Charles Mix County, South Dakota

Early Norwegian Settlement

Erik Odlo from Stjørdal was the first Norwegian settler in Charles Mix County. He came from one of the eastern states and settled in the vicinity of Bloomington in 1881. He was followed by John Thompson, John Mortensen, Ole Larsen, John Kaasen, John P. Langbak, Hans Mahlum, John Thromvold, Anders Bye, Ole Pedersen, Iver Arntsen, and Robert Opheim, all from the Trondheim area. Others included Ingebrigt Haugen, Paul Haugen, Ole Morken, J. E. Lien Sr., and J. E. Lien Jr., all from Gudbrandsdalen; Lars Holter from Vækkerø near Kristiania (Oslo); Peter Kjerstad from Helgeland; and Knut Hammer, John Qalm (?), Gabriel Anderson, Martin Olsen, and Jørgen Nilsen. The settlers initially lived in dugouts and began growing wheat, which they had to haul about seventy miles to Scotland City.

Churches and Congregations

Franke’s Congregation was established at Bloomington in 1883 and was the first Norwegian congregation in the county. Its first resident pastor was G. Norbeck of Hauge’s Synod. The congregation built the county’s first, and by 1905 only, Norwegian church in 1887. By 1905, Charles Mix County had four Norwegian congregations. Three belonged to the United Church and one to Hauge’s Synod.

Public Office

Christ Pedersen was the first Norwegian county official. Pastor G. Norbeck, mentioned above, also served as a member of the State Legislature.

Sources:

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