Norgaard-Christensen Wed in 1914

Niels Norgaard and Lydia Christensen were the first couple to wed in the newly created Richland County. Their marriage license dated June 17, 1914 was issued only a month after Richland County was carved out of Dawson County on May 16, 1914. The county had not even had time to print its own licenses, thus the Fallon County crossed out and replaced by Richland.

Niels was born in 1882 in Denmark and emigrated to America at the age of seven. He was a gymnastics teacher in Kenmare before coming to Sidney in 1906 where he worked on the John Kemmis farm and hauled freight for Mr.Vaux from MonDak to Sidney. One of the things he told about on his arrival was the fact that the stage went through the ice on the river and the passengers all got wet and very cold. He also mentioned never before having seen so much grass as there was on the plains those days and the beautiful wild flowers. He fell in love with the area on sight.

When land became available, Niels filed on a homestead east of the Brorson church. In 1914, he moved and proved up on section 20, the north side of Natural Corral approximately 6 miles NW of Sidney.

Lydia Christensen had come from Owattona, Minn. and grew up on her father's homestead approximately 8 miles NW of Sidney. She helped her father and worked for area families. Niels and Lydia met in 1910 and were married June 17, 1914.

Niels and Lydia had one daughter Margaret and two sons, Orvald and Ervin. Margaret married Harold Simonsen and had 5 children; Allen, Gary, Harlan, Lynn and Cheryl. Orvald married Hazel Blair. They had three daughters; Lola Hanson, Rita Hoch and Janette Norgaard. Ervin Married Luella and had three daughters; Bev White, Bonnie Neu, Nina Keller, and one son Daryl.

Lydia suffered from arthritis as well as other ailments and was unable to do a lot of work. Daughter Margaret assumed many of the household chores with the boys helping out as needed. Lydia died in 1947 in the Minot hospital.

Niels was the first to have a radio in the Brorson area and the neighbors were regular visitors eager to listen. He was also the first person in the area to own a car, but the last to own a tractor. He liked working with his horses.

Grandchildren remember him for his silver dollars at Christmas time and for being strict, as most grandparents were at the time. "We didn't wiggle at Grandpa's when we were there for holiday dinners," granddaughter Nina Keller said.

Niels was only about 5'1" or 2". He could still do cartwheels all the way from the house to the barn, a distance of about 150', when he was in his 50s. Interestingly, he didn't want his children or grandchildren to take up gymnastics.

Ervin and his wife Luella eventually took over the family farm, but Niels continued to farm a ½ section until he retired at age 75. He passed away in Sidney in 1970 at the age of 88.