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.