Henry T and Julia O Rye

Julia Olette Olson, (October 24, 1889) was born in Beltrami, Minnesota. Her husband, Henry Tomas Rye, (December 16, 1879), was born in Fertile, Iowa.



Ella submitted information about her parents early life in the New Solum Centennial book. She stated, "They were married on December 9, 1908, and they homesteaded ten miles east of Goodridge, Minnesota. Later, they moved to Granite Falls, Minnesota for a short while, but retuned to the old homestead and lived there until they lost their house in a fire in 1922.



The moved to another farm until 1926. They often drove to Grygla, nine miles from their place, whith horse and buggy. There was a doctor and a hospital there; the doctor served as a dentist.



They often spoke of the fourth of July celebrations that were held at that time. Horse pulling contests and races of various kinds were held for the children".


We know from documents that Henry registered for the draft in 1918. Imagine the thought of him going to the war as a 39 year old with five children! The document is signed by him. I will try to enlarge it for all of us to see. It states he was short, meduim build, with blue eyes and light brown hair. It states he has weak eyes.


1880 census of Fertile Township, Worth County, Iowa, he is listed as Thomas, a one year old.



1900 census Julia is listed as the daughter of Ole K and Gertrude Olson. Julia was a nine year old. They were living in Scandia Township, Polk County, Minnesota.



1910 census lists Henry, Julia, Oliver and Nelsk, Eliza, Melvin, Clarence, Nueman, and Hazel all living in Granite Falls Township, Chippewa County, Minnesota. Oliver, their first child was born in 1909.



1920 census Henry, Julia, Oliver, Hilda, Alice, Ella, and Nora were living in Reiner Township, Pennington County, Minnesota. It states all of the above mentioned children were born in Minnesota.



1930census the family was living in Latona Township, Walsh County, North Dakota. Murvin, Clifford, Ilene, and Ralph had been added since the last census. Ralph is the only child to have been born in North Dakota; he was born in 1929.



It is indeed true that Henry Rye did homestead in section 24 of township 154N, range 39. This land was in Pennington County. He also had land in sections 13 and 14; forty acres in each. All of the land was in Reiner Township.



First issue date:
9/19/1910
He had to apply for a claim

Pay fees

Live on the land five years

Prove he was naturalized citizen

Have witnesses stating he was upstanding AND proved up the land


Then he was issued a land patent for

SWSW OF SECTION 13 (40 acres)

SESE OF SECTION 14 (40 acres)

NWNW OF SECTION 24 (40 acres)



Then! Henry got another claim in 1915 on

SWNW SECTION OF 24 (40 acres)



It is not known if he was just really smart picking up his 160 acres in part to get the best available, or if that is the only land that was left. It is said some homesteaders were in Crookston getting land in the winter off a map and didn't have a clue as to what they were really getting. When Ella talked about her folks being burned out in 1922 and moving, it may have been to a different section. That is, if the house burned on section 13, they may have moved to 14 or to 24.



Doesn't it seem to you like, if he started working the first claim in 1905 that he must have met Julia in that area? If the Olson's lived close to the Torgerson Post Office, then Henry would have been about two or so miles from the Olson farm. Shirley stated that when the Gilsoul, Olson, Larson murder occurred, Henry went there by horseback.



Nine children were born to Julia and Henry:

Oliver; 1909

Hilda; 1911

Alice; 1912

Ella; 1915

Nora; 1918

Murvin; 1921

Clifford; 1923

Ilene ; 1926

Ralph; 1929


The family moved to New Solum Township in 1931. The farm was located in section 28. They moved to this area in 1931.