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Subject: A Bit of History from Minnesota, translated from “Nordmændene i Amerika” by Martin Ulvestad. 1907
Date: 3 Dec 2004 10:46:46 -0700
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Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/iIB.2ACI/852
Message Board Post:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~maggiebakke/minnesota.html
Faribault County, Minnesota
Knut Thompsen Trovatten from Vinje, Telemarken was the first Norwegian in this county. He settled in the area of Delavan in 1855. No Norwegians accompanied Thompsen nor did any come the first years he was here.
In the settlement at Blue Earth City, these were the first; Ole Nilsen Hundery, Anders Tenhold†, Gilbert Gilbertson and Ole Johnson, all from Sogn as well as C. C. Hamre, Jeff Amundsen and Stener Mikkelsen. Where the last three came from in Norway is not known. Mikkelsen is dead. Hamre lives in Blue Earth and Amundsen in Frost.
Dugouts and log cabins were the pioneers' first homes. Wheat growing was their main source of income. Hastings was their nearest marketplace, to there it was 120 miles and they went there with help of oxen.
"Jackson Lake Congregation" that was established at Delavan in 1862 by Pastor B. J. Muns then of The Norwegian Synod, was the county's first Norwegian congregation. The church was built in 1870. Now there are 9 Norwegian churches and 13 congregations, 5 of them belong to The Norwegian Synod, 4 to The United Church, 3 to Hauge's Synod and 1 to Elling Eielsen's Society.
Fred P. Brown (Brun) from Kopervik was the first Norwegian to hold public office in the county. He was elected Registrar of Deeds in 1872.
The first to be elected a Member of the State Legislature was the Telemarking, T. S. Wraalie (in 1878)
Post offices with Norwegian names: Homedahl and Olesen.
Translated by: Olaf Kringhaug
Vernon, British Columbia, Canada
All material on this page was translated by Olaf Kringhaug from Norwegian . All Rights Reserved. Republication or redistribution of content or any derivative work for "private use only" is permitted, as long as users acknowledge and attribute any use of material found on this website to Olaf Kringhaug. All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced or reused for commercial use without written consent from Olaf Kringhaug and Margit Bakke.
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