Nebraska
Nebraska
Early Norwegian Settlements in Nebraska
Map of Nebraska 1895
Dixon County, Nebraska
The founder of the Norwegian settlement in the vicinity of
Lime Grove, the oldest Norwegian settlement in Nebraska, was Mons
Nilsen from Vossevangen. He settled there in 1857 or 1868. Otherwise,
many of the families living there are from communities east of
Kristiania. There are two Norwegian congregations and two churches, one
of the congregations belongs to The United Church, the other to The
Norwegian Synod.
Madison County,
Nebraska
Nils Nilsen from Valders and a veteran of the War with the South
was the first Norwegian in this county. He settled in the vicinity of
Newman Grove in 1867 where there is now a large Norwegian settlement.
In the 80s he moved to Dakota where he later died.
Next after Nils Nilsen came his father, who was also
called Nils, and a pair of relatives, Haldor Halvorsen and Anders
Larsen (Kreft-Anders), all from Valders.
Newman Grove was an army camp at that time and life in the
area was dangerous. It often happened that the settlers were shot at by
the Indians. But the gunshot wounds were not always dangerous.
Gunder Hamre was the first merchant in Newman Grove. He
opened a store in 1872. People reckoned his worth at $20,000 but it was
certainly not that much. He was always a bachelor and a remarkably
queer duck he was! For his countrymen here he was both bad and good.
The people were poor and he sold on credit. So he took mortgages for
everything they had, at 10 percent interest. When fall came they paid a
portion of their debt with new papers for the remainder - always at 10
percent interest. It went on credit all the time. The farmers, however,
did not wish to get their life necessities from gentler hands with
someone else. But the credit he gave was tempting. Besides he was
popular and always full of jokes. And then the way he dressed! He
looked worse than a tramp. Once, when he was at West Point to sell five
horses to a livery man, he was barefoot, ragged and dirty. And when he
went into the bank to cash a check for several hundred dollars that he
had received for the horses, the bank teller was frightened and sent a
clerk to the livery man with the request that he come to the bank
immediately. He asked him if the man who presented the check was Gunder
Hamre and when he was told yes, the money was paid out quickly. Hamre's
name became known throughout the whole State.
Once he went to Columbus to purchase goods for his store.
The weather was cold and he had wrapped some coffee sacks around his
legs. Like that he went in to the wholesaler and presented a big order
for supplies. He asked how long it would take to fill the order. Three
hours, was the answer. He left saying he would be back before the
precise hour. However the wholesaler and his clerk were suspicious and
no goods were packed for him. They could not believe that anyone with
his appearance would come to collect them, let alone pay for them. But
he came. And when he asked how much the goods cost he put a good face
on things and said $500.00, whereupon Gunder took out his billfold and
counted out the requested amount without making a visible dent in his
money roll. Now the clerks moved quickly. It did not take long before
the goods were ready.
At Grand Island he was refused food at a hotel if he did
not pay in advance. The hotelkeeper believed he had a vagabond on his
premises. Gunder took out his billfold and immediately pulled out a
20-dollar bill whereupon the hotelkeeper was as bewildered as he was
taken aback. Needless to say, our countryman now received princely
treatment.
Another time (after he had quit the store business) a land
company was fooled by his appearance. He went into the office with the
description of a large piece of land and asked if it was for sale and
for how much. Yes, it was for sale and they quoted a low price, they
wished to have a bit of fun with him for they could not believe that he
meant or had the means to buy what he asked about. However he took them
at their word and said, "Give me the papers for the land, here is the
money." And they had to obey. Appearances are deceptive, or something
similar, he said as he left.
This was told to me by a reliable man, one of his old
neighbors. He (Hamre) died suddenly alone in a barn. His heirs left
with his money. And so ends the account of Newman Grove's first
businessman and Madison County's first official (County Commissioner).
He gained that position at the end of the 70s.
The first Norwegian congregation in this county (and the
first in the State) was established in Newman Grove in 1873 by Pastor
Ole Torgersen, belonging to Hauge's Synod. In this settlement which
stretches to the southwest corner of Madison and the adjacent parts of
Boone and Platte counties there are now 5 Norwegian congregations and 5
churches, 3 of the congregations belong to The Norwegian Synod and 2 to
Hauge's Synod.
Stanton County,
Nebraska
John Johnson† from Nordre Aurdal, Valders was the first
Norwegian in this county. He came from Iowa and settled at Stanton in
1867. Next after him came Knut Evensen† from Telemarken as well as
Svend and Halvor† Johnson from Nordre Aurdal, Valders.
