Harold Arthur BYE

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Birth Certificate: 1923-23095
• Social Security Number: 477-16-4436 Issued In Minnesota Before 1951
• Baptism: 27 May 1923, Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, Minnesota

Notes:

Many trees on Ancestry.com incorrectly have him dying in 2000.

Other sources say birthdate 6 Jul 1924 but that is for a different Harold Bye. The date shown is from the birth certificate for Andrew Bye’s son.

In the 1950 census, he was still single and living with his parents in Dane Prairie Twp, Otter Tail County. He was a farmer.

Noted as having personal property valued at $507 in the January 26, 1954, edition of the FFDJ for school tax purposes for the Town of Dane Prairie.

May have been the Harry Bye living in Underwood in early 1954.

Harold Bye of Dane Prairie was a March of Dimes volunteer chairman for the March of Dimes emergency campaign in the county August 16th to August 31, 1954.

Harold survived his brother Alfred.

An article in the Fergus Falls newspaper in August of 2012 highlights Harold continuing to be a newspaper deliverer for the FFDJ. His route is 80 miles and he’s still driving it every day in a 1990 Dodge Omni. He’s been driving it for five years and his wife before that for 25. Before that he drove for the newspaper, he was a dairy farmer. He still lives on the farm in the house he grew up in. “While much of the house has been redone, some of the walls that were built in the 1800s are still standing. Bye will soon have all three of his children living within a mile of the house in which they all grew up. His son plans to retire soon and move back into the house with Bye, and his two other children live just down the road.”

Regarding the article that mentioned him in the August 15, 2012, edition of the Fergus Falls Daily Journal, a commenter said, “Not only was, or is a dedicated worker for the Daily Journal, he was also a pilot for many years flying out of the airport here in Fergus Falls. Harold is one of the many pilots left who flew in the 1940s and 1950s, so keep on going, Harold.”

Harold A. Bye, 100, of Fergus Falls, died Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at Lake Region Healthcare in Fergus Falls.

Harold Arthur Bye was born January 30, 1923, to Andrew and Anna (Sander) Bye in Fergus Falls. He attended Fergus Falls High School and the University of Minnesota for Agriculture. He was a member of the Army National Guard for four years.

On June 12, 1951, Harold married Gladys Persey at her family home in Elizabeth, MN. After getting married, the couple moved to the family farm in Dane Prairie Township and farmed until 1982. Harold received the Minnesota Conservation Award in 1964 for Best Practices in Farming. After retiring from farming, he went to work for Augustana Apartments and Cardinal Homes as a maintenance engineer for several years. Harold retired as a maintenance engineer and began delivering papers with his wife for the Fergus Falls Daily Journal. He continued delivering the paper until his final retirement at 95.

Harold was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls, a member of Civil Air Patrol, served on the Dane Prairie Township Board, and was on the District 1425 School Board. Harold was also a member of the Lake Region’s Thresherman’s Association.

Harold fulfilled a long-time childhood dream of being a pilot. He was known for his flight abilities and often flew a private plane for fun. Harold enjoyed ice fishing and deer hunting. He was also known for his woodworking creativity and made many wooden benches that can be found around the Fergus Falls and Dalton areas. Harold expanded his creativity and began making tin men. He was not only highly creative but was a collector of toy tractors and other rare items.

Preceding him in death were his wife, Gladys; his parents, Andrew and Anna Bye; two brothers, Julian and Alfred; four sisters, Lillian, Elenora, Margaret, and Dorothy, and step-grandchildren, Ashley Nicole Kruse and Ann Marie Walker.

Harold is survived by his children, Duane (Annette) Bye, David (Renata) Bye, and Marilyn (Roger) Mittelstadt; grandchildren, Melissa Bye, Daniel Bye, Trissica Rodgers, and Adam Bye; step-grandchildren, Thomas, Trey, and Teryn; great-grandchildren, Mackenzie, Natalie, Levi, Ayden, Brielle, and Finley, and several nieces and nephews.

Harold married Gladys Margaret PERSEY on 12 Jun 1951 in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Gladys was born on 4 Dec 1927 in Otter Tail County, Minnesota; died on 8 Jan 2013 in Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, Minnesota; was buried in Trinity-Faith Cemetery, Otter Tail County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Painter, Farmer

Notes:

He first appears in the 1903 Fergus Falls city directory. He was employed as a painter and boards with his mother at 411 Everett Avenue East.

In the 1905 directory, he was still a painter but now with a wife Annie. The couple lived with his mother at 411 Everett Ave.

In the 1909 directory, he and Annie C live at his mother’s old address of 411 Everett Avenue E. He is a painter.

