DeKalb County, Illinois

Early Norwegian Settlement

The first Norwegian known to have settled in DeKalb County was Lars Risetter from Hardanger, who settled at Pawpaw. At the time, Chicago, about sixty miles away, was the nearest major market. The settlers farmed with oxen and raised corn and wheat, while daily wages were about fifty cents.

The first Norwegians in the vicinity of Sandwich were H. E. Cook from Brevik and Peder Pedersen from Stavanger.

An Early Emigrant from Bergen

Mrs. Sarah Darnell Nordvik, who emigrated aboard the Ægir, also lived in DeKalb County. The Ægir was the first sailing ship to leave Bergen with Norwegian emigrants, departing on April 1, 1837. Sarah Darnell Nordvik was born in Bergen on February 26, 1824, and was over eighty years old when the account was written.

Churches and Congregations

By 1905, DeKalb County had seven Norwegian congregations and four churches. Three congregations belonged to the Norwegian Synod, two to the United Church, and two to the Methodist Church.

Sources:

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