New
Hampshire State
The founder of the first and only Norwegian settlement in
this State was Johannes L. Osvold, born in Toten, but emigrated from
Kristiania He settled in Berlin Mills, Coos Co. in 1854. Next
after him came Carl Olsen, Herman Olsen and Nils Holje. The latter
settled in Gorham. Osvold has been - and still is - the Postmaster in
Berlin Mills, even though he is 85 years old.
That same Oswold was also the first Norwegian to gain a
seat in New Hampshire's Legislative Assembly. See the section
'Norwegians in public positions in America' (3 Norwegians from this
little settlement have been members of the Legislature, something that
it must be said has been well done)
There is a Norwegian congregation with a church in Berlin
Mills. It has been served by priests of The United Church.
In Stratford County there is a place called Norway Plains.
But Norwegians cannot be found, at least not in recent times.
Maine State
Not many Norwegian families can be found in this State. A
Schleswiger, A. C. Miller (in Falmouth) with whom the author has had
correspondence with regard to this, writes, "When in 1872 I came to
Portland, where I settled and where I have lived for many years,
there were a few Norwegians who, together with us Schleswigers and
Danes
and a few Swedes, established a congregation. We had a Norwegian
priest to serve us. There is no Norwegian settlement in Maine. I have
not heard mention of anymore than one farmer. On the other hand there
are some Norwegians in the City of Portland and they support themselves
mainly with factory work.
In Oxford County there must have been some Norwegians at
some time since they have a Norway, Norway Lake and Norway Village. The
first two still exist as post offices and the latter exists as Village.
Once also there was a place called Norway Center and one that bore the
name North Norway. We have good reason to believe that there had been a
Norwegian colony in the old days since this place lies on the Atlantic
Coast which Norwegians visited long before they decided to enter it.
(The few countrymen found in larger cities in Maine are of
a newer date and can provide no information. For this State's concern I
have had to be satisfied with what people of other nationalities have
told me. - Author).
Now there are two Norwegian congregations in Portland, one
of them belongs to The United Church, the other to The Evangelical Free
Church.
For information about places where there are only a few
Norwegians, see the accompanying map with added explanations. This is
not just for Maine but applies to all the other States in the Union.
And information about scattered Norwegians can be found in
'Sammenstilling af Sambygdinger i Amerika' in the last part of the
book.
Who the first Norwegians were to settle in this
State is not known,
since no Norwegian settlement can be found. It is, however, known that
the
Norwegians who settled around the State, came rather early. Connecticut
lies on the Atlantic Ocean, between Massachusetts and New York, where
the first emigrants landed and where Norwegian seamen have visited for
a long time. The very first settlers here were undoubtedly of the
seaman profession.
In New Haven, there is a Scandinavian congregation
that counts some
Norwegians amongst them, a similar congregation is also found in
Bridgeport. The first congregation is served by Pastor Ludvig Johnson,
who is Norwegian and belongs to The Evangelical Lutheran Free Church.
The congregation in Bridgeport consists of Baptists.
The first permanent Norwegian in Fairfield County
was John Anderson, a tailor. He settled in Danbury.
Severin and Gabriel Tønnesen ( Sam and
Gilbert Thompson), two brothers
from Lyngdal were the first permanent Norwegians in Litchfield County,
Severin lives in New Milford, Gabriel in Gaylordsville. There are a few
other Norwegians. They support themselves by farming.
The only place that it can be said that there
is a group of
Norwegians, is Providence. In that city there is a small Norwegian
congregation, established by priests from The Norwegian Synod, but that
now belongs to The United Church.
The attempt at Norwegian colonies in this state went
very poorly.
In White County, not far from the shore of Lake
Michigan, they tried to
establish a settlement in 1835. At that time, a group from Drammen, and
a few others, settled here, but they soon moved out.
It went similarly in Noble County, where Ole Aasland
from Tønsberg and
about 20 followers settled in 1838. Some moved eastward to
Rochester, N. Y. and some westward to Illinois.
Also in St. Joseph, Porter and Marion counties there
were attempts to
found settlements but they never came to anything. The Norwegians who
are there are widely spread.
