This photo of children playing at the Watne school was found during our recent epic road trip that included a visit to the Griggs County Museum in North Dakota.
The Watne school was established in or before 1897, and was located on Andrew and Ane Vatne’s homestead in Sverdrup Township, North Dakota. [2] The area was called Vatne Dal in Norwegian, or Watne Valley in English.
Andrew’s claim (to secure Homesteads to actual Settlers on the Public Domain) to 160 acres in Section 8 of Sverdrup Township was established on 3 Nov 1890. [3]
Their homestead was next to that of Tonnes and Bertha Vatne. Tonnes’ claim (to secure Homesteads to actual Settlers on the Public Domain) to 160 acres in Section 8 of Sverdrup Township was established on 11 Nov 1898. [4]
Andrew Vatne (1861-1941) is 2nd husband of Ane Kristine Davidsdatter.
Ane Kristine Davidsdatter Lima (1866-1940) is wife of Vilhelm Jonasen Vatne.
Vilhelm Jonasen Vatne (1864-1888) is 3rd great-uncle of MKS in the Watne branch.
Tonnes Vatne (1855-1917) is husband of Bertha Jonasdatter Vatne.
Bertha Jonasdatter Vatne (1858-1918) is 3rd great-aunt of MKS in the Watne branch.
Vilhelm Vatne and Bertha Vatne are siblings. Andrew and Tonnes are presumably from the Vatne farm in Norway, hence the same last names Vatne as Vilhelm and Bertha.
References:
[1] Griggs County Museum and Griggs County Historical Society (photograph).
[2] Cooperstown, North Dakota, 1882-1982, 55.
[3] U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records, BLM Serial Number NDMTAA 114415.
[4] U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records, BLM Serial Number NDMTAA 114429.