Erik Ramstad
Encyclopedia
Erik Ramstad was one of the founders of Minot, North Dakota
.
, Buskerud
County, Norway
. They were early settlers in the Souris River
Valley of North Dakota arriving in May 1883. They staked a claim to property on both the north and south sides of the Souris River. With the coming of the Great Northern Railway during the summer of 1886, Erik Ramstad agreed to relinquish 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of land on the south side of the Souris River, retaining sites north of the river. The Great Northern roundhouse
and the Minot business district were both built on this southern acreage.
Both Erik and Peter Ramstad remained active in the development of Minot. In 1886, the first Lutheran church service within Minot was held at the Peter Ramstad home. Erik Ramstad later donated part of his remaining property which became the site of Minot State University
. Erik Ramstad was involved in local politics for many years. Erik Ramstad Middle School, south of the Minot State University campus, is named after him.
Peter Ramstad died on July 14, 1930 at 74 years of age. Erik Ramstad died on January 21, 1951 at 91 years of age. Both brothers died in Minot, North Dakota. Erik Ramstad is buried in the First Lutheran Church Cemetery next to Minot State University.
Minot, North Dakota
Minot is a city located in north central North Dakota in the United States. It is most widely known for the Air Force base located approximately 15 miles north of the city. With a population of 40,888 at the 2010 census, Minot is the fourth largest city in the state...
.
Biography
Erik Ramstad and his brother Peter were natives of SigdalSigdal
Sigdal is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Prestfoss. -Background:...
, Buskerud
Buskerud
is a county in Norway, bordering Akershus, Oslo, Oppland, Sogn og Fjordane, Hordaland, Telemark, and Vestfold. The county administration is located in Drammen.-Geography:...
County, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. They were early settlers in the Souris River
Souris River
The Souris River or Mouse River is a river in central North America. It is about 700 km in length and drains about . It rises in the Yellow Grass Marshes north of Weyburn, Saskatchewan...
Valley of North Dakota arriving in May 1883. They staked a claim to property on both the north and south sides of the Souris River. With the coming of the Great Northern Railway during the summer of 1886, Erik Ramstad agreed to relinquish 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of land on the south side of the Souris River, retaining sites north of the river. The Great Northern roundhouse
Roundhouse
A roundhouse is a building used by railroads for servicing locomotives. Roundhouses are large, circular or semicircular structures that were traditionally located surrounding or adjacent to turntables...
and the Minot business district were both built on this southern acreage.
Both Erik and Peter Ramstad remained active in the development of Minot. In 1886, the first Lutheran church service within Minot was held at the Peter Ramstad home. Erik Ramstad later donated part of his remaining property which became the site of Minot State University
Minot State University
Minot State University is a four-year institution of higher learning in Minot, North Dakota. Founded in 1913 as a normal school, Minot State University is the third-largest university in North Dakota, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs.Minot State University was founded in 1913...
. Erik Ramstad was involved in local politics for many years. Erik Ramstad Middle School, south of the Minot State University campus, is named after him.
Peter Ramstad died on July 14, 1930 at 74 years of age. Erik Ramstad died on January 21, 1951 at 91 years of age. Both brothers died in Minot, North Dakota. Erik Ramstad is buried in the First Lutheran Church Cemetery next to Minot State University.
Primary Source
- Keillor, Steven J. Erik Ramstad and the Empire Builder (North American Heritage Press, Minot, ND. 2002)