Lyman County, South Dakota

Early Norwegian Settlement

An O. G. Johnson was the first Norwegian settler in Lyman County. He settled in the vicinity of Presho, although the year was unknown. He was followed by Nels Haagensen from Ål, Hallingdal, and Gudmund P. Hillmoe from Tydal. Cattle raising became the county’s most important source of income.

Svein Halvorsgaard’s Journey West

Teacher Svein Halvorsgaard from Ål, Hallingdal, who later lived in Cavite, recalled a difficult episode during the journey from Norway. While the emigrants were in Chicago, everything they owned was stolen, even the small boys’ caps. Of the nineteen dollars Halvorsgaard had in cash, he had already lent part to a friend so that the man could buy a railroad ticket and continue with the group from New York to Dakota. As a result, the entire party was left short of money and without their belongings. They had nothing to eat on the journey from Chicago to Canton, South Dakota, and even spent a night there on an empty stomach. They did not have the courage to beg and, as strangers, did not wish to attempt buying food on credit.

Churches and Congregations

The first Norwegian congregation in Lyman County was established at Presho in 1893 by Pastor O. O. Landbo of the Norwegian Synod. The first, and by 1905 only, Norwegian church in the county was built at Presho in 1896 by White River Congregation. That congregation had been established in 1894 by Pastor Henry Solem of the United Church. By 1905, Lyman County had four Norwegian congregations and two churches. Two congregations belonged to the Norwegian Synod and two to the United Church.

Public Office

C. Myhre of Oacoma, a Norwegian, served as County Judge.

Norwegian Place Names

The Lund Post Office may have received its name from Norwegians.

Sources:

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