Stark County, North Dakota

Early Norwegian Settlement

The first Norwegian settler in Stark County settled at Taylor in 1883, but later fled the area because of a murder. The next Norwegian settlers were Martin Bræum and Lars Bræum from Sogn, who arrived in 1884. They were followed by Erland Paulson Øverli, Ingebrigt Torgersen, and Kristen Engen, all from Lom, Gudbrandsdalen; Ole Pedersen from Trysil; Anders Aasgaard from Sigdal; Sam Vaagen from Rauland, Telemark; Abraham Knudsen and Knud Knudsen from Drangedal; teacher T. Torstensen from Nesherred; and another Telemarking named Thomas Olsen.

Other early settlers included Torger Elken, Hans Elken, Borger Elken, and Anders Rosendal, all from Hadeland; Captain H. Siverts from Bergen; Martin Dyvsveien from Land parish; Lars P. Haugen; Helge Myran; John Gunvold; merchant L. L. Lewis; blacksmith Otto Larsen; store clerk Amund Knudsen; and the Civil War veterans Thom Olson and Iver Ingebrigtsen.

Churches and Congregations

Taylor Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation was established in 1885 by Pastor O. J. Norby of the Augustana Synod and was the first Norwegian congregation in Stark County. Its church, the first and by 1905 the only Norwegian church in the county, was built in 1890. By 1905, Stark County had two Norwegian congregations, both belonging to the United Church.

Sources:

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