875 to make her home with an aunt in Albert Lea. While visitin relatives at Lake Park she met grandfather at church services, held at a neighbore's home. They were married March 2, 1876. They were the first couple to be married inthe church wher they belonged all their lives. Fourteen children were born, one died in infancy.

In 1873, grandfather filed on a homestead in park township, County Clay, Minn. but in 1878 he traded land with his brother, Ole, in Eglon. On this he built a log house, which served them until 1898, when they built a larger house and other buildings.

In 1911, grandfather retired from farming and moved to Hawley but still retaining the farm and driving back anf forth. They spent a few later years on the farm but living in hawley again after the spring on 1926.

In June, 1926, their golden wedding was held at Solem church. Nine children were able to attend, two great-grandchildren being present and also a host of other relatives and friends. This was the first golden wedding held in Solem church.