Gjermund Aanondson Harstad was born in Valle, Norway; emigrated to America in 1868, and after 1875 settled on land near Hillsboro, No. Da., and married there in March 1878 to Borhild Kittilsdaughter, also born in Norway. Gjermund served two terms as member of the North Dakota Legislature and as Judge of Probate of Traill county, No. Dak. In 1893 the family moved to Parkland, Washington where Borghild died from burns cased by an exploded lamps in the fall of 1897. They had eight children.
These reports "From the Mission Field" appeared in the Pacific Herold, the Norwegian paper published in Parkland, Washington in the interest particularly of PLU. In July of 1895 Rev. Bjug Harstad made an exploratory tour of the state of Oregon particularly in the Willamette Valley. The purpose will be seen as one reads the accounts written by him. That which we present herewith appeared in the July 17th, 24th and 31st, Aug. 7th and 14th and the Sept 1895 issues of Pacific Herold. The translation from Norwegian is by Adolph M. Harstad. The introduction was evidently written by the editor.
A copy of a Certificate of Honor presented to Rev. B. Harstad on the occasion of his honorable discharge from the service of the United States and In recognition of Loyal and Devoted Service as a Four-Minute Man of the Committee on Public Information during the War of 1917-1918. File also includes a copy of a letter from the White House signed by president Woodrow Wilson concerning the Four Minute Men.
Golden Wedding Celebration of Martha and Adolph Harstad at Parkland on August 6-13, 1981
File includes dedication program, greetings from particpants, poems, a prolog read at the Summer Festival in the afternoon following the unveiling of the Bjug Harstad Monument. The Summer Festival was held at Tveitetunet, Valle, Norway, news releses and clippings.
Esther Thune's research regarding her Grandfather Bjug Harstad. Esther is the daughter of Aanond Theodore Harstad