Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Pierce County Judge J. M. Arntsen, one of Washington's pioneers reports, "The first Norwegian settlers in Pierce County settled in Tacoma, at that time a town, now a big city. They were not farmers nor was it farms they were looking for. As far as it has been possible for me to find out these things, it was Anton Anderson from Aalesund whoi was the first to find a home in Tacoma. He lived in a shack on the seashore and supported himself by fishing. This was in the beginning of the 70s. His daughter Annie Anderson was the first Scandinavian child born in Tacoma. Later, when this was proven, she received a building lot on D. Street as a present from the Tacoma Land Company. Her father was killed during a battle between the police and a band of opium smugglers. Next after Anton Anderson came E. R. Ring, a carpenter, and Mike Anderson. The first couple to be married in Tacoma were that same Mike Anderson and Mathea Johnson. That was in 1874. Mathea was the first Norwegian girl to come to Tacoma. She came from the vicinity of Trondhjem in 1874, thus the same year she was married here. Next after these came Mathias Lund and John Anderson, both from Kvæfjorden in Nordland. They came in 1877 and found employment in a sawmill in the 'old town'. But after that time a great number of Norwegians have moved to Washington and not the least to the City of Tacoma. Fishing, logging and work in sawmills has been their leading source of income. Some came directly from Norway and some were seamen. But the greatest part came from the Norwegian settlements in Minnesota, the Dakotas, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and other states in the east. They were known to be diligent workers, honest businessmen, good American citizens and most of them have comfortable homes. That many of them have obtained good positions is to be expected." In the Norwegian settlement at Tanwax the first was Terje Petersen from Tjømø. He came there in 1886. Next came Torwald Halvorsen, John Larson, H. Kjeldstad, Salve Johnson, Charley Johnson and the families of Ed. and H. Anderson. The founder of the Norwegian settlement at Bee was Hans Kommen, a veteran of the Civil War. He settled there in 1888. The first Norwegian at Parkland, one of Tacoma's suburbs was mason Martin Glassøe from Stordalen, he built his home here in 1891. Here there is a Norwegian newspaper, as mentioned elsewhere, a Norwegian High School and many other things Norwegian. The first permanent settler in the vicinity of Roy was G. A. Harstad from Sætersdalen who settled there in 1895. Next came Ole Aaberg, Erik Anderson, Peter Veien and Knut Hong, all from Nordre Aurdal, Valders, Peter Loney from Namsos, Asbjørn Myhre from Telemarken, T. Gund and Peter Gund from Ringsaker, Sam Ravnum from Faaberg, as well as Lars Klomby and B. K. Fodness. They supported themselves with mixed farming. In 1885, 2 Norwegian congregations were established in Tacoma, one a Methodist congregation by Pastor C. J. Larsen and a Baptist congregation by Pastor Knud Nilsen. The Methodists built a church the same year and the Baptists the following year. These were the first Norwegian congregations and churches in Tacoma - and in Pierce County. The first Norwegian Lutheran congregation in this county was established in Tacoma in 1887 by Pastor Iver Tollefsen of The Conference. This congregation built the City's and County's first Norwegian Lutheran church in 1889. Now there are 15 Norwegian congregations and 10 churches in the city and county, 3 belong to The Norwegian Synod, 3 to The United church, 1 to The Lutheran Free Church, 1 to The Seaman's Mission, 1 to the Evangelical Free Church, 1 to The Free Mission, 1 to the Methodists, 1 to the Baptists and 1 to the Adventists. For information about 'Tacoma Tidende' (started in 1890), 'Tacoma Folkeblad, 'Tacoma Budstykke', 'Waisenhus Tidende' and 'Vestkysten', all in Tacoma as well as 'Pacific Herold' in Parkland, 'Pacific Emisæren' (now in Everett), see the section, 'Norwegian-American newspapers and periodicals' For information about Pacific Lutheran Academy and The Children's Home (both in Parkland) and The Seaman's Home, see those institution's espective sections. In the section, 'Norwegians in public positions in America' Pierce County is represented with the others.