Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Clark County In 1882, the Telemarking Ole HalvorsenÝ from Freeborn County, Minn. came and settled at Clark. The same year Lars L. Brække and O. R. Spilde came from Winneshiek County, Iowa to Willow Lake, where they settled. Both of them were from Hardanger. Later in the year came G. EggenÝ from Gudbrandsdalen and Daniel LarsenÝ from Hardanger. Here as in many other places they built sod huts and then began to grow wheat that became the area's leading source of income. Cattle raising has also been of significance. Willow Lake's Congregation, that was established at Vienna in1883 by Pastor Anders Nilsen of The Norwegian Synod, was the first Norwegian congregation in the county. The first church was built by that congregation in 1894. Now there are 10 Norwegian congregations and 5 churches, 7 belong to The United Church and 3 to Hauge's Synod. A. J. Benston was the first Norwegian county official here, he was elected Auditor in 1890. Andrew Dahl was the first Norwegian to represent Clark County in the State Legislature, elected in 1892. Norwegian place names; Stusted and Thorp. ==== NOR-OPPLAND Mailing List ==== The 2005 Tre Lag Stevne will be held in Fargo, North Dakota next August 3rd thru 6th. ============================== Jumpstart your genealogy with OneWorldTree. Search not only for ancestors, but entire generations. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13972/rd.ashx