Grand Forks County, North Dakota

Early Norwegian Settlement

The eastern part of Grand Forks County, along the Red River, was settled first. Two men from Hallingdal, Halvor Hansen and Halvor Bentru, were the first Norwegian settlers. They settled in the vicinity of Whynot in 1872. They were followed by A. Thorkelsen, K. Lagesen, and K. Jørgensen (Bentru), as well as J. N. Løiland and T. N. Løiland from Setesdal and K. Rue from Hallingdal. The first Norwegian to settle in Grand Forks was H. Tharaldsen from Setesdal, who arrived there in 1874.

The Goose River Settlement

That same year, 1874, a group of eight Norwegian families traveled by ox cart from the vicinity of Northwood, Iowa, and settled along the Goose River in the area where the city of Northwood later developed. Northwood, North Dakota, was named after Northwood, Iowa. The heads of the families in this group included Ole Arneson Trageton, Halvor Olsen Solem, Iver Tomassen Søndreaal, Paul Tomassen Søndreaal, Thomas Torstensen Raaen, and Lars Johannesen Mørk, all from Hallingdal; Nils Korsmo from Solør; and Halvor Berg from Valdres. Newberg (Nyberg) Township was named after Halvor Berg. He also became the settlement’s first postmaster and merchant. Thomas, the son of Paul and Helga Søndreaal, was the first white child born in the Goose River settlement.

The families mentioned above were followed by Paul C. Johnson, Andrew N. Bakken, Ole Haralsen, Ole Clementsen, Halvor T. Bjerke, Gilbert Halvorsen, Anders A. Onsager, Anton T. Gilbertsen, Ole O. Tronsgaard, Angus J. Røset, Martin O. Grefshune, Ole T. Grønlie, P. O. Mandt, P. N. Watterud, Jens J. Bergsrud, Ole H. Brunsdal, Knud O. Gaasjon, Ole M. Kleven, Ole P. Mandt, Ole Ellingsen Nyhus, Erik O. Vange, Narve Narvesen, Nils J. Benkestuen, Nick Eddie, Ole Sandvik, O. T. Jøssendal, and C. J. Ovind.

Another early settler who deserved mention was P. L. Peterson in the Pilot area. He settled there in 1878. His parents were from Hardanger, and during his first years there, his nearest neighbor lived sixteen miles away.

Markets and Pioneer Hardships

During the early years, the settlers had to haul their wheat all the way to Fargo because there was no nearer market. One of the settlers at Reynolds also recalled the smallpox epidemic that struck the area in 1878. It was a particularly difficult period for the settlers, who lived far apart and generally had few resources. By 1905, conditions had changed dramatically. The Red River Valley had become densely settled by Norwegians and was home to what was described as the world’s largest grain elevator. The region and its farmers had become important to the wheat trade.

Churches and Congregations

By 1905, Grand Forks County had twenty-six Norwegian congregations and twenty-one churches. Eleven congregations belonged to the United Church, five to the Norwegian Synod, three to Hauge’s Synod, three to the Methodist Church, two to the Lutheran Free Church, and two to the Baptist Church.

Public Office

Tellef Grundbyson was the first Norwegian to hold public office in Grand Forks County. He was elected County Commissioner in 1879. Nels Tandberg, Ole T. Gronli, and Arne P. Haugen represented Grand Forks County in North Dakota’s first State Legislature.

Norwegian-American Newspapers

Nordstjernen, Nordlyset, Grand Forks Tidende, Normanden, and Fjerde Juli.

Institutions

The Deaconess Hospitals in Grand Forks and Northwood and the Grand Forks College.

Norwegian Place Names

Places with Norwegian names in Grand Forks County included Bentru, Bjørn, Dahl, Newburg, and Walle.

Sources:

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