Potatoes, maize and wheat were the settlement's main
source of income. When they wished to deliver their produce and made
purchases of life's necessities, they had to go all the way to Omaha,
107 miles away. They went there with oxen.
Pastor P. T. Hilmen of The Norwegian Synod established a
congregation in the settlement in 1876.
Platte County, Nebraska
Hans Olsen from Gudbrandsdalen was the first in this
county. He settled here in 1869 in that part of the county that abuts
Madison County and the Newman Grove Settlement. This settlement
stretches also over the adjoining corners of three counties,
Madison, Boone and Platte.
The oldest Norwegian in the State lives in this county.
Her name in Norway was Thone Gundersdatter Løfto and she was
born in Mo Parish, Telemarken in 1826. In 1851 she emigrated with her
husband Gunnul Kaas. After a 14 week trip they reached Buffalo, N.Y.,
where Gunnul found found work nearby but he died within 6 weeks and
there she was with two children and empty hands, far from friends and
countrymen and without the ability to speak or understand the language
of the land. She was certainly a newcomer. In some manner she got to
the Norwegian settlement at Koshkonong, Wis. but that was just at the
time the cholera raged there, so she quickly left with her children.
She got to travel with a farmer who was going from Milwaukee to
Stoughton with oxen and 'kubberulle'. In Stoughton, where she lived for
a few years before moving to Nebraska, she got married for the second
time. But she has now been a widow for over 20 years. As said, she is
still alive despite all she has undergone. She says that arthritis
bothers sometimes. Otherwise she is quite healthy.
For clerical information, see Madison County.
Cedar County, Nebraska
Bernhard Olsen from the Kristiania area was the first to
settle in this county. He came from Allamakee County, Iowa to the
vicinity of Hartington in 1869. Martin Bottolfsen from Valders came
with him. Both are dead. Olsen served in the Civil War.
The new settlers in this settlement, as well as in other
places, had to be satisfied with dugouts. Yankton, S.D. was the nearest
marketplace in those days. Wheat and oats were the settlers' main sales
articles.
One of the old Norwegian settlers tells that a stubborn
German had once come among them. There was a short cut through the land
where the road went, that he came to own and where he dug a dugout, and
he ordered the people to drive in another direction. But
one moonlit night G. H. came home from town in a happy state and drove
right over his dugout. His pony's legs went right through the roof but
it had such a speed that it got clear but frightened the enraged German
out in just his shirt. Later he sold his land and moved away.
Bow Valley Congregation, that was the first in this
county, was
established in 1874 by Pastor E. Christensen, belonging to The
Norwegian Synod. Its church was built in 1886. Now there are 3
congregations and 3 churches, 2 belong to The United Church and 1 to
The Norwegian Synod.
Clay County, Nebraska
The founder of the little Norwegian settlement in the
vicinity of Harvard was Paul Sampson (Simonsen) from Bømmelhavn.
He came there in 1869.
There is a congregation belonging to The Norwegian Synod.
Many of its members can be found in ¨'Sammenstillinger af Norske
Sambygdinger i Amerika'
Saunders County, Nebraska
The first, or at least one of the first, Norwegians in
this county was Edward A. Brødbøll, who settled at Wahoo
in 1869. About the same time the Steen family settled there.
Brødbøll, who now runs a bank in Lindsay, Nebr. is well
known in the State as a financier whereas the Steen brothers are best
known for the Civil War days.
The first Norwegian to hold public office in the county
was Henry Anderson, he was elected Treasurer in 1878.
For more information see the sections, 'Norwegians in
American Wars' and 'Norwegians in public positions in America'.
Boone County, Nebraska
The first settler in Boone County was Anders Andersen
Strand from Nummedal. He came from Wisconsin and settled at Albion in
1870. Next after him came Ole Knudsen Strand from Nummedal, Mikkel
Thompson Fauske from Etnedalen, Valders and Lars Tostensen Rekve† from
Voss. They settled on the prairie, dug dugouts and then made
preparations for growing wheat, maize and livestock that became the
settlement's leading source of income. It was 50 miles to Columbus,
their nearest marketplace. They only had oxen to plough and drive with.
Here in Albion we have also discovered a pair of
descendants of those who came to America on the Sloop in 1825, namely
Jacob Tostensen and A. Nelson. The former is a saddler, the other a
carpenter, the report does not mention whether they are dead or alive.
