McHenry County, North Dakota

Early Norwegian Settlement

Iver Gjelstad from Askim, Smaalenene (Østfold); Lewis Larson from Hedemark; Lars Hansen from Stor-Elvdal; Hans Tjone from Nissedal; and Sam Koto were the first Norwegian settlers in McHenry County. They settled in the vicinity of Velva and Villard in 1882. They were followed by Erik Espeset from Lærdal, Sogn; M. Bredalen and A. Jevnaker from Solør; Simon Hestnes from Hedemark; Simon Thompson; Arnt Walley and G. G. Walley from Hattfjelldal; George Opsahl and Christian Halseth from Hedemark; Gustav Wolhowe and O. H. Wolhowe from Ullensaker; Axel Lyng and Johannes Lyng from Verdal; and Chr. Rensla and Herbrand Lee from Hallingdal.

The Deep River Settlement

The first Norwegian settlers in the Towner area were the brothers Hans, Eivind, and Johannes Oium from Nord-Fron, together with Tjøstøl Kongslien and his family. They were therefore the first settlers in what became known as the Deep River Settlement.

Pioneer Life and Farming

Some of the newcomers built log cabins, while others lived in dugouts. Cattle raising became the principal source of income. Bismarck was their nearest market, about one hundred miles away, and the settlers had to make the journey by ox team.

Churches and Congregations

Norway Congregation was established in 1883 by Pastor O. H. Aaberg of the Norwegian Synod and was the first Norwegian congregation in McHenry County. Pastor T. S. Reishus was its first serving pastor. The congregation built the county’s first Norwegian church in 1886. By 1905, McHenry County had twelve Norwegian congregations and three churches. Four congregations belonged to the Norwegian Synod, three to Hauge’s Synod, two to the Lutheran Free Church, two to the United Church, and one to the Evangelical Free Church.

Norwegian Place Names

Norwegian place names in McHenry County included Berwick, Odin, and Martha.

Sources:

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