Iowa County, Iowa

Early Norwegian Settlement

The first Norwegians in Iowa County were Christopher Engelbert, Reier Nilsen, and Levin Nilsen, who settled at Conroy in 1854. They were from the Stavanger area, and all three were deceased by the time this account was written.

Atlantic Voyages

One of the old settlers at Conroy recalled that a man was lost overboard during his voyage across the Atlantic. The man was washed from the ship but managed to remain afloat by swimming. Because of the storm, however, the vessel could not turn back or attempt a rescue, and he had to be abandoned. On another voyage, a ship began leaking shortly after putting to sea. The emigrants were naturally terrified, but the vessel remained afloat with the help of the pumps, which had to be kept operating continuously until the ship reached New York.

Churches and Congregations

Marengo Congregation was established at Hilton in 1866 by Pastor O. G. Jukam of the Norwegian Synod. It was the only Norwegian congregation in Iowa County. The congregation built its church in 1877.

Sources:

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