Peering at the Past – The Springs, The Groves, A Bully and Big Ole

If the intent was to encourage rural settlement by newcomers, the name “Spring Grove” was inviting as it was accurate. The availability of land was widely understood, but the name promises the other two agricultural essentials – water and wood. Emphasizing the importance of all three, Jane Briggs Palen entitled her history book “Soil, Timber & A Spring; The Story of Spring Grove, Minnesota.”

Norwegian immigrants began settling in what became Houston County, Minn., in the early 1850s. The first Norwegians to settle in and around Spring Grove had stopovers for a few months or years in Wisconsin, Illinois or Iowa where their countrymen had previously settled. But soon, most came directly from Norway. Land agents in New York City advertised and promoted the best available areas for settlement. After the Winnebago Indians had been forcibly removed from southeast Minnesota in 1848 and with farm land becoming scarce in Wisconsin and Iowa, Minnesota Territory was the next frontier. 

The village of Spring Grove had already been platted into sections and townships by “Yankees,” Americans born in the eastern states with mostly English heritage. Hence, even though Spring Grove would become known as the first Norwegian settlement in Minnesota, the township and village received an English name.

In 1852, James Smith, a Pennsylvania printer, was the first settler in what became the village. He opened the first post office, for which he chose the name Spring Grove. He opened the first store in 1853, was the first Justice of the Peace and a county commissioner during territorial days before statehood in 1858.

Other early village enterprises indicate Yankee entrepreneurs. William Fleming opened the first tavern and purchased the 40 acres where the city now stands. William Hinckley of Connecticut, a dealer in wines and whiskey, opened the Hinckley Hotel, which was later known as the Prentis Hotel while being leased to Joseph and Pauline Prentis from Vermont. 

Norwegian-born merchants were sure to follow, the first and most notable being Mons Fladager, known as the Father of Spring Grove, who opened a store in 1859. The 1860 census listed seven businesses in Spring Grove. By 1866, there were only Scandinavian businessmen in the village. The 1870 U.S. Census lists 13 businesses.

While Yankees were the first merchants, the earliest Norwegian settlers were farmers, who populated the area around the village. They left Norway because there was too little farmland for too many people. A high birth rate from 1816 to 1825 caused many young rural adults by the 1840s to be unemployed. The eldest son inherited his father’s farm, which most often could scarcely support even one family. The United States beckoned as an alternate, albeit far distant opportunity.

The first Norwegian farmer reaching Spring Grove was Torger Tendeland, who attracted by newspaper accounts, walked over 30 miles to Spring Grove, Minnesota Territory from his Iowa home in 1852. He located a section of land near that of James Smith, which reminded him of his birthplace in Stavanger, Norway. He placed stakes at the four corners of his claim and walked back to Iowa. When Tendeland returned a month later with his family in an ox-drawn covered wagon, he was surprised to find three other Norwegian farmers in residence: Hakkon Narveson, Knut Kieland and Fingal Flatin. Later that summer of 1852, six other men had arrived. The area became known as Norwegian Ridge.

Land was not for sale until 1854, so the earliest farmers were technically squatters, who might eventually own the land if certain requirements were met. Many immigrants on a new continent in a new situation were swindled by unscrupulous land speculators. Narveson, Kieland and Flatin purchased preemption rights (first right of refusal) from speculator John Vale, who actually had no legal claim.

More than one historian related the story of Big Ole and notorious speculator Arthur Bow. Chad Muller, in his book, said Ole Gulbransgutton was “an imposing giant of a man who hews logs with greatest of ease.” After Big Ole began building his cabin single-handedly, he left the area for several months. On return, he finds Arthur Bow with a large revolver at his side, claiming that the property is his and demands payment. Enraged, Big Ole grabbed Bow “like a log and slams the swindler to the ground. The wind knocked out of him, Bow gasps for air.” Big Ole then takes three bullets from the chamber of Bow’s revolver and force-feeds them down Bow’s throat. “Now get the hell out of here,” the man mountain yells. “Come back, and I’ll feed you the revolver too!” Bow conveniently relocated to Fillmore County.

Starting in 1854, government land was being sold at $1.25 per acre from a land office at Brownsville. That $1.25 in 1854 had the equivalent purchasing power of $47.59 in 2025.

Muller described towns with land offices as being dangerous places with “constant disputes among settlers who are seeking land. Greedy claimants push their way into the land officer’s cabin and trick other settlers into drinking so much that by morning they are too hung over to make their declaration of intent.” But on September 11, 1854, Embrick Opheim became the first Norwegian to officially file a land claim in Spring Grove.

Land around Spring Grove featured the highly sought-after woods and springs. Palen pointed out, “the Norwegians, unaccustomed to hauling their water, always insisted on having a fresh supply.” There was more level land nearby, which lacking springs and creeks, was rejected by most. 

All land with timber and open water had been taken when Gulbrand Guberud moved to the prairies of Wilmington Township in 1854. He adjusted as best he could. He purchased oxen to haul water from the nearest spring a half-mile away. He drove cattle into a valley and dug holes to collect rainwater for livestock. Later, in a larger dwelling, rainwater from the roof was collected in cisterns. Nearly three decades later (1880s), with machinery developed for drilling wells, Guberud finally obtained all the water he needed from 70 feet down.

Sources: “Soil, Timber & A Spring: The Story of Spring Grove, Minnesota,” by Jane Briggs Palen, 1991; “Spring Grove: Minnesota’s First Norwegian Settlement,” by Chad Muller, 2002; “An Evolving Heritage; the Norwegian Americans in Spring Grove: Minnesota, the 1850s to the 1990s,” by Britt Unni Skjervold Geving, 2001; “History of Spring Grove,” by Sydney L. Roppe and Blayne Onsgard, 1952.