In White County there is a post office by the name
of Norway, it lies
in the area where, as previously said, they attempted to form a
settlement. It must be perceived therefore, as a remnant of that.
In Pike County, there is a post office by the name
of Stendal. This is also a good Norwegian name but there are no
Norwegians.
Missouri State
Nor in this state has it been easy for Norwegians to get
a foothold. They tried as early as 1837. Kleng Person Hesthammer, the
ubiquitous pioneer, took a dozen of his fellow parishioners from the
Stavanger area and began the founding of a settlement in Shelby Co.
They remained there for just a short time.
Lars Tollaksen settled in Clark County in 1838. But when
he could not get Norwegian neighbours and he himself was dissatisfied
with the land, he moved away.
Some Vossings, Ole and Knud Lødve as well as Lars
Gjerstad also made a failed colonization attempt in Missouri.
And then there was a man by the name Kalvehagen (from the
vicinity of Arendal) who settled in the northern part of the State in
the 1840s. He owned much land, many black slaves and was wealthy, but
during the Civil War his slaves escaped. What happened to him afterward
is not known.
It is said that he brought carts with him from Norway. He
came first to New Orleans and from there to St. Louis by steamboat. And
it was just a short distance from St. Louis that he obtained the land
as mentioned above.
The only place in Missouri where Norwegians can be said to
have had permanent residence is at Le Claire, a small suburb of St.
Louis. The brothers Anders, Peder and N. O. Nelson and a few others
from the Lillesand area came there in 1872. The latter named raised a
large factory for the manufacture of lead pipe and other lead items.
Nelson, who employed hundreds of workers is claimed to be a
millionaire. And he was an influential man. But the best is that he
uses his wealth and influence for the betterment of his workers. He has
arranged it so that they have free, fine homes, he has built a high
school for their children and he gives them a certain percentage of the
factory's profits. He shares joys and sorrows with his workers.
District of Columbia
Who was the first Norwegian to settle in Washington, the
capital of the United States, how many of our countrymen ended up here,
either as law givers or to fill one or another creditable position in
government offices, is not easy to say. But it is probably true that
Nikolay Jensen, the son of former Captain Jens Jensen of Moss, was the
first. Nikolay Jensen came to Washington in 1850 and immediately got
employment in a jewelry store on Pennsylvania Avenue where he stayed
for 36 years. Most bigwigs and their families came to this store
and he (Jensen) was able to see all the Presidents from Fillmore on
up. He had conversations with Daniel Webster, to whom he was introduced
by Henry Clay, and with Lincoln and McKinley. Jensen was otherwise a
brave hunter and the bigwigs often took him on their hunting trips. At
the end of the 50s he was robbed of thousands of dollars and his
marriage to the youngest daughter of Dr. John Hawkins of Maryland had
to be postponed until 1861. Her ancestors were high-ranking officers in
the Revolutionary Army. In his older days he held the office of
translator for the Pensions Bureau. Now he is dead.
In the District of Columbia there is no group of
Norwegians with the exception of those who live here in the capital.
They have also established a Norwegian Society - in 1902. And Pastor
Kr. Kvamme of The Norwegian Synod established a small congregation here
in 1905.
The Norwegian N. H. Nelson from Decorah, Iowa was the
first Scandinavian to serve as an officer (Lieutenant) in the Capitol
Guard.
Potter County,
Pennsylvania
It was here that Ole Bull founded a Norwegian settlement
in the beginning of the 50s. His colonization attempt was almost as
impossible as, for example, Kristoffre Kloster's attempt to establish a
fishing colony down on the Gaspe's windswept cliffs. But Ole Bull could
not bring himself to believe that. Down here between the Pennsylvania
hills the great performer put his money (and later much of his strength
and spirit). Here he bought a great deal of land on instalments, here
he laid out towns and built bridges and roads and to it he
brought his countrymen. Here Ole Bull's memory would be honoured
forever.
The future capital was called Oleana, where they built
"Bull's
Castle"with music and song, and where a hotel was raised so travelling
Scandinavians could get food, rest and a roof over their heads. They
believed that this would become the West's paradise. And they sang:
"I Oleana er det
godt at være.
I Norge
vil jeg ikke slavelænken bære.
