Early Norwegian Settlements in Wisconsin

'N.B.': Rock County is shown first, next Waukesha, Racine and Dane, since the Norwegian immigration to the State began here. The other counties are listed alphabetically so the readers can easily find what they seek. It may, however be of interest to see which direction and order the immigration occurred, therefore the years are added: Rock '38, Waukesha, Racine and Dane '39, Green and Milwaukee '40, Iowa and La Fayette '41, Walworth '42, Dodge '43, Columbia and Fond du Lac '45, Brown, Jackson, Jefferson, Manitowoc and Winnebago '48, Monroe, Vernon, Trempealeau, Pierce, Portage and Richland '49, Door, Crawford, Juneau, LaCrosse, Waupaca and Waushara '50, Adams '51, Burnett '52, Kewaunee and St. Croix '54, Buffalo '56, Chippewa '57, Dunn and Polk '59, Eau Claire ca. '60, Barron '63, Shawano '68, Outagamie '69, Clark '70, Ashland '72, Oconto and Wood '73, Marinette '75 etc. If one also takes the accompanying map, one will be able to see a quick but certain grasp of the course of the pioneer path.

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Map of Wisconsin 1895     The first Norwegian settlement in Wisconsin was established at Jefferson Prairie, Rock County by Ole Knudsen Nattestad, who built his cabin there, at Clinton in 1838.
    Ole Nattestad emigrated with his brother Ansten from Vægli, Nummedal in 1837 and went first to Beaver Creek, Illinois, where they stayed a few months together with Ole Rynning and other countrymen. From there, they went to Davis, Stephenson County, Ill., where they also stayed for several months. Then Ansten went back to Norway to deal with some private business and also to get Rynning's book as well as his brother's diary printed. Both dealt with America. During Ansten's stay in Norway, Ole moved to Wisconsin, as stated above.
    Ansten soon came back, bringing many of his fellow parishioners, who temporarily stayed in Illinois with the exception of Christopher Nyhus†, who Ansten led up to Wisconsin, where they settled near the latter's brother - 1839.*
    Later in the year (1839) came one of the Nattestad brothers' fellow parishioners Gullick Olsen Gravdal† and settled at Rock Prairie. Thus he became the founder of the Norwegian settlement there. Lars Skavlem†, Gullick Laugen and many others (mainly from Nummedal) settled down near him in short time, so the Indians found it advisable to disappear as fast as possible.
    Wheat growing was this settlement's main source of income, they also harvested a little oats, rye and other things that they took to market with the wheat. Chicago and Milwaukee, ca. 100 miles away were the nearest marketplaces in the first time. They had to drive their farm products there by oxen. They had to be careful not to stay in hotels and other places, where it cost money and since one could not get more than 15 cents for a bushel of wheat - and the trip lasted one to two weeks. In other words, one could fall into debt if one went to such luxury. Therefore they brought food from home with them and slept under the wagon. Thereby they were capable of bringing home provisions and other necessary articles from the city.
    For farm labor and cutting timber, they were paid 25 cents per day plus board.
    I shall now cite something of a letter from Mrs. T. G. Myhre, a pioneer woman in Orfordville, Wis. She says, "My now deceased husband, Thor G. Myhre emigrated from Hallingdal on the 16th May 1846 together with his brother, Erik Kaalsrud, Tollef Rakansby, Halvor Næs and Knud Lostuen. From Drammen they sailed to Havre, France, where they had to live under open skies a whole month to await a sailing ship that was to take them across the sea. Here their chests were stacked together with hundreds of others and to open those chests, where they had their food, was forbidden. What they needed to eat and drink, they had to buy in the city. Then finally, the ship in question arrived and the trip continued to New York and from there partly by rail and partly by canal boat to Milwaukee. From Milwaukee they had to travel by foot all the way to Luther Valley, Rock Co., where they finally arrived in the middle of September. Cholera broke out soon after. Many died, sometimes whole families. It happened that they had to bury two to a grave. Typhus and swamp fever also took many." Swamp fever occurred especially in swampy areas - and also during plowing of raw land. After the land had been cultivated and dried out, one was seldom the victim of such illness.
    Dr. J. S. Johnson, now living in St. Paul, Minn., writes about, "Grandfather's trip to America: The women had spun and weaved and sewn all winter, linsey-woolsey, wadmal, linen and fine kerchiefs, dresses, jackets and oats without end, as if there would never be clothes to be found. And when there was a full dozen in the family, this was no small matter.
    Then the carpenters began, they measured and sawed and planed and hammered until at least a dozen travel chests of various sizes and shapes were finished. Some were flat, others with an arch, but all had solid homemade iron bands and fittings, and locks with large keys. Then came the painter and painted them bright red with blue edges, and on each chest could be read in large, neat letters, 'Enver Guttormsen, Inmansville, Rock County, Wisconsin, U.S.A.' Besides the rectangular chest for clothes and ordinary use, there was a large round one, a bread box, for flatbread and lefse, and a smaller round one for butter, that could easily hold a hundred pounds of butter, probably not of the poorest sort, either.
    Then, when everything was packed and ready, the chests were loaded on carts and on each load a child with food in their hands, and everything went with Norwegian horsepower down to Randsfjorden, then down Randsfjorden in rowboats. And at the end of the fjord, the chests were loaded on carts again and so to Drammen. The smallest children could ride on the loads, but the others for the most part had to walk. One did not think much of that in those days. It was in that way one was accustomed to go if one wanted to get somewhere and so it was now, they were going to America, the Promised Land and they would certainly have to do some walking. Mari Rud once declared, 'to America go I, even if I have to do somersaults all the way!'
