Campbell County, South Dakota

Early Norwegian Settlement

The first Norwegian settlers in Campbell County were Nels Lillesveen from Fåberg, together with Svennung G. Sauer, S. A. Sauer, and A. S. Bamble, the latter three from Telemark. They settled in the vicinity of Grass in 1883. Nels Lillesveen came from Lincoln County, South Dakota, while the other three came from Humboldt County, Iowa. Later that same year came Ole Tronsen and A. O. Tronsen from Nordre Land; Jacob Hanse from Telemark; Christian Johnson and Hans Eversen from Hadeland; and A. G. Andersen, who was born in Minnesota to parents from Hadeland. In 1884, several more settlers came from Canton, South Dakota, and established themselves near Gale. They included Torgrim Fossum from Valdres; Andrew Andersen from Nes, Hallingdal; Johannes Løvø and Ole Løvø from Kvernes near Kristiansund; Ole Gjysland from Kristiansand; and Arne Arnesen, whose birthplace is unknown.

Pioneer Life

Some of the settlers took land in the lowlands along the Missouri River, where they built houses from driftwood. Others settled on the higher ground and across the prairie, where they had to make do with sod houses. Wheat farming and cattle raising became the settlers’ principal sources of income. In the early years, Aberdeen was their nearest market. The journey was about 120 miles each way, or roughly 240 miles for the round trip. Later, the railroad was extended to Ipswich, reducing the distance to between eighty and ninety miles. Eventually the railroad reached the Missouri River and passed directly through the Norwegian settlement.

Churches and Congregations

Bergen Congregation, established at Grass Post Office in 1884 by Pastor A. L. Lobben of the Norwegian Synod, was the first Norwegian congregation in Campbell County. The first Norwegian church in the county was built in 1897 by Norway Congregation at Tislo. Pastor T. Skartvedt, who settled in Campbell County in 1887 and at that time belonged to the Anti-Missouri Brotherhood, was the first resident Norwegian pastor. By 1905, Campbell County had seven Norwegian congregations and two churches. Four congregations belonged to the United Church and three to the Lutheran Free Church.

Public Office

A. G. Andersen, who served as Probate Court Judge, was the first Norwegian to hold public office in the county.

Norwegian Place Names

Campbell County had a post office named Herreid. It was named after a former Norwegian-born Governor of South Dakota.

Sources:

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