Habberstad Cabin

Habberstad Cabin. . Martin Habberstad came to Houston County, Minnesota from Eidsvoll, Norway in 1869 and his wife Mary (Tosterud) Habberstad followed in 1871. Martin entered Cass County, North Dakota searching for farmland in early 1875. He chose a spot near Kindred along the Sheyenne River and Finnish immigrants built a cabin for him there. The Habberstads used the main floor to entertain, serve meals, and eat and slept on the top floor., Their son, Helmer Habberstad, was born in this cabin and experienced the usual life of a farmer's child. He helped his parents with chores, went to school, and eventually took over farming on the property. He supported the Farmers Elevator Company in Kindred and held stock in the Equity Exchange of St. Paul, both organizational efforts that resisted private markets taking advantage of local farmers. Following Helmer's death, his wife Emma moved out and her cousin, Carl Stenehjem, bought that land in the 1950s. Mr. Stenehjem donated the cabin to Bonanzaville in 1967. The "Daughters of the Dakota Pioneers" paid for the moving and furnishing of the cabin and Palmer Forness provided the restoration work., (Captions) , Normanna Township Plat Map, ca. 1906. Features two plots of land owned by Martin Habberstad. , Habberstad Cabin, ca. 1950