Ja, reis
til Oleana, saa skal du leve;
En fattig
stymper derbort' er Greve."
That people streamed in is shown by the fact that during
the colony's golden period there were close to 1000 persons.
But the whole thing was a dream. Ole Bull was a great
dreamer, a great spirit and a great genius. On the violin he was a
world master. And this sort of person is the easiest to dupe. This the
land speculators who sold the aforementioned land to him clearly knew,
since the documents they issued him were not worth 5 cents. Neither he
nor any other Scandinavian received the right to the land that he had
bought. When he then learned that nothing could be done either legally
or any other way, he left the colony quietly. They saw him ride away
along the river bank on his Norwegian horse. But what he thought, he
showed later: There was only one way in which he could rescue himself
and his poor countrymen out of the pinch - and only one way he could
restore his name - he had to go back and play on the stage. He was as
fortunate as before. The laurels he could keep, but for the money he
earned he bought wagon load after wagon load of provisions that he sent
to the colonists in Oleana. And over time as he was able, he helped
many of them move away from there.
Ole Olsen, one of Bull's faithful admirers and defenders -
the only one that stayed in Ny Bergen - died there recently (1903) at
the age of 87 years. He was the last to yield! But the Norwegian names
-
Oleana, Odin and Ny Bergen - names that Bull gave the future cities -
they still live.
The settlers, with few exceptions, then moved away - to
other places with greater possibilities. The colony's first child, Ole
Snyder as well as some of the older people we have found in Buffalo,
N.Y. The colony's first baby girl, the daughter of the later well-known
bookbinder Suckow (in Madison, Wis.) ended up finally in the City of
Cedar Rapids, Ia. where her husband became the Mayor. Halfdan Eckholdt,
who was one of those who with his parents emigrated to Bull's paradise,
is now a lawyer in Rochester, Minn. P. J. Moe, who also came to that
place with his parents, moved to Springfield, Minn. etc. In brief, most
of them went west and settled among their countrymen in the Northwest.
---------------
However, the State of Pennsylvania is not completely free
of Norwegian settlements. One was established at Rowland, Pike Co. in
1901. The first to settle there was S. Christiansen from Grimstad.
There are ca. 15 Norwegian families. Logging and mixed farming is their
main source of income.
---------------
In the City of Philadelphia* there are naturally some
Norwegians even though they have essentially become Americans, which is
the case in other big cities as well. Where they are so scattered that
it is difficult to find one another and where one cannot start
Norwegian congregations or societies, they soon forget that they are
Norwegians. In Philadelphia, however, there are a couple of small
congregations that one can call Norwegian. The first of these was
established in 1890 and belongs to The United Church, the other to The
Seaman's Mission. There are no churches.
---------------
Of other places where Norwegians can be found - but in
small numbers - can be mentioned Erie, Correy, Allegheny, Pittsburg,
Carlisle, Harrisburg and Huntingdon. See the accompanying map.
---------------
There are some Norwegian place names in Pennsylvania, the
aforementioned Oleana, New Bergen, Odin as well as Nansen, Elk Co.,
Norway, Chester Co. and Varden, Wayne Co.
*I have been sent an account of a "Walking trip from Philadelphia, Pa.
to Willmar, Minn." but because of its length the account is too long
for the book. However it goes so: Peder and Christian Amundsen from Mo
i Ranen had a ticket no further than to Philadelphia, where they worked
for a farmer for $4.00 a month and since this princely pay was not
sufficient, they took to their feet. Peder now lives in Lynn, S.D.
(They suffered as well a shipwreck on the Atlantic when the ship they
came on collided with another).
In this State there has been no attempt to start Norwegian
settlements. We find, though, some Norwegians in the big cities. In
Toledo, for example, we find Thorenius Holst (Holter) from Ullensaker.
He has lived in that city over 30 years and is a foreman in the Wabash
Line's workshop. His son William Holst was for a time a Member of and
President of Toledo's City Council and later City Clerk. Lauritz Holst
(Thorenius Holst's brother) is similarly an old settler here; he runs
an orchard near the city. His eldest son, Bert Holst, is a physician in
Rossford.
