ENSTAD
Family History Site

Dedicated to the Norwegian Pioneers
of North Dakota and Beyond

In the year 1605 in a Norwegian mountain valley called Lesjaskogen, Erik and Marit Enstad were married. He died shortly thereafter in 1610. She then married Peder Gudbrandsen, and in 1614 their son, Johannes was born. In 1870 Johannes' great-great-great-great-greatgrandson, Peder Olsen Enstad, emigrated to the United States. He was my greatgrandfather, one of my personal heros, a true role model. A person committed to family, community and church, and a constant pioneer. He first settled in Minnesota, then homesteaded in North Dakota near the present-day town of Pekin.

This site features narratives that he and a couple of his decendents wrote. They were his son, Oliver C. Enstad, my grandfather, and Mildred Enstad Eckhoff, my mother.

I hope you enjoy and appreciate these stories. They certainly paint a memorable picture of Norwegian immigrant pioneers and life in North Dakota during the period 1880 to WWII, as well as capture the feeling of the great migration to California after WW II. Click on the portrait images or names to link to their respective articles.

Mildred LinkMildred Enstad Eckhoff, my mother, wrote the material in her autobiography during the period 1989 to 1995.

Additionally, I have included an historical narrative written by my Grandfather,
O.C. Enstad,
O C Enstad Link
P O Enstad Link And a 19th Century pioneer saga by my Greatgrandfather, P.O. Enstad.

Enlargements of many of the images can be viewed by clicking on the images. Look for the heavy green borders. Background Sounds are in the MIDI format. If you don't hear the music, check you "Synthsizer" settings. Please E-mail me any comments you might have.

Some of the Email Addresses of our Extended Family are included for your information.

David Eckhoff, Editor
Salt Lake City, Utah
deckhoff@xmission.com