Codington County, South Dakota

Early Norwegian Settlement

The first Norwegian to take land in Codington County was Ole Johnsen Skipnes, better known from the Civil War as Colonel Johnson. He acquired land at Dexter, although he did not settle there himself. Instead, he rented out the property, as did his son Wilford. The first Norwegian settlers to establish homes in the county were F. O. Grunnerud from Sand, Nord-Odal; Paul Andersen Stee from Helgen near Skien; Hans Ragstad and John Ragstad from Solum near Skien; Anders A. Dahle from Gjerpen; G. H. Stuverud; and Chr. J. Stenstadvold. They settled in 1879, shortly after Colonel Johnson had taken land in the county. Grunnerud settled at South Shore, while the others established themselves at Dexter.

Later Arrivals

They were followed by Jens D. Koren from Kristiania (Oslo); Chr. Trampe from Trondheim; Martin Thorsen from Stavanger; Ole Olsen Ristvedt and Andrew Olsen Ristvedt from Gjerpen; Ole Larsen Rønning, Jonas Rønning, Lars Bjørnson, Johannes Olsen Vidaas, Ole O. Aas, and Halvor Lovold, all from Sauherad, Telemark; Oscar Thunoll from Kristiania (Oslo); Wilh. Frost from Holtålen; Anders Søring from Valdres; John Strømme from Bergen; Lars Onstad; Aanund Meland, Nils Meland, and Engebret Meland; Peder Skajem, Olai Skajem, and Gjert Skajem, all from Sogn; Torkel Gulbraa and Claus Gulbraa from Voss; Lars Anunsen from Hægebostad; John Kaasa from Heddal; Andreas Stuverud from Telemark; John Westby from Haugesund; Christian Larsen Kjetlien from Gudbrandsdalen; and Ingebrigt Løving and Peder Berg from Trondheim. Other settlers included Hans Johnson Grønsten, John Johnson Grønsten, and Jens Johnson Grønsten; John Rønning; Carl Knudsen; Anders Aaby; Hans Vibeto; Andreas Hofstad; John Ustrud; Lars Olsen; Tomas Gjesme; Søren Jermstad; Paul Fjelstad; Jens Williamsen and Carl Williamsen; Amund Kjeldsen, Isak Kjeldsen, and Ingeborg Kjeldsen (Chilson); and others. These Norwegian settlers spread over a wide area of the county.

Farming and Markets

Wheat farming was their principal source of income during the early years. Later, flax was also cultivated, and mixed farming became increasingly important. Watertown was the nearest market. Depending on where the settlers lived, the distance was between twenty and thirty miles.

John Olsen Vidaas’ Account

John Olsen Vidaas of Kent recalled that after taking land in Codington County, he and three other men worked on Colonel Johnson’s farm. William Frost, who later lived at Dexter and was a son of Pastor Frost of Trondheim, served as foreman. One Sunday, Vidaas and another young man went to the Sioux Reservation and approached a group of Indian tents. They entered one of them and met the chief himself. Vidaas remembered that the chief wore a thick gold band around his wrist, but both of his legs had been amputated and he walked on the stumps of his thighs. The chief’s daughter was playing with a tame skunk.

Prairie Fire

Vidaas also recalled a prairie fire that struck in the fall of the same year while they were threshing. Their efforts to stop the fire failed, and the flames moved faster than horses could run. They managed to save the houses, but horses, mules, cattle, and chickens were killed. The threshing machine was destroyed, together with thirty stacks of wheat. A short time later, some Indians came and asked whether they could take meat from the burned horses. Vidaas told them they could take as much as they wanted. Later, the settlers heard that the Indians had also found a dead mule east of the Sioux River. After eating it, they became ill because the animal had been infected with glanders. Vidaas concluded that this gave some indication of the harsh and primitive conditions among which the Norwegian pioneers had to live.

Churches and Congregations

Helgen Congregation was established in 1880 by Pastor K. Magelsen of the Norwegian Synod and was the first Norwegian congregation in Codington County. By 1905, Codington County had six Norwegian congregations and five churches. Five congregations belonged to the United Church and one to the Norwegian Synod.

Public Office

Ole Gesley was the first Norwegian to hold county office in Codington County. He was elected County Treasurer in 1880. Gunder H. Stuverud was the first Norwegian to represent Codington County in the State Legislature. He was elected in 1892.

Sources:

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