Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad, 1907. Cedar County Bernhard Olsen from the Kristiania area was the first to settle in this county. He came from Allamakee County, Iowa to the vicinity of Hartington in 1869. Martin Bottolfsen from Valders came with him. Both are dead. Olsen served in the Civil War. The new settlers in this settlement, as well as in other places, had to be satisfied with dugouts. Yankton, S.D. was the nearest marketplace in those days. Wheat and oats were the settlers' main sales articles. One of the old Norwegian settlers tells that a stubborn German had moved amongst them. There was a short cut through the land, that he came to own and where he dug a dugout He ordered the people to drive in another direction. One moonlit night G. H. came home from town in a happy state and rode right over his dugout. His pony's legs went through the roof but it had such a speed that it got clear, but frightened the enraged German out in just his nightshirt. Later he sold his land and moved away. Bow Valley Congregation, that was the first in this county, was established in 1874 by Pastor E. Christensen, belonging to The Norwegian Synod. Its church was built in 1886. Now there are 3 congregations and 3 churches, 2 belong to The United Church and 1 to The Norwegian Synod.