Ole Andreas Amundsen was born 28 June 1821(# 10) on Frøvarp farm, Fosnes, Nord-Trøndelag County, Norway. He died 24 July 1909 in Idun, Aitkin, Minnesota, USA. He was son of Amund Nilsen and Anne Marie Hansdatter. Ole Andreas married Martha Andersdatter on 25 Oct. 1849(# 11) in Lødingen, Nordland County, Norway. They had 6 children:

1. Alvilde Marie Olsdatter, b. 16 Sep. 1850(# 53), d. 24 Apr. 1918, m. Andrew Jacobson.
2. Anna Helene Olsdatter,, b. 24 Sep. 1853(# 98), d. 1908, m. Carl E Widgren.
3. Ole Andreas Olsen, b. 3 Feb. 1855(# 35), d. 1947, m. 23 May 1881, Anna Pederson.
4. Hans Jørgen Olai Olsen, b. 16 May 1858(# 51), d. 1 Feb. 1935, m. Anna Marie Iverson.
5. Ingvald Kristian Olsen, b. 23 June 1861(# 104), d. 4 Aug. 1958.
6. Adolf Ingeman Olsen, b. 30 Mar. 1864(# 19), d. 1894.

Ole Andreas was christened on 29 July 1821(# 10) in Fosnes.

In his confirmation record dated 8 Oct. 1837(# 12) in Beitstaden, Nord-Trøndelag County it is also mentioned that he was born on Frøvarp farm in Fosnes.

Ole moved from Fosnes to Salten, Nordland County in 1846 before he moved to Lødingen in Nordland County in 1849. He leased Prestegården in Lødingen 1849 - 1850 before he bought a part of Melsbø farm in 1850 for 130 silver dollars.

In the 1865 census Ole Andreas is living on Melsbø farm in Lødingen together with his wife Martha Andersdatter and their children Alvild Mari, Anna Helene, Ole Andreas, Hans Jørgen, Ingevald and Adolf. Ole was then a farmer and fisherman. (At that time the farm name was written as Mælsbø).

He emigrated to USA with his family in 1866. 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 Ole A. Melbø.

He used the name Ole A. Melsby in USA.

In the 1880 census he was living in Gilman, Pierce, Wisconsin, USA together with his wife Martha Melsby and their son Adolf Melsby. His name was then listed as Ole A Melsby.

In the 1900 census Ole A Melsby was living in Lakeside & Malmo Townships, Aitkin, Minnesota, USA together with his son Ingvald C Melsby. Ole was then a widower and his immigration year was 1866.

In the 1905 census Ole A Melsby was living in Idun, Aitkin, Minnesota, USA.

In Find a grave index his birth date is 16 jun 1821 but the correct date was 28 jun 1821.

His sons 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: Ole Andreas Amundsen Melsby.

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

1) SAT, Ministerialprotokoller, klokkerbøker og fødselsregistre - Nord-Trøndelag, Ministerialbok nr. 773A03 /2, 1815-1830, s. 32.
SAT, Ministerialprotokoller, klokkerbøker og fødselsregistre - Nordland, Ministerialbok nr. 872A08, 1840-1863, s. 388.
SAT, Ministerialprotokoller, klokkerbøker og fødselsregistre - Nord-Trøndelag, Ministerialbok nr. 741A06, 1836-1848, s. 140.
Folketelling 1865 for 1851P Lødingen prestegjeld.
Passenger list 1866 - bark Neptunus.
FIND A GRAVE.
Tolleif George Thomsen: Memories from Bear Lake.