In Cleveland they have a small congregation, partly
Norwegian and that belongs to The Norwegian Synod. A few of our
countrymen are also found in Fairport Harbor, Columbus, Canal Dover*,
Canton and Blooming Green.** See,'Sammenstilling af Norske Sambygdinger
i Amerika'.
See also the accompanying map of 'Norge i Amerika'
*Post Office name in Dover that was closed in 1915. OK.
**Probably an error for Bowling Green. OK
Nor does this
State have many Norwegians. There are two,
however, that must be mentioned, Sivert Hansen Berg of Aberdeen and
John Kyllingstad of Lexington. Berg, who emigrated from Voss, settled
in Aberdeen right after the Civil War and became one of the State's
best known contractors. He died in 1905. Kyllingstad was born in
Madagascar, where his father was a missionary. A few years after his
arrival he was appointed as Postmaster in Melette, S.D. but later moved
to Mississippi where he has worked in the newspaper business, first as
the editor of 'Durant News' and later as the editor of 'Lexington
Advertiser'. In 1904 he was strongly considered as a candidate for the
State Legislature.
The seaport of Pensacola, Escambia County,
Florida has
long and frequently been visited by Norwegian seaman - and a number of
Norwegians, probably seaman families can be found there. Who was the
first is not known.
In Tallahassee, Leon County, Hans B. Raa from Hedemarken
was the first.
On the east coast of Florida (in Brevard Co.) lives a
small group of patriotic Norwegians. There patriotism is shown in that
they have two post offices with Norwegian names (Oslo and Viking). The
settlement where these post offices lie was established in 1895 and
consists of the brothers Jens, Ole, Andreas, Elias and Olaf Helseth as
well as Jacob and Andrew Kjøstwig, all from Romsdalen, Bendik
Bendiksen from Tromsø, Julius Olsen from Østre Toten and
J. Strande, L. H. Hovelsrud and possibly several others whose
birthplace in Norway is unknown to the author. Andrew Kjøstwig
is the Postmaster at Viking and Ole Helseth manages the Oslo Post
Office.
In Pensacola there is a Norwegian Seaman's Church (with a
reading room), the only Norwegian church in the State.
In Gadsden County there is a post office by the name of
Norway but there are no Norwegians.
Who was the first Norwegian in Alabama is not
known. For a
long time Mobile has been visited by rather many seamen of Norwegian
ancestry but they are of an indeterminable nature, they come and go
unendingly. There are also a number of Norwegian businessmen and
tradesmen, a Norwegian Seaman's Home with a reading room and a
Norwegian Seaman's Church in Mobile.
In Thorsby, Chilton County there is a little Norwegian
County. The first Norwegian here was Andrew Wamben from Hardanger, he
settled there in 1896 and still lives there. In 1897 a Norwegian
congregation was established that belongs to The United Church. Pastor
H. Engh was its first priest. It�s church was built in 1902.
In Cleburne County there is also a small Norwegian
settlement and a congregation belonging to The United Church.
Thorsby is the only Norwegian place name in the State.
The main sources of income in Alabama are mining (iron and
coal) and growing cotton, grapes and sugar cane.
Colorado
State
For a long time Norwegians and people of other
nationalities have found employment in the Colorado mines. But mine
workers cannot be considered as permanent settlers. The same holds for
those who have worked in cities - in Denver, for example. In that city,
however, there are a few Norwegian businessmen but they are
americanized so it is not easy to find them.
Of early Norwegian settlers in other parts of the State
can be mentioned; A. M. Ovren from Lillehammer, he was the first in
Leadville, Lake Co., to where he came in 1878 and where he worked as a
master painter until his death in 1896.
The first Norwegians in Fowler, Otero Co. were B.
Bendixson from Stavanger and Ole Ericksen from Egersund.
In Longmont, Boulder Co. the first were O. G. Rugtvedt
from Kviteseid, Øvre Telemarken and a Mr. Hovlid.
