Clayton County, Iowa

The First Permanent Norwegian Settlement in Iowa

Clayton County was the site of the first permanent Norwegian settlement in Iowa. The first settlers were Ole Halvorsen Valle and Ole Tollefsen Kittilsland, both from Numedal. They came from Koshkonong, Wisconsin, and settled in the vicinity of St. Olaf in 1846. Much of the land was covered with forest. As soon as the settlers had cleared enough of it, they began preparing the soil for wheat farming, which became the settlement’s principal source of income. McGregor was the nearest market. Oxen were used both for transportation and for plowing, and daily wages at the time were about fifty cents. The first white child born in the settlement was Jørond Halvorson Valle, born on September 20, 1846.

An Early Norwegian Resident

The second-oldest Norwegian woman in Iowa lived in Clayton County (in 1905) . Her name was Kari Olsdatter, and she had been born in Norway on September 26, 1806. In 1869, she came to Gunder, Iowa, where she continued to live, at least until shortly before this account was written. The oldest Norwegian resident of Iowa is mentioned under Webster County.

Churches and Congregations

By 1905, Clayton County had five Norwegian congregations and four churches. Four congregations belonged to the United Church and one to Hauge’s Synod.

Public Office

Ole Nielsen, a Norwegian, served as County Surveyor.

Norwegian Place Names

St. Olaf Township and the St. Olaf Post Office were of Norwegian origin. The same was true of the Gunder Post Office.

Sources:

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