Hampden History

do your own searching!

ND Census Homestead Act of 1862 The West About the Homesteaders Homestead Act Wording North Dakota Land Records North Dakota Historical Society North Dakota History North Dakota Genealogy North Dakota Resources Cemetery Junction Family Tree Climbers www.ancestry.com  www.cyndislist.com Surname Web Many Misc Links WW1 Draft Index Cemetery Records Cousins Connec

Hampden History

HAMPDEN (Ramsey).  This GNRR town site was founded in 1903 in NE1/4 Sec. 4-158-62, Northfield Twp., and soon absorbed most of the nearby town site of Northfield, whose post office moved here on July 15, 1903 with Joseph A. Elliott pm.  The Northfield name was disliked by GNRR officials because of confusion with Northfield, MN.  Some say the name honors Frank Hampden, a pioneer settler in the area, while others say it was named for a John Hampden.  The elevation is 1569, the Zip Code is 58338, and the village, which incorporated in 1917 and became a city in 1968, reached a peak population of 222 in 1930.
-taken from North Dakota Place Names by Douglas A. Wick

*The information on the History of Hampden was obtained from two sources:  the Hampden Diamond Jubilee Book, which was made available during June 29-30, 1979, and the Ramsey County History book, a three volume book published in 1983 detailing the towns and families in Ramsey County, North Dakota.    The Hampden Diamond Jubilee book was compiled by the then Hampden Senior Citizen Club Heritage Book Committee:  Co-Chairmen:  Miss Pearl Aanstad, Mrs. Carl (Mildred) Mortenson.  Much of what is found in the Ramsey County History book is identical to the Jubilee book, as the same information was used.  Where there is a difference I will add what the Ramsey County book offers as well as the Jubilee book.

Some of the information is no longer accurate in regards to who lives where, or who is still living.  Information will be updated, but for now, all information is based on a 20+ year old books.

Hampden History: Online Links

Page one

Page Two

Northfield TWP 1900 Census Transcribed

Hampden History: Obituaries

John Stinkeoway (May 14, 1955?)
Funeral services for John Stinkeoway, 39, of Starkweather, were conducted Tuesday afternoon from the Starkweather Methodist church with Rev. Virgil Homes officiating.  Interment was in the community cemetery at Starkweather.

Mr. Stinkeoway died unexpectedly Saturday afternoon at the Mercy hospital in Devils Lake.

John, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Stinkeoway, was born April 11, 1916 in Banner township, northeast of Starkweather.  He attended grade school at West Banner and high school in Starkweather.

On June 14, 1947, he was married to the former Doris Lindenberg. They have farmed near Starkweather, north of the Ramsey county line, since their marriage.

John has served on the township board and was a member of the Methodist church, and the Methodist Men’s club, and the Independent Order of odd Fellows.

Surviving besides his wife, Doris, are four children, Orville 7, Lois 6, John Jr. 3, and Debray Kay 6 weeks; his father; and two brothers, William of Starkweather, and Alex of Marysville, Wash.  His mother preceded him in death.

The Toomey Sorvick Funeral chapel was in charge of arrangements. 

Pallbearers were Nick Heit, Arnold Fike, Robert Stotts, Walter Scott, John Dix, Earl Anderson, John Wengler, and Emil Walters.

Honorary pallbearers were Elmer Quarness, Knute Lindseth, Milton Werner, Thomas Schonauer, James Foard, Olaf Simonson, Edwin Werner, and Selmer Overbo.

Interment rites were conducted at the cemetery by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows – Hampden Lodge No. 143 with Earl Anderson as Noble Grand.

Hampden History: Obituaries

Herman Simons (Jan. 24, 1942)
Funeral services were conducted Tuesday afternoon at the Methodist church here for Herman Simons, 58, Hampden farmer who died in a Devils Lake hopsital Saturday morning where he had been confined for five days after suffering injuries in a fall into a grease pit at Starweather.  Rev. C. Kepler of Starkweather officiated.

Born May 7, 1884 at Montevideo, Minn., he was a long-time resident of this community, having operated a farm south of town for many years.

Besides his widow, he is survived by four daughters, Mrs. Palmer Pederson of Starkweather, Mrs. William Woldmoe, Gerturede and Iris Simon, all of Hampden; five sons, Hovey, studnt at the Valley City State TEachers college, Norman, Carl, Ben Ray and Kenneth, all of Hampden; one sister, Mrs. Gust Schonauer, and two half-brothers, Lawrence and Tom Schonauer.

Honorary pallbearers were Nels Clock, Ed Furbur, Tom Kelly, Harvey Mackey, Eric Pederson, Henry Woldmoe, Carl Boatman and Dave Damschen.  Active pallbearers were Tim McMillian, Peder Rudser, Fritz Skaar, Elmer Werner, Harry Neidlinger and Henry Reimer. Burial was made in Storlie cemetery.

Hampden History: Obituaries

Tom Rudser (May 27, 1937)
Pioneer resident of Northfield Township dies Thursday
Funeral services for Tom Rudser, 61, who died Thursday at his farm home in Northfield township, were held Monday at his home and at the Zoar Lutheran church in Hampden.  Rev. Dahle of Nekoma and Rev. Morris Eggen officiated.

Mr. Rudser was born March 16, 1876 near Newton, Wisconsin.  He came to Devils Lake with his parents in 1887.  In 1899 he riled on land in Northfield township and moved there to live in 1901.  He was married to Bertha Lee, January 11, 1905.