In the 1910 census, Andrew, 32, was a printer in the home painting business. The family was living in Fergus Falls in a house that they owned with a mortgage.

In the 1911 directory, he and Annie C still live at 411 Everett but he is now part of a partnership with his brother-in-law, presumably as painters, known as Torvik & Bye.

An article in the Duluth News-Tribune, dated November 6, 1912, is headlined Fergus Falls has a Sensation Suit. Datelined Fergus Falls, November 5th: A sensational damage suit, involving local men has been filed in the district court here. Frederick Torvik and Andrew E Bye have been in partnership as Torvik & Bye, and had some difficulty in connection with firm matters. The allegations are to the effect that Torvik went to the home of Mr. Bye and assaulted him and his wife. Mr. Bye asks $5,035 damages and Mrs. Bye $7,000.

Registered for the WWI draft on September 12, 1918, at Fergus Falls. He lived at 124 Alcott E., Fergus Falls. He listed his nearest relative as Anna Bye at the Alcott address. He is a self-employed painter. He is described as tall and of medium build with blue eyes and light hair.

In the 1920 census, Andrew, 40, and Anna C., 34, were farming in Dane Prairie Township, Otter Tail County. Living with them were Julian H., 15, Margaret O., 13, Alfred E., 11, Lillian, 8, and Eleanor B., 4 and 7 months. Andrew was born in Norway and came to this country in 1885 and was naturalized in 1900. Anna is shown as having been born in Minnesota.

In the 1930 census, the family is shown as living at 637 Summit Avenue West in Fergus Falls. (Julian, their son, lives next door at 639.) Living with Andrew, 50, and Anna, 45, are Alfred, 21, Elnora, 15, Harold, 7, and Dorothy, 5. They own the house that they’re living in, it’s worth $3200, and they have a radio. Andrew and Anna were married at age 26 and 19 respectively. Alfred, Andrew, and Julian next door are painters in the building industry.

In the 1931 city directory, he and Anna live at 637 Summit Ave W. He is a painter.

He is not listed in the in-city part of the 1935/36 Fergus Falls city directory.

In the 1940 census, he, Anna, Harold, and Dorothy lived in Dane Prairie Twp in Otter Tail County. Andrew was a farmer.

BYE, ANDREW ERIC 
CertID# 1966-MN-001194   
Date of Birth: 11/24/1878
Place of Birth: OUT OF STATE
Mother Maiden Name: MYRON 
Date of Death: 01/25/1966
County of Death: OTTER TAIL

In the January 26, 1954, edition of the FFDJ, he is noted as having personal property worth $12 for the purposes of the school tax in the 3rd Ward of Fergus Falls.

From the July 19, 1955, edition of the FFDJ: “Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Bye and son, Thomas, and Andrew Bye, returned from a trip along the North Shore of Lake Superior into Canada. They came home by way of Rainy River.”

An article in a June, 1956, edition of the Fergus Falls newspaper noted that 70 years previously a group of 40 people had left Verdalen, Norway, and of that group, only Andrew and his brother Edward were still alive.

His naturalization record:

Andrew E. Bye
Otter Tail County
Reel 11
Volume H
Code 30
Page 176

Andrew married Anna Caroline SANDER on 6 Jan 1904 in Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Anna (daughter of Halvor B SANDER and Oline HENDRICKSON) was born on 26 Jul 1884 in Aurdal Twp, Otter Tail County, Minnesota; died on 8 Jul 1953 in Otter Tail County, Minnesota; was buried on 11 Jul 1953 in Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery, Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1953-MN-012317

Notes:

According to her obit she had 4 brothers and 3 sisters.

Anna died intestate leaving real estate valued at $6,000. Her widower was forced to seek resolution in probate court.

The informant for her death certificate was Mrs. Donald McKee. Anna had lived in Fergus Falls only two years when she died. Her residence was at 637 Sunset West. She died of colon cancer.

Her obit noted that she died at her home at 637 West Summit only a few hours after returning from Robbinsdale where she had been staying at the home of her daughter Mrs. Don McKee. Anna died of cancer.

Anna and Andrew were farmers in Dane Prairie Twp until they moved off the farm and into town in 1951.

In the rural part of the 1937/38 Fergus Falls city directory, she is listed as having 136.28 acres in sections 20, 21, 28, and 29 of Dane Prairie Twp.

Anna had a younger sister, Alma, who died in 2002. Alma was a month-and-a-half younger than Anna’s oldest child, Julian.

Birth:
her obit gave her date of birth as July 16th

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Husmann
• Baptism: 25 Dec 1848, Vinne, Verdal (Vårdalen), Nord-Trøndelag, Norway
• Confirmation: 9 Oct 1864, Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway

Notes:

Not listed as part of Elias and Guruanna’s family in the 1865 census.

