“Lake Hendricks Norwegian Colony of 1873”

The first settlers at Lake Hendricks were 31 Norwegians, arriving July 14, 1873, with 11 covered wagons and 30 cattle. On May 14, 1873 they left Houston Count, Minn., and Allamakee and Winneshiek counties, Iowa, following roughly Highway 16 to Dell Rapids, where they turned north, briefly staying in 18-109-50 (Medary). On Sundays, they rested and had religious services. No one brought along a gun.

The Colony settled on the north side of Lake Hendricks in sections 6, 8, 10, 20 (and 12 in Minn.), living in dugouts and sod housed for a time. On Oct. 26, 1874 they organized the first permanent congregation in Brookings County, Singsass Lutheran Church. They bought the first bell in the county, 1878. The first school term began in 1879. Prairie Farm post office was opened Jan. 4, 1876 on the S.E. corner of 8-112-47.

In 1875 five settlers plowed a furrow marking the road to Canby, Minn., and five others continued it to Fountain and Medary, now ghost towns. Each spring and fall a week’s trip was taken to the nearest flour mills, at Dell Rapids or at Lynd, Minn.

The 31 colonists bore the surnames, Bogen, Bjorgen, Digre, Fjeseth, Hanson, Knutson, Kosberg, Rogness, Trooien, and Winsness. Their descendants by 1958 numbered about 700, of whom over 550 were still living, many in this vicinity.

Brookings County, 2 miles west of Hendricks on county road 42 (2006)