| Name | Ole Smikop Amundson |
| Birth | 21 Jun 1862, Vinstra Kvikne Norge |
| Death | 13 Feb 1930, Rothsay MN Age: 67 |
| Burial | Hamar Rothsay MN |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Education | Elementary |
| Religion | Lutheran |
| Father | Amund (Smikop) Amundson (1818-1895) |
| Mother | Ronnaug Jakobsd Huschelien (1822-1893) |
Came to Rothsay Vicinity in 1871
Ole Amundson died Thursday evening, February 13th at about 8:30 o'clock after a confinement in bed of about two weeks, with cancer of the stomach. He had been ailing for several months, but never complained or even informed his family of his condition until it was too late to do much for him.
The deceased was born in Norde Fron Gundbrandsdalen, Norway, June 21, 1862, being 67 years, 7 months and 23 days of age at the time of his death. He was a member of the Amund Smekup family, all coming to America in 1870, crossing the Ocean in a sail boat, taking nine weeks for the trip. On landing in America, the family settled in Wabasha county, this state, where they remained one year. They moved to this vicinity in 1871, coming with Ox team and covered wagon. This trip took them just three weeks. The family homestead was what is now the Wood farm two miles west and one half mile South of Rothsay. When Mr. Smekup filed on this homestead, he was accompanied by Ole Hanson, both walking to Alexandria, where the U.S. land office was located at the time. As the children became of age they filed on adjoining claims and finally married and built up nice homes and all prospered.
The first winter here the family spent with a bachelor, Martin Dahl, a friend from Norway, Northeast of Elizabeth while the men prepared logs to be used for the new home which was built early in the spring of 1872. The roof of the home was of birchbark covered with sod. They had not prepared enough birchbark so the first summer only half the house had a roof so when it rained the furniture had to be moved all under the half roof while the rain poured in the other half of the home.
On November 30, 1883, Mr. Amundson was united in marriage with Miss Martha Dahl. In 1884 they homesteaded the farm now occupied by Anton Amundson until twelve years ago when they moved on to the quarter adjoining their homestead where they built a fine new home and have since resided. Seven years ago they spent a year in Norway with their son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Magnus Haukas. Miss Annie Amundson having gone to Norway seven years previous to wed Mr. Haukas whom she met while he was in America working in this vicinity. The Haukas family returned to America with their parents.
Ole Amundosn was of a quiet disposition, but always took an active interest in community affiars, and served in most of the township offices, from time to time, and was a director of Hamar Church for several years. He was one of ten brothers and sisters, two of whom survive. They are Mrs. Rena Wood of Rothsay and Mrs. Amund Bakken of Fosston. One brother died when less than three weeks old, while a sister died in Norway. She was the mother of Mrs. Ole Resset, who resides a few miles north of Rothsay. A brother, Amund Amundson, and a sister, Mrs. Chas. Anderson died here in very early times, the latter being the wife of the proprietor of the first hotel built in Rothsay. The other deceased sisters and brother are: Mrs. G. Engelson, Mrs. Ole Hanson, Jacob Amundson and Mrs. Thos. Knudson.
Besides his widow, he is survived by two sons and two daughters, all of whom have families of their own. Emil and Anton have farms near the home place. Mrs. Haukas resides at home, while Mrs. Albert Johnson, the other daughter moved to Havre, Montana last fall. All the children were at home, when death came. Three children died in infancy, and one son died at the age of four years. He is also survived by 20 grand children.
The funeral will take place from Hamar church Friday, February 21st at 2 o'clock P.M. Services will also be held at home at 1 o'clock.
Rothsay Enterprise, Thursday, February 20, 1930.
Wilkin County School District #5 (2506) was organized on October 6, 1876. The three treasurers where records were kept when they were building a new school house in 1892 and 1893 included Tollef Gronseth, Olaf Felland, and Ole A. Smikop. In 1930 fire destroyed the wooden school house and a new brick structure was built in Section 12 of Akron township.
Early teachers were Lena Knudson, Harold Braatelien, Marie Braatelien, Leslie Cowie, Clara Knudson, Ethel Cowie, Gena Gronseth and Carrie Gronseth. Others included Gena Engelson. In the early 1940's Leona Moen was a teacher and later Mrs. Minnie Wee. The school was dissolved June 30, 1961.
Wilkin School District #27 (2516) was built on land donated on the north side of section 14 of Tanberg Township by Tom Knudson and Sigrid (Amundson) Knudson.
The petition to organize was signed on November 13, 1885. Petition signers were: Thomas Knudson, Peder Olson, Torger Kantrud, Peter Nordemu, Christian Krogh, Hans Kinzelsia, Gilbert Blegen, Herman Martinson, Johan P. Lundstad, Johan I. Skuler, Thor Johnson, Yotranes Traile, Ole Ringstad, Peder Jopensen, P.H. Skaug, S.E. Bowman, Jur Molden, C. Hanson, G. Engelson, Erick O. Bergebaker, Amund Monson, Christ Bjorgen, Ole Stenseth, Nils Hval, Clark Goodell, Knudt Johnasen, Ole Amundson, Anders L. Ellefsrud, Andrew Ringstad, Christian Hoff, Jacob Gunderson, Iver Berger. The Jakob Amundson family lived in this District. Teachers in District 27 included Christine Gronseth, Ella G. Rorvig, Luella Jocobson Franks, Mathilda Bratlein, Ethel Cowie, and Gina Gronseth.
| 1 | Martha Ellingsd Dahle |
| Birth | 14 Sep 1862, Fraenen, Gudbrandsdalen, Norge |
| Death | 28 Aug 1941, Rothsay MN Age: 78 |
| Burial | Hamar Rothsay MN |
| Occupation | Housewife |
| Education | Elementary |
| Religion | Lutheran |
| Father | Elling Andersen Dahle (1826-1912) |
| Mother | Sigri Amundsd Smikop (1822-1899) |
| Marriage | 30 Nov 1883, Rothsay, MN |
| Children | Amund (1883-1883) |
| Annie Randine (1885-1967) | |
| Emil Sevrin (1886-1962) | |
| Anton (1888-1968) | |
| Inga (1890-1970) | |
| UNNAMED | |
| UNNAMED | |
| UNNAMED |