He was Elling Eliassen Leirfaldvald at the time of his daughter Berntine’s birth.

According to the Verdal out-migration register, he left Verdal on 2 May 1881 as Elling Eliasen Baglovald.

He departed Trondheim on 5 May 1881 aboard the feeder ship Tasso. His name was Elling E. Baglo, a 32 year-old laborer, with destination Fergus Falls, Minnesota. He arrived in New York on May 28, 1881, aboard the S.S. Samana as Elling E. Baglo. Took the name of Bye in America. His family had to wait five years before they joined him in Fergus Falls. He was living with his brother Martin Bye and family in Fergus Falls in the 1885 Minnesota state census.

In the 1895 Minnesota state census, Elling and his family live in Fergus Falls where he is a miller. He is 46, his wife Martha is 50, and his three sons still living at home are Peder E, 18, Andrew, 17, and Julius, 7.

“... died in this city [Fergus Falls] many years ago...” said Martin Bye’s obituary.

Dee Austring calls him Elling Eliassen, born 1848 in Storøren gård #265, Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway.

Her research identifies Elling as “18yo Tjenestekarl” in the 1865 Norwegian census, living at Rosvold søndre farm, Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway.

His marriage entry in the Verdal church book identifies him as Elling Eliassen Leirfaldvald, born in 1848 in Baglovald.

Her research identifies Elling as “Husmand med Jord og Telgrafarbeider” in the 1875 Norwegian census, living at Baglovald farm, Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway.

Perhaps his naturalization record:

E. Bye
Otter Tail County
Reel 1
Volume B
Code 3
Page 175

The June 19, 1961, edition of the Fergus Falls Daily Journal had a “75 Years Ago” column that repeated the Journal files from June 17 to June 25, 1886. One of the entries was: “There have been two deaths from diphtheria is the city with the last few days, both of them children of Mr. Elling Bye, who resides in the southwestern part of the city. One was five and the other nine.”

Birth:
On Baglovald according to Sven Tore, cemetery records say 23 Nov 1848

Confirmation:
Stikelstad

Buried:
may also be called First Lutheran Cemetery, Dane Prairie Twp, Otter Tail County, Minnesota

Died:
date per cemetery records

Elling married Anne Martha Pedersdatter (Annie) MYRON on 6 Jan 1870 in Vinne, Verdal (Vårdalen), Nord-Trøndelag, Norway. Anne (daughter of Peder Pettersen KROGE and Bereth Johnsdatter) was born on 7 Sep 1844 in Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway; died on 10 Apr 1933 in Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, Minnesota; was buried on 14 Apr 1933 in Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery, Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1933-MN-010675
• Baptism: 1 Dec 1844, Vinne, Verdal (Vårdalen), Nord-Trøndelag, Norway
• Confirmation: 14 Oct 1860

Notes:

The last name of Myron is the “mother’s maiden name” identified on Andrew’s and Edward’s death certificates. The farm name for her in the church book entry for her marriage is not intelligible; it seems to be something like Jacomastad. There is a Myren farm or set of farms in Verdal in Vinne.

Anne M. Baglo, 41, left Trondheim on 8 May 1886 aboard the Thingvalla line’s feeder ship to Christiania. Traveling with her was Anna E. Baglo, 13, Berntine Baglo, 11, Peder Baglo, 9, Erik Baglo, 5, and Julie Baglo, 4. The family’s destination was Fergus Falls, Minnesota.

She arrived in New York on May 28, 1886, aboard the S.S. Hekla which had sailed from Copenhagen. She was identified as Anne M. Baglo, 41, accompanied by her five children: Anne E., 11 and a half, Berntine, 11 and a half, Peder Edvard, 9, Erick, 5, and Julie, 4. This is the same boat that Johannes E. Bye, Anne’s brother-in-law, arrived on. The origin of the family was identified as “Throndhjem.”

In the 1900 census, the family lived at 405 Adelphia Avenue (?) in Fergus Falls. The family consisted of Anna, a 55 year old widow (born in Sept 1844), Anna, 30 (born Oct 1869) and single, P. Edward, 24, Andrew, 21, and Julius, 12. Anna the mother had had 6 children, 4 still living. Everyone was born in Norway except Julius who was born in Minnesota. Those born in Norway came to this country in 1886 and only P. Edward is shown as having been naturalized. Anna the mother owns her home free of a mortgage and it is shown to be a house and not a farm. P. Edward’s occupation is grocer. Andrew’s occupation is salesman at a grocery store.

In the 1902 Fergus Falls city directory, she “boards” at 411 Everett Avenue E with her son Edward.

