Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Skagit County A Trønder by the name of Hanson settled at La Connor as early as 1869. He came there from British Columbia. Probably after having been a seaman. Seaman, especially the Norwegian ones, travel around the world. About Hanson nothing more can be found. Ole Nilsen Lee, a Vossing who still lives in Skagit, says himself that he was the first Norwegian and white man hereabouts. He stayed in California (naturally as a gold digger some of the time) from 1859 to 1876. In the latter year he came to Skagit, Wash. where he settled among the Indians. The first Norwegian sermon in this county was read in his house. The first in the vicinity of Edison was Gustav Volden from Sogndal. Another old settler there was Rasmus S. Johnson from Egersund. He says that he came to America on a sailship and soon after they had sighted Nova Scotia, they got stuck in the ice (at a speed of 10 knots). This happened in the middle of the night when it was pitch-dark. There was a great uproar and everone believed they would perish. But the captain got them calmed down. It showed that the ship had not suffered any particular damage. However, they were stuck in the ice for 14 days. When they finally got to land they were shipped in cattle cars to Chicago. At night they lay in rows on the floor along the car's walls. They remained in these cars for 8 days. There were about 300 immigrants altogether, most from the Stavanger region and no one wished to make the trip again. In Skagit County, they live mainly by fishing, logging and farming. The first Norwegian congregation here was established in 1888 by Pastor Christian Jørgensen of The Norwegian Synod. Now there are 8 congregations and 5 churches, 6 belong to The Norwegian Synod and 2 to The United Church.

Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Lewis County Harald Hansen and William Johansen† from Kristiania were the first Norwegian settlers in this county. They came from California and settled at Alpha as early as 1867, long before other Norwegians came there. Hansen and Johansen saw no other people than Indians in the first years they lived at this place. A Norwegian Lutheran congregation was established here in 1886 by Pastor H. Engh. At Winlock there is also a small Norwegian congregation served by priest from The Norwegian Synod.

Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Wahkiakum County John Ericksen† from Stavanger was the first Norwegian settler in this county. He came from California and settled at Skamokawa in 1863. He supported himself through fishing and farming as do those who came after him. However, there are not many Norwegians here. The first in the little Norwegian settlement at Cathamlet was John P. Rassa from Sand near Stavanger. he settled there as a fisher and farmer in 1874. At that time there were only Indians and Americans in this region. The Trønder Ole Svorkmo was the first Norwegian to hold public office in the county. He was elected Commissioner in 1890. Pastor P. Steen of the Augsburg's Friends established a congregation on Puget Island in the middle of the 90s. This was the first in the county. It also built a church. Now there are 6 Norwegian congregations in Wahkiakum County of which 3 belong to The Norwegian Synod and 2 to The Lutheran Free Church.

Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Island County There are probably not many who believe that Norwegians had found their way to Washington (on the 'other side' of America) as early as 60 years ago. The following account is true however. Mrs. Emma Graham of Oak Harbor writes, "On your invitation I will briefly report what I know about the first settlers in the Territory (now State) of Washington. My brother Martin Zakarias Tosteson† was the first white man to come here. He landed in Oak Harbor, Widbye (Whidbey) Island in 1847. Our childhood home was Levanger, Norway, where my father was a merchant and hotel landlord. Martin, however, had gone to Hammerfest where one of our sisters had married, but he did not remain there long. He wished to see the world and therefore hired on a ship that went to England and from there he sailed on an American ship to New Orleans. Right at time came strong rumours about gold. California became the destination for all adventurers. With very little travel gear he and a Swiss set off on horse. But the Swiss joined another group that they met on the way and that went in a different direction. My brother thus came to be alone on his wandering. One evening while he rested, his horse was stolen and he was left on the wild prairie - without comrades and without a horse. But then he saw som smoke far away, he went there and found many Indians gathered. He also found his horse there. He got it back using his knife, and they did not notice before he rode off at full gallop! and then it was too late. In Oak Harbor he took 320 acres of land and began raising cattle. After a while another Norwegian came here, Eilert Graham from Lindesnes. He came to this port via Cape Horn, South America. He and my brother became companions. After a few years my mother, a younger brother and I came here and I became married to Mr. Graham. For a long time we were the only Norwegians in Washington." Now there is one Norwegian congregation in Island Co. It belongs to The Norwegian Synod. K. P. Frostad, who was elected County Commissioner in 1896 and in 1902 as Member of the State Legislature, was the first - and until now the only Norwegian to hold public office here.

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Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Teton County Lars Næseth from Sogn was the first Norwegian in this county. He settled in the vicinity of Farmington in 1895. Next after him came Ed Bollerud, Joachim Pettersen, Nels Austad, Carl and Gunder Hanson, Ole Thompson, Gilbert Grande, C. Rudom, Enok Pettersen, J. L. Otnes, S. Lindseth, S. Otnes, Oluf Lindseth, Martin Larsen, Louis Tollefsen and Tom Larsen. Cattle raising and mixed farming are the county's leading sources of income. The first Norwegian to hold public office in the county was John E. Erickson, he was elected County Attorney in 1896 and in 1904 he was elected District Judge. Trefoldigheds Congregation, that was established at Farmington in 1901 by Pastor A. Lunde, belonging to The Norwegian Synod, is the only Norwegian congregation in Teton County.

Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Flathead County There are not so few Norwegians in this county. Most live in the vicinity of Kalispell, where two congregations were established in 1895. One was established by Pastor N. J. Berg, belonging to The Norwegian Synod, the other by Pastor J. J. Field, belonging to The Methodist Church. Both congregations built their own churches in 1896. Now there are altogether 3 congregations in the county, of which 2 belong to The United Church and 1 to the Methodists. There are no more than the aforementioned churches yet. The first Norwegian to hold public office here was Hans O. Christensen, he was elected County Commissioner in 1899.

Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Cascade County Vor Frelsers Congregation, that was established at Great Falls in 1891 by Pastor J. D. Ylvsaker, belonging to The Norwegian Synod, was the first Norwegian congregation in Cascade County. Its church was built in 1893. Besides the abovementioned congregation there are two belonging to the Methodists. They each have their own church. Lewis Roalsvik was the first and until now the only Norwegian to hold a public position in the county. He was elected Commissioner in 1900. In the section, 'Sammenstilling av norsk Sambygdinger' one will also find information about many other of the Norwegians livinghere.

Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Yellowstone County In the City of Billings and environs there are a number of Norwegians. Pastor J. E. Madsen of The United Church established a congregation there in1905. There are no others.

Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Park County Extremely few Norwegians here. However they have established a little congregation served by priests from The Norwegian Synod. At least they have had that service until now.

Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Fergus County As far as is known, the first Norwegians here were Benj. J. Hill, Christopher Aasland, Lars Lien, Johan Berge, Lars Anderson, Thor Nelson, Oscar Anda and Peter Monson who live in the vicinity of Gilt Edge. The year they settled there is not known.

Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Deerlodge County Norwegians here are few and spread out. Here (in Anaconda) there is a small church and congregation belonging to The Norwegian Synod. It is reported from Anaconda also that Carl Stenstrup, a pioneer from Minnesota, died in that city recently. His parents were both killed by the Indians during the disturbances in Minnesota in the 60s.

Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Gallatin County Ole K. Bervin from Hardanger is the first Norwegian the author knows of in this county. He settled at Bozeman in 1891. Before he came to Gallatin County, he lived in the eastern part of the State, to which he came in 1881 and where he was in all likelihood also the first Norwegian. He came up the Missouri River from South Dakota by steamboat at that time because the Northern Pacific Railroad was still under construction. Bervin's source of income in the latter area was in buffalo hunting. There were actually many buffalo. He lived in the so-called Bad Lands. He was surrounded by the Sioux Indians but through a careful course of action he avoided unpleasantness with them. But he could never feel secure. Now there are many settlers and cattle ranchers those places also. In Gallatin County there is one congregation belonging to The Norwegian Synod.

Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Jefferson County The first Norwegian in this county was S. O. Myhre from Hallingdal. He settled in the vicinity of Boulder in 1888 and was occupied in mining. He owns a mine himself. Norwegians are not numerous in this area. However there is a small congregation belonging to The Norwegian Synod.

Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Carbon County The first Norwegian the author knows of in Carbon County is Tønnes E. Fosse from Sogndal. He came to Red Lodge in 1889 and began to work in the mines there. Later he began farming. S. T. Simonsen from Valders was the first in Absarokee. He settled there in 1892. He is a businessman, Justice of the Peace and farmer. He was also in the Civil War, so he fitted not so badly with the Crow Indians in Montana. Now, however, they are civilised. Next after him came Jacob Lande and T. T. Brown, the former settled at Absarokee and the latter at Columbus. The first in the vicinity of Morris was Gunder Arthun from Stavanger, he settled there in 1895. Immanuel Congregation, that was established at Absarokee in 1897 by Pastor J. E. Madson, of The United Church, was the first Norwegian congregation in in the county. Its church was built in 1899. There are no other Norwegian churches yet. Nor are there more than 2 congregations - both belonging to The United Church.

Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Custer County Bernt Mælum and Christian Andersen†, both from Lillehammer as well as Enok Sve from Ørkedalen were the first Norwegians in this county. They came from Union Co., S.D. and settled here at Capitol in 1884. Next after them came John Buan and Sivert Moltuen from Ørkedalen, James Garberg from Selbu and John Teigen from Jostedalen. They worked at cattle raising exclusively. To their nearest railroad station and marketplace at the beginning it was 150 miles, they had to go all the way to Miles City when there was a question of buying or selling anything. John Buan relates further: Sivert Moltuen and I left Union Co., S.D. the 14th May 1886. We had our families and some livestock with us and we each had a wagon. One day on the large Sioux Reservation between Fort Pierre and Black Hills we were surprised by the worst hailstorm I have ever seen. It came so rapidly that we could not even get the horses unhitched. Now there was an uproar! Women and children cried, the horses were in a rage and our livestock were driven away by the storm. When it was over we had to go several miles to find our livestock. We readhed here the 8th July after a journey of a little over 2 months. We had many Indian encounters both on the way and after our arrival, but they did nothing to us. When we settled here the area was full of Texas oxen and cowboys. These cowboys (drovers) were at that time just as dangerous as the Texas oxen, at least they were not at all mother's best children. In 1887, one cowboy was shot by another right by my house. Since then four murders have been committed here by these half-wild drovers who have also have had the habit of stealing horses and cattle. So, it has not been pleasant to live here. In1890 during the first Indian War, we were in constant fear of being attacked. We then built a fort - or more correctly we dug a big cave in a high bluff and entrenched ourselves as best we could. The settlement numbered 50 to 60 person, among them 8 male adults, that was all. One evening about a week before Christmas a message came from Camp Knock, S.Dak., warning us that the Indians could be expected at any time. That night we gathered at Bernt Mælum's an prepared for battle. The next day we moved into the fort we had made. But we were happy when we heard that the Indian chief Sitting Bull and many of his men had been killed and the rest had fled. He was killed the night after the aforementioned message reached us. But on the whole we now had reason to be content. We waited and hoped for victory and it was finished. Civilisation had set its mark here also,

Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Dawson County Andrew Olsen from the Bergen area was the first Norwegian to settle in this county. He came to the vicinity of Miles City from Wisconsin in 1881 and began raising cattle. He is now dead. Next after him came Jonas Halvorsen from Sole, Jæderen, Mikal Kolberg from Thime, Jæderen, Carl Halling from Romsdalen, John Hillman from Stavanger and John Sørensen from Aalesund. The first Norwegian in the vicinity of Buford was Andrew Foss from Voss. The first in the region of Circle weer Peter C. Dreyer from Oxnæs, Vesteraalen, Peter Rørvik from Vigerøen, Søndmøre and Hans Grue from Næs, Romerike. One of my correspondents writes, "I live 90 miles from the nearest post office and 40 miles from surveyed land. My neighbours are extremely few in number and far away. We are a people fighting for our lives. But we do not fight to get neighbours. On the contrary, we fight to keep people away so that we can keep the plains to ourselves for our cattle. That is certainly not right, strictly speaking, but it is the reality. It would naturally be more pleasant to have a group of good neighbours. But then our means of existence would be diminished. It is about like that everywhere in Montana." Another writer tells that he walked and waded in snow and ice water a whole winter and only saw other people a couple of times. It was only the mail driver that he saw. He adds that he lost a bit of his health and was on the way to becoming insane after he spent the long winter alone with his dogs and herded his livestock. And that there are many who have lost both their health and senses in the acquisition of a small fortune out there is, sadly, a fact. There is one Norwegian church and two congregations in the county, one belongs to The United Church and the other to The Norwegian Synod. Mogens (?) Riveness, who was elected Court Clerk in 1900, was to first Norwegian to hold public office in Dawson County.

Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Meagher County Martin T. Grande from Ytterøen Parish was the first Norwegian here. He came from Wyoming and settled in the vicinity of Lennop* in 1877. He was employed in sheep raising. Helena was his nearest marketplace when he first came here and to there it was 140 miles, so he had a long way to travel when he had to purchase life's necessities or when he had something to sell. There is a Norwegian congregation belonging to The United Church. It was established in 1891 by Pastor J. A. Pedersen. *An error for Lennep. OK

Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Sweet Grass County Henry Ellingsen from Byneset near Trondhjem was the first Norwegian in this county. He settled at Melville in 1881. O. L. Clausen came the same year. Next after them came O. P. Fallang, B. Forsyth and J. Gundersen. J. L. Rapstad was the first, or at least one of the first in Big Timber. As far as is known, Sam Solberg and O. C. Christensen were the first in Howie. The Indians were the lords of this region before the Norwegians came. Livestock raising was the most important source of income here. The first Norwegian congregation in this county was established at Melville in 1884 by Pastor P. J. Reinertsen, belonging to The Augustana Synod. There are now two Norweguian congregations in the county, both belonging to The United Church. (This shows that the aforementioned congregation was the first - not only in this county, but for the whole State) O. A. Fallang, Sheriff, was the first Norwegian to hold public office in Sweet Water County. For more detiled informations see the section, 'Norwegians in public positionson America'

Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907 Silverbow County In this county there was also a number of Norwegians, especially in Butte where a Norwegian congregation was established in 1891 by Pastor E. Ericksen, belonging to The Methodist Church. This was thus the first in the county. Its church was built in 1892. In addition to the mentioned congregation, there is one that belongs to The Norwegian Synod. A considerable number of the Norwegian population here is from Romsdalen.