Interactions with Other Groups
Texas and the Indigenous Peoples
In both the Midwest and in Texas, interactions with the indigenous peoples of the area were a large part of settler life. Most of the Norwegian settlers had heard stories of the "Indians," and were scared of the perceived uncivilized nature they had heard of. In Texas, most of the indigenous peoples resided in the Bosque area. In other settlements, like Four Mile Prairie, the population of any kind was much more sparse. However, in general, many Norwegian settlers in the more northern states believed that Texas was more "wild" because of the proximity of Mexico and of indigenous groups. Tolmer's criticism references this perception, to which Wærenskjold replies that "since there are no Indians in the part of Texas where I have been, I can say nothing about them." Rev. Rystad comments on a few stories about Norwegian-Native interactions in the Bosque County area."One reason why the Norwegians did not move to Bosque sooner probably was that they were afraid of the Indians. These Indians kept themselves up in the hills where the brush was thick and where they could hide themselves. They were bad to steal horses, mules, and other things. It was dangerous to go into the hills and brush. The Indians would hide there and shoot with bows and arrows. Once there was an old man and a boy up in the mountains to cut wood and posts. Suddenly the Indians came upon them. The old man jumped over a bluff and escaped, but the Indians shot after him and wounded him in the arm; but the boy was captured and lived with the Indians many months. He learned their language. There was an American girl also taken captive. When the boy met this girl they decided that when they had a chance they would escape together. One night when the Indians were all asleep, the boy and girl took two horses– the best horses they could find, and rode off. But the dogs started to bark, and the Indians started up after them, and caught up with them at a creek. The girl got her horse to cross the creek and got away; but the boy could not get his horse to go into the water, and so he was taken. There was then a long consultation as to what they should do with the boy. Most of them were in favor of doing away with him, but an old Indian advised them not to take his life, that they would not gain anything by that, that it was better to keep the boy and try to sell them to the whites. They were persuaded by the old Indian and so the boy was spared, but they did not make much by keeping him. The whites would not give much for him, and when the boy one day met the old Indian who had saved his life, he shot him and escaped." (Rystad)
Wars with Mexico
Another part of the fear that Norwegian settlers in other parts of the country had was the past conflicts with Mexico. Before 1845, Texas was not a part of the Union, and so was considered more rogue territory. At this time, when Reiersen arrived with the first group of Norwegian settlers headed to Texas, the Texas Revolution was fresh in their minds. From 1846-1848, the Mexican American War was another deterrent for settlers thinking of coming to Texas. In general, these conflicts scared the pioneers, and politics were rapidly changing in this area."The people of Texas consist principally of immigrants from the United States, numbering perhaps 200,000 persons. Imbued with the spirit of freedom, which is the American characteristic, and unwilling to accept the religious coercion which the Catholic priesthood wanted to assert, in 1833 a mere 50,000 residents rose up against Mexico, of which Texas was a province, and after several battles, they forced Mexico to retreat. They adopted a constitution which is essentially similar to the United States constitution. After the battle of San Jacinto in 1836, in which they gained total victory over the Mexicans and took as prisoner the president, General Santa Anna, their independence was recognized by the United States, England, and France. Since that time the Mexicans have made occasional unsuccessful excursions into Texas, and Texas has been forced to wage war with different Indian tribes, namely, Comanches, Paddo [Caddo], and Cherokees, their anger having been inflamed by Mexico, but they have been slain or driven back by the Texans. At various times the republic has made gestures to the United States indicating its desire to be taken into the Union, which the Congress in Washington has denied on the grounds that Negro slavery was being enforced in Texas; the Northern non-slaveholding states are afraid that the Southern slaveholding states, by such a union, would obtain the advantage in politics." (Johnson, pg. 267)
Sources to explore:
Memoirs of the Reverend John Knudson Rystad from the Congregations records (P0537)
Reiersen’s Texas by Derwood Johnson, Norwegian-American Studies (vol. 21)