Swift County, Minnesota

Early Norwegian Settlement

Nels O. Braaten from Flå, Hallingdal, together with three others from Hallingdal, Hans Sagadalen, H. Hansen, and T. Hansen, as well as Anders Monsen from Sogn and Tosten Kvamme from Valdres, were the first Norwegians in Swift County. They came from Rice County and settled near West Lake in 1856. They were followed by Iver K. Syse from Hardanger; Lars Monsen from Sogn; Ole Wefle, Ole Ellingboe, A. Ellingboe, and Carl Finstad, all from Valdres; Halvor Gandrud from Nes, Hallingdal; Henrik Sagadalen and Tosten Sagadalen, also from Hallingdal; Ole Søndreaal from Sogn; as well as Knut Søndreaal, Christopher Kvale, and others. The first Norwegian settlement was established in the eastern part of the county.

Pioneer Life

Wheat, corn, and oats became the settlement’s principal products for sale. St. Cloud, the nearest market, was about sixty miles away. Oxen were the only draft animals available to the settlers.

The Benson Settlement

Ole O. Simenstad from Ringsaker, Lars Kristensen from Sogndal, and Tosten Flaten from Eggedal were the first Norwegian settlers in the vicinity of Benson. Mr. Meldal was the first merchant in the area. With the help of a pair of oxen, he broke the prairie sod and used it to build a store.

Churches and Congregations

By 1907, Swift County had fifteen Norwegian congregations and thirteen churches. Six congregations belonged to the United Church, five to the Norwegian Synod, two to the Lutheran Free Church, and two to the Methodist Church. The Norwegian population was divided among many different church organizations.

Public Office

K. P. Frøvold was the first Norwegian to hold public office in the county. He was elected Auditor in 1874. 

John P. Jacobsen was the first Norwegian to represent Swift County in the State Legislature, in 1877.

Sources:

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