Translated from 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad. 1907. Cloud and Jewell Counties The founder of the little Norwegian settlement on the border between Cloud and Jewell Counties was Hans Olsen of Kongsvinger. He came from Chicago and settled near Jamestown in 1869. Later in the year came Frank Breckan† from Trondhjem, Helge Andersen Ruud from Vang Parish, Valders and H. M. Torneby from Rødenæs Parish. Helge Ruud writes that at that time the area was full of buffaloes and wild Indians. "Once the Indians drove us 12 miles east where we gathered together and prepared to defend ourselves. It was 70 miles to the Land Office and we had to walk because there was no railroad and we had no vehicles. Our first homes were dugouts. We began growing wheat and maize but several years passed before we had anything to sell since the drought and grasshoppers destroyed our crops. Now it is better in every respect," he says. In 1872 a Norwegian congregation was established by Pastors N. C. Brun and R. E. Bøe. In these two counties there are now 2 Norwegioan churches and 3 congregations, 2 belong to The United Church and 1 to The Norwegian Synod.