Barnes County, North Dakota

Early Norwegian Settlement

Christian Andersen from Kristiania (Oslo) was the first Norwegian settler in Barnes County. He settled in Valley City in 1877 and later became postmaster. He was followed by Arne Olsen from Grue, Solør; Mathias Olsen from Kristiania; and Jens Jensen from Trondheim. The first Norwegian settler in the Kathryn area was Christoffer Thoresen from Lanstad. He settled there in 1878.

Settlement near Dazey

Ole Skee from Valdres was the first Norwegian settler in the Dazey area. He settled there in 1879 and was followed by Tom Skee, Ole S. Johnson, Hans Oppegaard, Anton E. Sætre, Ole Bryn, Iver Madsen, and John Kjeldsen.

Settlement near Daily

About the same time, in 1878–1879, several Norwegians settled in the vicinity of Daily. They included Christopher Thoresen; Christian J. Bjørke, Herman C. Bjørke, Hans J. Bjørke, and Carl J. Bjørke, all from Nannestad; Ever O. Olsberg from Tynset; Hans Hansen and A. A. Høiland from Stavanger; A. T. Benson, Engebret E. Aa, and Gunder O. Aa, all from Skien; as well as Haagen Olsen and Enger Olsen Grasmoe from Toten. O. P. Hjelde, a Trønder who became the local postmaster, arrived in 1880.

Settlement in Other Parts of the County

In 1881, Julius Jevanord (?) from Toten settled in the vicinity of Svea and was the first Norwegian settler in that area. Henry Dybdal from Skudenes came in 1882 and settled in the vicinity of West Edge. About the same time, the Johnson brothers from Finnmark, Simon Jemse from Hedmark, and a man named Olsen or Tveet settled in the Plano and Marion area.

These settlements show that Norwegians established themselves in several parts of Barnes County at almost the same time. The Sheyenne Indians moved through the area during these years but, according to the author, caused no significant harm.

Wheat growing became the county’s principal source of income.

Churches and Congregations

Valley City Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation was established in 1879 by Pastor Christian Vold of the Conference and was the first Norwegian congregation in Barnes County. The congregation built the county’s first Norwegian church in 1883. By 1905, Barnes County had twenty-four Norwegian congregations and five churches. Eight congregations belonged to the Norwegian Synod, six to the Lutheran Free Church, three to Hauge’s Synod, three to the Methodist Church, two to the United Church, one to the Evangelical Free Church, and one to the Baptist Church.

Public Office

Christian Andersen, the county’s first Norwegian settler, was also the first Norwegian to hold county office. He was elected Commissioner in 1879. E. J. Christiansen was the first Norwegian to represent Barnes County in the State Legislature. He was elected in 1889.

Norwegian Place Names

Norwegian place names in Barnes County included Olesberg, Matteson, Svenby, Skandia, Norman, and Tordenskjold.

Sources:

[Ulvestad, Martin. Nordmændene i Amerika. Utg. History Book Company's Forlag. Minneapolis, Minn. 1907.]