    In Drammen they waited over two weeks for the ship to get ready to sail. At a hotel? No, never! They lived for the most part on the dock and there they ate cured meat, herring, flatbread and butter, with coffee when there was an opportunity to cook.
    The Norwegian emigrant was not use to much more in the 40s. But, were they not just poor people, anyway? No, not really just that either. Grandfather was one of the community's worthy men and had neither 'gone up or down' and had bought tickets for twenty persons, who made up his company. But they were use to thriftiness and moderation to the utmost, and these were especially good characteristics for immigrants in Wisconsin's new settlements at that time. Then finally the ship came, a small one and the they got their chests 'tween decks and organized their bedclothes and other travel items. They were sixteen weeks on the sea. Sixteen weeks on the Atlantic, sailing without seeing land in those days, without any conversation other than, 'see how the waves foam on the prow' or 'hear how the wind whistles in the sails', and a little taste of what is meant by 'eternity'. But, like all other earthly things, this sailing trip also came to an end. At the end was New York, where they waited again for a couple of days for the steamship to get ready to go up the Hudson River to Troy, New York, where the Erie Canal had its start. Arriving there, the chests were transferred onto the canal boat with its horse teams as power, and then began its furious speed of perhaps two and a half miles per hour, when it was not moored. The baggage and passenger's place was on the deck and since it became monotonous to sit there on a chest, they often got off and walked ahead along the canal. When the boat caught up, they readied themselves on the first convenient bridge and then hopped down on the deck as the boat passed under. On one occasion some were preparing for such an embarkation, but since the bridge was higher than the usual, they found it advisable to hang down over the edge of the bridge so the jump would not be too far. It went well with all except the last, a large, heavy woman. When the 'psychological moment' came for her to let go, she lost her courage and remained hanging as the boat slipped slowly by. Her cries immediately brought the boat's men to their feet, and they first had get ashore and then back to the bridge where she still hung desperately, where they with much effort got her back up again.
    Arriving at Buffalo, they were obliged to rest for a couple of days, they caught a steamboat that fairly rapidly brought them through the Great Lakes to Milwaukee. Here, all public transport, either by land or by water, was at an end, and here they had to supply themselves with horse or ox wagon, as one best could obtain. Grandfather, who had gotten sick from an injury he received when he fell through a deck hatch on the steamboat, had to get a room in a so-called hotel, while the rest of the company lodged as best they could. They still had to look after their meals and the hotel workers would not let them cook on their stove, so this became a difficult affair. One day it looked like they would not be able to cook coffee. But the eldest son Thore's newly married wife was one of those who was never without a solution, and since they would not permit her to make coffee on the hotel stove, she went and found a smithy and a smith, who found it amusing, filled up with charcoal, blew in the bellows and cooked her coffee well, and she came back triumphantly with a pot of good coffee. Eventually, they found an American with a pair of horses and a wagon who lived near their destination and they went on their way the last 70 miles that remained. On the evening of the second day they reached Jamesville, Wis. the driver took into a tavern, while his passengers sat out on the load and dipped flatbread into the butter that had melted in the warm weather. The next evening, weary of the long trip, they came to the Luther Valley parsonage and were well received by Pastor C. L. Clausen. After a couple of day's search, they found an uncompleted log cabin that they could use temporarily. The cabin had neither window or door, the roof was not great and no floor other than the bare earth. They stayed here for a time while grandfather searched for land. However, fall had already begun and it was getting cold mornings and evenings. Since there was no stove nor a fireplace, grandmother set the bread box in the middle of the floor and put the cover on it, and then lit a fire on top. Grandfather came home one day with a cow he had bought, and later with a pig he had obtained in his daily search for land. Finally he bought some land, about twenty miles to the northwest and there we were to move. The chests and equipment were again loaded up on a wagon with oxen; the people went on foot, one leading the cow, another driving the pig who had a rope attached to a hind leg. So the parade was marshalled and in this magnificent style they arrived in the late fall in Albany, Wis., where their future home would be, and where grandfather and grandmother lived out their days. The accommodation improved bit by bit. The children ringed around them and the grandchildren grew up, comfort and prosperity smiled on them and the trying emigrant days fell back as a dream, and one could laugh at. All honor and respect the old pioneers deserve. It is important for us to remember them."
    Luther Valley congregation that was founded at Inmanville (now Orfordville) in 1844 with Pastor C. L. Clausen as its priest, was the first Norwegian congregation in Rock County. The first Norwegian church in the county was built by the aforementioned congregation in 1847-48. Now there are 9 Norwegian churches and 8 congregations, 5 belong to The Norwegian Synod and 3 to The United Church.
    Rock County is of great church historical significance for us since 3 - three - of our church societies were formed here, namely Elling Eielsen's Society in 1846, The Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church in Amerika (actually The Norwegian Synod) in 1851 and the Augustana Synod (now a part of The United Church) in 1860.
    For an account of 'Emigranten' and 'Maanedstidende for den norsk ev. luth. kirke i Amerika' that were both published in Inmanville for a short time in the beginning of the 50s and 'Vort Blad' (later 'For Kirke og Hjemmet') published in Beloit 1890-94, see the section 'Norwegian newspapers and periodicals'.
    For information of a political nature, see the section 'Norwegians in public office in America.'
    In Rock County there is a post office with the good norwegian name, Bergen. This however, is the only Norwegian place name that author has been able to find.
