Crow Wing County, Minnesota

Early Norwegian Settlement

The first Norwegian known to have settled in Crow Wing County was Nils Tørris from the Bergen area. He settled about nine miles east of Brainerd, although the year of his arrival is unknown. In the vicinity of Garrison, where a small Norwegian settlement later developed, the first Norwegian settler was E. Eliasen from Stavanger. He came there in 1897, became Postmaster, and opened a store serving the local population.

Churches and Congregations

The oldest Norwegian congregation in Crow Wing County was the Lutheran Congregation at Brainerd, established in 1886 by Pastor K. Bjørgo of the Norwegian Synod. Its church was built in 1888. By 1905, the county had nine Norwegian congregations and seven churches. Four congregations belonged to the Norwegian Synod, three to the Lutheran Free Church, one to the United Church, and one to Hauge’s Synod.

Public Office

The first Norwegian known to have held public office in Crow Wing County was Anton Mahlum from Nes, Hedmark.

Sources:

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