Sherburne County, Minnesota

Early Norwegian Settlement

The first Norwegians in Sherburne County were Ole Pedersen, Peder Thoresen, and Ole Jacobsen, who settled at Orrock in 1871. They were followed by Erik Olson, Christian Olson, Ole Hansen, Berger Mathisen, G. Nelson, Anders Larsen, and Ole Hermansen. Gunder Aslaksen was the first Norwegian settler at Santiago. He settled there in 1881.

Churches and Congregations

Pastor Ole Paulson of the Conference established a congregation at Orrock in 1873. It was the first Norwegian congregation in the county. By about 1907, Sherburne County had four Norwegian congregations and four churches. Three congregations belonged to the Norwegian Synod and one to the Lutheran Free Church.

Public Office

J. O. Gilligaard was the first Norwegian county official. He was elected County Commissioner in 1902.

Sources:

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