Mikkel Thompson, one of the aforementioned pioneers tells
the following, "When I came to Boone County there were not many white
people. In 1872 the first election was held and then there were only
elected a Justice of the Peace and a Constable and they had much to do
for the lawlessness was great. Just before Christmas I was summoned as
a witness in a case. I had to walk 15 miles to the courthouse that was
just a sod hut and on the way there there was not a single settler, the
whole was like an empty desert. When the
case was heard and judged it was evening. I then went homeward but on
the way I was caught in a terrible snowstorm. It was now a matter of
life and death. I was lightly clad and it was 20 to 30 miles to people
if I strayed. Therefore I stopped and thought about it and came to the
conclusion that I had to take the first valley I came to and if
possible find a creek and follow it down to where it entered a river.
In this manner I hoped to reach one or another settler since it was in
valleys and at rivers they were to be found, as a rule. It was dark and
steep so at times I had to creep on all fours, but I followed the creek
through all its twists. Finally I came to a sod wall and I drew a sigh
of relief. I felt along the roof with my hands until I came to the
door, that I knocked on without an answer. After I had shouted, knocked
and waited for a while, I broke the door down and lit a match. To my
great happiness and surprise I then discovered that it was my own sod
house I had arrived at.
In 1875, Halvor Funru from Nummedal was out stacking hay.
During the morning it became foggy and wet so he set aside his hayfork
and headed home. He walked and walked but did not reach home. Late in
the evening he met a Swede but he was far down in another county
(Platte). The next day he came home by horse.
In 1876 or perhaps it was 1877 that the wife of Iver
Løsnæs, a Gudbrandsdøl, went to a pond in the
nearest valley to fetch water. Also then, it was foggy. She found the
pond however and she filled her pails and went towards home. She had
not gone very far before she realized that she had taken the wrong
direction. In her confusion she set down the pails and wandered
indefinitely. Late in the evening she discovered a sod hut and went to
it but the people did not understand her nor she them since they spoke
English and she was a newcomer from Norway. But she did understand that
she had come a good way into Madison County. And when they heard her
mention Newman Grove they knew she was from that area. The next day
they took her there, which was 20 miles away. From there she was taken
in great haste to her home in Closter, 16 miles further, for they knew
that her family naturally would be anxious about her.
There were many more occurrences of a similar sort which
is not to be wondered at for the prairie is the same everywhere and
there are neither roads nor wagon tracks. It was all like an open sea.
Now one cannot get lost even if one wished to. The land is cultivated
everywhere. The houses are close together and along the roads there is
wire fencing that a wanderer would soon collide with if he was a bit
confused.
In the first years I helped people find land. Even though
there was a surplus of it at that time, they wished to see as much as
possible before one could make a sale. I remember once, for example, I
was with Iver Christensen Løsnes and another
Gudbrandsdøl. It was in 1876. After roaming over the endless
prairie we spotted a solitary sod house far away on the horizon. Then
Iver Løsnes said, 'The man over there must be an escaped prisioner
or he has done something wrong. Without doubt he has settled here so no
one can find him.' We agreed then that we would pay a visit to the sod
house. When we got there the man, his wife and 4 children were about to
sit to dinner and there was no question other than that we should come
and eat with them. They were very kind and hospitable people. Iver said
later that he had made a shameful mistake when he believed they were
escapees. Iver was, as well, good at telling hunting stories from
Gudbrandsdalen so the time went quickly for us as we roamed the wild
prairie. And he only wished that we could spot an antelope or some
other wild animal so he could show that he had been a sharpshooter in
the Old Country. But when we finally got near a flock of antelope, they
were too light on their feet and Iver too heavy. However he did take
land in the area and even became the Postmaster.
In the years 1874-75 and '76 we were visited by
grasshoppers that ate up our maize crop. Yes, they even went after the
tobacco. But father had an answer, he sprayed water on the tobacco
plants and then he set fire to the dry grass around them. The
grasshoppers could not tolerate the smoke but they became angry. Father
maintained that while he was protecting his tobacco plants with a hay
fork the grasshoppers spat tobacco juice in his face and eyes so it was
necessary to leave.
Once I met a man with an old horse and a small sled, upon
which there was a box that was covered. The man walked beside the sled
since there was poor sledding. When I asked him what he was
transporting, he answered that it was his eldest son who had died and
needed to be buried. He was alone. It was a sad funeral procession. Nor
was there any cemetery here. When someone died they were buried on the
homestead and likely when others came with bodies they were buried
alongside. I know two places that are now in the middle of a field. The
people who live there probably do not know that in its time this was a
'cemetery'.
