James M. Wahl
Encyclopedia
James M. Wahl was a Norwegian American
settler and the first legislator of Lincoln County, South Dakota
. He named the city of Canton, South Dakota
.
Wahl was born on Storvahl, in Nærsnes
, in Røyken
municipality, Norway
. He was a resident of the United States for 73 years. He emigrated to La Crosse, Wisconsin
, in 1867 from Buskerud
County, Norway
. He attended West Salem Seminary in LaCrosse, Wisconsin and upon completion moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He served as a guide to immigrants coming to Lincoln County, South Dakota
from Norway for many years. He later moved to the Sioux Valley arriving on April 23, 1868 in Canton, South Dakota
. He filed for a homestead on the very piece of property on which the county courthouse stands today.
Among many contributions to the community, Wahl assisted with the organization of Bethlehem Lutheran church, organized bringing the Augustana College
from Marshall, Wisconsin
, to Canton, and writing a 277 page record of local settlement.
Norwegian American
Norwegian Americans are Americans of Norwegian descent. Norwegian immigrants went to the United States primarily in the later half of the 19th century and the first few decades of the 20th century. There are more than 4.5 million Norwegian Americans according to the most recent U.S. census, and...
settler and the first legislator of Lincoln County, South Dakota
Lincoln County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 24,131 people, 8,782 households, and 6,665 families residing in the county. The population density was 42 people per square mile . There were 9,131 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
. He named the city of Canton, South Dakota
Canton, South Dakota
Canton is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, South Dakota, United States. The city was named by Norwegian settler and former legislator James M. Wahl...
.
Wahl was born on Storvahl, in Nærsnes
Nærsnes
Nærsnes is a village in Røyken municipality, Norway. It is located along the Oslofjord between Båtstø and Slemmestad. As of 2003 it is considered a part of the Greater Oslo area.-References:...
, in Røyken
Røyken
Røyken is a village and municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Midtbygda. The parish of Røken was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 ....
municipality, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. He was a resident of the United States for 73 years. He emigrated to La Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse is a city in and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The city lies alongside the Mississippi River.The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 52,485...
, in 1867 from Buskerud
Buskerud
is a county in Norway, bordering Akershus, Oslo, Oppland, Sogn og Fjordane, Hordaland, Telemark, and Vestfold. The county administration is located in Drammen.-Geography:...
County, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. He attended West Salem Seminary in LaCrosse, Wisconsin and upon completion moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He served as a guide to immigrants coming to Lincoln County, South Dakota
Lincoln County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 24,131 people, 8,782 households, and 6,665 families residing in the county. The population density was 42 people per square mile . There were 9,131 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
from Norway for many years. He later moved to the Sioux Valley arriving on April 23, 1868 in Canton, South Dakota
Canton, South Dakota
Canton is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, South Dakota, United States. The city was named by Norwegian settler and former legislator James M. Wahl...
. He filed for a homestead on the very piece of property on which the county courthouse stands today.
Among many contributions to the community, Wahl assisted with the organization of Bethlehem Lutheran church, organized bringing the Augustana College
Augustana College (South Dakota)
Augustana College is a private, liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. The campus makes the school the largest private university in South Dakota...
from Marshall, Wisconsin
Marshall, Wisconsin
Marshall is the name of some places in the U.S. state of Wisconsin:*Marshall, Dane County, Wisconsin, a village*Marshall, Richland County, Wisconsin, a town*Marshall, Rusk County, Wisconsin, a town...
, to Canton, and writing a 277 page record of local settlement.