    *About the Nattestad brothers (Ole and Ansten), who as mentioned, were the first settlers in Wisconsin, it can be added that they were the first who emigrated from Nummedal. Yes, that they were the ones who actually started the emigration from Norway's upland. And now they began emigrating from other areas in Norway also, which for a great part was due to Ole Rynning's and Ole Nattestad's books, that became much sought after. Until 1838 the emigration was, with few exceptions, limited to the coastal areas between Bergen and Kristiansand.

Waukesha & Racine County, Wisconsin
    The Muskego settlement, that we will deal with here, stretches over the southern part of the former and the northern (the adjoining) part of the latter county.
    While some settled in Muskego (Waukesha County), others settled in Yorkville Prairie (Racine County). Then, as people came, they spread out through the woods and across the prairie. The settlement came to cover a large area and it was rather far between neighbors.
    I shall cite something from a letter from Mr. J. W. Johnson (of Racine), whose father was one of the first Norwegians to set foot on Wisconsin soil. He writes:
    "In 1839 came John Nelson Luraas†, John Evensen Molee†, Halvor Thompson†, Ole Hellicksen† and others from Tinn, Telemarken as well as Anders Flørand† and my father Nils Johnson† from Hitterdal. My father and Ole Hellicksen settled in Yorkville Prairie, the others in Muskego. As mentioned, this was in 1839. Mons K. Aadland from Samnanger near Bergen, came here from Calumet, Ill. in 1840. About the same time came Hermond Nilsen from Hallingdal and some others, some direct from Norway, some from Illinois. The majority were family people - mainly from Telemarken, Stavanger and Voss. Father, who then was a bachelor, was later married to Anna Nilsdatter Selem† who came to Racine in 1841, together with Anders Kløve†, Tollef Grane† and others from Voss.
Ole Johnson Lansverk, one of the very first settlers, lived on his farm until 1901 when he died at an age of 94. This spring (1905) the last of the first settlers died, namely Goute Gundersen Midbøn, who came here with his father Gunder Midbøn in the 40s."
    From other sources I have obtained the names of a number of the other pioneers in this area, namely, Even Heg† and ? Skosstad† from Lier near Drammen, James Reymert† from Farsund, Søren Backe† and Johannes Johannesen from Drammen as well as Germund Johnson†, Helge Helgesen†, Gunerius P. Ducleth†, Ole Larson†, Rolf Rolfsen Flaten†, Mr. Danielsen†, Aslak Simonsen†, Elling Spillum†, Tyge Hendriksen†, Hans Barlien†, former parliamentarian Hans Gasman† and N. Tufte†. The two last ones and others settled at Pine Lake.
    Ole Nilsen, who also came to this area early but now lives in New Centerville, Wis. writes that in the first years at Pine Lake, he drove to Milwaukee (40 miles) with oxen, he had to go there to deliver his farm products and there he bought life's necessities. It was, however, the road's length that was worst, the worst was that there was no road!
    These settlers experienced a rather sad existence. That they were poor, that their life style was frugal and that they had undergo all the struggles the new pioneer life normally brought, was not their problem. They could withstand the Indians, even though they were terribly close and annoying. But what they could not easily avoid was - disease. There was too much of it in the Muskego settlement. It robbed men of their spirit and strength and took many lives As an example of how common it was, it can be mentioned that, in the fall of 1843, there was only one family in the whole settlement that had avoided it. All the other families had been visited by it, either ague or bilious fever. (One will find more about this in letters from those who moved from here to other places. These letters are included under the counties where these persons now live)
    I have been sent a newspaper clipping - without author's name - from New York, in which the adventurous side of the aforementioned James Reymert's life is described. The article contains many truths. Although, as most readers will understand, it is colored a bit. I will make these comments, since it is my duty. In a historical work one should not include anything other than that which is fully trustworthy, unless one points out the possible exceptions. The article reads so:
    "The some years ago deceased Norwegian-born lawyer, James D. Reymert of Los Angeles, an uncle to the lawyer August Reymert of New York, had many adventures in his younger years. Here in New York he belonged to one of the judicial profession's best firms and August received his first training at the brilliant lawyer's office in New York.
    About the manner in which James D. Reymert found his first bride is recounted: In 1840 a sloop entered New York harbor after 16 day's sailing. Aboard the sloop was Fencing and Dance Master Hansen from Fredriksværn and his wife, five daughters and three sons. In the 1840s, Wisconsin was the emigrant's Mecca. It was still a territory, the primeval forest's sons and daughters slipped through the quiet, wild forest on soft moccasins, but the land was given free to those who would accept it. And Fencing and Dance Master Hansen from Fredriksværn rented a river boat and set off up the Hudson River to Albany with his wife, his three blossoming daughters and three strong sons. From Albany they went in a caravan westwards and found the richest piece of land and built a blockhouse.
    One day, Fencing Master Hansen from Fredriksværn and his three sons were busily occupied with taming a pair of recently captured horses when they saw five riders galloping toward them. Hansen and his sons went into the blockhouse and prepared for any eventuality, loaded their guns with double loads. But the five riders shot their guns in the air far away and stopped in front of the blockhouse, and the five young, blossoming daughters fought over the gun ports to peek at the five riders outside, who were handsome, tanned young men, when the youngest of them waved his hat and called out in good Norwegian if this was not Waukeshon and did this blockhouse not belong to Fencing and Dancing Master Hansen from Fredriksværn? Yes, came the answer from inside the house and the doors opened wide. The young men sprang from their horses and asked if they could see his five daughters. They came from the other side of the forest and it was rumored that five young Norwegian girls lived here. Hansen invited the boys in, they were all of an age of 20 to 25 and anxious to get married. And the girls were young and lively. The eldest, Caspara, was 21 years old and she agreed to the eldest of the young men, James D. Reymert, brother of the deceased Brigade Surgeon Reymert of Kristiania. And the other four quickly united with their own young man. And Fencing and Dance Master Hansen, in one day, acquired five sons-in-law, the Norwegian Reymert and the Americans John M. Watson, Charles E. Jenkins, William Hilles and Johnes.
