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Christina Kristine Olsdatter was born in Enebak, Spydeberg, Norway on June 16, 1844. Her parents were Ole Thorersen and Maren Godfriedsdatter. She emigrated to Fillmore County, Rushford Township, in South Eastern Minnesota in 1867 There she joined her sister Anna and Anna's husband Lars Olsen Lanskov whom had emmigrated two years earlier from Norway. Christina was married that same year to Gullik or Gaelick C. Friberg Olson. Friberg who also emigrated from Norway was born in Christiana, Norway July 16, 1837. .His parents were Ole Friberg and Margrath (?) |
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They lived three years in Fillmore County then moved to Yellow Medicine County after they heard of available government homesteading property. In June of 1870 the first claim in then to become, Norman township, was taken by A. G. Gulman of Fillmore county on section 32. During his return to Yellow Medicine County he met Friberg Olson, S.A. Haagard, and John Bryngulson all of Fillmore county, they had headed west leaving their homes in covered wagons drawn by oxen teams. A. G. Gulman described his claim and convinced them to also settle in the area.. They all located to the southern part of the county. Thus these families settled close together in the wilderness in the spring of 1870. They named their new township Norman Township. Friberg homesteaded 240 acres in the extreme southwest corner of which is now Norman Township 5th Meridian 114N, 45W, Section 31. There homestead was surrounded by hills and a creek (Lazarus Creek) running just under the hills. The first year Friberg constructed a dwelling, a 12X10 log house and a barn and broke up 10 to 15 acres of land. They lived in their wagon until the log house was built. The log house had an attic on one side with a floor. Its roof was made of sod laid over top of bark which was spread out on top of poles. There was two windows about 12x 20 inches in size and one door. The sod roof grew and knit tightly together. Later a sod shanty was added on to enlarge the house. The furniture was made from local trees in the area. Wheat was ground by hand into flour and trips were made with two or three local residents to New Ulm, Minnesota a distance of about 125 miles for supplies and food necessities that would last them through the winter. Friberg would travel by skis in the winter to Lac Qui Parle County using a compass as a guide to sell furs that he had trapped.
The first town meeting was held on April 7, 1874 at the store of John Swanson, on the present site which is now Canby, Minnesota. Friberg was named the first constable for the area. Norman, was the most important township in the western part of Yellow Medicine County. If the County of Canby had been organized, as was attempted a few years since, the town of Canby would have contained the county seat. The village of Canby had been laid out in August of 1876 on railroad property.
The children of Friberg and Christina were first born Emma Ovidia (born in Fillmore County) April 15,1868. Born in Norman township were Phillip (Olaf Martinus) August 16, 1870, Thea Kaspara January 9,1873, Christian Ole December 4, 1874, Helena Josofine (Josie) March 26,1878, Engvold (who died in infancy), Lena Emilia February 4,1880, Torval Oscar June 28,1882 , Mina Sophia (Minnie) January 14,1885, and Konrad February 11,1889. Olaf was born in August 1870 in the covered wagon they traveled in and was the first white child born west of the Yellow Medicine River, he is registered in the 1875 census as Phillip.. In 1876 Friberg was granted his deed for the farm and the 240 acres of land which he toiled over for over 5 years became his. Famine and grasshopper plagues almost drove the family from the area. Fortunately railroad tracks were constructed through Canby in 1877 and made life a lot easier to procure supplies and sell grain.
Friberg died a failrly young man in the year 1900, his wife Christina and the children remained with the farm until the children were grown and had families of their own. Christina lived on until 1937 to an age of 92.
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