It is different now when someone dies. Now the bells toll
at the church, a priest is present and there are large processions and
lovely fenced cemeteries. We have returned to civilisation and
Christian customs."
Pastor Ole Torgersen of Hauge's Synod was the first priest
to visit Boone County. But Trefoldigheds (Trinity) Congregation (at
Petersburg) and Shell Creek Congregation, that were established by
Pastor G. Erdahl of The Norwegian Synod, were the first congregations
in the county. The first Norwegian church in the settlement was built
by Trefoldigheds congregation in 1878. (This shows also that it was the
first Norwegian church in the State)
For further information on the number of churches and
congregations in this settlement - see Madison County.
The first Norwegian to hold a county office was Ole
Frøistad, he was elected Conmmissioner in 1893.
Olsne Post Office has received its name from the
Norwegians.
Franklin and Webster Counties, Nebraska
The first Norwegian in this area was Hans Walstad from
Skedsmo. He came from Decorah, Ia. and settled near Campbell in 1872.
Next after him came Jacob H. Walstad and Christian Holt, also from
Skedsmo and G. O. Lee from Telemarken, Erik Eriksen from Vinger and
Knud Eriksen from Sigdal.
The first settlers built log cabins, some of them, and
others dugouts. Wheat and maize growing was the main source of income.
To Hastings, the nearest marketplace, it was 40 miles. Oxen were their
only draught animals.
This settlement lies on the border of Franklin and Webster
Counties.
Zions Congregation, that was established in 1876 by Pastor
E. Dahle of The Norwegian Synod, was the first Norwegian congregation
in this area. Its church was built in 1898. The congregation now
belongs to The United Church. They have another congregation in the area.
This and other settlements and places where there are only
a few Norwegians are found in the accompanying map.
Knox County, Nebraska
Ole Hendriksen Kuslien from Førde, Søndfjord
was the first Norwegian settler in this county. In 1872 he left
Wisconsin with his family of 12 and set course for Nebraska in 2 wagons
hitched to 4 oxen. It took them 10 weeks. They settled at Winnetoon and
were the only Norwegian family in that area for 5 years. In the years
1875-76 grasshoppers destroyed all their crops. Of Ole Hendriksen's
grown sons (Henry, Rasmus and Gunder) one, Rasmus, died in 1882. He was
the first to be buried in the Norwegian cemetery in Winnetoon.
Pastor N. G. Tvedt of The Norwegian Synod was the first
priest that visited this settlement. Now there are two congregations in
Knox County, both belonging to The Norwegian Synod.
Nance County, Nebraska
The first Norwegian in Nance County was Anders Jensen from
Modum. He settled at Fullerton in the 70s. Next after him came Ole C.
Berry from Bjørge in Saude Parish.
There is a congregation belonging to The Norwegian Synod.
But neither the settlement nor the congregation count many members.
In Nuckols County there are a pair of post offices whose
names may be Norwegian, Nora and Nelson, but no Norwegians are found
there.
Furnas County, Nebraska
Ole Simons from Gausdal was the first Norwegian here. He
came from Iowa Co., Wis. and settled in the vicinity of Cambridge in
1873. C. C. Christensen, another Gudbrandsdøl accompanied him.
The settlement's main source of income was in growing
maize. The nearest marketplace was Lowell, 90 miiles away.
There is a Norwegian (United Church) congregation with a
church.
Hitchcock County, Nebraska
Captain John E. Kleven† from Nordre Land, Hans Haugen†
from Løiten and Even Bakken, who came from Wisconsin and settled
in the vicinity of Culbertson, were the first Norwegians in this
county. They also took part in founding Culbertson and Kleven was the
town's first Postmaster. One of his sons is the Postmaster now. Old
Kleven had also been County Treasurer for a time. The title of Captain
he earned in the War with the South.
The aforementioned men came close to drowning while they
slept in their wagon, a night or two after they came to Culbertson.
There had been a cloudburst about 40 miles northwest of there and a
wall of water came down on them during the night. Luckily they had
fastened the wagon tongue to an elm branch and they woke up in time to
climb up the tree. As they sat up there the wagon floated away with
everything they had. One of the horses drowned. Almost naked as they
were, they had to sit or hang on in the tree until the evening of the
next day. And they were in the wilderness so their situation was
anything but pleasant. A few miles further up Blackwood Creek a number
of soldiers had camped. Two of them drowned. A number of cavalry horses
also drowned. The soldiers' tents and possessions were washed away by
the flood. The troops left there immediately, which was to the
advantage of the Norwegian settlers for they found left behind some
weapons, saddles, food and clothing. Some of these were damaged by the
water but there was also much that could be used.
