Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Wilkin County The large Norwegian settlement, that was founded in Otter Tail County in the 70s also stretched over the county line and into the vicinity of Rothsay, Wilkin County. This county has then no distinct history with regard to the foundation of first settlements. But later there were founded Norwegian settlements further in the county. John Ericksen from Værdalen was the first in the vicinity of Doran, he settled there in 1887. John Aune from Selbu was the first in the area of Everdell, it was 1890 he settled there. The settlement in the northern part of the county is connected to the settlememt in Clay County. Wilkin County's leading source of income were wheat growing, cattle raising and mixed farming. Mathias Halvorsen tells, "In the time I lived further south in Minnesota, I was sent one day to the nearest town with a load of wheat. But the way was long and the oxen, who became tired, finally got the idea of lying down. My vigorous efforts to get them up again were absolutely fruitless. Now it happened that a carpenter lived nearby and I complained to him about my problem. 'Take it easy,' he said, 'we will certainly get them up on their feet again!' Then we filled two sacks with wood shavings that we piled around the oxen and then the carpenter lit it with a match and in an instant they were surrounded by flames. They pondered what this meant, but were soon aware that under these conditions it was best to stand up and move on!" "In the first years I lived on my homestead here (near Elizabeth)," continues Halvorsen, "I had no other livestock than an ox. He had been with me since he was a calf. During the day he would go out on the prairie to the lovely pastures and in the evening he was always right by the house. A bit later I bought a cow but she just wandered where she wanted and now a solution was difficult. The only way I could think of was to tie the two together with a short rope and let them roam side by side out in the pastures. And the ox showed himself to be just as faithful in the new circumstances as the old. In the evening I saw him approaching home - dragging the completely unwilling cow with him!" "A few years later I was caught in a snow storm. I had a little wood lot on the west side of the house and I cut a few cords of wood now and then. One day, a man who lived a few miles away and asked me bring him a load, which I promptly did. When we had gotten a bit on the way we could see a storm was brewing, so my guide left, by Shank's Mare, to get home as fast as possible. But since I had a large load, I had to go slowly. The snow storm increased, darkness approached and since I was unfamiliar with these parts and there was nothing else to do but stay overnight where I was. I tied the oxen to the load and dug a hole in the snow but I found it impossible to fall asleep. I feared that it might be my last one. I had to keep moving all night in the cold and drifting snow. When I reached people the next day it showed that one foot was frostbitten - and later all the toes had to be removed as a consequence." Hamar Congregation, that was established at Rothsay in 1874 by Pastor T. Rosholdt of the Norwegian Synod, was the first Norwegian congregation in the county. Its church was built in 1876. Now there are 10 congregations and 8 churches, 4 belong to The Norwegian Synod, 3 to The United Church, 1 to The Lutheran free Church, 1 to Hauge's Synod and 1 to The Baptist Church. John Nilsen, who was elected County Treasurer in 1875, was the first Norwegian to hold public office here. In this county there is a Township with the name Tanberg and a post office named after Henrik Ibsen.