The first Norwegian congregation in Colorado was
established in Denver in 1882 by Pastor H. L. Jensen of The Norwegian
Synod. And the first Norwegian church in the State was built in Denver
by a congregation served by Pastor H. P. Hanson and that belonged to
The General Synod. But because of the clerical divisions among our
people, the church's debts were not paid, so the congregation lost its
church, which is now used by the Mormons. Now there are three Norwegian
congregations each with its own church in Denver, - The Norwegian
Synod's, The United Church's and The Methodist Church's.
In addition The Norwegian Synod has a congregation in
Fowler, Otero Co., one in Elbert Co. and one in Grand Co. The United
Church has a congregation in Longmont, Boulder Co. and The General
Synod has had one in Leadville, Lake Co., small congregations, all of
them.
"Duen" was the name of a newspaper that was published in
Denver for 4 years.
Consul H. R. Sahlgaard writes that no Norwegians can be
found who held public positions in Colorado and he believes that there
have never been any. However, from another source it is reported that
the Norwegian T. L. Monson for a time held the position of State Dairy
Commissioner. He lived in Denver.
In Elbert Co. there was once a post office with the name
Holtwold, the only place with a Norwegian name in Colorado.
California
State Some of the first Norwegians to set foot on
California
soil were seamen and some were gold seekers and any definite report on
them is impossible.*
Among the Norwegian gold seekers in the 50s can be
mentioned O. B. Dahle from Nissedal, Telemarken and the Vossings Amund
Honve, Lars Seim, Gullick T. Saue, Ole Bøe and Sjur Bøe.
They were among the first and as far as is known they all went back to
Dane Co., Wis. where they settled and where most became well known
later.
Another gold seeker worthy of mention was John H.
Thoresen, a seaman from Mandal, who after sailing around the world,
settled as a gold seeker here. That was a dangerous occupation, many
lost their lives in those days and Thoresen came close to losing his.
Once when he was on a trip, a couple of his fellow travellers had
conspired to rob him of his gold and kill him. However, a young woman
had overheard part of the conversation and advised Thoresen in time.
She later became his wife and they live in San Francisco, where T. is
now a well-known businessman.
Among the first Norwegians who settled in California there can
be mentioned; Nils Hansen from Flekkefjord in Eureka, Humboldt Co., Mr.
Leque in Santa Rosa, Sonoma Co., Osmund Johnson and O. Swensen in
Modesto, Stanislaus Co., Pastor H. L. Haakonson† in Red Bluff, Tehama
Co. and Pastor Løken, priest for an American congregation in
Richmond, Contra Costa Co.
Hans Jevne from Hamar, who for a long time has operated in
the grocery trade in Los Angeles, is one of the oldest Norwegians
there. His business is considered among the largest on the Pacific
Coast. He employs ca. 130 men and 40 delivery teams.
Casberg Wade from Stordalen near Aalesund was the first
Norwegian farmer at Golita, Santa Barbara Co., where there is now a
Norwegian settlement. The first to visit this place, however, was Hans
Nickelsen Engeseth from Stranden in Søndmøre. He first
came on foot from the eastern states to Washington where he built a
sawmill and where he was unlucky to saw off his right hand. Later he
came to Santa Barbara Co. and he died there in hospital in 1899, 75
years old.
A little Norwegian settlement that once existed at Newbury
Park, Ventura Co. is now just history, only Nils Olson from Stranden,
Søndmøre and N. Nilsen Ansok remain of the original
settlers here.
Vor Frelser Congregation, that was established in San
Francisco in 1871 by Pastor Hvistendal of The Norwegian Synod, is the
oldest Norwegian congregation in San Francisco - and in the State of
California. Now there are 4 Norwegian congregations and 3
churches in San Francisco, 2 belong to The Norwegian Synod, 1 to The
United Church and 1 to The Methodist Church.There is also a Norwegian
Seaman's Home with a reading room established by The Norwegian Synod.
In Oakland, Alameda County we have two Norwegian
congregations with churches, 1 belonging to The Norwegian Synod, the
other to the Methodists.
In Los Angeles County there are 4 Norwegian congregations
and 2 churches, 2 of the congregations belong to The Methodist Church,
1 to The United Church and 1 to The Norwegian Synod.
In Santa Rosa, Sonoma County there is a congregation and
church that belongs to Hauge's Synod.
At Orland, Glenn County there is a congregation belonging
to The United Church.
