Early Norwegian Settlements in Kansas

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Map of Kansas 1895
Greenwood County, Kansas
   Charles Christiansen from Østre Toten, Nels Ladd† from Sogndal and Mathias Johnson† from Biri were the three first Norwegians in this county - and more than that - they were the first Norwegian settlers in the State of Kansas. They came from Dane Co., Wis. and settled at Eureka in 1857. In 1858, came 6 other Norwegians from Dane Co. They were Helleck Brandson and Syvert Syvertsen from Nummedal as well as Ole Ladd†, Amund Eriksen†, Gjert Anderson and his brother, all from Sogndal. Kansas City, Mo., 150 miles away, was their nearest marketplace, where they brought the maize and wheat they grew and made their purchases. They used oxen for plowing and driving. A day labourer earned 25 to 50 cents a day. The Indians, who were quite other than pleasant at that time, were their nearest neighbours.There were also some Americans.
   The Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation, that was established in 1870 by Pastor G. Erdahl of The Norwegian Synod, is the oldest Norwegian congregation in Greenwood County. Its church that is the oldest and (until now) the only one in this county was built in 1884. Now there are 2 Norwegian congregations in the county, both belonging to Hauge's Synod.

Atchison County, Kansas
   Harald O. Tvedt from Nordre Aurdal, Valders came to Lancaster, Kans. from La Crosse, Wis. in 1858 and was the first Norwegian settler in the county. Somewhat later came Tom Flattery† from Voss as well as Elling and Ole Tvedt, Nils T. Ness, Tom Seversen, Ed Hegland and Ole Gigstad, all from Nordre Aurdal. Wheat, maize and hemp were the settlement's main produce for sale.
   There is a Norwegian congregation belonging to The Lutheran Free Church.

Brown and Doniphan Counties, Kansas
   Ole Ericksen from the Arendal or Kristiansand area was the founder of the settlement that stretches over the eastern part of Brown and the western part of Doniphan Counties. He settled in the area between Everest and Leona in the 60s. The nearest marketplaces were St. Joseph and Atchison. Wheat growing was their leading source of income.
   Ole Nilsen from Grimstad was the first Norwegian in the vicinity of Robinson, Brown County. And Daniel Anderson from Sogn was the first in the vicinity of Dentonville, Doniphan County.
   Pastor Roernæs writes that the first Norwegian settlers came from Missouri to Kansas just at the time the Slave and Free Soil parties fought for power in the State (Kans.), the battle was intense and was also full of comical events that the settlers enjoyed telling about in later years.
   Øvre Wolf Congregation, that was established at Robinson in 1870 by Pastor N. C. Brun, then of The Conference, was the first Norwegian congregation in these two counties. The church was built in 1877. Now there are 2 Norwegian churches and 3 congregations, 2 belong to The United Church and 1 to The Lutheran Free Church.
   In Doniphan County there was for a time a post office called Norway.
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   In Douglas County there is a post office called Vinland and in Ness County there is a town by the same name (Ness) that certainly sound Norwegian but there are no Norwegians to be found, either in Vinland or Ness.

Republic County, Kansas
   August and George Asbjørnsen† from Horten came to Scandia, Kans. (where there were a number of Swedes) in February 1869. T. A. Nelson from Porsgrund came about the same time. And in August the same year (1869) the Trønder R. Rimol came and settled at Norway. They were thus the county's first Norwegian settlers. They dug their dugouts and began to grow wheat and maize which they brought with the help of oxen to Waterville, 65 miles away. It should as well be mentioned that two others from Melhus who settled at Norway were J. Lehn and Brynjulf B. Stensaas. But in 1882 Lehn went back to Norway where he died; Stensaas died in 1889.
   Vor Frelsers Congregation at Norway P.O. and in Norway Township,  established in 1872 by Pastor Høiland and belonging to Hauge's Synod, is the only Norwegian Congregation in the county. Now it belongs to The United Church. The church was built in 1888.
   Carl Hugaas from Strinden Parish near Trondhjem has been a member of the State Legislature and the aforementioned R. Rimol has held the post as County Commissioner.

Cloud and Jewell Counties, Kansas
   The founder of the little Norwegian settlement on the border between Cloud and Jewell Counties was Hans Olsen of Kongsvinger. He came from Chicago and settled near Jamestown in 1869. Later in the year came Frank Breckan†  from Trondhjem, Helge Andersen Ruud from Vang Parish, Valders and H. M. Torneby from Rødenæs Parish. Helge Ruud writes that at that time the area was full of buffaloes and wild Indians. "Once the Indians drove us 12 miles east where we gathered together and prepared to defend ourselves. It was 70 miles to the Land Office and we had to walk because there was no railroad and we had no vehicles. Our first homes were dugouts. We began growing wheat and maize but several years passed before we had anything to sell since the drought and grasshoppers destroyed our crops. Now it is better in every respect," he says.
   In 1872 a Norwegian congregation was established by Pastors N. C. Brun and R. E. Bøe. In these two counties there are now 2 Norwegian churches and 3 congregations, 2 belong to The United Church and 1 to The Norwegian Synod.

Phillips County, Kansas
   The first Norwegian settlers here were Edward and Johan Hansen from Bryn in Røken. They came from Koshkonong, Wis. and settled at Long Island, Kans. in 1874. They made dugouts and began to grow wheat and maize but the grasshoppers destroyed the crops in two successive years so there was real famine among the settlers. However, they preserved their lives by letting one or another buffalo lose theirs. It was 75 miles to Karney Junction, the settlers' nearest marketplace.
   Long Island Lutheran Mission Congregation, that was established in 1877 by Pastor O. Baker, was the first and until now the only Norwegian congregation in the county.

Clark County, Kansas
   Andrew Hansen, whose parents came from Kongsberg, was the first Norwegian in the vicinity of Englewood where there is a little Norwegian settlement. He came there in 1887.

Clay County, Kansas
   There are only a few Norwegians in this county, they live at Morganville and are mainly from Bergen or Stavanger. There is also a congregation belonging to The United Church.

Gove County, Kansas
   Nels L. Norman from Voss was the first Norwegian in the vicinity of Oakley where there is a small Norwegian settlement. He settled there in 1884. Information about other countrymen is found in "Sammenstilling af Norske Sambygdinger i Amerika".

Jefferson County, Kansas
   There are a few scattered Norwegians and a congregation belonging to The United Church.
   On the accompanying map one can find both the places where there are many and those where there are a few Norwegians. And if one also reads the margin notes on the map he will get a good understanding of the whole.

Translated by Olaf Kringhaug
Vernon, British Columbia, Canada
Nordmændene i Amerika by Martin Ulvestad, 1907
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