Rolette County, North Dakota

Early Norwegian Settlement

The first Norwegian settlement in this region lay along the border between Rolette and Bottineau Counties. Some settlers established their homes in Bottineau County and others in Rolette County, particularly in the vicinity of Dunseith and Twala. The brothers Claus, Godtfred, and Sefanias Fuglestad from Birkrem, near Stavanger, settled at Dunseith in 1882. Christian Cleveland from Grimstad settled at Twala in 1883. About the same time came K. Flaten, B. Flaten, Osmund Metvedt, Ole Metvedt, and Knut Aaland, all from Telemark, together with Amund Rodton from Setesdal. Nearly all of the first settlers in this region are also mentioned under Bottineau County. Wheat became the principal product the settlers had for sale, and they hauled it by ox team all the way to Devils Lake.

The Death of Sefanias Fuglestad

In the spring of 1884, a group of Sioux Indians camped at Willow Creek, near the homes of the Fuglestad brothers. Sefanias Fuglestad’s cabin stood directly across the creek from their camp. A pair of logs laid across Willow Creek served as a bridge. According to the account, while Sefanias was away one day, several Indians crossed the creek and entered his cabin. A Swedish settler reportedly saw them enter and leave the house before they broke camp and departed. Sefanias knew nothing of what had happened. When he returned home, he ate some of his food and immediately became violently ill. His brother Godtfred later arrived on an errand and found him close to death. Sefanias was unable to speak and died without explaining what had happened.

His death was attributed to poison placed in the food, based on what Sefanias had vomited and on the Swedish settler’s account. He was buried on his claim in a simple ceremony. The incident created great bitterness among the white settlers, who immediately set out in pursuit of the Indians. They had already gained too much of a lead into the wooded Turtle Mountains, however, and could not be found.

Encounters in the Turtle Mountains

The Turtle Mountains provided excellent cover for the Indians. On one occasion, K. Fuglestad went there to obtain a load of timber when four Indians attempted to take control of his oxen. Fuglestad did not retreat. He took a bar from his load and confronted them, and because they were unarmed, they chose to flee. During a similar incident, a large settler from Gudbrandsdalen confronted a group of Indians with a raised axe and likewise refused to be intimidated.

Churches and Congregations

Willow Creek Congregation was established at Willow Creek in 1885 and was the first Norwegian congregation in Rolette County. Its first pastor was Theodor J. E. Tønnesen of the Norwegian Synod. The congregation built the first Norwegian church in the county in 1895. By 1905, Rolette County had eight Norwegian congregations and three churches. Three congregations belonged to the Norwegian Synod, three to Hauge’s Synod, and two to the United Church.

Public Office

John Bridston of Dunseith was the first Norwegian to hold county office. He was elected Treasurer in 1890. John Syvertsen of Willow City was the first, and by the time this account was written the only, Norwegian to represent Rolette County in the State Legislature. He was elected in 1896.

Norwegian Place Names

Post offices with Norwegian names included Kringen and Bertha.

Sources:

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