Ramsey County, North Dakota

Early Norwegian Settlement

The first Norwegians in Ramsey County were T. P. Thompson, P. Kjelberson, and G. Ulstad, all from Øvre Stjørdal, together with L. Nygaard from Tynset. They came from Goodhue County, Minnesota, and settled in the vicinity of Devils Lake in 1882. That same year, Ever Vagness settled at Grand Harbor.

The Big Coulee Settlement

The first Norwegian in the Big Coulee settlement at Churchs Ferry, on the border between Ramsey and Benson Counties, was Erik Nilsen Lysne from Lærdal, Sogn. He came there from Northfield, Minnesota, in April 1883. He was followed by Ole Olsen from Stavanger; Siver Petersen and John Petersen (Gingely) from Nordfjord; Ole Green, Ole Ellingsen, John Gunderud, Jørgen Tofsrud, and N. Larson, all from Sigdal; Ellen Hansen from Østerdalen; John L. Solberg and Thorwald Solberg from Moss; Tollef Johnson and Sven Nestegaard from Hallingdal; Gunnar Torgersen and Torger Torgersen from Setesdal; John Miller from Stavanger; Samuel Anderson, Amund Lepstad, C. Pedersen, and Mary Olsen, all from Telemark; as well as Thorwald Torgersen, Godtfred Torgersen, and Knut -?-. Some of these settlers established themselves in Ramsey County and others in Benson County, since the settlement extended across the county line.

Settlement near Maza and Churchs Ferry

In 1883, A. J. Kildahl settled near Maza. He was from Namdalseid in Nord-Trøndelag. His daughter Mathilde, later Mrs. E. F. Solberg, was the first Norwegian woman to cross Big Coulee at Churchs Ferry. Among the first Norwegian settlers in the Churchs Ferry area were Arne Sarrud, Martin Moen, Louis Bergh, and Ole Holte.

Farming and Pioneer Conditions

The settlers began growing wheat, which initially had to be hauled by ox team to Larimore, between eighty and ninety miles away. They lived in dugouts because there was no timber available for log cabins. Dugouts also offered greater protection from the strong prairie winds, which the settlers feared might carry away lighter structures. By 1905, the dugouts had been replaced by large and comfortable houses. The author also remarked that weather conditions appeared to have improved over time. The worst storm remembered in the area occurred on November 4, 1886.

Already in 1888, the settlers gathered to celebrate Norway’s Constitution Day. The May 17 celebration was held at the home of Andrew Kirkeeide.

Anton Myklebust’s Journey to the Devils Lake Area

Pioneer Anton Myklebust of Evanston recalled that six Norwegians left Grafton with the Turtle Mountains as their destination. This was before railroads or horses were available in the area, so they traveled with four oxen and two wagons. The sloughs and streams were filled with water, making the journey extremely difficult. The wagons frequently became stuck in the mud, forcing the men to carry their belongings to the opposite bank. They then attached a chain to the rear axle and pulled the wagon back out of the mire. One of their oxen was particularly large and strong and was ridden into the water ahead of the wagons to determine both its depth and the condition of the bottom.

There were no roads, and the travelers had only an Indian trail to guide them. They examined several areas but found nothing they liked until they reached Devils Lake. About twenty miles north of the lake, they claimed land that had not yet been surveyed. Their first harvest was small and filled only a few sacks. They hauled it across the frozen lake to market on stone sleds.

When the railroad reached Devils Lake in 1884, the settlers could sell their farm products there and purchase the supplies they needed. Looking back, Myklebust noted how completely conditions had changed. Their land had been cultivated, sod huts had been replaced by good houses, oxen by horses, and the stone sleds used to haul produce across the ice had disappeared because the “Farmer’s Railroad” now passed directly by their farms.

Churches and Congregations

St. Johannes Congregation at Maza and Big Coulee Congregation at Churchs Ferry were established in 1884 by Pastor O. H. Aaberg of the Norwegian Synod and were the first Norwegian congregations in Ramsey County. Big Coulee Congregation also served settlers in Benson County, since the congregation lay along the border between the two counties. The first Norwegian church in the area was built by St. Johannes Congregation in 1895. By 1905, Ramsey County had nineteen Norwegian congregations and fifteen churches. Nine congregations belonged to the United Church, seven to the Norwegian Synod, two to the Lutheran Free Church, and one to the Methodist Church.

Public Office

Pioneer Ever Wagness was the first Norwegian to hold county office in Ramsey County. He was elected Sheriff in 1884. Hans Ugland was the first Norwegian from Ramsey County to serve in the State Legislature. He was elected in 1898.

Norwegian-American Press

A Norwegian-language newspaper, Stats-Tidende, was published at Devils Lake for a short period.

Norwegian Place Names

Norwegian place names in Ramsey County included Lillehof, Lunde, Norway, and Lake Ibsen.

Sources:

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