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1851, Nine Norwegian settlers come from Muskego to Southeastern Minnesota to open up Minnesota to settlement. They settled at Newburg in Fillmore County.
1853, Pastor Koren preaches for the first time at Spring Grove, MN on September 9. Nelsen, David, The Diary of Elisabeth Koren, p. 158.
1854, Harmony (then Greenfield until 1895), Minnesota Territory, first Norwegian settlers arrive from Koshkonong. John Jacobsen Einong came in July. Herbjorn Nilsen Ingulfsland with four sons, Hans Johanson Bergan, Knud Pedersen Husevold, Niels and Østein Nielsen Ingulfsland, Hallak Olsen Marum, Ellis and Johannes Thoe from Hjartdal, and Tosten Ellis Quammen. Almost all of the "Tindølar" had come from Muskego. Many settled along the state line opposite Ridgeway, Iowa. Telelaget, Telemark to America Volume II, p. 80. Also see Johnson, Millicent, Let's Have Harmony, p. 3.
1854, June 16, Herbjorn Nielsen Gausta was born in Vesfjorddalen. He came to America at age 12, to Harmony in 1867. Two years later his father died and Herbjorn had four sisters, and no brothers. At age 18 he went to Luther College where his talent for drawing was discovered. Then he went to Oslo for art training, then on to Munich. He returned to the United States in 1882. He died May 22 in 1924, after long having his home in Minneapolis, but often returning to Harmony for the summers. He never married. Johnson, Millicent, Let's Have Harmony, p. 104. "The scenes of this grandly beautiful region left a deep impression on him", speaks of Vestfjorddalen. Hansen, Carl, My Minneapolis, p. 171.
Settlers arrive at Highland Prairie.
Herbjorn Gausta is buried in the old settlers cemetery of Greenfield Lutheran Church of Harmony. Telelaget of America has honored him with a large monument at his gravesite.
1860, Around Greenfield Prairie, later Harmony, MN, could be found Østein Mæland, Herbjorn H. Ingulvsland, Knut Pedersen Huseval, Jon Jonsen Kasen and his three sons, Herbjorn Gregardsen Bøen, Gunuv Bruflaat, Jon and Tov Krosso, Nils Gausta, Helleck, Ole, Sondre Maarum, and Ole O. Maarum.
Ole Rolvaag wrote about the journey from Fillmore County to Dakota Country in his masterpiece "Giants in the Earth". This short piece about prairie schooners heading west is very descriptive and a must read.
