Nobles County, Minnesota

The First Norwegian Settlers

Ole Gunderson and John Hoff, both from Numedal, together with Hans Nelson, Hans Jansen, Ole Petersen, and G. Gullicksen, were the first Norwegians in Nobles County. They came from Iowa County, Wisconsin, and settled near Adrian in 1872. Later that same year came T. Tengelsen, H. Hansen, C. Hansen, E. Hansen, H. Dahl, Gunder O. Joul, who later lived in Minneapolis, O. Joul, P. Osburn, Ole Garness, H. Olsen, C. Olsen, and K. Thompson. They built dugouts and began growing wheat and oats. Their nearest market was Worthington.

Louis Larsen from Drammen was the first Norwegian settler near Ransom. He arrived there in 1874.

“Han Ola paa Prærien”

“It was during the first autumn. Ola had built a log cabin for his wife and four children, but he had not yet constructed a barn for his livestock, which numbered about ten head. He was greatly concerned about the severe Minnesota snowstorms, and it appeared that all his animals might perish because they were tied in an open yard. Ola, however, knew what to do. He sent his family to bed and brought all the livestock into the house. He himself sat on a three-legged stool beside the stove, which he kept burning cheerfully until the storm had passed.”

Churches and Congregations

By about 1907, Nobles County had four Norwegian churches and six congregations. Three congregations belonged to the Lutheran Free Church, two to the United Church, and one to the Norwegian Synod.

Public Office

The well-known Captain Mons Grinager held public office for a time after returning from the Civil War.

Sources:

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