Mitchell County, Iowa

Early Norwegian Settlement

Until 1852, the area was still under Indian control. That year, Pastor C. L. Clausen, a Dane, moved there from Rock County, Wisconsin, together with a large group of Norwegians. The newcomers traveled in two groups and crossed the Mississippi River at Johnson’s Ferry in a boat drawn by two blind mules and commanded by “Captain” Ole Nelson.

The company consisted of Mikkel Tollefsen Rust; Gulbrand G. Myrah, also known as Gilbert Gilbertsen; Torkel Reiersen; Ole Olsen Grove; Halvor Thorsen Sagabraaten; Jacob Aslesen; Erick Helgesen; Peder Rasmussen, who may have been Danish; Johannes Johnson Ruud; Ole Hansen Haugerud and his two grown sons; Simon Hansen; Christopher Hansen; Thore Thompson Mork; Gullick Blackstad; Hellik Bensen; Ole Haraldsen Ulen; Levor Olsen Lindelien; Ole Torgersen Fagerbakken; Helge Johnson Roningsand; Hans Halvorsen Smedsrud; Erick O. Stoveren; Hans O. Rust; and Asser Knudsen Gulbrandsgar. Most were married men who brought their families with them. They settled in the vicinity of St. Ansgar in 1852. 

Anna Oline Lee, daughter of Ole A. Lee, was the first white child born in Mitchell County. She was born on August 11, 1853.

Churches and Congregations

St. Ansgar Evangelical Lutheran Congregation was established by Pastor C. L. Clausen in 1853 and was the first Norwegian congregation in the county. During its first years, the congregation belonged to the Norwegian Synod, as Clausen himself was associated with the Synod for a time. The church was built in 1854. See also the note under Winneshiek County. By 1905, Mitchell County had five Norwegian congregations and five churches, all belonging to the United Church.

Education and Newspapers

The St. Ansgar Seminary was established in 1878. A Norwegian-language newspaper was also started in St. Ansgar, but it ceased publication after a short time.

Public Office

Tollef M. Tollefsen of St. Ansgar was the first Norwegian to hold county office.

Norwegian Place Names

Post offices with Norwegian names included Drammen and Hustad. St. Ansgar also received its name from Norwegians. The Drammen Post Office had been discontinued by 1905.

Sources:

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