    The young men took up land around their father-in-law, they helped each other in building blockhouses and clearing the land. The years passed and the land and wives were very fruitful and young strength drew riches out of the land. The government wished to build a road through the primitive forest. Reymert took on the job. He sent word to all the new, young Norwegian emigrants to come, built a sawmill with his brothers-in-law, cleared a path through the forest and laid a plank road over the morass through it. When the government wished to build a railroad through Wisconsin, Reymert took on the building. Now, Wisconsin became a populous territory and Hansen's sons-in-law agreed that it should become a State.
    Now, they are all dead. But large families, many generations of descendants, handsome, healthy people took hold, where their tired hands let go.
    And today the State of Wisconsin has more than 200,000 inhabitants of Norwegian origin - according to 'Norge i Amerika."
    The first Norwegian to settle in Racine City was Torbjørn Gunleiksen. He started a little boarding house there in the 40s. Racine was a very small town at that time.
    The first Norwegian congregation in Wisconsin was established at Norway (in the Muskego settlement) in the fall of 1843 by Pastor C. L. Clausen. And they built the first Norwegian church in America the following year (1844). A short time ago they moved it to St Anthony Park, Minn., where the United Church Seminary is and where the little log church stands as an antiquity.
    Now there are 10 Norwegian congregations and 8 churches in these two (Waukesha and Racine) counties, 7 belong to The United Church, 2 to The Methodist Church and 1 to The Norwegian Synod.
    'Nordlyset', the first Norwegian newspaper in America started in Norway, Racine Co. in 1847. For detailed information of this and 'Demokraten', 'Maanedstidende for den norsk lutherske Kirke i Amerika' etc, see the section, 'Norwegian-American newspapers and periodicals.'
    James Reymert, who at that time lived in Norway, Racine Co., was elected a Member of Wisconsin's Legislative Assembly in 1847 and is obviously the first Norwegian that held public office here, he was the first in the County and the first in the State. For detailed information about him and others who were honored with positions of trust of a political nature, see the section, 'Norwegians in public positions in America'.
    Norwegian place names: as mentioned above in the first Norwegian pioneers' days, there was a post office called Norway, later the name was changed to Wind Lake. Norway Ridge is also gone. But Norway Township still exists. And there is a post office called North Cape (Nordkap), that refuses to die. It was raised in 1860 on a suggestion by Editor Knud Langeland, who was a Member of the State Legislature. Knud Adland was named the postmaster of the same. After that many post offices have been raised with Norwegian names - they are found spread out over all of North America - but are collected in this book with proper regard for the memory for the emigrated part of the Nordic people.
    It will also be seen that a great number of Norwegians over here were installed in the same office as Knud Adland in 1860, and like him, served long and well.

Dane County, Wisconsin
    In 1839-40, Norwegians poured into the southeast corner of this county, where they founded the so-called Koshkonong settlement, one of the best known Norwegian settlements in America. The founders were: the brothers Gunnulf† and Knud† Olsen Vindeig from Rollaug parish, Nummedalen, Gjermund Sunde† similarly from Nummedal, Tosten Olsen Bjødland†, Lars Schin†, Amund Rossaland†, Lars Dugstad†, Bjørn Andersen Kvelve†, Amund Andersen Hodnefjeld† all from the Stavanger area, Nils Sjursen Gilderhus†, Nils Larsen Volstad†, Magne V. Bystølen† and Lars Davidsen Reque all from Voss as well as Lars Kvendalen† whose birthplace in Norway is unknown. Those from Nummedal came via Jefferson Prairie, Wis. while the others came from Illinois, most from the Fox River settlement where they had lived for a time. They did not all come at the same time but over a short period. The one who had been the longest in America was Tosten Bjødland, who was with the Fox River contingent as a guide. They used 'Apostlenes Heste' (The Apostles' horses = Shank's mare), so it took a couple of weeks to reach their destination up there in the wilderness.
    Of the aforementioned, only Lars Reque (88 years old) is still alive, he is therefore the oldest Norwegian at Koshkonong.
    Now the Norwegian settlement stretches all over Dane County and much further. The names of several of the older families and many more can be found in the section 'Sammenstilling av Sambygdinger i Amerika' later in the book.
    Wheat growing became the pioneers' main source of income, but they also grew other types of grain. Their farm produce was taken all the way to Milwaukee, where for example, one got a price of 25 cents a bushel - for the wheat! It was truly not enough to get rich on, especially if one considers the long and slow trip (with oxen). Yes, one of my correspondents even says that one would blame the load if one was not absolutely frugal during the trip or during the stay in town. Later they did not have to drive farther than Janesville and even later they could unload their wheat and other products close to their homes. And so it is to this day. Now there are railroads, elevators and grain buyers everywhere - and many people who need food. The railroad was built to Madison in 1854, and then things went faster.
    Here we will deal with some pieces, partly on the trip over and partly on the new pioneer's life in America, all from Dane County.
