Fonds 0170 - Andrew Moe family fonds

In 1905, Andrew Moe along with his brother-in-law, Lorentz Pettersen, emigrated from Norway to the U.S. A year or so later, his wife, Thea, and young son, Arvid, joined him. Their daughter, Olaug, however, had recently died of diptheria in Norway. Andrew and Lorentz worked as labourers until 1911 when they heard about the availability of 160 acres for $10 in the Peace River country. Andrew and Lorentz made the Edson trail trip first and Andrew filed on the NW 32-73-7 W6 in the Buffalo Lakes area before returning to Minneapolis to work until he had money enough to purchase a team and wagon and other necessities. The Johnsons (an uncle and aunt) agreed to travel on the settlers’ railroad car with the shipment of animals and household effects, and all arrived in Edmonton in the fall of 1911. The three families stayed there until February, 1912, when they loaded three sleighs hitched to two teams of horses and one team of oxen and set out for the north. Despite their inexperience in handling teams and hauling large loads up and down steep inclines, the journey to the Buffalo Lakes area was made in about a month. The first summer, 4 1/2 acres were broken and seeded to oats and a well was dug. The first few winters Andrew spent working in the Buffalo Lakes Sawmill. In 1916, the family purchased and moved to the homestead of Peter Melsethe, where a good spring provided water. Andrew Moe died in 1951 and his wife Thea died in 1975.