Meeker County, Minnesota

The First Norwegian Settlers

A man named Danielsen was the first Norwegian settler in Meeker County. He settled at Acton in 1856. He was followed by Ole Halvorsen Næss, Kittel Haraldsen Bank, Hendrik H. Thoen, and Ole H. Thoen, all from Nes in Hallingdal, and Anund Nilsen from Eiker.

Helge Olsen and the Indian Uprising

Helge Olsen from Nes in Hallingdal. Although Olsen was not among the very first settlers, he arrived early enough to take part in the conflict with the Indians. During the early 1860s, at the outbreak of the Civil War, Indians attacked and killed settlers in several parts of Minnesota. 

In the Halling settlement west of Litchfield, they killed two people, after which the residents fled to Forest City, taking their livestock and whatever possessions they could carry. There they constructed a stockade of planks and logs thick enough to stop the Indians’ bullets. The entire fortification was erected in an remarkably short time. Helge Olsen, however, refused to flee. He remained in the family’s log cabin with his elderly mother. He had two muzzle-loading guns, one of them fitted with a bayonet, as well as his dog, Store-King, which could also make matters difficult for any attackers. During the night, Store-King, who was outside, began to growl and bark fiercely. Olsen understood what was happening, jumped out of bed, and climbed into the attic. From there, he took up a position near an opening and prepared to shoot his attackers in the neck as soon as they entered through the door. After firing both guns, he intended to use the bayonet. He had no opportunity to do so, however, because the attackers recognized the difficulty of the situation and withdrew.

The aforementioned Halling was also known for the strength and speed of his fists. He could knock down large Swedes and Irishmen before they fully understood what had happened.

The First Norwegian Child

Ole Halvorsen Thoen Jr. was the first white child born in the county.

The Settlement at Granada

Bernt T. Hauger from the Hauge farm in Sogndal was the first Norwegian settler in the vicinity of Granada. He settled there in 1865. For information about the Nordland settlement, which was established along the border between Kandiyohi and Meeker Counties in 1866, see Kandiyohi County.

Pioneer Hardships

One of the old settlers recalled that he lived in La Crosse, Wisconsin, but worked on the Minnesota side of the Mississippi River. Because his wages were low and he was a poor father who could not afford the ferry fare, he crossed the river on two logs that he had nailed together. He added:

“What would people think today if they had to eat bread made from bran and grind their grain in a coffee mill?”

Churches and Congregations

Meeker County had three Norwegian churches and three congregations. Two congregations belonged to the United Church and one to the Norwegian Synod.

Public Office

A. R. Fosen was the first Norwegian county official.

Even Evensen was the first and, at the time this account was written, the only Norwegian to represent Meeker County in the State Legislature. He was elected in 1886.

Sources:

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