Stearns County, Minnesota

Early Norwegian Settlement

In the early 1860s, two Norwegians, John Sandvig and his brother, trapped in the southwestern part of Stearns County, but they were driven away by the Indians. They cannot be regarded as settlers, however, and are later found in Pope County. The first actual Norwegian settlers in Stearns County were Hans P. Heieie, Ellen Baalsen, Nils O. Strandemoen, and Kittel N. Strande, all from Flå in Hallingdal; Ole Ruud from Ål, Hallingdal; and Østen Gubberud. They came together from Spring Grove and settled near Brooten in 1865. About the same time came John Udalen from Winchester, Wisconsin. He was originally from Tinn, Telemark. Later that year came Hans Kittelsen, Hans Halvorsen, Kittel Halvorson, Hans S. Skordal, and Halvor Halvorsen, all from Hjartdal, Telemark; Sivert Langum from Arendal; J. J. Andersen from Flå, Hallingdal; Nils Hellicksen from Numedal; and Sivert Albertsen, whose birthplace was unknown.

Pioneer Life

Most of the land was covered with forest. As soon as the settlers had cleared enough of it, they began preparing the land for wheat farming, which became their principal source of income. Livestock raising was also of considerable importance. St. Cloud was their nearest market, about sixty miles from the homes of the first settlers. 

C. H. Johnson from Tinn, Telemark, was the first Norwegian settler near Belgrade. Ole O. Liabraaten, one of the oldest settlers and later a prosperous farmer in North Fork, recalled that during his first two years he was so poor that he did not even own a pair of oxen. He therefore had to make his trips to St. Cloud on foot. Along the way, he often met groups of Indians traveling with wagons, or “cars,” as they called them, pulled by an ox or a thin pony. These unusual vehicles could be heard from a considerable distance, since “Standard Oil” had not yet reached the area.

Churches and Congregations

The Crow River N.E.L. Congregation was established in 1867 by Pastor V. J. Muus, then of the Norwegian Synod. It was the oldest Norwegian congregation in the county. Its church was built in 1871. By about 1907, Stearns County had nineteen Norwegian congregations and nineteen churches. Six congregations belonged to the Lutheran Free Church, five to the Norwegian Synod, three to Hauge’s Synod, three were Independent Lutheran, and two belonged to the United Church.

Public Office

Kittel Halvorsen lived in Stearns County when he was elected to the United States Congress in 1890.

Education

Nordvestens kirkelige Missionsskole was established at Belgrade in Stearns County in 1900.

Sources:

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