"A Pioneer History of Becker County" by Alvin H. Wilcox, published in 1907: pg 409. Paul C. Sletten "Paul C. Sletten was born in Kvam, Gulbrandsdalen, Norway, February 26, 1841. He was the second eldest of four brothers and having lost is father through his early death, he soon struck out to work his own way though life. From the time he was fourteen years old he worked in different positions, meanwhile improving every opportunity for study and education. At the age of twenty-one he went to work on a government railroad then under construction at Hadeland, Norway. At this time he found opportunity for studying civil engineering and also commenced to read English. In 1867 he was married to Kari Berger of Hadeland, Norway, and two years later emigrated to the United States, landing in New York July 13, 1869. These were the days of the building of the Northern Pacific Railroad and fortified with letters of recommendation and credentials from Norwegian government engineers (among them one from Chief Engineer Pihl), he soon obtained a responsible position with the Northern Pacific Contractors. In the fall of 1870 a railroad camp was established at Oak Lake [Minnesota] and work continued there throughout the winter. Here he was joined by his wife and at this time took as a homestead the northeast quarter of Section 24, Township 139 [North], Range 42 [West] where they established their residence. He continued with the railroad people until the road reached Bismark [North Dakota] in 1873 when he returned to his home. Oak Lake [Minnesota] was during the railroad construction days a lively trading post and the surrounding country began to develop rapidly. Mr. Sletten was a man of great natural ability, and indefatigable worker and soon became deeply interested in the upbuilding and welfare of the new and promising settlement, taking a prominent place among the sturdy pioneer residents of Becker County. He was employed as clerk and manager in stores at Oak Lake and later at Audubon, Minnesota and after Becker County was organized he was in 1873 elected clerk of the District Court. In 1875 he received from President Grant the appointment as receiver of public funds of the United States Land Office at Detroit [now Detroit [Lakes, Minnesota] . He was reappointed to this position in 1879, the office then having been removed to Crookston [Minnesota]. His family followed him there in 1880. He retained his Becker County interests and was frequently seen among his numerous Becker County friends. He was on intimate terms with many of the leading public men of his day and prominent in the councils of his party. In politics he was a staunch Republican and fought many hard battles for his party. In the famous Nelson-Kindred congressional campaign he threw his strength with the "Little Norwegian from Alexandria" and was credited with a good share of the Nelson victory. In 1883 he was again appointed receiver, thus having the honor of being appointed to the same office by three different presidents, but served only one year of his third term. He died at his Crookston [Minnesota] home of inflammation of the bowels, July 8th, 1884, and is survived by the widow, Mrs. Kari Sletten and five daughters. The family later removed to their Oak Lake homestead where they built a comfortable home and continued to reside until 1902 when they sold the farm and Mrs. Sletten established her residence at Audubon, Minnesota. The surviving children are: Mrs. Josephine S. Bailey of Minneapolis, Miss Caroline L. Sletten of Audubon, Mrs. Nicoline C. Netland of Audubon, Mrs. Sophie W. Netland of Northfield, Minnesota and Miss Cora P. Sletten of Audubon, Minnesota." Submitted by Dick Campbell