In Santa Barbara there is also a Norwegian congregation,
it is served from Los Angeles.
In San Diego there was a Norwegian congregation and church
a few years ago but because of clerical conflict and division the
church work had to be given up. The church was sold.
In Eureka, Humboldt County there are 2 Norwegian-Danish
congregations and 2 churches, one belongs to The Norwegian Synod and
the other to The Methodist Church.
According to one of my correspondents "Bien" was the name
of a lovely illustrated Norwegian newspaper that was published in San
Francisco. Later came "Luthersk Sendebud", then "Fram" and finally
"Pacific Posten". See the section 'Norwegian-American newspapers and
periodicals'.
A Mr. Nilsen, who lived in San Francisco, was as far as is
known, the only Norwegian who has held a public office of any
significance in California. He was a Member of the State Legislature
for a time.
There are three post offices with Norwegian names in
California, Nord in Butte Co., Iverson in Mendocino Co. and Monson in
Tulare Co. However, there are extremely few Norwegians in these
counties.
*It is told of him that Kjel Kaalstangen from Levang (at Kragerø) was
one of those who found himself on the Pacific Coast at the end of the
40s and since the construction in San Francisco was to begin, he went
there and immediately found work. He told himself that he took part of
the laying of the foundation stone for the first building that was
erected in San Francisco.
Georgia
State
The first who settled at Listonia (at Lloyd P.O.), Dooly
Co., where there is a small Norwegian settlement, were Ole O. Lockrem,
T. O. Lockrem from Valders and S. O. Andersen and R. Syverson; they
settled at there in 1898.
A small congregation was established here in 1902 by
Pastor H. Engh of The United Church.
In the City of Savannah there are also some Norwegians,
mainly seamen and such, who are occupied with loading and unloading
ships. Pastor H. Iverson has worked there many years. Another Norwegian
who should be mentioned is Captain Nils P. Moe from Porsgrund
Most of his later days he spends on land but despite his 73 years, "he
can run down into the deepest compartments like a cat," they say.
In Georgia I have found three places with Norwegian names;
Norden P.O., Bryan Co., Norway P.O. (closed), Harris Co. and Sigurd
P.O., Dodge Co., despite the fact that there are few Norwegians in this
State and especially in the three mentioned places.
For information about Captain Iversen and his son, who
became a U.S. Senator, see 'Forhistorie'.
Maryland
State
The only place in Maryland where one can say there can be
found a group of Norwegians is Baltimore. Pastor O. M. Anderson has
worked among them for a time but no congregation has been established.
In the higher institutes of learning in Baltimore we find teachers who
are of Norwegian ancestry. See, 'Sammenstilling af norske Sambygdinger
i Amerika' in the book's last part.
West
Virginia State With the exception of some few Norwegians in
Charleston
there is, so to say, no Norwegian population in this State. No
Norwegian settlement can be found.
South
Carolina State In Orangeburg County there is a post office with
the name
Norway but there are no Norwegians there. Nor can one find any
gathering of them elsewhere in this State.
Louisiana
State There are no Norwegian settlements in this
State. However,
there are some scattered countrymen - probably in Orleans, Jefferson
and Calcasieu Counties. See, 'Sammenstilling af norske Sambydinger i
Amerika'
Oklahoma
State At Griams,* Roger Mills County there is a small
group of
Norwegians of which clearly, Nils Mathiasen was the first but the year
he came to Oklahoma is not known.
The leading sources of income are cotton, maize, wheat and
sweet potatoes.
Of Norwegians who have held public office there are none
with the exception that there is supposed to be a Sheriff Jesper Nilsen
in Greer County. However, I have not had a reply from him so I do not
know if he is of Norwegian ancestry or not.
A Trønder by the name Gustav Andersen writes the
following from Sayre, Okla., "My wife and I emigrated by sailship in
1869. We lived in Wisconsin for 11 years. Then we moved to Kingsbury
Co., S.D. where we took a homestead. There we experienced greatly the
newcomer's unpleasantness. The first winter so much snow fell that the
railway was blocked from the middle, of January until the 8th of May.
