Early Norwegian Settlement
The first Norwegians in the vicinity of Sentinel Butte were Chester P. Olstad and Lars P. Olstad from Lom, Gudbrandsdalen, together with a family named Christiansen. They settled there in 1892. E. E. Mikkelsen was the first Norwegian settler in the vicinity of Mikkelsen Post Office, where a small Norwegian settlement also developed. Near Wibaux, on the Montana border, Christ Paulsen was the first Norwegian settler. Ranching became the principal source of income for the newcomers.
Public Office
E. E. Mikkelsen, mentioned above, was elected Commissioner in 1896. By the time this account was written, he was the only Norwegian who had held public office in Billings County. Mikkelsen Post Office was also named after him.
Sources:
[Ulvestad, Martin. Nordmændene i Amerika. Utg. History Book Company's Forlag. Minneapolis, Minn. 1907.]
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