In the 1903 Fergus Falls city directory, she lives at 411 Everett Avenue E with her son Andrew.

In the 1907 directory, she still lives at 411 Everett Avenue E.

In the 1909 directory, she lives at 402 Douglas Avenue E.

In the 1910, 1920, and 1930 censuses, she is living with her daughter and son in-law, Anna and Fred Torvik, in Fergus Falls. In 1910, she is a widow who had had 6 children, 3 still living.

In the 1911 directory, she lives at 402 Douglas Avenue E.

In the 1931 city directory, she lives at 715 Court Street.

“In her obituary, it stated that she had 6 children, of whom 3 were still alive. They were: Mrs. Fred Torvik, Fergus Falls, Edward Bye, merchant in Fergus Falls, and Andrew Bye of Dane Prairie.”

In the 1865 Norwegian census, she is most likely the Anne Pedersdatter, 21, unmarried, who is a servant on the “Rosvold store” farm in Stiklestad, Verdal. Another servant girl on that same farm is Else Pedersdatter, 22, who may be a sister or, more likely, a half-sister.

Living with Elling and Anne Marta in the 1875 Norwegian census was Anne Marta’s sister Ragnhild (b. 1836, “Logerende ernerer sig ved Vævning”).

Anne Bye died of pneumonia. Fred Torvik of 715 Court Street in Fergus Falls was the informant for her death certificate.

Birth:
Leirfald farm

Died:
she died at 10:45 PM at the home of her daughter

Halvor married Oline HENDRICKSON. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Husm. m. Jord, “Kaarmann” at death
• Baptism: 1 Jan 1821, Stiklestad, Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway
• Confirmation: 1835, Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway

Notes:

Elias and Guruanna lived at “one of the Bye farms in Verdal.” The Digitalarkivet says that Elias’s and Guruana’s farm was Baglovald at the time of the christening of their children. Other entries refer to the farm as Byvald. The entry for Elisæus Martin shows Elias and Guruanna’s residence as “By vestre, vald.”

Shown in the 1865 Norwegian census as Elias Eliassen, husfader of the Storøen domicile in Verdal.

In the church book entry for the marriage of his son Elling he is identified as Elias Eliassen Bÿvald.

Dee Austring calls him Stiklestad Elias Eliassen Stiklestad, born March 23, 1822, in Byvald gård #265, Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway, and baptized May 12, 1822. (These dates are incorrect.) She agrees with the December 8, 1911, death date and she has the same children’s names and same approximate birth dates assigned to him and Guruanna.

Her research finds him at Storøren gård #265, Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway, in the 1865 Norwegian census, occupation “46 yo Husmand med Jord.”

In the 1875 census, he was in the same place, also called “Storøren Bye søndre vestre,” and is a “Husmand med Jord.” Elisæus Martin, Oluf, Johannes, and Anna were still living at home with their parents.

In the 1900 census, he was in the same place and a “Jordbrug Selveier.” He was called Elias Eliasen, b. 1820.

His designation as kårmann meant that he was receiving support after giving his estate to another person. Sven Tore also includes “Rid jæg” which suggests that Elias was in the military.

Birth:
or 29 October; the church book is not clear

Confirmation:
of Byevald

Died:
of the Storøren farm according to one source, on Byvald according to Sven Tore

Elias married Guruanna (Guriana) Hansdatter BYVALD on 4 Jun 1847 in Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway. Guruanna (daughter of Hans Hanssen STORØREN and Marith Anfindsdatter BAGLOVALD) was born on 12 Nov 1821 in Vinne, Verdal (Vårdalen), Nord-Trøndelag, Norway; was christened on 16 Dec 1821 in Halle, Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway; died on 9 Dec 1893 in Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 16 Dec 1821, Vinne, Verdal (Vårdalen), Nord-Trøndelag, Norway
• Confirmation: 1837, Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway

Notes:

Sven Tore includes “Fæbyv.” in her name.

Jostein Molde states that all of Elias and Guruanna’s children “seem to have left Verdal.”

“Remarks” in the Digitalarkivit entry for her birth:

K.1837.
G.04.06.1847.
D.09.12.1893

The death date of 9/12/93 is also entered in her confirmation record as is her marriage date.

Confirmation:
of Bÿevaldet

Died:
on the Storøren farm according to Digitalarkivet, on Byvald according to Sven Tore

Notes:

Married:
per Sven Tore, and the church book agrees (”4/6 47”); the marriage date is included in the church book entry for his birth

Notes:

In the church book entry for the marriage of his daughter Anne Martha, he is identified as Peder Pederson Leirfaldvald.

Peder married Bereth Johnsdatter. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]