Pierce County, Washington

Early Norwegian Settlement in Tacoma

Judge J. M. Arntsen, one of Washington’s pioneers, provided an account of the earliest Norwegian settlement in Pierce County. According to him, the first Norwegians settled in Tacoma, which was still a small town at the time but later developed into a major city. These early settlers were not farmers and had not come in search of farmland. As far as Arntsen was able to determine, Anton Anderson from Ålesund was the first Norwegian to make his home in Tacoma. He settled there in the early 1870s, living in a shack on the waterfront and supporting himself through fishing. His daughter, Annie Anderson, was the first Scandinavian child born in Tacoma. After this was later established, the Tacoma Land Company presented her with a building lot on D Street. Anton Anderson was subsequently killed during an armed confrontation between the police and a group of opium smugglers.

The next Norwegians to arrive were E. R. Ring, a carpenter, and Mike Anderson. In 1874, Mike Anderson married Mathea Johnson in what the source described as the first marriage in Tacoma. Mathea was also the first Norwegian woman to settle there. She came from the vicinity of Trondheim in 1874, the same year she married. Mathias Lund and John Anderson, both from Kvæfjord in Nordland, followed in 1877 and found work at a sawmill in the “old town.”

Growth of the Norwegian Community

After the late 1870s, Norwegian migration to Washington increased considerably, and Tacoma became one of the principal centers of settlement. Fishing, logging, and employment in sawmills were among the main sources of income. Some Norwegians came directly from Norway, while others were former seamen. The majority, however, came west from established Norwegian communities in Minnesota, the Dakotas, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and other eastern states. Arntsen described the Norwegian settlers as industrious workers, honest businessmen, and good American citizens. By 1905, many had established comfortable homes, and a considerable number had attained respected positions in the community.

Tanwax, Bee, Parkland, and Roy

In the Norwegian settlement at Tanwax, the first settler was Terje Petersen from Tjøme, who arrived in 1886. He was followed by Torwald Halvorsen, John Larson, H. Kjeldstad, Salve Johnson, Charley Johnson, and the families of Ed and H. Anderson.

The Norwegian settlement at Bee was founded by Hans Kommen, a veteran of the Civil War, who settled there in 1888.

At Parkland, a suburb of Tacoma, the first Norwegian settler was the mason Martin Glassøe from Stordalen. He built his home there in 1891. By 1905, Parkland had become an important center of Norwegian-American life, with a Norwegian newspaper, a Norwegian high school, and several other Norwegian institutions.

The first permanent Norwegian settler in the vicinity of Roy was G. A. Harstad from Setesdal, who settled there in 1895. He was followed by Ole Aaberg, Erik Anderson, Peter Veien, and Knut Hong, all from Nord-Aurdal in Valdres; Peter Loney from Namsos; Asbjørn Myhre from Telemark; T. Gund and Peter Gund from Ringsaker; Sam Ravnum from Fåberg; Lars Klomby; and B. K. Fodness. They supported themselves mainly through mixed farming.

Churches and Congregations

The first two Norwegian congregations in Tacoma, and in Pierce County, were established in 1885. Pastor C. J. Larsen founded a Methodist congregation, while Pastor Knud Nilsen established a Baptist congregation. The Methodists built their church that same year, and the Baptists completed theirs in 1886. The first Norwegian Lutheran congregation in the county was established in Tacoma in 1887 by Pastor Iver Tollefsen of the Conference. This congregation built the first Norwegian Lutheran church in both Tacoma and Pierce County in 1889. By 1905, Tacoma and Pierce County had fifteen Norwegian congregations and ten churches. Three congregations belonged to the Norwegian Synod, three to the United Church, one to the Lutheran Free Church, one to the Seamen’s Mission, one to the Evangelical Free Church, one to the Free Mission, one to the Methodist Church, one to the Baptist Church, and one to the Adventist Church.

Norwegian-American Press and Institutions

Norwegian-American Press: Tacoma Tidende, was established in 1890, Tacoma Folkeblad, Tacoma Budstykke, Waisenhus Tidende, and Vestkysten, were all published in Tacoma. The Pacific Herold was published in Parkland and Pacific Emisæren, was later published in Everett.

Institutions: The Pacific Lutheran Academy and the Children’s Home in Parkland. The Seamen’s Home.

Sources:

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