District of Columbia

Early Norwegian Presence in Washington

It is difficult to determine who was the first Norwegian to settle in Washington, D.C., or how many Norwegians came there over the years as legislators, government officials, or holders of other prominent public positions. Nikolay Jensen, son of former Captain Jens Jensen of Moss, is considered the most likely candidate for the first Norwegian settler in the capital. Jensen arrived in Washington in 1850 and soon found employment in a jewelry store on Pennsylvania Avenue, where he remained for thirty-six years. Because the store was frequented by many prominent politicians and their families, Jensen came into contact with some of the most influential figures of the period. He saw every President from Millard Fillmore onward and was introduced by Henry Clay to Daniel Webster. He also spoke with Abraham Lincoln and William McKinley. Jensen was an enthusiastic hunter, and prominent men sometimes invited him to accompany them on hunting trips. In the late 1850s, he was robbed of several thousand dollars, which forced him to postpone his marriage to the youngest daughter of Dr. John Hawkins of Maryland until 1861. Her family included officers who had held high rank during the Revolutionary War. In later life, Jensen worked as a translator for the Pension Bureau. He had died by 1905.

Norwegian Community and Organizations

Outside Washington itself, there was no distinct Norwegian settlement in the District of Columbia. The Norwegians living in the capital established a Norwegian Society in 1902. In 1905, Pastor Kr. Kvamme of the Norwegian Synod established a small Norwegian congregation in Washington.

Public Service

N. H. Nelson from Decorah, Iowa, was the first Scandinavian to serve as an officer in the Capitol Guard. He held the rank of Lieutenant.

Sources:

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