Madison County, Nebraska

Early Norwegian Settlement

Nils Nilsen from Valdres, a veteran of the Civil War, was the first Norwegian settler in Madison County. He settled near Newman Grove in 1867, where a large Norwegian settlement later developed. During the 1880s he moved to Dakota, where he later died. He was followed by his father, also named Nils Nilsen, and by two relatives, Haldor Halvorsen and Anders Larsen, known as Kreft-Anders, all from Valdres. At the time, Newman Grove was an army camp, and life in the surrounding area could be dangerous. Settlers were sometimes fired upon by Indians, although the resulting gunshot wounds were not always serious.

Gunder Hamre, Newman Grove’s First Merchant

Gunder Hamre became the first merchant in Newman Grove when he opened a store there in 1872. He was widely believed to be worth about $20,000, although the source doubted that his actual fortune was quite so large. Hamre never married and was remembered as an eccentric but colorful figure. His relationship with his Norwegian neighbors was complicated. The settlers were poor, and he extended credit to them, but in return he took mortgages on their property at ten percent interest. Each fall, part of the debt might be paid, while new notes were issued for the balance, again at ten percent interest. Despite these terms, many farmers preferred dealing with Hamre because the credit he offered was difficult to resist. He was also popular, known for his humor and unconventional personality.

His appearance became almost legendary. He often dressed so poorly that strangers mistook him for a tramp. On one occasion, he went to West Point to sell five horses to a liveryman. Barefoot, ragged, and dirty, he later entered a bank to cash a check for several hundred dollars. The teller became suspicious and sent for the liveryman to confirm his identity. Once it was established that the man really was Gunder Hamre, the bank promptly paid him.

On another occasion, Hamre traveled to Columbus to purchase supplies for his store. The weather was cold, and he had wrapped coffee sacks around his legs for warmth. He entered a wholesale business and placed a large order, asking how long it would take to prepare. The clerks, doubting that someone who looked like him could afford such a purchase, did not begin packing the goods. When Hamre returned at the appointed time, he asked the total price. Told that it was $500, he produced his wallet and counted out the money without noticeably reducing the size of the roll of cash he carried. The clerks then hurried to fill the order. A similar episode occurred at Grand Island, where a hotel refused to serve him unless he paid in advance because the proprietor assumed he was a vagabond. Hamre immediately produced a twenty-dollar bill, after which his treatment improved considerably.

Even after leaving the store business, Hamre continued to surprise people who judged him by his appearance. At a land office, he once asked about a large tract of property. The company quoted him a low price, apparently assuming he could not possibly afford it. Hamre accepted the offer on the spot, produced the money, and demanded the papers. According to the story, he left with a remark to the effect that appearances could be deceptive. 

Public Office

Gunder Hamre was also the first Norwegian to hold public office in Madison County. He became County Commissioner toward the end of the 1870s. He later died suddenly and alone in a barn. His heirs inherited his estate.

Churches and Congregations

The first Norwegian congregation in Madison County, and according to the source the first in the state of Nebraska, was established at Newman Grove in 1873 by Pastor Ole Torgersen. It belonged to Hauge’s Synod. By 1905, the Norwegian settlement extended through the southwestern part of Madison County and into adjoining areas of Boone and Platte counties. Within this larger settlement there were five Norwegian congregations and five churches. Three congregations belonged to the Norwegian Synod and two to Hauge’s Synod

Sources:

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