Hans Jørgen Olai Olsen was born 16 May 1858(# 51) on Melsbø farm, Lødingen, Nordland County, Norway. He died 1 Feb. 1935 in Idun, Aitkin, Minnesota, USA. He was son of Ole Andreas Amundsen and Martha Andersdatter. Hans married Anna Marie Iverson (Dec. 1865 - 14 Nov. 1941). They had at least 8 children, but I only knew 6 of the names:

1. Martha Olivia Melsby, b. 2 Jul. 1889, d. 9 Jul. 1970 in Beltrami County, Minnesota, m. Anfind Berdahl (27 Feb. 1875 - 9 Jul. 1970).
2. Ole Julius Melsby, b. 16 Oct. 1890, Minnesota, m. 16 Oct. 1918 in Hamlin County, SD, Lillian Olsen (15 Sep. 1894 - Jan. 1994).
3. Albert L. Melsby, b. 20 Aug. 1893, Aitkin, MN. d. 23 Dec. 1962, m. Edna Melvina Melsby (10 Jan. 1902 - 18 Nov. 1961).
4. Helmer Melsby, b. 1896, MN, d. 1987, m. Cora Marie Scherer (1894 - 1976).
5. Julia A Melsby, b. 30 Jul 1900, MN, d. 5 Sep. 1964, Clark, Clark County, SD, m. Emerson Liston Wilson (8 Dec. 1896 - 12 Oct. 1969).
6. William Herman Melsby, b. 7 Jun. 1907, Aitkin, MN, d. 1936, Hennepin County, MN.

Hans Jørgen Olai was christened on 25 July 1858(# 51) in Lødingen.

In the 1865 census Hans Jørgen Olai was living on Melsbø farm in Lødingen together with his parents and siblings. (At that time the farm name was written as Mælsbø).

He emigrated to USA in 1866 together with his parents and siblings. They departured from Trondheim on 5 May 1866 on the bark Neptunus. They arrived in Quebec Canada on 9 June 1866. Passenger list (see # 346 - 353). His name was then listed as Hans Jørgen.

He used the name Hans Melsby in USA.

Hans Melsby and his brother Ingvald Melsby are mentioned several times in the pioneers stories a cousin of my great grandfather wrote. The Melby's are mentioned in part # 1, 2 and 3 in this link: http://slektsforskning.com/login/person/anetre/tekst/Pioneers.asp

Link to his page on FIND A GRAVE: Hans Melsby.

In the link to Lødingen above, click on the pictures for a bigger picture. 1)

1) SAT, Ministerialprotokoller, klokkerbøker og fødselsregistre - Nordland, Ministerialbok nr. 872A08, 1840-1863, s. 97.
Folketelling 1865 for 1851P Lødingen prestegjeld.
Passenger list 1866 - bark Neptunus.
FIND A GRAVE.
Tolleif George Thomsen: Memories from Bear Lake.