Provisions ran out for most of us and we had to grind our wheat in a
coffee mill. For fuel I had nothing else but hay
that I had to carry or drag with a rope over the hard snow. I did not
own a horse or an ox, just a cow. For it and fuel I had to go long
distances to get hay. Two years later (1882) we had a bad drought that
lasted three, years. We suffered great need at times. The conditions
soon became better and we lived there for 11 years altogether. But
because of the harsh climate we and some others moved to the promised
land of Tennessee. We took everything we owned with us - and we lost
it. We had fallen in to the hands of fraudulent land agents. They had
gotten some priests and newspapers to recommend land that was worth
nothing and we poor farmers had swallowed the bait. Finally we found
ourselves in a position to come to Oklahoma where we have now lived for
six years. This is written mainly as a warning. Do not listen to the
land agents' promises. If you wish to move, go and look at the land
yourself. And do not sell your old home before you know that you have
gotten a new one that you will be content with".
*Probably an error for Grimes. OK
At Chickasha (on the border with Oklahoma) a Norwegian
settlement was established in 1905. The first to settle there was
Thomas T. Sand. Next after him came Charles Henning, Math. Evensen,
Anders L. Mordt, Nels S. Nelson, Andrew Nelson, Ole Olsen, Andrew
Rørem, Ole Ellertson, Lewis O. Tendal, Ole Dahl, T. Hallum, O.
O. Lia, Matt. Ivarson and M. Alson, most of them from Illinois.
Their sources of income were the same in the Indian
Territory as in Oklahoma; see above.
New
Mexico State
The only place in New Mexico where it can be said there is
any number of Norwegians is Albuquerque, Bernalillo County but there
are not many of them either.
Olaf B. Aagaard, who now lives in La Center, Wash.,
writes, "It was in the year 1881 that a mining company in Boston sought
to colonize its vast land holdings in New Mexico with Scandinavians and
the company's Norwegian agent in Chicago gathered a group of 50 persons
who set off. But the disappointments we encountered were great. First,
the lawlessness was so great that we always had to be armed with great
revolvers - hanging from cartridge belts around our waists. We were
surrounded by Indians and half-wild Mexicans all the time and shots
were exchanged quite often with death as a consequence. Finally we were
afflicted by an epidemic that took several members of our families.
After a stay of two years down there we were fortunate to get back to
civilization."
But civilization has also reached New Mexico now.
Alaska
State
It is a little too early to write about Norwegians in
Alaska - when it still stands on the first rung of development and
before there can be any talk of settlement. It is essentially just gold
seekers* and businessmen who have come here to date.
In this connection it can be reported that the Norwegian
Jaset Lindeberg**, Magnus Kjelsberg (and his brother) as well as
V. Basi and O. Paulsen were among those who discovered the rich
goldfields in the Nome district (in 1900) and that induced many people
to stream there. Even now Nome is a big city - with mines and traffic
in all directions.
We find Norwegians in Nome as well as Dawson, Juneau,
Wrangel, Sitka, Kodisky, Petersburg and other towns and areas see,
*Sammenstilling af norsk Sambygdinger' in the book's last part. Alaska
is also represented in section 'Norwegians in public positions in
America'
The City of Petersburg was named after the Norwegian Peter
Busmand*** who made himself renowned up there but which finally was
tragic. And there is another place (post office) with the name Andvik.
Since 1894 The Norwegian Synod has maintained a mission
station among the Eskimos in Alaska. The station is located at Port
Clarence and has almost the whole time been managed by Pastor T. L.
Brevig.
Mining, hunting and fishing are the leading sources of
income in this territory. But they have also begun farming and logging.
*Only a small number of the gold seekers found what they aspired to.
But many became so poor that they could not afford to go back and many
lost their lives as a consequence of the unendurable hardships.
Blizzards, cold, hunger, overexertion etc. forced many a brave man to
close his eyes up there in the wilderness - far away from the people
who could give them a helping hand.
**Judging by his name Lindeberg would more likely be Swedish but he is
not. He was born in Norwegian Finnmarken.
***Peter Buschmann. OK Translated
by Olaf
Kringhaug Vernon, British Columbia, Canada Nordmændene i Amerika by Martin Ulvestad, 1907
