Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Redwood County Ole Pedersen Hals from Hasseløen, Vesteraalen was the first Norwegian settler in Redwood County. He settled in the vicinity of Vesta in 1868. Next after him came Sivert Olsen from Kvæfjord parish, Martin, Halvor and Syvert M. Dahl and Gunerius Knudsen, all from Aasnes, Solør, Engebret C. Lyse from Lyse at Stavanger, Lars Haagensen Nordland from Strand at Stavanger, N. S. Lewis Sabbe from Ulvik, Hardanger, Greger J. Huseby from Opdal, Nummedal and Jens P. Hustad and Bernt Frøland, both from Hjørundfjord, Søndmøre. The first in the area of Grunden was Lars Pedersen from Strilelandet. he came there in 1871. The same year (1871) there came to the area of Sundown, Lars Højem from Levanger, Martin and Ludvig Bredvold from Hedemarken and Jacob Lorens from Trøndelagen. They were the first in this vicnity. There are 7 Norwegian congregations and 5 churches in Redwood County, 3 of them belong to The United Church, 3 to the Norwegian synod and 1 to The Lutheran Free Church. The Norwegian Lutheran Children's Home in Lamberton was started in 1898. In 1905, it was moved to Willmar. 'Norrøna' was the name of a Norwegian newspaper that was published at Walnut Grove about 1900. Haagen Anderson† of Lamberton, was the first Norwegian to hold public office in the county. he was elected Commissioner in 1870. Places with Norwegian names; Ann and Storden. The latter town got its name from a Noreegian settler, who went under the name 'Store John' (Big John) that was shortened to Storden. The town of Ann was named after Mrs. Anne Andersen, the wife of Haagen Andersen, who, as mentioned above, was the county's first Norwegian official.