There is a congregation belonging to The United Church.
Howard County, Nebraska
The first Norwegian in Howard County was G. Grothan from
Hevne. He settled in the vicinity of Farwell in 1875.
His son, Dr. O. Grothan, who was a Major in the
Spanish-American War, was a Member of the Nebraska Legislature. He
lives in St. Paul, Nebr.
G. N. Egeland from Sogn (or Nordre Aurdal?) was the first
in St. Libory where there are some more Norwegians now.
At the latter place there is a church and congregation
belonging to The Norwegian Synod.
Buffalo County, Nebraska
In the vicinity of Pleasanton, where there are a few
persons of Norwegian origin, John E. Johnson from Ringsaker was the
first. he settled here amid Germans in 1877.
Johnson has held the position of County Supervisor.
As one can see most of the settlements in Nebraska are
small.
Keya Paha County, Nebraska
The first Norwegian in this county was Peter Haugen from
Modum. He came from Pierce Co., Wis. and settled at Simpson in 1881. He
is a postmaster and farmer.
Another Norwegian, John Scheie, is the County School
Superintendent.
There is a post office with the name Norden in Keya Paha.
Sheridan County, Nebraska
Peter T. and Knut T. Johnson from Holta near Stavanger as
well as
John H. Jacobsen and Tollef Sand, who came from Holstein, Ida Co., Iowa
and settled here at Rushville in 1885 were the first Norwegians in this
(Sheridan) county. (This report does not agree with all this county's
people. One of my correspondents says that Henry Cleven came here in
1884. Auth)
They settled on the prairie, built dugouts as usual and
began
growing wheat and potatoes. The settlement's nearest marketplace was
Valentine, 100 miles away.
A congregation was established in that settlement in 1889
by Pastor P. T. Hilmen of The Norwegian Synod.
Boyd County, Nebraska
Ole Johnson was the first who settled in the vicinity of
Rosedale where there are now a few Norwegians. He came there in 1891.
He is a veteran of the Civil War.
The only Norwegian that has until now held public office
is Henry Brandvig, he was elected Surveyor in 1897.
There is a Norwegian congregation belonging to The United
Church.
Box Butte County, Nebraska
In the vicinity of Hemingford there is a little Norwegian
settlement with a church and two congregations belonging to The
Norwegian Synod. The Norwegians here are mainly from Gudbrandsdalen and
Nummedal. There are also a few from the Bergen area.
Cummings County, Nebraska
At Wisner there is a little Norwegian settlement with a
church and congregation. The congregation belongs to Hauge's Synod. At
least it is served by priests of that body.
I had hoped to find Norwegians in Noraville, Richardson
County but was disappointed. The same disappointment I met with Norway,
Thanes* County, Auth.
*Probably a misspelling of Thomas. OK
Custer County, Nebraska
In the vicinity of Round Valley there is a small Norwegian
settlement mainly consisting of people from Søndfjord, Voss,
Stavanger, Nummedal and Gudbrandsdalen. There are two congregations,
both belonging to The Norwegian Synod.
Frontier County, Nebraska
Also here we find a small Norwegian settlement with a
congregation belonging to The United Church. Most of the settlers are
from the Stavanger region. See "Sammenstilling af Sambygdinger i Amerika"
Lancaster County, Nebraska
In Lincoln, Nebraska's capital, we have some few
Norwegians. There is a Danish-Norwegian congregation belonging to The
Norwegian Synod.
In this county there is a post office with the name
Rokeby. One could dare to believe the name was Norwegian (from
Røkeby) but there are no Norwegians.
Sherman County, Nebraska
At Hazard there is a small Norwegian settlement with a
congregation and a church. The congregation belongs to The Norwegian
Synod. Priests from other church bodies have worked here.
Douglas County, Nebraska
Even though Norwegians here have been very few, they have
the honour of being represented on the Omaha City Council. Civil War
veteran John Steen (from Grorud, Vestre Aker) was elected as City
Treasurer of Omaha in 1871.
We find him in the 'political section' under Saunders County and in the
section 'Norwegians in American Wars'
Translated
by Olaf
Kringhaug
Vernon, British Columbia, Canada
Nordmændene i Amerika by Martin Ulvestad, 1907
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