    Thomas N. Sime of Cottage Grove tells that his parents, Nels† and Maria† Sime emigrated with two small children from Aardal in Sogn, 1844. They came by sailship and were 14 weeks on the sea. From New York to Milwaukee they travelled partly by boats drawn by horses (through the canals) and partly by steamboat. From Milwaukee, they walked for 80 miles and when they finally reached Cottage Grove, they went into the forest and when they found 4 trees that stood in a square, they fastened some poles to them, on which they threw some hay, so they had a roof over their heads. There they lived until they were in a position to get a better house. They had no stove at first. They had to go to their nearest neighbors, who were 3 miles away, every time they needed to bake bread. They attended their first church services under 'The Oak Tree' in west Koshkonong (There was actually no meeting house, so the meetings were held under an oak tree). Pastor Dietrichsen was here on the 2nd Sept, 1844 and served communion. They also took part in the building of the first Norwegian church there that same year. These were Lutherans.
    But there is also an account from the Methodist's camp. B. Ingebrigtsen, who was the local preacher in Cambridge for over 10 years - until his death a short time ago - and who took part in building the first Norwegian Methodist church in the world (it was built in Cambridge in 1851). He wrote, "My parents were married in Arnefjord, Sogn in 1813. The year after there was a great landslide that swept away all the houses as well as livestock on 7 farms and in which many people perished. In 1845 we emigrated to America aboard the ship 'Peder Schrøder' with Captain Stub from Bergen. The 'Kong Sverre' with Captain Brook left about the same time. We met again in New York. There were then three Norwegian ships besides ours. As soon as we reached harbor, we received a visit from the other three captains and Ole Bull. You can be sure this was a wonderful moment for we poor emigrants. In Rochester, Johannes Næse and his youngest son remained behind because of a mishap, but they recovered. When we got there we bought a bit of land for $3 an acre. To raise the necessary money, we went away for work at 25 cents per day. My sister was married to Jens J- Næset, they live in Stoughton. My wife is now 87 years old, nevertheless she still does her own housework.
    Ingebrigtsen also sent me the names of the others who took part in building the first Norwegian Methodist church. Here is the list: Ole Larson, B. Ingebrigtson, B. Mørkvold, O. Gjesme, K. Johnson, L. Høiland, T. Kjønset, T. Syverson, G. Bendickson, A. A. Prescott, G. Williams, O. B. Knudson, G. Saue, R. Volstad, J. Handy, G. Haukaas, K. Ingebrigtson, M. Folkedal, Frøiset, Johannesson, Winberg, B. Madson, John Rokedreier, M. Bystølen, Ole G. Hegeland, Anders Oveland.
    The honourable Gunnulf Tollefson, who was one of the first Norwegians in the Wisconsin Legislature (elected 1868), who recently died in his home at Primrose, gave me the following information, "In 1843, I left my childhood home in Sætersdalen (on foot) together with my parents and five small siblings. On arrival at the coast we boarded ship for America via Havre, France, and when we finally arrived in New York, we had one dollar left in cash. Luckily, we met a countryman who provided us with a free trip to Milwaukee, Wis., from where we trudged to Norway, Racine County with Lars Dommerud. Here we wintered. The next year I went west to seek work. I cut 600 fence posts and with the compensation for that work, I was loaned a pair of oxen and a wagon, with which I brought our family from Norway in eastern Wisconsin to Jefferson Prairie, where we settled.
    After a while I married Julia Gunhus, who was just as poor as I was myself. But since we both worked in the summer, we were soon the owners of an ox team and wagon and some farm equipment. Then we took a homestead in Primrose, where in the first period we had visits from the nearby Indians as well as wolves and other wild animals without, however, any damage with the exception that they stole potatoes, chickens etc.
    The reason the Norwegian settlement grew so large, was this; Up on the Blue Mountain Hills, where there was a road and many travelers, a sign was put up, pointing in the direction of the valley that said, 'If anyone wishes to meet with Norwegians, then come down here!' Of those who first came, can be mentioned, Børre Børresen, Christian Hendricksen, Nils Skogen, Salve Jørgensen, G. G. Gunhus, Niels Einarsen, G. Danielsen, Ole Tollefsen, Halvor Ericksen, Anon Jørgensen, Torje Matson, Peter Haslerud, Ole Andersen, Leif Olsen, Thomas Pedersen, Ole Netland, Kittel Moland, Mons Ness, Knut Bowersen, Lars Halvorsen, G. Stamn, Elling Stamn, Niels Olsen, Paul Carlson, Knud Olsen, Jens Olsen, Ole Skuldt, L. L. Kolve, Mrs. Jackson and her sons Gunnulf and George and Mrs. Greenwood. (Who and how many of these are dead, is not mentioned).
    In the first year we used an abandoned log cabin as a schoolhouse. But we had no priest and there was no way we could find to have our little children baptized. But we did not have to wait long for the opportunity. Sometime in 1850 we received word from Pastor J. W. Dietrichson at Koshkonong, that if we wished to bring the children to Thore Spaanem's house in Springdale on Sunday, he would baptize them. We hitched our oxen to the wagons and left with our toddlers - it was a full wagon train.
    The well known pioneer priest, P. A. Rasmussen was married to Miss Magnhild Hofland in 1855. The ceremony took place in a schoolhouse and was conducted by Elling Eielsen."
