Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Roseau County In 1887 the following Norwegians came to the vicinity of Roseau and settled, Mikal Anderson, whose parents were from Toten, Per and Nils Jørgensen Bø from Drangedal, Gunvold Solum from Valders, Jacon Sønsteng, Jacob Lunde and Joe Dalen, all from Gudbrandsdalen, Ivar Torfin and John Torfin from Hardanger, Andrew Thompson† from Eidskogen, Christian R. Eilertsen† from Kristiania, Thor Gundersen from Østmarken, G. A. Overvold from Aadalen, Ole F. Lien and Ole O. Moen from Hedalen, Valders, Østen Haugen, also from Valders, as well as Ole Olafsen and H. Shervem, whose birthplace in Norway is unknown. These came to Roseau in several groups at various times of the year. In the vicinity of Pine Creek and Ross, these were the first, Arne Knutsen from Valders, Sivert Eriksen Rue from Hallingdal, as well as Gulbrand Bertilrud, Martin Braaten, Anders K. Lund and Nels Besserud. The first in the vicinity of Duxby was Fred Andal from Domaas*, Dovre. He supported himself and his family by through hunting, the first years. Syver E. Haugtvedt from Gran, Hadeland and Amund Pedersen, Otto K. Foss, Edward Holen, Ivar Alme, C. L. Hagen, Tron Hermansen, Hans Hagen and Colbjørn Johnson were the first in the vicinity of Pelan. At Greenbush, Nels Samson from Sogn, was the first. The first in the vicinity of Pencer was Ole L. Haugen from Ringerike. And in the vicinity of Sanwick, the brothers Halvor and Ole† Johnson were first. T. S. Nomeland, who came to Roseau in 1888, the year after the first settlers, tells the following, "I and many others with me left North Dakota to find a home in northern Minnesota. The distance was ca. 150 miles. I had a pair of old oxen for the wagon, in which I packed my family, my furnishings and the necessary provisions for the trip. However, we had not come far when a terrible rainstorm broke out, the road became muddy and the few bridges there were, were washed away. But we did get through after a long and anything but a pleasant journey. The settlement's main source of income was wheat and cattle raising. It was 75 miles to the nearest marketplace, Stephen. People drove there with their oxen, both winter and summer and when evening came, they had to rest, whether they had come to a house or not. There was no question of comfort. One had to accept everything that came, no matter how sad it was. Indians we had enough of in this area. And in the winter of 1890 came rumours that they going to chase the whites away. Here there was real confusion. They let their livestock out so they could feed on the haystacks and then they took their families and some provisions and left. Night and day one could see refugees passing by. A meeting was held at Jadis (now Roseau) P.O. and there we made the decision to build a blockhouse, where the women and children could be brought, and where the men would serve as a guard. The rest of the men skilled with weapons would then meet the enemy. Rifles and ammunition had come to Hallock from the government in Washington for the use of the settlers. It was also decided (by us) that 3 scouts would be sent to Lake of the Woods to observe the movements of the assembled Indians. We had actually been informed that 300 of them had gathered there for a war dance (a sign of departure) and it was up to us to keep an eye on them after they were finished with the dance. One of the scouts was Andrew Solum from Ringerike. In a few days they came back with happy news that there were 300 friendly Indians gathered there and there was nothing to fear. While the frightened settlers had fortified themselves at Jadis, the Indian chief Meckinock had looked after their livestock and kept an eye on their abandoned homes. He was a splendid chap." The first Norwegian congregation was established at Jadis (now Roseau) in 1889 and came to belong to The Conference. K. V. Birkeland was the first priest that visited this area, R. Askeland was the first resident priest. The first Norwegian church in Roseau County was built by the aforementioned congregation in 1896. Now there are 22 congregations and 14 churches, 10 belong to The Lutheran Free Church, 5 to The United Church, 4 to Hauge's Synod and 3 to The Norwegian Synod. This county was part of Kittson County until 1895. It was then that the partition took place and Roseau got its name. The Norwegians, Hans Ericksen, A. O. Skagen, Syver G. Bertilrud, A. G. Løkken and T. S. Nomeland were members of the first county government (1895). Norwegian place names; Haug, Grimstad, Sanwick, Soler (Solør) and Caspersen. *This seems to be a typo for Dombaas. OK