Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Nicollet County The first Norwegian settelers in this county were the brothers Mathias* and Peder G. Evensen as well as A. K. Skaro*, who came from St. Paul to Rock Bend (now St. Peter) and took claims here in 1853. There was no sign of a town at that time. But there were Indians and they were very unpleasant. (Once they whipped 3 Americans and put them in the river in a canoe, they were never heard from again. This happened close to the place where the aforementioned Norwegians settled). The Norseland Settlement was established the following year (1854) by John Tollefsen from Toten, Tosten Østensen from Tinn, Telemarken and Lars Swensen Rønning† from Hallingdal, they came from Wisconsin. Next after them came Ole Norman†, Bryngel Norman† and Chas. Larsen, all from Voss. The first Norwegians in New Sweden was Ole Ostenson Bøen from Tinn, Telemarken as well as Gunder Nerisen and S. Torgersen from Sætersdalen. Here, as in other new settlements, they had to use oxen for plowing and driving. St. Paul was the new settlers' nearest marketplace and it was 80 miles to there. Though, in the first 3 years the settlers had nothing to sell. They sowed wheat and maize, but the grasshoppers ate most of it before it was ripe. They had to drive to St. Paul to get provisions. It was in this county that the Indians left the bloodiest mark. The killings at new Ulm were colossal. Luckily, the Norwegian settlers lived further east, so they avoided the terror, but they had to flee - especially the women and children. Many of the men took to the field. John Peterson (later Captain of the settler's Defence Company) was one of those who took part in the battle at new Ulm. He writes, "While we were there, some of the Indians attacked our settlement (further east), they killed some and put the rest to flight. When I came back after an week's absence, the settlers in Norseland and New Sweden had fled to St. Peter and there I found my wife and my children" Nicollet Congregation, which was established at St. Peter in 1858 by Prof. Laur. Larsen, belonging to The Norwegian Synod, was the first Norwegian congregation in the county. Th. Johnson was its first and permanent priest. Its church was built in 1866. The material for that had to be brought all the way from Minneapolis. Now there are 6 Norwegian congregations and 5 churches, 3 belonging to The Norwegian Synod, 2 to The United Church and 1 to the Methodists. John Peterson who was elected Probate Court Judge in 1873 (and held the position for continually for 25 years), was the county's first Norwegian official. Christopher Amundsen was the first Norwegian in the State Legislature from Nicollet County (1879) Places with Norwegian names; Solem, Granby and Norseland. It is also claimed that some royalist Norwegians assisted the Swedes in getting a Township and post office named Bernadotte (in Nicollet County) *Both Mathias Evensen and A. K. Skaro enlisted in the Civil war. (Captain) Skaro fell in the Battle of Nashville, the 16th Dec. 1864, while he commanded his company. He died in the arms of his comrade, (Sergeant) Evemsen's arms. The latter still lives.