Mr. Rudser was preceded in death by his wife, who died in 1931 and by a daughter, Myrtle, who died in infancy.  Survivors are his four children, Mrs. Arthur Myhre of Munich, Mrs. Norman Hoiland, Peter and Thomas, all of Northfield, and one grandson, Ronald Rudser.  He is also survived by five sisters and one brother.

Music for the services was furnished by the Alsen male quartet and by Mrs. John Ackre and Malfred Hoiland.  There were many beautiful floral offerings and the sum of $47.00 was given by friends and neighbors for the improvement of Storlie cemetery in memory of Mr. Rudser.

Burial was made in Storlie cemetery.  Pallbearers were John McDougal, Frithjof Skaar, H. L. Mackey, Martin Mortenson, Dave Taylor and Herman Simon.

Hampden History: Obituaries

Yvonne Oyos
Funeral services were conducted Sunday, April 23, at Pierce Brothers Hollywood Chapel for Yvonne Ruby Oyos, 36, who died early Friday evening, April 21, at the Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital Olmstad Memorial in Los Angeles following a three month illness.  Pastor Herbert K. Rasback officiated.  Interment was in the Valhalla Memorial Park in North Hollywood, Calif.

Miss Oyos was born March 23, 1931, at Nekoma, daughter of Alvin and Martha Galason Oyos.  She attended schools in Billings township and graduated from high school at Hampden in 1949.  She taught school one year in Gordon township, after which she attended Interstate Business College at Fargo, later was employed in a bank in Fargo and the Veterans Affairs office.  She moved to Los Angeles in 1951 where she was employed in the Bank of America at Alhambra, and the past 12 years was employed in the firm of Carmichael and Kemp, architects.  She was a member of the Zoar Lutheran Church at Hampden.

Survivors include her mother, Mrs. Martha Oyos; two sister, Mrs. Bordon (Marilyn) Braathen, Starkweather, and Mrs. Tom (Faye) Wermerskerchen, Park Rapids, Minn; two brothers, Marvin of Minneapolis, Minn., and Keith, a student at the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks; eight nieces and nephews, Debra, Marcia, Gordon and Kent Braathen, Kristi and Danny Oyos and Scott and Tracie Wermerskerchen.  Preceding her in death is her father, Alvin Oyos, who died Jan. 23, 1967.

Hampden History: Obituaries

Amelia Alvina (Werner) Elftman (Nov. 4, 1950)
Funeral services for Mrs. Amelia Alvina Elftman, 75, of Starkweather, were conducted Friday at the Methodist church in Hampden with the Rev. Ronald Ritter, pastor, officiating and the Rev. Ray McClure of Devils Lake assisting.

The former Amelia Alvina Werner was born October 12, 1875 at Lamberton, Minn.  She was united in marriage to Gust Elftman in 1899.  They moved to North Dakota in 1906 and lived on a farm near Hampden.

Her husband preceded her in death in 1935 as did one daughter.

Survivors are seven daughters Mrs. Chancey Spragg (lilly) of Becida, Minn., Mrs. Earl Lick (Sadie) of Robbinsdale, Minn., Mrs Tom Schonauer (Esther); Mrs. Earling Graff (Irene); Mrs. Ernest Wass (Edna); Mrs. Victor Camerson (Grace) of Starkweather and Mrs. LeRoy (Inez) Wolf of Hampden; three sons, Delbert of Edmore, Clarens and Ervin of Starkweather; one sister, Mrs. Fred Raddatz of LaPorte, Minn., and Elmer and Albert of Hampden; forty two grandchildren, and fifteen great grandchildren.

Arrangements were made by the Toomey Funeral Chapel.

Pallbearers were Everett Paul, Arthur Pulst, Chester Wass, Melvin Wass, Chancy Spragg and Walter Lindenberg.

A quartet composed of Melvin, Clayton and Clinton Klein and Henry Schmeise sang during the services accompanied by Mrs. Ed Neidlinger.

Hampden History: Obituaries

Grete Bjorland (Feb. 18, 1948)
Funeral services for Mrs. Grete Bjorland, 70, Hampden resident since 1938, were held in the Zoar Lutheran church here with Rev. Lawrence Rasmussen officiating.

Born in Stavanger, Norway, Mrs. Bjorland came to the United States in 1903 and married Tobias Bjorland the same year. She came to Hampden community at that time.  They farmed in Storlie township until her husband’s death in 1937.

Survivors include nine children, Peder Bjorland of Bagley, Toralf Bjorland of Lamoni, Ia., Mrs. Leon Ohma of Alsen and Mrs. Trygve Pollestad, Mrs. Clifford Thorson, Mrs. Herman Hermanson, Mrs. Hjalmer Stone, Mrs. Iver Harveland and Joh Bjorland of Hampden, 20 grand-children and two great grand-children.

Hampden History: Obituaries

John Ackre (July 16, 1949)
Funeral services were conducted Wednesday afternoon in the Zoar Lutheran church in Hampden for Jaohn Ackre, 73, resident of the Hampden community since 1900, who died Saturday evening in a Grand Forks hospital.Rev. Lawrence Rasmussen officiated at the service.  The Toomey funeral chapel was in charge of arrangements. 

Born in Lee county, Illinois, February 11, 1876, he came to the Hamdpen community in 1900 and filed on a homestead north of Hampden in Billings township.

He was married to Martina Skjeveland November 22, 1904, at Grand Forks.

He served as a member of the school and township board, the Hampden Elevator board, the Lutheran church board and the Cando Farmers Insurance company board.

Survivors besides his wife include two sons, Herman and George, both of Hampden. One son died in 1910 at the age of four years.