Cerro Gordo County, Iowa

Norwegian Settlement

The first Norwegian settler in the vicinity of Clear Lake, where a Norwegian settlement later developed, was L. O. Sanderson from Hallingdal. He settled at Clear Lake.

Churches and Congregations

Village of Fertile Congregation was established in 1870 by Pastor J. M. Dahl, who at that time belonged to the Norwegian Synod. It was the first Norwegian congregation in the county. By 1905, Cerro Gordo County had eight Norwegian congregations and four churches. Three congregations belonged to the United Church, two to the Norwegian Synod, one to the Evangelical Free Church, one to the Lutheran Free Church, and one was Independent Lutheran.

Sources:

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