Clark County, South Dakota

Early Norwegian Settlement

In 1882, Ole Halvorsen from Telemark came from Freeborn County, Minnesota, and settled at Clark. That same year, Lars L. Brække and O. R. Spilde, both from Hardanger, came from Winneshiek County, Iowa, and settled at Willow Lake. Later that year came G. Eggen from Gudbrandsdalen and Daniel Larsen from Hardanger. As in many other pioneer settlements, they initially built sod houses and began growing wheat, which became the area’s principal source of income. Cattle raising was also important.

Churches and Congregations

Willow Lake Congregation was established at Vienna in 1883 by Pastor Anders Nilsen of the Norwegian Synod and was the first Norwegian congregation in Clark County. The congregation built the first Norwegian church in the county in 1894. By 1905, Clark County had ten Norwegian congregations and five churches. Seven congregations belonged to the United Church and three to Hauge’s Synod.

Public Office

A. J. Benston was the first Norwegian county official in Clark County. He was elected Auditor in 1890. Andrew Dahl was the first Norwegian to represent Clark County in the State Legislature. He was elected in 1892.

Norwegian Place Names

Norwegian place names included Stusted and Thorp.

Sources:

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