Minnesota Territorial Pioneers
The Minnesota Territorial Pioneers is an organization of descendants of those who settled in Minnesota prior to Statehood (1858). Membership applications are reviewed by the Board of Directors. The board presents the names of individuals whose applications have been accepted to the general membership at the annual meeting held in May.
The Norwegian Statehood Pioneer Project is accepting applications for plaques for Norwegians who lived in Minnesota at the time of statehood. In addition, NSPP also has a program of "Century Certificates" for descendants of Norwegians who lived in Minnesota prior to 1908. These certificates are available for all of Tarje and Geline's children and many of their grandchildren.
Applications to MTP or the NSPP plaque program must provide documentation that a pioneer lived in the Minnesota Territory, and prove the line of descent to the applicant. Applications for the NSPP certificate program require proof of residence for the pioneer prior to January 1, 1908 along with proof of descent. Proof of descent must be supported by birth or death certificates, obituaries, baptismal certificates, etc.
Tarje, Aase, Ole and Geline's father Gulbrand Kassenborg settled in Houston County before 1858. Descendants of Tone Grover qualify through their descendancy from Kristi. Descendants of John Kroshus, father of Alexander's wife Pauline, are also eligible for membership in MTP and the Century Certificate program, but since they left Minnesota prior to statehood they do not qualify for the NSPP plaque program.
Tarje Grover Pioneer
(proofs open in new windows)
2. Land Acquisition Record, Bureau of Land Management
Document #1638 Accession# MN2310__.020
3. 1857 Minnesota Territorial Census
Tarje acquired land, he and Geline were married in 1857, and they appear in the official Territorial Census of 1857. Each of these proofs verifies Tarje's presences in Minnesota Territory.
Proof of Descent for children of Tarje and Geline Grover:
The family is listed together in the 1880 Census
Aase Grover/Kristi Grover Pioneer
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1. 1857 Minnesota Territorial Census
Aase was living with her brother Tarje at the time of the 1857 Territorial Census. Tone never lived in
Minnesota; her mother Kristi was living with Tarje in Minnesota at the time of the Census and is
therefore a qualifying pioneer for all of her children's descendants.
Proof of Descent for children of Kristi Grover:
The family is listed together in the 1850 Census
Ole Grover Pioneer
(proofs open in new windows)
1. Land Acquisition Record, Bureau of Land Management
Document #1826 Accession# MN2340__.017
Document #2925 Accession# MN2330__.126
2. 1857 Minnesota Territorial Census
Since Ole acquired land in 1857 and is listed in the official Territorial Census of 1857. These proofs verify Ole's presence in Minnesota Territory.
Kassenborg Pioneer
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1. "Nordmaendene i Amerika" by Martin Ulvestad. Published 1907, Minneapolis MN by the History Book Company
The translation is as follows:"Guttorm Guttormsen Oino from Rotnem in Gol, Hallingdal, Ole Evensen Dølehus from Hemsedal, along with the Stutelein Brothers and G. G. Kassenborg from Valdres were the first white settlers on the South Fork (Root River); but at that time the area was full of drunken Indians. They discovered that they were not hostile; nevertheless, they had constant fear of them.". Excerpt Only
2. Land Acquisition Record, Bureau of Land Management
Document #3191 Accession # MN2340__.017
3. 1857 Minnesota Territorial Census
Proof of descent for children of G. G. Kassenborg
Daughter Geline: 1880 Census: Geline is listed as Tarje Grover's wife and G G Kassenborg as Tarje's father-in-law.
Sons Gilbert and Andreas: 1857 Territorial Census
Kroshus Pioneer
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1. "History of Houston County" Published 1919, Winona MN MN by H. C. Cooper Jr. & Company Page 175 and Page 478
2. Proof of descent
a) 1870 Census proves descent for all of John and Carrie Kroshus' children (the census may also be used by Halvor's descendants as proof he was born in Minnesota prior to statehood)
Additional proofs required for each succeeding generation (see below)
Proving Line of Descent
Having verified that the Grovers, Gilbert Kassenborg, and/or John Kroshus were in the Minnesota territory prior to Statehood, it is then necessary to prove the line of descent from that ancestor to the applicant. Provide either photocopies or specific information about the location of a birth/death certificate, obituary, census or other document that verifies the connection from each generation to the next in your line of descent. Many of the census records for family members (through 1930) are on the website and can be printed and used to prove line of descent.
Some Helpful Resources
The Minnesota Historical Society maintains a collection of almost all newspapers ever published in Minnesota. The Red River Valley News was published in Glyndon in the pioneer era. MHS maintains a complete index of death certificates 1908-1996. Death certificates usually include the name of the deceased's parents.
Births in Fargo (ND) Hospitals are registered with the North Dakota Dept. of Health, Division of Vital Records.
For more information about applying for
membership visit
http://www.mnterritorialpioneers.org/
or contact
Minnesota Territorial Pioneers, Inc.
176 Snelling Avenue North, Suite 328
St Paul MN 55104
651-379-1849
mnterritorialpioneers@mnwebsteps.com
In honor of the Minnesota Sesquicentennial, the Norwegian Statehood Pioneer Project offers Recognition for Norwegian pioneers who lived in Minnesota at the time of statehood in 1858. Descendants of Tarje Grover and Gulbrand Kassenborg qualify for recognition. For more information, visit the NSPP Website by clicking the graphic below.
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