Redwood County, Minnesota

Early Norwegian Settlement

Ole Pedersen Hals from Hasseløya, Vesterålen, was the first Norwegian settler in Redwood County. He settled near Vesta in 1868. He was followed by Sivert Olsen from Kvæfjord parish; Martin Dahl, Halvor Dahl, and Syvert M. Dahl, together with Gunerius Knudsen, all from Åsnes, Solør; Engebret C. Lyse from Lyse near Stavanger; Lars Haagensen Nordland from Strand near Stavanger; N. S. Lewis Sabbe from Ulvik, Hardanger; Greger J. Huseby from Opdal, Numedal; and Jens P. Hustad and Bernt Frøland, both from Hjørundfjord, Sunnmøre. Lars Pedersen from Strilelandet was the first Norwegian settler in the vicinity of Grunden. He arrived there in 1871. That same year, Lars Højem from Levanger, Martin Bredvold and Ludvig Bredvold from Hedmark, and Jacob Lorens from Trøndelag settled near Sundown. They were the first Norwegian settlers in that area.

Churches and Congregations

At the time this account was written, Redwood County had seven Norwegian congregations and five churches. Three congregations belonged to the United Church, three to the Norwegian Synod, and one to the Lutheran Free Church.

Institutions and Newspapers

The Norwegian Lutheran Children’s Home in Lamberton was established in 1898. In 1905, it was moved to Willmar.

Norrøna was the name of a Norwegian newspaper published at Walnut Grove around 1900.

Public Office

Haagen Anderson of Lamberton was the first Norwegian to hold public office in the county. He was elected County Commissioner in 1870.

Norwegian Place Names

Places with Norwegian names included Ann and Storden.

Storden received its name from a Norwegian settler who was known as “Store John” (Big John). The name was later shortened to Storden. The town of Ann was named after Mrs. Anne Andersen, wife of Haagen Andersen, who, as mentioned above, was the county’s first Norwegian public official.

Sources:

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