Ole Andreas Olsen was born 3 Feb. 1855(# 35) on Melsbø farm, Lødingen, Nordland County, Norway. He died 1947 in Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin, USA. He was son of Ole Andreas Amundsen and Martha Andersdatter. Ole Andreas married Anne Louise Pederson on 23 May 1881 in Martell, Pierce County, WI. They had 9 children:

1. Agnes Marie Melsby, b. 14 Apr. 1882, d. 28 Jan. 1972, m. Martin Christofferson.
2. James Orvin Melsby, b. Sep. 1883, d. 1943, m. Evalyn M. Cutler.
3. Lawrence Edward Melsby, b. 7 Aug. 1885, d. 24 June 1978, m. Hilda Frances Hanson.
4. Clarence Melsby, b. 1892, d. 1892.
5. Emma Louise Melsby, b. 15 May 1894, d. 20 Nov. 1969, m. Benjamin A. Carpenter.
6. Esther Melsby, b. 1896, d. 1977, m. Percy Heaney.
7. Mabel Matilda Melsby, b. Jan. 1897, d. 1937.
8. Melvin Clarence Melsby, b. 6 May 1900, d. 8 Jan. 1969.
9. Ellen Cecelia Melsby, b. 8 Jan. 1903, d. 29 Aug. 1986, m. 26 Nov. 1926, Dwight Dennis Chinnock.

Ole Andreas was christened on 10 June 1855(# 35) in Lødingen.

In the 1865 census Ole Andreas 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 Ole Andreas.

He used the name Ole O. Melsby in USA.

In the 1900 census Ole O. Melsby was living in Gilman town, Pierce, Wisconsin together with his wife Anna Melsby and their children Orvin 17 years old born SD, Lorence 15 years old born in SD, Emma, Ester, Mable and Melvin born in WI.

In the 1905 census Ole O. Melsby was living in Gilman, Pierce, Wisconsin together with his wife Anna Louise Melsby and their children James Orwis, Lawarance E, Emma E, Ester Clarissa, Mabel Matilde, Melvin Q and Ellen Cecilia.

In the 1910 census Ole O. Melsby was living in Gilman, Pierce, Wisconsin together with his wife Anna L. Melsby and their children Emma L, Esther C, Mable M, Melvin C. and Ellen C.

In the 1920 census Ole O. Melsby was living in Gilman, Pierce, Wisconsin together with his wife Anna L. Melsby and their children Agnes M, Esther C, Mable M, Melvin C. and Ellen C.

In the 1930 census Ole O. Melsby was living in Gilman, Pierce, Wisconsin together with his wife Anna L. Melsby and their children Agnes M and Melvin and their grandson Claire E. Carpenter 8 years old born in ND.

In the 1940 census Ole O. Melsby was living in Gilman, Pierce, Wisconsin together with his wife Anna L. Melsby and their son Melven C and their grandson Clair Carptener 18 years old born in ND.

His brother's Ingvald Melsby and Hans 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 O. 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. 77.
Folketelling 1865 for 1851P Lødingen prestegjeld.
Passenger list 1866 - bark Neptunus.
FIND A GRAVE.
Tolleif George Thomsen: Memories from Bear Lake.