Leelanau County, Michigan

Early Norwegian Settlement

Staale Johnson from Kristiansund, Thore Melkild from Øksendal, Nordmøre, and Isak Garthe from Surnadal were the first Norwegian settlers in Leelanau County. They came to Northport in 1867. At about the same time came Peder Berg from Aure, Iver Husby from Øksendal, and Haldor Olsen from Trondheim, although they later moved away. Cutting cordwood and ordinary farming became the principal sources of income for the Norwegian settlers.

Churches and Congregations

Vor Frelsers Menighed (Our Savior’s Congregation) was established in 1874 by Pastor M. V. Ruh of the Conference and was the first Norwegian congregation in Leelanau County. The first Norwegian church in the county was built at Suttons Bay in 1885 by the local congregation of the Lutheran Synod. By 1905, Leelanau County had five Norwegian congregations and four churches. Three congregations belonged to the Norwegian Synod and two to the United Church.

Public Office

J. Smith from Stangvik was the first Norwegian to hold public office in the county.

Sources:

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