Morton County, North Dakota

Early Norwegian Settlement

A. J. Jonsen, H. Bensen, and S. Bensen from Spangereid; B. Romsland from Lyngdal; and T. Stentland from Søndre Aurland were the first Norwegian settlers in Morton County. They settled in the vicinity of Mandan in 1881. The settlers began with wheat farming and cattle raising.

Churches and Congregations

The Lutheran congregation established at Mandan in the mid-1880s was the first Norwegian congregation in Morton County. At that time, it belonged to the Norwegian Synod. Its first pastor was O. J. Norby. In 1891, the congregation built the first Norwegian church in the county. By 1905, Morton County had three Norwegian congregations and two churches, all belonging to the United Church.

Public Office

Andrew O. Mork was the first Norwegian to hold public office in Morton County. He was elected Clerk of Court in 1894. Fred Holritz was the first, and by the time this account was written the only, Norwegian to represent Morton County in the State Legislature.

Sources:

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