Island County, Washington

Early Norwegian Settlement

Norwegians reached what was then the far western edge of the United States as early as the 1840s. According to an account provided by Mrs. Emma Graham of Oak Harbor, however, her brother Martin Zakarias Tosteson was the first white settler to arrive at Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island, where he landed in 1847. The family came from Levanger, Norway, where their father had been a merchant and hotelkeeper. Martin had first gone to Hammerfest, where one of his sisters had married, but he did not remain there long.

Wanting to see more of the world, he signed on to a ship bound for England and from there sailed on an American vessel to New Orleans. At that time, reports of gold discoveries were attracting adventurers westward toward California. Tosteson set out on horseback with a Swiss companion, but the two separated when the Swiss joined another party traveling in a different direction. Tosteson continued alone. One evening, while resting on the prairie, his horse was stolen. Left without companions or transportation, he noticed smoke in the distance and went toward it, where he found a large group of Indians and also discovered his missing horse. According to the account, he managed to recover the animal by using his knife and rode away before the group could stop him.

Settlement at Oak Harbor

After reaching Oak Harbor, Tosteson claimed 320 acres of land and began raising cattle. Some time later, another Norwegian, Eilert Graham from Lindesnes, arrived there after sailing around Cape Horn. He and Tosteson became companions. A few years later, Tosteson’s mother, a younger brother, and his sister Emma also came to Washington. Emma later married Eilert Graham. She recalled that for a long time they were the only Norwegians in Washington.

Churches and Congregations

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

Public Office

K. P. Frostad was the first Norwegian to hold public office in Island County. He was elected County Commissioner in 1896 and later, in 1902, to the Washington State Legislature. By 1905, he remained the only Norwegian known to have held public office in the county.

Sources:

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