From 'Nordm�ndene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad, 1907

Griggs County
Amund Nilsen Opheim, who came from Winneshiek Co., Iowa and settled in the area of Romness in 1878, was the first Norwegian settler in this county. He ('Pioneer Nelson', as they called him*) was from Hardanger. Together with him came Gustav Olson, who soon moved away. But then (in 1880) came John Haagensen from Aamot, �sterdalen, A. C. Lybeck from Land, Gilbert Olsen from Ringsaker, A. Nelson from �stmarken, Iver Siem from Hardanger and J. E. Qualey from Sogndal. Valley City, 45 miles from there, was the aforementioned settlement's nearest marketplace. There they took the wheat and oats they harvested. In 1880, the following settled in the area of Cooperstown and Hannaford; Ed Evensen from �stre Toten and A. Gundersen, J. Johnson, S. Nelson, Tob. Lima and Even L�ge. And in 1881, S. Sandersen settled in the area of Gallatin. He was thus, the first there. He is from Kristiania. T. Fulglestad from Birkrem of Cooperstown writes, "We emigrated in 1883. The ticket led to Valley City, Barnes Co., since the rail was not finished north to Griggs Co. yet. By ox cart we went from Valley City to this county's empty prairie, where there were many poor people who had taken homesteads the previous year. In the spring of 1883, things looked dark for them. It was a bad spring and the winter provisions had been consumed. Both people and livestock were in danger of starving to death, and because of a severe flood they could not get to town, which was, as well, far away. However, rescue came in time. The first winter I was here, my life once hung by a hair. My brother-in-law and I had accompanied a neighbor to town. Arriving back at his house (or dugout) in the evening, we had to go by foot to our own nest, which was a long piece from there. It was bitterly cold, the snow was up to our knees and it was misty. We soon lost our way. After roaming on the empty prairie until late at night, we stumbled on an abandoned lumber shanty. There was a foot of snow on the floor and the wind blew through the cracks, and there was neither a stove nor firewood. Fortunately we had a few matches in our pockets. Then we began to tear up the floorboards and made a fire. But it was still cold - and the smoke that we had to breathe! The next morning we reached home to our young wives, who had also had a sleepless night. My older brother, who had gone to America before me, also knew what it meant to wander on the Dakota prairies. He had heard about Turtle Mountains, where there was land to be obtained. One day in 1882 he set off on foot. With a map, a compass and a pack sack of food, he set off. The distance was 200 miles. When his food was gone, he shot hares and other game. During the day he walked steadily and at night, he slept under open skies. There were no people or houses where he went. Finally he reached the forested mountains, but he shuddered with the thought that he was alone and far from civilized folk and among wild animals and Indians, of whom he saw traces. The significance of that, he had not thought of until he faced the reality of it. But, he liked the land. He therefore came straight back to get his brothers, Godtfred, Sefanius to go with him and settle there. They went and settled among the Indians at Dunseith, Rolette Co." �Ringsaker', 'Thime' and 'Ottawa' congregations, that were established in 1882 by Pastor J. J. Lundeby of The Conference, were the first Norwegian congregations in the county. The first Norwegian church was built by the Ringsaker congregation (at Romness) in 1887. Now there are 19 Norwegian congregations and 18 churches in Griggs Co., 12 of them belong to The United Church, 3 to The Lutheran Free Church, 1 to The Norwegian Synod, 1 to Hauge's Synod, 1 to The Evangelical Free Church and 1 to The Methodist Church. Norwegian place names; Romness and Sverdrup. *'Pioneer Nelson' was the first white settler in the great Sheyenne Valley. As mentioned, he lived (with his family) a couple of years before other white people began to look there. He spent his youth at Cambridge, Wis., later he moved to the area of Decorah, Ia. and finally to N. Dak. where he is remembered with thanks by many new settlers who gained much from his help and expert guidance.

Following some names there is a � which means that in 1907 that person was deceased.

Translated by, and posted with permission of, Olaf Kringhaug
Complete translation of the North Dakota portions of the book are on Margit Bakke's site

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