    The pioneer priest Abraham Jacobsen (who, unless the author is misinformed, in his time at school - at Ill. University - was together with Robert Lincoln, John Hay and other nationally known men, and who is now a Member of Iowa's Legislative Assembly), writes in all modesty about a cyclone he was in when he lived in Perry, Dane Co., Wis., "It was," he writes, "the 23rd May 1878 that a tornado crossed right over the State of Wisconsin. It began its destructive work in Iowa County and went in a northeasterly direction past Madison and so to Lake Michigan. My family was in the parsonage (a three story log house) while I and Carl Anderson were busy moving a large, heavy box from the steps and into the summer barn. A neighbor, who was also present, opened the door for us, but at that instant the wind took us, the box and the summer barn and swept us off as if with a broom out in the fields. At the same time as the cyclone struck us, I could see a new hay barn and a granary first flattened down on the field and then taken up in the air and blown away. The roof of the residence was torn off and beds and other things were blown through the floor down into the second floor. None of the family in the house was hurt, other than an infant that lay in its cradle, that was literally filled with brick and pieces of glass. I was so badly bruised and as a consequence so sore and stiff that my clothes had to be cut off me. The aforementioned Carl Anderson was killed, the box we were working with crushed him such that bones stuck out through his clothes. The neighbor's wife, who was in the summer kitchen was bruised black and blue but came through, while of the kitchen and its contents, not a stick was found. A large stone church nearby was so damaged that it had to be torn down and rebuilt. School teacher and choirmaster Jensvold lost a horse. The pump was dragged out with 50 feet of pipe. Oak trees, a foot thick, were torn from the ground - and my vehicle that was worth at least $400 - the remains of it I sold later to a blacksmith for $11. The property losses in the ravaged district were over $130,000 but worse was the loss of human lives. There were 28 persons killed. In my congregation 4 were killed and many badly injured. In the instant of the storm there was absolute darkness, the air was full of dust that was turned to mud by the strong rain - -".
    The East Koshkonong congregation, the first Norwegian congregation in Dane County, was founded by J. W. C. Dietrichsen in 1844. The West Koshkonong congregation was established the same year, and both these congregations had finished churches in the course of the same year (1844). There are now 38 Norwegian congregations and 37 churches in this county, 16 of them belong to The United Church, 10 to The Norwegian Synod, 6 to Hauge's Synod, 2 to The Lutheran Free Church and 2 to The Methodist Church.
Dane County has the greater Norwegian population and the greater number of Norwegian churches than any other county in the State.
    The aforementioned Pastor J. W. C. Dietrichsen was the first Norwegian priest in America, trained and ordained in Norway. (His predecessors, Eielsen and Clausen were not priests from home). Dietrichsen was born in Fredrikstad in 1815, emigrated to America in 1844 and died in Copenhagen, Denmark, 1883. At the same time it can be noted that Ole Knudsen Trovatten† was the first sexton and teacher in Koshkonong.'
    Gabriel Bjørnson† of Perry was the first Norwegian who achieved public office in Dane Co. He was elected Member of the State Legislature in 1850. For detailed information about him and many others, see the section, 'Norwegians in public positions in America'.
    In the beginning of the 1850s, Norwegian newspaper activity began in Dane County. For information about 'Demokraten', 'Fædrelandet og Emigranten', 'Kirkelig Maanedstidende', 'Den Norske Amerikaner', 'Skandinavisk Billedmagazin', 'Nordvesten', 'Nordstjernen', 'Amerika og Norden' and (later) 'Amerika' in Madison as well as 'Gauken', 'Normannen', 'Norge' and 'Alvor og Skjæmt' in Stoughton, see 'Norwegian-American newspapers and periodicals in America'.
    Hauge's Synod established a seminary in Dane County in 1865 and The Norwegian Synod established one (The Monona Seminary) in 1876. For information about these schools as well as the academies, of which one still exists, see the section 'Norwegian-American teaching institutions'.
    Information about the Martin Luther Children's Home and the Old Age Home in Stoughton can be found in the column, 'Norwegian-American charitable institutions'.
    Norwegian place names in Dane County: Christiania, Norway Grove, Nora, Rutland and Klevenville. All of these are of Norwegian origin. Some are americanized a little.

Adams County, Wisconsin
    Peter Larson, who settled in the area of Arkdale in 1850 or 51, was the first Norwegian and white settler. There were only Indians when he came there.
    Adams County's pioneers came to their destination in the same manner as other immigrants in those days. By sailship to New York and Quebec. And from there, partly by boat and partly by rail. From Lake Michigan's shores, the trip continued by ox wagons over almost impassable roads through swamps, forests and morasses, with the wagons full of people, large and small as well as cooking gear, food, clothes etc, etc. This 'wandering through the desert' was almost as unpleasant as the trip over the ocean and lakes. Especially in bad weather, it was anything but pleasant to keep to the wagons.
    When they finally reached there, did one find that home that a traveler longs for (that which smiles in the distance, so one forgets the trip’s unpleasantness)? Did the travelers have that to think about? No, no. As a rule, they stood on a bare hill when they arrived - on a bare hill in a strange land. Here it was necessary to begin from the beginning. First they had to get a roof over their heads, then they had to obtain something to live off, which was not easy since the soil was unbroken and difficult to cultivate. We must remember too, that the pioneers lacked the necessary tools, which made it twice as hard to make progress.
    The pioneers went through so much that we cannot understand, for we have not tried it. But, so much we understand, that it is our duty to remember them with respect, love and thanks. And the few who are still with us - they must truly understand how much we think of them!
    'Roche a Cree Norwegian Lutheran Congregation', that was established in Arkdale in 1853 by Pastor H. A. Preus of The Norwegian Synod, was the first Norwegian congregation in the county. Its church was built in 1861. There are now 4 congregations, each with its church, 1 of them belongs to The Norwegian Synod, 1 to The United Church, 1 to Hauge's Synod and 1 to The Methodist Church.
