Richland County, North Dakota

Early Norwegian Settlement

Einar Hoel from Rennebu; Peder J. Wold and Arnt Skaarvold, both from Støren near Trondheim; and Sivert Dragseth from Inset in Hedmark came from Dunn County and settled at Fort Abercrombie on July 18, 1870. They were the first Norwegian settlers in Richland County. They were soon followed by Anders Mo from Støren; Hans C. N. Myhra from Kongsberg; Ole Martinsen and Ole Moen from Gudbrandsdalen; Syver Hoel from Rennebu near Trondheim; Jens Hagen; and Sivert Lievold. Next came Erik Hoel and John Wold from Rennebu; Johan Olson, Gilbert Olsen, and Torvald Jacobsen from Enebakk; Ole Bensen from Ringerike; Peder L. Johnson and John Pedersen from Gudbrandsdalen; K. K. Lie from Telemark; Nels Thompson from Hardanger; Thomas Ericksen and John Myhra from Kongsberg; Peder Magnussen from Hedmark; and Erik Anfinsen from Valdres.

Farming, Markets, and Employment

Any wheat the settlers produced beyond their own needs had to be hauled by ox team to Alexandria, about one hundred miles away. Butter and eggs, however, could be sold to the soldiers at Fort Abercrombie. The settlers could also find occasional employment at the fort when farm work allowed them to be away from home. There were also opportunities aboard the steamboats on the Red River. Such work paid between one dollar and one dollar and twenty-five cents per day.

Fort Abercrombie and the Opening of the Red River Valley

A few traders may also have found opportunities among the soldiers and Indians who crossed the river in the area, although their numbers were limited. Fort Abercrombie was regarded as, in a sense, the starting point of North Dakota’s settlement history. At that time, about three hundred soldiers were stationed there to protect the settlers against the Indians. Fort Abercrombie was also the principal crossing point on the Red River for many people seeking land. From there, settlers spread first north and south along the river and later westward into the interior. Norwegians formed a large part of the population that occupied this fertile region.

The richness of the land did not mean that settlement was easy. Those who came from older settlements faced considerable hardship because transportation was poor, and when they finally reached the Red River Valley they found an undeveloped frontier. One of the settlers described the situation by recalling that there were no white settlers, houses, or roads and very little on which to live during the first period. Mosquitoes were abundant, and encounters with Indians added further difficulties. Rivers also presented serious obstacles. With no bridges available, travelers often had to wade or swim across. The correspondent jokingly remarked that their predecessors, meaning the Indians, had been poor bridge builders and had left no such improvements behind.

Churches and Congregations

St. Johannes Congregation was established at Abercrombie in 1872 by Pastor Ylvisaker of the Norwegian Synod and was the first Norwegian congregation in Richland County. By 1905, the county had twenty Norwegian congregations and seventeen churches. Ten congregations belonged to the United Church, five to the Norwegian Free Church, four to the Norwegian Synod, and one to the Evangelical Free Church.

Public Office

Peter Magnussen was the first Norwegian to hold county office in Richland County. He was elected Commissioner in 1875. Andrew Slotten served in the Legislature in 1889, the year North Dakota became a state. He was therefore the first Norwegian from Richland County to hold a seat in the State Legislature.

Education

The Norwegian-Lutheran Fraternal Society School was established at Wahpeton in 1903.

Norwegian Place Names

Norwegian place names in Richland County included Ibsen, Garborg, Viking, Kongsberg, Slotten, and Ulnes.

Sources:

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