Buena Vista County, Iowa

Early Norwegian Settlement

Knut Steenersen from Sigdal and Torkel Torkelsen from Soknedalen were the first Norwegian settlers in Buena Vista County. They settled in Lee Township in 1862. Fort Dodge was their nearest post office and market, about sixty miles away. Their nearest neighbors were mainly Indians.

Churches and Congregations

Little Sioux Congregation was established at Linn Grove in 1868 by Pastor N. Amlund, who at that time belonged to the Norwegian Synod. It was the first Norwegian congregation in the county, and its church was built in 1881. By 1905, Buena Vista County had four Norwegian congregations and four churches. Two congregations belonged to the Norwegian Synod and two to the United Church.

Public Office

Ole Johnson of Linn Grove was the first Norwegian to hold political office in the county. He was elected County Auditor in 1867.

Norwegian Place Names

A post office named Orsland once existed in Buena Vista County.

Sources:

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