Gallatin County, Montana

Early Norwegian Settlement

Ole K. Bervin from Hardanger was the first Norwegian settler in Gallatin County known to the author. He settled at Bozeman in 1891. Before coming to Gallatin County, Bervin had lived in the eastern part of Montana, where he arrived in 1881 and was probably also the first Norwegian settler in that region. At the time, the Northern Pacific Railroad was still under construction, so he traveled up the Missouri River from South Dakota by steamboat.

While living in eastern Montana, Bervin earned his living by hunting buffalo. Buffalo were still numerous in the area, and he lived in the region known as the Bad Lands. He was surrounded by Sioux Indians but, according to the source, avoided conflict through caution and careful conduct. Even so, he never felt entirely secure. By 1905, the same region had attracted many settlers and cattle ranchers.

Churches and Congregations

By 1905, Gallatin County had one Norwegian congregation belonging to the Norwegian Synod.

Sources:

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