Lake Ibsen and Lake Ibsen Township
When they organized the township in 1880 they gave the name to the lake, and the township was named Lake Ibsen Township. The first homesteaders came here in 1883 and they settled near the lake. Many Indians lived here then, but they were whiped out, they had to move.
The small villages in the area got English names because the railroad here was financed by English banks. The railroad was built from east to west, therefore the villages like Leeds and York are older than Minot.
Lee O. Larson is a retired farmer, and he has his roots from Norway and Sweden, but he does not know from where in Norway. His Dad was only 3 months old when he came to the US. His grandparents homesteaded in Lake Ibsen Township near the lake, and Lee was born close to Lake Ibsen.
Thank you, Lee for all the interesting information that you gave us !
(Picture shows Hermod H. Monsen and Rolf Haugen from Skien in Telemark together with Lee O. Larson in Leeds ND. Picture by Ivar Stulen).
Maybe next time we go to New Jersey to find Lake Telemark.....