Mississippi State

Norwegian Presence in the State

Few Norwegians lived in Mississippi, but the source highlights two men in particular: Sivert Hansen Berg of Aberdeen and John Kyllingstad of Lexington. Sivert Hansen Berg emigrated from Voss and settled in Aberdeen shortly after the Civil War. He became one of the best-known contractors in the state and died in 1905. 

John Kyllingstad was born in Madagascar, where his father served as a missionary. A few years after coming to the United States, he was appointed Postmaster at Melette, South Dakota. He later moved to Mississippi and entered the newspaper business, first as editor of the Durant News and later as editor of the Lexington Advertiser. In 1904, Kyllingstad was seriously considered as a candidate for the Mississippi State Legislature.

Sources:

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