Clinton County, Iowa

Early Norwegian Settlement

John D. Johnsen from the Døsland farm in Kvinnherad was the first Norwegian settler in Clinton County. He came from Chicago in 1853, bringing with him his elderly parents and siblings. The family settled at Calamus, where they remained the only Norwegian family for five years. They began growing wheat and corn for sale. Davenport, their nearest market at the time, was nineteen miles away, a distance that seemed considerably longer because of the slow pace of their oxen. The settlement became known as Kvinnherad. The next Norwegian settlers to arrive were Hans Christensen, John Christensen, Thore Nilsen, Halvor Nilsen, Bryngel Anderson, Ole Jacobsen, Chris Christensen, Peder Christensen, Lars Olsen, Anders Olsen, Herlaug Pedersen, Sten H. Nerhus, and John Olsen, all from Kvinnherad; Ole Nilsen and Hans George from Tysnes; and Even Olsen from Hjelmeland Parish.

Churches and Congregations

Kvinnherad Congregation was established in 1861 by Pastor P. A. Rasmussen. It was the first and, by 1905, the only Norwegian congregation in Clinton County. The church was built in 1877, and the congregation belonged to the United Church.

Sources:

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