Reaping Rewards

The early settlers made a wise decision to establish farms in the Norseland area. Our history book centers on the many families that settled and stayed here for many years and many generations. Some settlers did not stay. They moved to other areas. The August 23, 1873 issue of the St. Peter Tribune reports that Lewis Swenson sold his farm of 160 acres for $3,150 or $19.69 per acre. The farm was described as having 60 acres of timber and 50 acres of prairie under cultivation. There was a house and granary on the premises and it was located at the crossing of the St. Peter and New Auburn roads.
The 1855 Andrew Thorson letter indicated that timber land was selling for $16.00 an acre and prairie land for $1.25. This increase in land value, 1475% for the prairie ground, was extraordinary. These pioneers could reap substantial rewards for working hard and taking monumental risks.end