Carbon County, Montana

Early Norwegian Settlement

The first Norwegian settler in Carbon County known to the author was Tønnes E. Fosse from Sogndal. He came to Red Lodge in 1889 and initially worked in the mines there before later taking up farming. S. T. Simonsen from Valdres was the first Norwegian settler at Absarokee, where he arrived in 1892. He became a businessman, farmer, and Justice of the Peace. He had also served in the Civil War. The source remarked that this background made him well suited to life near the Crow Indians, whom the author described as having become settled and “civilized” by that time. Simonsen was followed by Jacob Lande and T. T. Brown. Lande settled at Absarokee, while Brown settled at Columbus. The first Norwegian in the vicinity of Morris was Gunder Arthun from Stavanger, who settled there in 1895.

Churches and Congregations

The first Norwegian congregation in Carbon County was Immanuel Congregation, established at Absarokee in 1897 by Pastor J. E. Madson of the United Church. Its church was built in 1899. By 1905, the county had two Norwegian congregations, both belonging to the United Church, but only one Norwegian church building.

Sources:

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