Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Phillips County The first Norwegian settlers here were Edward and Johan Hansen from Bryn in Røken. They came from Koshkonong, Wis. and settled at Long Island, Kans. in 1874. They made dugouts and began to grow wheat and maize but the grasshoppers destroyed the crops in two successive years so there was real famine among the settlers. However, they preserved their lives by letting one or another buffalo lose theirs. It was 75 miles to Karney Junction, the settlers' nearest marketplace. Long Island Lutheran Mission Congregation, that was established in 1877 by Pastor O. Baker, was the first and until now the only Norwegian congregation in the county.