    The first Norwegian to hold a county public office here was A. O. Holm†. He was elected County Clerk in 1866.
    The place that is now called Arkdale was called Vinje in the old days. So, there was a Norwegian place name in this county also.

Ashland County, Wisconsin
    The first Norwegians in this county were Martinus Moe† from Trondhjem, Henrik A. Lohmann from Kristiansund, Ole Ellingsen from Nordland as well as Tobias Thompson and Ole Stormoen†. They settled in Ashland in 1872. Carl Lohmann, who came there two years later wrote, "We left from Kristiansund the 16th May 1874 and from Bergen the 1st June on the steamship 'Kong Sverre'. There were 500 emigrants aboard. The ship took a direct route from Norway to America. Therefore, we did not stop in England. When we arrived in the mid-Atlantic, a hurricane blew up and a pipe in the engine room sprung a leak and some of the pipes and fittings broke and spilled overboard with many other things. Panic broke out aboard since it looked like we would sink. One woman became mad and had to be put in the sail locker. Finally, after much sickness and misery among the passengers and after having been without meat and water a long time, we reached New York (The following year the same steamship capsized and sank in the Atlantic, but the people were rescued) Now then, we came to Ashland, which was our destination. There were scarcely over 150 persons here at that time and only a small sawmill. There was hardly any work and everything we needed to survive had a high price. I have paid up to $11 for a barrel of wheat flour, $4 for a bushel of potatoes, 40-50 cents for a dozen eggs etc, without any question of higher pay than $1.50 per day. In this Promised Land, it was not so splendid in the first years - at least not for those who had a wife and many little ones to care for. In 1877 the railroad was built to Ashland. After that time, conditions got better. Now, the city is large and there are many Norwegians.
    In 1878, a little Norwegian settlement was established at High Bridge. Henrik and Carl Lohmann as well as Ole Pedersen moved there from Ashland. Next after them came Lorens Anderson, Peter Justen and Andreas Steffeensen from Edø in Smølen and John Johnson from Leksvigen, near Trondhjem.
    Nidaros Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation, that was established in Ashland in 1884, was the first Norwegian congregation in the county. Its first priest was Paul O. Amundsen of The Conference. The congregation built a church in 1886. However, this was not the first Norwegian church in the county, since a Methodist congregation, that was founded in Ashland in 1886, built a church the same year (1886). The Methodist church was thus built first. Now there are 7 Norwegian congregations and 6 churches in Ashland County, 3 of them belong to The Lutheran Free Church, 2 to The United Church and 2 to The Methodist Church.
Thomas Edwards, who was elected Commissioner in 1888, was the first Norwegian to hold a county office here.

Barron County, Wisconsin
    From Cumberland is written, "Lars Pedersen emigrated from Solør and took a homestead 3 miles from this place in 1863. He was then 50 years old. He lived alone here in his cabin for 8 years. His necessities he had to purchase in Rice Lake, since Cumberland did not then exist. It was 12 miles to Rice Lake. He carried many a flour sack etc home through the dark forest, where he was at risk from wild animals, of which there were many. He got along well with the Indians because he was kind and did them many favors. Some years later, Lars got two white neighbors, but they were chased away by the Indians - they did not like them. Now the land is well settled and crossed by railroads, and old Lars still lives here."
    Peder Olsen from Ringsaker and Andreas K. Morterud† from Lillehammer settled in the area of Canton in 1870 and they were the first settlers there.
    In 1871, the following came to the area of Prairie Farm, Anders Stensaas from Søndre Trondhjems Amt and Christian Voxen and Johan Iversen from the Kristiania area. About the same time came Nils Eggen from Tolgen, Østerdalen.
    In 1874, the following came to the area of Rice Lake, Ole A. Dahle from Lyster in Sogn along with T. J. Oleson, K. J. Oleson, Ole J. Oleson and K. R. Fadness†, all from Voss. Next after them came A. G. Strand and R. Eversen from Trøndelagen, M. Larsen from Kaldestad, Vossevangen, Chris Skar and Mr. Holtan from Kristiania, O. Andersen from Værdalen as well as O. Kringle, Otto Hansen and H. Hansen, who were born in America. When these came to Rice Lake, the population there consisted of Frenchmen and Indians, but the Norwegians soon became the majority. They went mainly into hay growing and logging. The nearest marketplace was Eau Claire, it was ca. 60 miles away and they drove with oxen.
    Barron Co. has the honor of having America's oldest person, a woman, within its borders. She lives five miles east of Cumberland, was 105 years old the 1st of April 1905 and is named Karen Sophie Olsdatter. This woman is the mother to five generations. But despite all that, she is still healthy and looks after her house herself.*
    Faaberg Lutheran Congregation, that was founded in 1871, was the first Norwegian congregation in Barron County. Its first priest was C. J. Heksem, then of The Conference. The county's first Norwegian church was built in Rice Lake in 1881 by The Conference congregation there. Now the county counts 22 Norwegian congregations and 19 churches, 14 belonging to The United Church, 6 to The Norwegian Synod and 2 to The Lutheran Free Church.
    J. A. Johnson of Dallas was the first Norwegian to hold a county office here, when he was elected Treasurer in 1871.
    The first Norwegian to represent Barron Co. in the State Legislature was Lars Gundersen†, Cumberland, elected 1880.
    Post offices and Townships with Norwegian names (in Barron County): Eng, Arland, Haugen and Dovre.
