Mower County, Minnesota

The First Norwegian Settlement at Grand Meadow

On July 1, 1854, thirteen families arrived in the vicinity of Grand Meadow by ox-drawn wagons from Dane County, Wisconsin. Free land was available, and each family established its own claim. The settlers were Ole O. Finhart, Hans Anderson Gamlemon, Ole Simonson Jobraaten, Ole O. Hovda, Erland Olsen Skalshaugen, Sivert Olsen Skalshaugen, Anders A. Lybek, Amund J. Lindelien, and Nils Syvertsen Moen, all from Søndre Aurdal; Knut Klostøl and Ole Olsen Skyru from Etnedal in Søndre Aurdal; and Ole Julsen from Vestre Slidre, Valdres. They were followed by Halvor Kløsstøl, Aslak Aamodt, and Gulik Dalen, all from Søndre Aurdal, and Christen Tuv from Slidre. Among the young boys in the group were Syver Hovda, Herman Hovda, Engebret Hovda, Simon Simonsen, and S. T. Simonsen.

The Settlement at Rose Creek

At about the same time that Ole Finhart and his group settled near Grand Meadow, Thor Olsen Qværsæker from Upper Telemark settled in the vicinity of Rose Creek. He came there from Mitchell County, Iowa. He was followed by Gunder Halvorsen from Kragerø, Aslak Flaten, Ole Bjøndal, Torjus Olsen, Torger Guttormsen, Knut Lasteru, and Tron Richardsen.

The Settlements at Adams and Lyle

Tideman Knudsen from Valdres was the first Norwegian settler in the vicinity of Adams. He settled there in 1855.

J. Solnes from the Kristiania area was the first Norwegian settler in the vicinity of Lyle.

Pioneer Life

The nearest market for settlers in the area was McGregor, Iowa, on the Mississippi River, more than one hundred miles away. Traveling there with oxen took from one to two weeks, or longer, depending on the condition of the roads. Wheat was their principal source of income. O. T. Olsen, the son of one of the first settlers in Six Mile Grove, recalled playing with Indian children. Although they were not considered the most desirable companions, nothing unfortunate resulted from it. He grew into a large and strong man and was living in Belmont, North Dakota, in his old age.

Erik N. Løftegaard’s Arrival in America

Erik N. Løstegaard lived in Lansing, ha was a native of Hallingdal and a veteran of the Civil War. He described his arrival at Quebec:

“I emigrated aboard the sailing ship Claushefte (Claus Heftye). When we reached the quarantine station at Quebec, a doctor naturally came aboard. A rope was stretched across the ship, and everyone had to pass beneath it to be examined. The captain came over to me and said, ‘Now you must perform your Halling leap.’ When my turn came, I leaped over the rope and landed directly beside the doctor. The old man was badly frightened because he thought I intended to jump on him. The captain laughed and said, ‘I will show you that I have healthy people aboard!’ We were then all permitted to go ashore.”

Churches and Congregations

The Bear Creek Norwegian Lutheran Congregation at Grand Meadow was established in 1856 by Pastor G. L. Clausen, who at that time belonged to the Norwegian Synod. It was the first Norwegian congregation in Mower County.

By about 1907, the county had eleven Norwegian congregations and nine churches. Seven congregations belonged to the United Church and four to the Norwegian Synod.

There was also a Norwegian hospital in Austin.

Public Office

John Irgens, a lieutenant in the Civil War, was the first Norwegian to hold public office in Mower County. He was elected County Treasurer in 1870.

Ole Finhart was the first Norwegian to represent the county in the State Legislature. He was elected in 1872.

Sources:

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