Manfred History & Preservation, Inc.
T.K. and Mary Rogne
Husband's Full Name: Torstein Kristenson Rogne
Husband's Place of Birth: Øystre Slidre, Valdres, Norway
Husband's Father's Name: Kristen Mikkjelsen Rogne
Husband's Mother's Name: Guro Gudbrandsdtr Bustebakke
Husband's Siblings' Names: Guri, Gudbrand, Kristen, Marit, Guri, Kristen
Wife's Full Name: Marit Andersdotter Fystro
Wife's Place of Birth: Norway
Wife's Father's Name: Anders Nilsen Fystro
Wife's Mother's Name: Ragnhild Gudbrandsdatter
Wife's Siblings' Names: unknown
Children's Names: Carl, Ragna, Andrew, George, Mamie, Thomas, George
Thorstein K. Rogne, the efficient and well-known postmaster of Manfred, Wells County, was identified with the business interests of that thriving town from the early days of its existence. He is a man of good business qualifications, and has met with success in every enterprise in which he has embarked, and has built up an enviable reputation for integrity of character, and is highly esteemed as an exemplary citizen.
Our subject was born in Valdres, Norway, in 1859. His father Christ Rogne, was a Native of Norway, and died in his native land. Our subject was the fourth in a family of six children, and was raised on a farm, and graduated from a military school in Christiania in 1880. He emigrated to America in 1881, and spent one year in Wisconsin at farm work, and then lived five years in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He worked on a Scandinavian newspaper during the winter months, and spent the summers with a surveying party. He visited his native land four months in 1888, and then went to North Dakota and took government land in Foster County, and farmed with oxen the first two years. He went to Wells County in 1892 and located near Manfred, where he has followed farming since. In the company with Lars Burkum he established the first general store in Manfred in 1894. He disposed of his interests in 1898 and established a furniture and hardware business and erected a building 52 x 52 feet, the largest in the town, and after conducting the business a year and a half sold the same to J. L. Berg. He has held the office of postmaster for five years, and was the first officer appointed at Manfred.
T. K. Rogne was married in 1888, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Mary Fystro, a native of Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Rogne are the parents of six children. Mr. Rogne takes an active part in local affairs, and has served as county surveyor four years and clerk of the school board for several years. He has watched the growth of the town, and has aided materially in its advancement. Politically he is a Populist, and stands for reform principles under any name.
Xource: Compendium of History and Biography, North Dakota, 1900.