Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Sibley County Neri Nerisen, Jørgen Nerisen and Ole Auersen, all from Sætersdalen, were the first Norwegians in Sibley County. They settled in the southern part, right on the county line, in 1855. This settlement is called Norwegian Grove, but is connected to and was established at the same time as the New Sweden Settlement in Nicollet County. One of the old settlers tells, "When we went to the mill, we had to equip ourselves for a three week journey. Often we got into sloughs where we stuck fast, with the consequence that we had to carry our sacks over to the other bank, - - and after we had a hard struggle to get the oxen and wagons across. We also broke a wheel now and then since we drove in the wilds, where there was no question of finding a smith or tools, so it was not always easy. When we went out to visit neighbours, who as a rule were rather far away, we set the family in a work wagon and let the oxen amble away with us. But we had satisfying moments when we came to the dugout dwellers. We were all dugout dwellers in that time. Now they have splendid houses, good roads, good wagons and swift horses everywhere. The dugouts, draught oxen and all other pioneer equipment is now a closed chapter. Yes. even the sloughs are gone." There are 2 Norwegian congregations and 2 churches in Sibley County, both belong to The Norwegian Synod.