Spink County, South Dakota

Early Norwegian Settlement

Gustav G. Jacobsen, Gulbrand Jacobsen, and C. G. Jacobsen from Ringsaker, together with G. Gutenberg, M. Gutenberg, and P. Gutenberg, who were born in America of Norwegian parents, were the first Norwegians in Spink County. They came from Fillmore County, Minnesota, and settled in the vicinity of Frankfort in 1872. Later that same year came S. J. Ericksen from Eidsvoll and A. Monsen from Bergen. The settlers built dugouts and began growing wheat and raising livestock, which became the county’s principal sources of livelihood. Their farm products had to be hauled by ox team to Watertown, about sixty miles away.

A Severe Pioneer Winter

During their first winter, the snowfall was so heavy that travel became impossible. When their provisions ran out, they had to grind wheat in a coffee mill throughout the day in order to have food. Their barns were small and low and became buried beneath the snow. It was impossible to let the livestock outside, and they could not obtain water. Snow therefore had to be melted on the stove to provide drinking water for both people and animals.

Settlement at Ashton

Nels E. Nelson from Hadeland was the first Norwegian settler at Ashton. He settled there in 1879.

Settlement near Mellette

In 1880, R. L. Tolvstad and H. L. Tolvstad from Hedmark, together with A. Andersen, a Norwegian from Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, settled in the vicinity of Mellette. They were followed by L. H. Tolvstad and M. L. Tolvstad from Hedmark; R. O. Halvorsen; T. O. Kittelsland and K. O. Kittelsland from Numedal; Ole Anderson; and George Ugland. These settlers also lived in dugouts for a time. They concentrated primarily on wheat farming, which became the county’s leading source of income. Their wheat had to be hauled by ox team to Watertown, about eighty miles away.

Churches and Congregations

By 1905, Spink County had six Norwegian congregations and two churches. Three congregations belonged to the United Church, two to the Baptist Church, and one was independent.

Public Office

O. E. Berg, served as State Treasurer, he made his home at Redfield in Spink County.

Sources:

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