Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Marshall County The first Norwegian in this county was Halvor Gundersen from Vægli, Nummedal. He settled in Oak Park Township on a site that is now called Halvor (P.O.) in 1878.The names of the first settlers in other areas is given below. In the area of Bigwoods: Mathias Swensen, S., B. M. and H. M. Swensen as well as John Helland, all from Telemarken, John J. Enden, Martin J. Enden, John H. Enden, Hans B, Imdahl and Ole T. Imsdahl, all from Ringebo, O. P. Oseth from Storelvedalen, Charles and H. A. Larson, both born in Wisconsin, as well as A. Tondrum and John Gjelhaug, both from Lands parish. Warren: K. Tharalsæth from Nordfjord. Newfolden: Hans O. Folden and Ole J. Folden from Skjærvø, Finmarken, Even A. Schie from Rakkestad, Smaalenenes Amt, Ole Hevle from Opdal, Ole O. Lie from Hallingdal, Hans H. Saugen and Mathias Hansen from Hedemarken as well as Anton Stokke and Ole Madsen. Ellerth: Elias A. Haarstad from Gudbrandsdalen. West Valley: Gulick S. Vedme from Sogn. Excel: John Berg from Grue, Solør. Apple: Elling Halvorsen from Sigdal. Strip: Gulbrand Haugen from Ringsaker. Ingalls: Jørgen Knudsen Moen from Vegardsheen, Telemarken. Juvik: O. T. Odegaarden. Ware: Anders Malvik† from Strinden and M. G. Broten† from Toten. (Anders Malvik was run over on the railroad near Crookston in 1902) Liner: Otto P. Lee, whose parents were from Gudbrandsdalen. Germantown: Emil Sigerud from Aasnes, Solør. Thorwick: Saave Brokke from Sætersdalen. Fir: Herbrand Helgesen from Gol, Hallingdal. Foldahl: Mr. -- Dahl from Foldal, Østerdalen. One of the first settlers writes, "My new settler's story is hardly bright. I came here in great poverty and here there was not a known person that I could turn to. The first fall I was here, I became sick and lay 5 months in a little shanty, 8x12 feet. I slept on some boards, a sort of bed, that were nailed to the wall. My wife slept in a rounded old country trunk all winter. It was far from a doctor and we had nothing to pay for medical help, for all we had was debt. But until now, th lord has helped." This is an example of what opportunity there was for medical help when a new settler became ill. Another settler tells how it went with him when he drove from his old to his new home (ca. 150 miles) with an oxteam, a sick wife and 4 children and some household goods in the wagon. There was nothing, however, that could be called roads. When bad weather came, and the roads became almost impassable, it quite other than great to stay in the wagon. One time he got stuck in a slough where there seemed to be no people or oxen nearby to help. Fortunately there was a German in the neighbourhood. On my call for help, he came with his team and pulled out the Norwegians. The Lutheran congregation, that was established at Bigwoods in 1882 by Pastor Andreas Øfstedal, belonging to The Norwegioan Synod, was the first Norwegian congregation in the county. There are now 28 Norwegian congregations and 21 churches in the county, 11 belong to The Norwegian Synod, 6 to the Lutheran Free Church, 6 to The United Church, 3 to Hauge's Synod and 2 to the Methodists. Esten E. Royem, who was elected County Auditor in 1881, was the first Norwegian official here. Andrew Grindeland (now a district judge) was the first Norwegian in the State Legislature from this county (1898). Norwegian newspapers in Marshall County: 'Red River Dalens Sol', Warren and 'Bud og Hilsen', Newfolden. (The first mentioned existed only a short time) Places with Norwegian names; Agder, Augsburg, Elmbo, Englund, Esplee, Fodvang, Foldahl, Fram, Grygla, Halvor, Hellem, Holt, Idun, Jevne, Jonstad, Juvik, Klep, Koland, Lund, Løveid, Nelson Park, Newfolden (Nyfolden), Ny Solum, Opdahl, Oslo, Ringbo, Rockstad, Skog, Sørum, Thorwick, Valborg, Viking and Wanger, altogether 34. Marshall County takes the prize with regard to Norwegian place names, it has more than any other county in America. In 'Historical and Statistical Resumé' can be found the total number of Norwegian place names here in thr country.