Jackson County, Minnesota

The First Norwegian Settlement

Simon Olsen Slaabakken from Tolga, Jackson County’s first public official, wrote:

"Norwegian immigration began in 1860. That year, Børre Olsen from Holtålen arrived with his three sons, Bersvend, Ole, and Jonas, as well as his daughter and son-in-law, Hans Lien from Røros. They had made an arduous journey from Winneshiek County, Iowa.

They came to the beautiful Des Moines Valley, which was richly covered with forest. This was something the Norwegians eagerly sought as the first necessity when establishing a home. They wished to settle where there was forest. Unfortunately, every single grove was occupied by a Yankee.

‘Well,’ said Børre, ‘we came here to find a home. The land is good, so we will have to ask Mr. Yankee how much it will take to get him out.’”

They soon learned the answer. The usual price for a good forest claim was a pair of oxen and a wagon. The price was paid, and the Yankees had to move.

In addition to those already mentioned, Ole Pedersen from Røros, Engebret Olsen Slaabakken and Anders Olsen Slaabakken from Tolga, Ole O. Førde and Knud Midtstad from Voss, and several others also arrived. Altogether, the group consisted of fifteen to twenty families. This was in 1860.

Many others arrived in 1861. Some purchased claims, while others found unclaimed forested land. All were happy and well satisfied.

The Indian Uprising of 1862

Although there were no Indians nearby, the settlers did not feel entirely safe. In May, D. M. West went to the governor and obtained a quantity of guns and ammunition. The settlers then organized themselves as a home guard and drilled every Saturday afternoon.

A call soon came for soldiers to help hold the rebels in the South in check. Twenty-two men left the small settlement at Jackson, including many of those who were supposed to protect the settlers from the Indians.

Around August 20, news arrived that the Indians were on the warpath and had robbed and murdered people at New Ulm. The settlers gathered together, two or three families at each location, so that they could assist one another if necessary.

On Sunday, August 24, while a number of residents were gathered for worship, Ole Førde’s eldest son arrived, covered with sweat and blood, and reported that the Indians had come. He had been shot through the arm.

One can imagine the fear that followed. Everyone ran to their respective homes as quickly as possible, but most soon gathered again at the postmaster’s home in Jackson.

The most courageous among them wanted to fortify the house and face the attack with whatever weapons they had. Most of those present, however, were so frightened that they wished to go to Estherville, Iowa, about twenty-five miles to the south.

They departed shortly before sunset and arrived there the following morning. After receiving food and drink, they began organizing a mounted company. On Thursday, the company rode to the places where they had been told that the Indians had murdered and plundered the settlers.

They found twelve people dead and several wounded. Among them were two daughters of Knud Langeland. One was dead, while the other survived.

Anders, the son of Knut Slaabakken, had been shot twice, struck in the neck, and stabbed in the side with a large knife. He was left behind because the attackers believed he was dead.

He regained consciousness and crawled to a spring. After drinking deeply, he recovered enough strength to reach his home, where he hoped to find something to eat. Everything there had been destroyed.

He then went to the barn and lay down in the manger to die. He remained there from Sunday until Wednesday, when he was found and taken to Estherville. A doctor was called, and his life was saved.

Just think what he endured during those three days.

Those Killed on August 24, 1862:

• Mikkel Olsen Slaabakken from Tolga, born March 1, 1831.

• Ole O. Førde from Evanger, Bergen Diocese, born January 18, 1822.

• Johannes K. Exe from Voss, Bergen Diocese, born August 26, 1833.

• Knudt Midtstad from Voss.

• Brita Midtstad from Voss.

• Lars Larsen Førenes from Strilelandet, born in 1834.

• Anna Larsen, his wife, born in 1834.

• Anna Langeland, Knut Langeland’s wife, born in 1824.

• Anna Langeland, Knut Langeland’s daughter, born in 1853.

• Aagaata Langeland, Knut Langeland’s daughter, born in 1857.

• Nicolai Johan Langeland, Knut Langeland’s son, born in 1860.

• Knud Langeland, Knut Langeland’s son, born in 1861.

Reestablishment of the Settlement

The Norwegian settlement in Jackson now came to a temporary end. All the survivors moved eastward, some to Winneshiek County, Iowa, and others to Houston County, Minnesota.

Settlement began again in 1864. The Indian troubles had destroyed all local organization, making it necessary to reorganize the county. This was done in 1865 by the aforementioned Simon Olsen Slaabakken and two Americans appointed by the governor.

Pioneer Life

Anders Olsen, another of the early settlers, wrote that he transported the materials for the county’s first church from Mankato, a distance of eighty miles, making each round trip 160 miles.

On one occasion, he lost his way in a snowstorm and wandered across the prairie for five days without food and with inadequate clothing.

Grain, cattle, and hogs were the principal sources of income for the first settlers. Their nearest market was Mankato.

In 1873 and during the following four years, grasshoppers destroyed most of the crops, causing severe hardship for the settlers.

Churches and Congregations

Jackson County had nine Norwegian churches and eleven congregations. Four belonged to Hauge’s Synod, three to the United Church, three to the Norwegian Synod, and one to Elling Eielsen’s Society.

Norwegian Place Names

Places with Norwegian names included Christiania Township and the post offices of Verdal, Bergen, and Namsos. By 1907 only Namsos Post Office still existed.

Sources:

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