The first stage of their journey was by ship to an eastern port in England. Then they went overland to Liverpool and embarked for New York. At Liverpool there was some mix-up in the required papers, so Christopher had to leave the ship and return ashore. Time came for the ship to leave, and he hadn’t come back. The ship cast off and started moving away from the dock. The whole family was lined up at the rail, desperate and weeping when they saw Christopher in the distance, running for the boat. He caught the ship, but only by paying a boatman to row him out to it.

Finally the long journey was over and they were in New York where all immigrants were herded aboard trains to take them to their journey westward. Minnesota was their goal and Fillmore county was the first stop. Evidently, this was part of the plan. Christopher and one of the boys headed North to Beltrami in Polk County to locate and file on a homestead. Maybe they returned for the rest of the family, or maybe Sofia came on with the other four children, but someone met them at Betrami with a team of oxen. The time of the year was winter, and Minnesota winters are nothing to fool around with.

Their log cabin was not yet finished, so the whole family stayed at a kind neighbor’s home. This neighbor’s family played a big part in the lives of the Engelstads. On April 27, 1882, another child was born to Christopher and Sofia. This was Emil who grew up to marry Clara Kaste, a daughter of this neighbor. By now Christopher had his own log house ready, so the family moved a quarter of a mile down the trail to the place that has remained in the family to this day.

The children grew up. Two more were added in the next few years. One, named Robert, who died and is buried in the family plot at the Little Norway Church, then Robert N. who is the only one left living of the seven who grew to adulthood. Altogether, twelve children were born to Christopher and Sofia. Those who grew to adult hood were: