Olaf is having trouble posting to the rootsweb lists. Margit ---------- From: Olaf <Kringhaug@shaw.ca> Date: Wed, 15 Dec 2004 14:12:03 -0800 To: Margit <margit@eot.com> Subject: Jackson County, Minnesota Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Jackson County Simon Olsen Slaabakken from Tolgen, Jackson County's first official, writes, "The immigration of Norwegians began in 1860, for then came Børre Olsen from Holtaalen, with his three sons (Bersvend, Ole and Jonas), his daughter and son-in-law (Hans Lien from Røraas) after an arduous journey from Winneshiek Co. Ia. They came here to the lovely Des Moines Valley, that was richly covered with forest - something that the Norwegians eagerly sought as the first necessity when they wished to build a home, they wished to settle where there was a forest. But alas, every single grove was occupied by a Yankee. 'Well,' sais Bør, 'we came here to find a home. The land is good, we will have to ask Mr. Yankee how much it will take to get him out.'* Besides the aformentioned persons, there came Ole Pedersen from Røraas, Engebret and Anders Olsen Slaabakken from Tolgen, Ole O. Førde and Knud Midtstad from Voss along with several others, 15-20 families altogether. This was thus in 1860. In 1861 many others came, some bought claims, others found free forested land, and all felt happy and well satisfied. Even though there were no Indians nearby, we did not feel very safe. In May, D. M. West went to the Governor and received a number of guns and ammunition. The we organized ourselves as a home guard with drills every Saturday afternoon. However, there came a request for soldiers to hold in check the rebels in the South. And from the little settlement at Jackson, 22 men left. Many of those who were to protect the settlers from the Indians also went away. About the 20th of August rumours came that the Indians were on the warpath and that they had robbed and murdered people at New Ulm. They gathered together - two to three families at each place - to assist each other in case of need. On Sunday, the 24th August, when a number of the population were gathered for services, Ole Førde's eldest son came, dripping with sweat and blood, and told that the Indians had arrived, he had been shot through his arm. One can imagine the fright that arose. Everyone ran to their respective homes as fast as they could, but most soon gathered again at the home of the Postmaster in Jackson. The most intrepid wanted that they should fortify themselves and face the attack with such weapons that they had. However, the majority of those present were so frightened that they wished to go to Etherville, Ia., about 25 miles south of here. Just before sunset they left and reached there the next morning, received food and drink and began to organize a company of horse, that on Thursday drove up to those places they were informed that the savages had murdered and plundered. They found 12 dead and some wounded. Among them were two daughters of Knud Langeland, one was dead, the other survived. Anders, the son of Knut Slaabakken, they had shot twice, hit on the neck and stabbed in the side with a large knife and was left with the thought that he was dead. He came to life and crept to a water spring where, after getting a good drink, was in such condition that could reach his home, where he hoped to find something to eat. But everything was destroyed. he then went to the barn and laid down in the manger to die. There he lay from Sunday until Wednesday, when he was found and taken to Etherville, a doctor was called and his life saved. Just think, what he to go though in those three days!" A list of those who were killed by the Indians the 24th of August, 1862: Mikkel Olsen Slaabakken from Tolgen, born 1st March, 1831 Ole O. Førde from Evanger, Bergens Stift, born 18th January, 1822. Johannes K. Exe from Voss, Bergens Stift, born 26th August, 1833. Knudt Midtstad from Voss. Brita Midtstad from Voss. Lars Larsen Førenes from Strilelandet, born 1834. Anna Larsen, his wife, born 1834. Anna Langeland, Knut Langeland's wife, born 1824. Anna Langeland, Knut Langeland's daughter, born 1853. Aagaata Langeland, Knut Langeland's daughter, b. 1857. Nicolai Johan Langeland, Knut Langeland's son, born 1860. Knud Langeland, Knud Langeland's son, born 1861. Now there was a temporary end to the Norwegian settlement in Jackson; all the survivors moved eastward, some to Winneshiek County, Ia., others to Houston County, Minn. The new settlement began in 1864. The Indians troubles had obliterated all organization and it became necessary to re-organize the county, which was done in 1865 by the aforementioned Simon Olsen Slaabakken and two Americans, who were appointed by the Governor. Anders Olsen, another of the old settlers, writes that he transported the materials for the first church in the county - from Mankato - a distance of 80 miles - 160 miles each trip! Once he went astray in a snowstorm and stumbled around the prairie for 5 days - without food - and poorly clad. Grain, cattle and swine was the first settlers' main source of income. The nearest marketplace was Mankato. In 1873 and the following 4 years, grasshoppers destroyed most of the crops, so it was rather tight for the people. There are 9 Norwegian churches and 11 congregations in Jackson County, 4 belong to Hauge's Synod, 3 to The United Church, 3 to The Norwegian Synod and 1 to Elling Eielsen's Society. For information in the political area, see the section 'Norwegians in public office in America' Places with Norwegian names; Christiania (Township), Verdal (Værdalen), Bergen and Namsos (Post Offices). Only the last P.O. still exists. *They learned this. The price for a good forest claim was usually a pair of oxen and a wagon. The price was paid and the Yankees had to move.