Cloud and Jewell Counties, Kansas

Norwegian Settlement near Jamestown

A small Norwegian settlement developed along the border between Cloud and Jewell Counties near Jamestown. The founder was Hans Olsen from Kongsvinger, who came from Chicago and settled there in 1869. Later that same year he was joined by Frank Breckan from Trondheim, Helge Andersen Ruud from Vang Parish, Valdres, and H. M. Torneby from Rødenes Parish.

Pioneer Life

Helge Ruud later recalled that the area was still sparsely settled when they arrived. Buffalo were abundant, and the settlers also encountered Indians in the region. On one occasion, according to Ruud, the Indians forced the settlers about twelve miles eastward, where they gathered together and prepared to defend themselves. The nearest Land Office was seventy miles away. Since there was no railroad and the settlers had no wagons or other vehicles, they had to make the journey on foot. Their first homes were dugouts. They began cultivating wheat and corn, but several years passed before they produced enough to sell. Drought and grasshoppers repeatedly destroyed their crops during the early years. Ruud later summarized the changes simply by noting that conditions had improved in every respect.

Churches and Congregations

A Norwegian congregation was established in 1872 by Pastors N. C. Brun and R. E. Bøe. By 1905, the Norwegian communities in Cloud and Jewell Counties had three congregations and two churches. Two of the congregations belonged to the United Church, while one belonged to the Norwegian Synod.

Sources:

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