Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Day County Peter A. Mikkelsen of Lynn writes, "The first settler in Day County was without doubt Johannes Abrahamsen Tofley from Mo i Ranen. He can prove it with an oath that he was the first settler in an area that includes several counties and that is bordered by the James River in the west, North Dakota in the north and Sisseton in the south. In 1870, he was on a trip up here to look at the land and in 1871 he came with his family from Willmar, Minn. and settled at the south end of Lynn Lake. The Indians came and gave him to understand through expressions and gestures that he must not touch their dead man who they had hanging in a tree down in the woods. They stretched out one arm to represent a rifle, then he made a smack with his mouth, and then dropped to the ground. Mr Abrahamsen understood immediately what was meant and the dead Indian was allowed to hang in peace and quiet for a few days until a grave was found. In 1872 came Ole Svang and Nils Williamsen, both from Hallingd! al. They settled near Abrahamsen. Next came Bjørn Johnson Vig†, John B. Vig, Peder Tørnes†, Jens A. Bakke, John Bakke, Ole L. Hønsey, Hans L. Hønsey and Martin Hønsey, all from Sogn, as well as Hans Vale, N. Chistoffersen, Ole Moen, T. Nilsen and H. Nilsen, all from Telemarken, Erik K. Bjerke and Andrew Halvorsen from Ringerike, Ole Tronsen from Valders, T. Strandness, H. Roalkvam and Rasmus Sjursen from Stavanger, Ole O. Aasland and G. Aasland from Nummedal, Andrew and B. O. Ericksen from Trondhjem, S. Christiansen† from Eker, Arne Andersen† from Eidsvold, as well as Halvor Andersen, W. Nelson and a Mr. Svenson. These spread out over a wide area." The built sod huts and began to grow wheat, that at first had to be brought partly to Watertown, S.D. and partly to Ortonville, Minn., a rather long way to drive with oxen. Nels Bjerke and his wife are parents of the first white child in the county and they received a prize for that. The aforementioned Peder A. Mikkelsen also tells that at one time when his wife was in hospital in Willmar, he had to carry his little son on his back while plowing. And one of the children died while she was away. He himself had an injured leg at the same time. It was not good with regard to care in the new settlements. In 1884, 5 Norwegian congregations (Saron, Salem, Lindaas, Grenville and Bergen) were established in day County. These were the first in the county. The first Norwegian church here was built by Saron Congregation at Grenville in 1887. The first Norwegian priests to work in these parts were L. E. Kjelaas, C. M. Rødtvedt and Johan Olson. Now there are 20 Norwegian congregations and 16 churches, 8 belong to The United Church, 6 to The Lutheran Free Church, 4 to Hauge's Synod and 2 to The Norwegian Synod. B. H. Egeland†, who was elected Commissioner in 1884, was the first Norwegian county official here. J. J. Fosse was the first Norwegian to represent Day County in the State Legislature, elected 1889. Places with Norwegian names: Egeland and Strand.