Benton County, Iowa

Early Norwegian Settlement

The first Norwegian settlers in Benton County were Jonas P. Nordland, Elling Ellingson, Osman Tutland, Mrs. F. Darnell, and Ole Tow, all from the Stavanger area. They came from the Fox River Settlement in Illinois and settled at Norway in 1854. A short time later, they were joined by Lars Tow, Andrew Tow, Anna Strand, John Tvedt, Jacob Nesdail, Mrs. Gunda Ericksen, Peter S. Olsen, Ole O. Hetletvedt, Jørgen Dyrland, G. Dyrland, C. P. Christensen, Christine Nelson, E. Stangeland, Anna Kleppe, and Seri Norland. All, or at least most, were also from the Stavanger area.

Wheat farming became the settlement’s principal source of income, and Cedar Rapids was the nearest market. The settlement became known as Norway.

Churches and Congregations

The Quaker congregation at Norway Post Office was probably the first Norwegian congregation in the area. The first Lutheran congregation was established in 1867 by Pastor N. Amlund. The Benton Congregation originally belonged to the Norwegian Synod but later joined the United Church. By 1905, Benton County had five Norwegian congregations and three churches. Three congregations belonged to the United Church, one was Independent Lutheran, and one belonged to the Quakers.

Sources:

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