Itasca County, Minnesota

Early Norwegian Settlement

The first Norwegian in the county was Thomas Irgens from Modum. He came from Dakota and settled at Grand Rapids in 1888.

Later that same year came Johannes Jensen from Kristiania (Oslo); Fredrik Christiansen from Frøya (Trøndelag); Kolbjørn Bensen and Bernt E. Bensen; O. K. Sherman from Våler, Solør; L. A. Willmann from Orkanger; Lars Orge from Sunnmøre; Fritjof Madsen and Martin Madsen from Kristiania (Oslo); Ole Hansen from Kragerø; and Ed Holum from Overhalla.

Firewood, timber, and game had, up to that time, been the principal sources of subsistence for the Norwegian settlement.

P. O. Bohn from Ørskog, Sunnmøre, was the first Norwegian in the vicinity of Rosy.

Pioneer Life

The nearest neighbors of the first Norwegian settlers were Indians. One of the pioneers wrote:

“I settled here in the dense primeval forest to battle mosquitoes, brush ticks, and wild people, if necessary. And how I chopped, cleared, and dug! But it is good to be here now.”

Churches and Congregations

There were four Norwegian congregations in the county. Two belonged to the Norwegian Synod, one to the Lutheran Free Church, and one to the United Church.

Sources:

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