Hon. Erick Gunderson, one of the most successful farmers of Ransom County, was the first settler of Liberty Township. He steadily improved his property, but at all times considered it necessary that he keep from debt and he became the owner of one of the finest farms of that region.
Erick was born on the farm Moe, at Grue, Solor, Hedmark, Norway, May 28, 1844, and was the oldest son and second child in a family of seven children born to Gunder E. and Eli Erickson. His parents lived in Minnesota to the advanced age of 86 and 87 years of age. When our subject was 17 years of age (1861) the family came to America and remained on summer in Beloit, Wisconsin, thence moving to Madison, Wisconsin, where our subject and his father worked at daylabor. After about three years (1864) they changed their home to Mitchell County, Iowa, where they attempted farming. Erick married Sarah Everson in 1869 and in 1870 they located in Chippewa County, Minnesota, where our subject and parents obtained land and engaged in farming.
Three children were born in Minnesota. They maintained strong contacts in Iowa, three children being born there. He became discouraged in Minnesota and in the spring of 1878 took a tree claim in Cass County, North Dakota, near Buffalo and turned the first furrow in that part of Cass County. He returned to his home in Minnesota and sold his tree claim and in the spring of 1880 went to Ransom County and took a pre-emption to the land on which he permanently located, near Sheldon. Enderlin is currently the nearest town. After selling his tree claim he started to Dakota with $33 and he secured three horses, harness and feed and at once began the improvement of his farm in Ransom County. He built a 10 x 12 foot sod shanty and a sod barn and his family joined him about February, 1881. Times were hard and there wwere but a few settlers and he worked some for others and steadily improved his own place. The final three of the nine children of Erick and Sarah were born in North Dakota.
He acquired 480 acres of land on which in 1891 he built a comfortable dwelling, valued at $1,000 and in 1897 erected the best barn in Liberty Town ship. This structure was 60 x 66 feet with a stone basement and room for about 30 horses and 40 cattle and storage for 100 tons of hay. His fine property represented the industry and careful management of our subject. The Gunders on farm was 5 miles south and 1-1/2 miles west of Enderlin.
The following children were born to Erick and Sarah to bless their home. George who lived at Baudette, Minn., Charles at Blackduck, Minn., Alfred, Lisbon, Elida (Mrs. Sam Hanson) at Northwood, ND, Emma (Mrs. Ole Gunderson), Enumclaw, Wash., Ida (Mrs. Olai Helland), Cass lake, Minn., Eddie, Lisbon, ND, Clara (Mrs. Ben Tangsrud), Enderlin, and Minnie (Mrs. Earl Hitchcock), Lisbon. The Gundersons were members of the Norwegian Lutheran Church and took a prominent part in church matters. he served as township treasurer and was a man of active, public spirit. he was elected to the State Legislature in 1894 and did very efficient work there. Politically he was a Republican and served as a delegate to county and state conventions and was a member of the County Central Committee.
Erick Gunderson passed away January 11, 1916 at 71 years old and Sarah on November 5, 1927 at 80 years old. Their last living child was their youngest, Eddie, who died December 4, 1982 at 97 years old.
There are many descendants of Erick and Sarah Gunderson living in the Lisbon and Enderlin areas.
SOURCE: Enderlin Cententennial History Book 1891-1991, Enderlin Centennial History Book Committee, A91991, Transcript Publishing, New Rockford, ND, Chester Fritz Library (University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND), call number F644.E54-1991