Kaufman County, Texas

The Prairieville Settlement

In 1848, Johan Reiersen moved from Brownsboro to Four Mile Prairie in Kaufman County, where he established a Norwegian settlement and the small town of Prairieville. 

Among those who settled there shortly after the Reiersen family were Knud Olsen, Knud Andersen, E. Engelhaug, Jens Ringness, Andreas Huse, Ole Balesole, Johannes Foss, Aslak Nielsen, Ole E. Mjaaland, Ole E. Hougstøl, Johan Ormson, Anders Nielsen, Anders Dahl, Johan Rogstad, Johan Dalby, Johan Grimseth, Christian Pedersen, Peder Person, Pastor Fredriksen, the first Norwegian pastor in Texas, Dr. G. Tergesen, Johan Brunstad, Stian Aanensen, Simon Aanensen, Johan P. Holien, Ole Fladeland, Ole Pedersen, Nicolay Hansen, Terje Andersen, Ole Børresen, Even Nielsen, Lars Pedersen, Esten Jordale, Knut Salvesen, Lars Olsen, Andreas Bretta, Elias Halvorsen, Jens Halvorsen, Helge Gran, Osmond Johnson, Albert Anderson, Aanund Østvold, Martin Østvold, Enoch Østvold, also known as Eastwood, Adolf Vatner, Fred Vatner, Torvald Vatner, Carl Vatner, Aanon Knudsen, Tollak Knudsen, Alexander Brun, Niels Andersen, Fredrik Hansen, Anton Aanonsen, Ole Aanonsen, Knud Mjaaland, Oscar Mjaaland, Almar Knudsen, Ole Olson, Andrew Olson, Christian Olson, Julius Olson, Oscar Olson, Albert Albertsen, Ole Nick Olson, Loyd Wærenskjold, Walter Wærenskjold, Ole Mjaaland, Oscar Syvertsen, Chris S. Halvorson, and Victor Hansen.

Most of the early settlers at Brownsboro and Prairieville came from southern Norway, particularly from the Kristiansand, Lillesand, Arendal, Tvedestrand, and Kragerø areas. Some also came from Hedmark. Many of these settlers later moved to Bosque County, where the largest Norwegian settlement in Texas subsequently developed.

J. J. Ringness’ Recollections

J. J. Ringness, who had come to Four Mile Prairie with his parents among the early settlers, recalled that the Norwegian newcomers lived about thirty miles from other settlements. Obtaining bread was therefore difficult. There was no mill in that part of Texas, and the grain they harvested had to be ground by rubbing it between stones. Ringness added that the family lived mainly on milk and cheese during those early years. In 1854, the Ringness family was among those who moved to Bosque County, where they once again began the difficult work of establishing a new home.

Educated Norwegian Settlers

Johan Reiersen had received considerable schooling in his youth, including some university education. As noted above, he later pursued a career as a newspaperman, author, and pioneer. He died at Prairieville in 1864.

Several other immigrants who had enjoyed relatively privileged circumstances in Norway later took part in pioneer life in Texas. Among them were Reiersen’s personal friends from Norway: Christopher Grøgaard, son of Pastor Hans Grøgaard, who had been a member of the Eidsvoll Assembly; Erick Bache; Andreas Ørbæk, Sigurd Ørbæk, and Ole Ørbæk; Wilhelm Wærenskjold; and Elise Tvede. Elise Tvede was the daughter of Dean Tvede of Vestre Moland. She had first been married to the well-known whaler Svend Foyn, but the marriage ended in divorce after they concluded that they were not well suited to each other. Afterward, Elise devoted herself to literary work.

Wilhelm and Elise Wærenskjold: Elise emigrated to Texas in 1847 and married Wilhelm Wærenskjold the following year. Together with their circle of friends, Wilhelm and Elise Wærenskjold helped establish what the author described as the first Norwegian temperance society west of the Mississippi River and one of the earliest such societies in America. It was founded at Prairieville in 1853. The author also credited them and their associates with playing an important role in the establishment of the first Norwegian congregation in Texas. Wilhelm Wærenskjold was murdered at Prairieville in 1866. Elise Wærenskjold lived to an advanced age and died in 1894 at the home of her son Niels in Hamilton County, Texas.

Christopher Grøgaard: Christopher Grøgaard died soon after arriving in Texas. He left behind his wife and several children at Nacogdoches.

Churches and Congregations

Pastor Fredriksen established a Norwegian Lutheran congregation at Four Mile Prairie in 1859. It later belonged to the Norwegian Synod and built a church in 1860.

Sources:

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