Ludwig had finished third grade in Norway, and this was the extent of his formal education. His half-brother (name unknown) was also born in Norway.
He immigrated to the US in Aug 1883 with his mother and step-father, coming to Harmony, Minnesota, when Ludwig was age 13. In 1886, they migrated to North Dakota, settling in a sod hut built into the side of a hill, near Daley, ND. (~20 miles south of Valley City, ND.) Because Valley City was their closest town, Ludwig walked there quite often, even in the winter snow.
Ludwig told the story of this half-brother falling ill to pneumonia the first or second winter they lived in ND. Ludwig walked to Valley City for a doctor - in heavy snow - and on his return the third day, his brother had passed away. Both Ludwig and Percy had many harrowing stories of North Dakota blizzards.
He is listed as a farmer (29, NOR), single and head of household in 1900, having immigrated in 1884 and living in the US for 16 years, and naturalized. It shows him as born Sept 1870, and with him is his step-father and mother.
In 1910 he is listed as head of household, grain buyer for an elevator (39, NOR), and single. Living with him is his mother Andrine (66, NOR) and step-father Christopher C. Remmen (56, NOR). His mother is listed as married a second time, first married at age 27, with only one of her two children living.
1920 census lists him as manager of a grain elevator (49, NOR), and having immigrated in 1884 and been naturalized in 1898. With him is his wife Alva, son Percival and daughter Alice.
In 1930 he is still listed as manager of a grain elevator (57, NOR), naturalized and having immigrated in 1886, and first married at age 27. He is listed with his wife and 3 children.
He is listed as a grain buyer (66, NOR) and naturalized in 1940, with wife Alvah (47, ND) and sons Percival (27) and Loren (12).