McLeod County, Minnesota

The First Norwegian Settlers

Christen Johnson from Hedalen, Valdres, and Andreas Olsen from Hedmark were the first Norwegians in McLeod County. They came from Green County, Wisconsin, and settled in Bergen Township in 1856. Later that same year came A. Anderson, A. Hansen, Arne Olsen, Østen Syversen, Esten Qvien, and Nils G. Tvedt, all from Valdres; Esten Bakken from Trøndelag; Bryngel Pedersen from Hardanger; Elling Johnson from Gudbrandsdalen; Mathias Anderson from Risør; Gunder Halvorsen from Skjervøy parish; and Lars Vrengen, John Ellingsen, Nils Torgrimsen, and Ole Knudsen.

Pioneer Life

Most of the land was covered with forest. The settlers began by growing wheat and raising cattle. Carver, their nearest market, was twenty-five miles away.

The Indian Scare of 1862

In 1862, while people in other parts of the state were being killed and their property plundered by Indians, there was also considerable uneasiness in McLeod County. The settlers believed they saw Indians everywhere. People moved about day and night. Everyone was frightened, but no one knew where they would be safest.

Churches and Congregations

McLeod County had two Norwegian churches and three congregations, all belonging to the Norwegian Synod.

Norwegian Place Names

Norwegian place names in the county included Bergen and Winsted.

Sources:

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