Tag Archives: settlers

List of early settlers in the Spring Grove area

This list of early settlers comes from an essential reference book on the area, Nybyggerhistorie fra Spring Grove og Omegn, Minnesota, by Ole S. Johnson. As far as I can tell, all persons named below are included in the book. … Continue reading

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Essential reference: Nybyggerhistorie fra Spring Grove og Omegn (Settler History of Spring Grove and Region)

When his chores were done, farmer Ole S. Johnson, who lived just east of Spring Grove, traveled around the region in his horse and buggy and talked with those early settlers who were still around in the 1910s. Their generation … Continue reading

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NYTimes Observes “Our Scandinavian Population” in 1866

Imagine Decorah being at the front of the American frontier when you read this bit from the New York Times, originally published April 20, 1866: Our Scandinavian Population. A correspondent of the American Messenger estimates the number of Norwegians settled … Continue reading

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Highland Township’s Early History

It’s hard to believe that Highland Township, in the northeast corner of Winneshiek County, Iowa, was once at the western edge of civilization. Here are excerpts from some early histories that show the difficulties as well as the promise of … Continue reading

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Where is Norwegian Ridge?

Norwegian Ridge was an early name for the area around Spring Grove, Minnesota. From the beginning of the immigration boom from Norway in the late 1850s, many settlers made their first American homes in this region. In 1852, quite a … Continue reading

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