Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Swift County Nels O. Braaten from Flaa, Hallingdal and three others from Hallingdal, Hans Sagadalen†, H. Hansen and T Hansen as well as Anders Monsen† from Sogn and Tosten Kvamme from Valders were the first Norwegians in Swift County. They came from Rice County and settled in the neighbourhood of West Lake in 1856. Next after them came Iver K. Syse† from Hardanger, Lars Monsen from Sogn, Ole Wefle, Ole Ellingboe, A. Ellingboe and Carl Finstad, all from Valders, Halvor Gandrud from Nes, Hallingdal, Henrik and Tosten Sagadalen, also from Hallingdal, Ole Søndreaal from Sogn as well as Knut Søndreaal, Christopher Kvale etc. The first settlement was established in the county's eastern part. Wheat, maize and oats became the settlement's main sale products. It was 60 miles to the nearest marketplace, St. Cloud. Oxen were the only draught animals they had. Ole O. Simenstad from Ringsaker, Lars Kristensen from Sogndal and Tosten Flaten from Eggedal were the first in the vicinity of Benson. Mr. Meldal was the first merchant thereabouts. With the help of a pair of oxen, he broke up the sod, from which he built a store. Now there are many shops in Benson, but none of the aforementioned sort. There are 15 Norwegian congregations and 13 churches in Swift C., 6 of them belong to The United Church, 5 to The Norwegian Synod, 2 to The Lutheran Free Church and 2 to The Methodist Church. It is regrettable that our people are so split up into so many church parties. The first Norwegian to hold public office in the county was K. P. Frøvold, he was elected Auditor in 1874. The first to reperesent Swift Co, in the State legislature was John P. Jacobsen (in 1877)