Ohio State

Norwegian Presence in the State

No distinct Norwegian settlements were established in Ohio, but a number of Norwegians lived in the larger cities and in several smaller communities.

Toledo

Among the Norwegians in Toledo was Thorenius Holst (Holter) from Ullensaker. By 1905, he had lived in the city for more than thirty years and worked as a foreman in the Wabash Line’s workshop. His son, William Holst, had served for a time as a member and President of the Toledo City Council and later as City Clerk. Thorenius Holst’s brother, Lauritz Holst, was also an early Norwegian resident of the area. He operated an orchard near Toledo. His eldest son, Bert Holst, was a physician in Rossford.

Cleveland and Other Communities

In Cleveland, there was a small congregation with a partly Norwegian membership belonging to the Norwegian Synod. A few Norwegians also lived in Fairport Harbor, Columbus, Canal Dover, Canton, and Bowling Green.

Sources:

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