Shelby County, Iowa

Norwegian Settlement

Martin Johansen from Kristiania (Oslo) was the first Norwegian in Shelby County. The year of his arrival is not known, and no distinct Norwegian settlement developed at Harlan, where he lived. The first Norwegian settler at Kirkman, where a substantial Norwegian community later developed, was Marselius Larsen from Hundvåg near Stavanger. He settled there in 1879. A short time later came Jacob O. Johansen, Nels Olsen, Sven Monsen, and Mons Thompson. All, or at least most, were also from the Stavanger area. Hog raising, wheat farming, and corn growing became their principal sources of income.

Pioneer Economy

One of the oldest settlers recalled how difficult it had been to acquire land before he came to Shelby County. He had previously lived in Mahaska County, where a laborer earned about one dollar a day. At the same time, pork cost nine to ten dollars per hundred pounds, wheat flour eight to nine dollars per hundred pounds, bed ticking eighty cents a yard, muslin sixty cents, calico forty cents, matches ten cents, and tobacco from eighty cents to one dollar a pound. He also recalled that on one occasion it cost him ninety cents to send a letter to Norway.

The Astor Settlement

The first Norwegians at Astor were B. J. O. Wig from Haugesund; Truls Anderson from Sogn; Nils Olsen from Fjelberg; Andrew Samsen from Aurdal; Lars Larson from Sandø; S. Monsen; Jørgen Hugland; Ingvald Pedersen from the Stavanger area; and Andrew Hansen from Rennesøy. 

Most of the Norwegian settlers in Shelby County came from Illinois or eastern Iowa.

Churches and Congregations

St. Pauli Congregation was established at Kirkman in 1881 and belonged to the Conference. It was the first Norwegian congregation in Shelby County. Pastors Sheldal and Holm alternated in serving the congregation during its first years, and the church was built in 1889. By 1905, Shelby County had two Norwegian congregations and two churches, both belonging to the United Church.

Norwegian Publications

The Norwegian-Danish Baptist newspaper Vækteren was published in Harlan.

Sources:

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