In 1877, a young man named Nels Pederson Waxdahl, originally from Vaksdal, Norway, came to Moody County and built a small sod house in Grovena Township Section 20, where he lived for several years. On July 14, 1885, he married Rosina Miller. According to his descendants, Waxdahl hauled wood from Luverne, Minnesota, to build the small 12' x 14' claim shack for his family. His homestead claim was granted on March 23, 1888.