Red Lake County, Minnesota

Early Norwegian Settlement

The first Norwegian in Red Lake County was Ole Branum from Trondheim. He settled at St. Hilaire, although the year of his arrival is not known. Gilbert K. Hove from Valdres settled near Thief River Falls in 1881. Later that same year came another settler from Valdres, Ole Aabole, together with Nils Knudsen and K. Knudsen from Numedal; Hans Langseth from Søndre Gudbrandsdalen; Sander Engebretsen from Hallingdal; and A. A. Wassen from Søndre Land. Sevrin L. Dimmen from southern Sunnmøre was the first Norwegian settler near Tweet. He settled there in 1881, at about the same time as the aforementioned settlers arrived at St. Hilaire. The following year, Ole J. Hegg from Sogn settled near Wyandotte and was the first Norwegian settler there. Martin Rockstad, said to have come from the Kristiania area, was the first Norwegian settler in the area where Rockstad Post Office was later located. Red Lake County itself was relatively new, having for many years formed part of Polk County.

Pioneer Life

As in many other areas settled by Norwegians, the Indians were among the settlers’ neighbors during the first years. The pioneers built log cabins and began growing wheat and oats. They hauled their produce to Crookston and also made their purchases there. Crookston was forty miles away, and there was no closer market.

Churches and Congregations

By about 1907, Red Lake County had fourteen Norwegian congregations and nine churches. Four congregations belonged to the United Church, four to the Norwegian Synod, two to the Methodist Church, two to Hauge’s Synod, and two to the Lutheran Free Church.

Norwegian Place Names

Places with Norwegian names included Norden, Nummedal, Garnes, Tweet (Tvedt), and Rockstad.

Sources:

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