    *After the above was written, came the word that Karen Olsdatter is now dead. She was born at Mosjøen, Nordland, the 1st of April 1800 and died the 20th September 1906, thus 1061⁄2 years old.

Bayfield County, Wisconsin
    The first Norwegians in this county were Lars Rud from Hatfjelddalen, Martin Moe† from Trondhjem and Tom Matson from Voss. They settled in the area of Mason in 1881.
    The battle the pioneers fought, the hardships they suffered here in the northern Wisconsin forest are easier to speculate on than write about.
    But there was wealth in the forests. Therefore, the timber speculators tried to keep the settlers out. These lumber kings had their hired spokesmen in the neighborhood of the unsettled land. When the land seekers came, they were warned with all sorts of frightening tales. And since it was believed that all newcomers were greenhorns that could be made to believe almost anything, these stories circulated all over. It was once said that "one stranger who went into the forest, couldn't find his way out before he starved. The forest was so thick and dark, the trail so crooked that the man had met himself three times!"
    The first Norwegian congregation was established in Washburn in the middle of the 80s. This congregation (Lutheran) also built the county's first Norwegian church. Its first priest was J. H. Grøtheim† of The Conference. There are now 10 congregations and 6 churches in Bayfield Co., 5 belong to The Lutheran Free Church, 4 to The United Church and 1 to The Methodist Church.
    Gunnar Dalby†, Mason, was the first county official here, when he was elected in 1883.
    Engoe (post office) is the only place with a Norwegian name in Bayfield County.

Brown County, Wisconsin
    Peter Petersen from Tvedestrand as well as Peter Bergsvensen and Ole Knudsen from Røraas were the first Norwegian settlers in this county. They settled in the area of Fontenoy in 1848. Petersen went back to Norway, the other two are dead.
    Peder A. Larsen from Velfjorden, Helgeland, was the first Norwegian settler at Green Bay. When he came here, there were only Frenchmen and Indians there.
    In the Norwegian settlement that was founded in the area of Shirley in 1869, these were the first; Ole Syvertsen, Knut Helgesen, Tore Christensen, Knud O. Jarstad, Torsten Andersen and Ole K. Rogne†, all from Valders. Also, Ole Larsen from Vardal at Gjøvik and Fredrik and Edward Carlson from somewhere in Vestlandet.
    Something that Halmar Ruud Holand wrote from another county suits here just as well, "It was when one wished to leave with a load of wheat to get it ground, that one learned how hard it was to be a pioneer. For many years it was unbelievably far to the nearest marketplace and the roads were miserable. As one bumped over logs and stones, it was not seldom one ended up stuck in a bog. Then one had to rip off the load, lift and wiggle the wagon, shout and curse at the oxen, and finally, after some hours of laborious toil, got going again. Often it could take over a week to get to town. But the struggle was not over yet. Arriving at the mill, one could find that his turn would not come for about a week. So the pioneer had to go to the streets and find some work to provide his food, while he waited. When his turn came, he had to sift his own flour because they had no sifting machine. Finally the load was done and the cry 'Go Long' to the oxen was like a victory whoop, and after a week's adversity, he was home again. It was expensive flour!"
    St. Johannes Lutheran Congregation, that was established at Green Bay in 1873 was, as far as is known, the first Norwegian congregation in the county. It built a church in the following year (1874). Johan Olsen of The Conference was the founder and first priest. Now there are 5 congregations, each with its own church, 1 of them belonging to The United Church, 1 to The Norwegian Synod, 1 to the Hernhutters, 1 to The Evangelical Free Church and 1 to The Methodist Church.

Buffalo County, Wisconsin
    The first Norwegian settlers in Buffalo County were Ole Hansen Lerum, Jens J. Hovland†, Erik Alme, Arne Ottesen Sørum and S. Arnesen, all from Lyster, Sogn. They came from Vernon Co. and settled in the area now known as Nelson on the 4th of July 1856. There soon came more Norwegian families, probably from Lyster. Therefore, the settlement had the name Lyster for a time, but later the area was called Norskedalen. Wheat growing was the main source of income in this area.
    The first settler in the area of Naples was Peder N. Aasen.
    And in the area of Gilmanton was Ole Ton who was the first.
    Ole Iversen from Meraker, was the first at Lookout.
    Hjalmar Ruud Holand writes, "Buffalo County lies in the western part of Wisconsin and is bordered on the west by the Mississippi River. The whole county consists of narrow valleys and sharp ridges about 500 feet above the valley bottoms.
    Sheltered and snug, the farms lie down the slopes. The soil is good and even though it is hard to work, people are very prosperous.
In the northwest part of the county, stretching between Mondovi, Misha-Moskwa (?) and Modena, there is a colony, of which nine-tenths are from Lyster in Sogn. This colony had its origin so: In the 50s, many Lystringer came to Springdale and Blue Mounds in Dane County. Good land was expensive and hard to get there at that time. After much consultation and consideration a group of these Sogninger decided to send a man to seek out and buy land. That man was Ole Hanson Lerum from Lyster.
    Ole Hanson left in the spring of 1856 and roamed far and wide on foot to find a suitable place. He was out over Minnesota's prairie and far up into Dunn County's forests.
    It was great news, when the people of Springdale heard that Ole Hanson had come back from his exploration. They took a day off to listen to his account. With great ceremony, he told of his long foot tour. He told of all the wonderful land he had seen, about his meetings with Indians, his contact with land speculators, about wind and weather and large forests and great plains. Then there was thorough discussion about what they should take with them. Finally, after some weeks of preparation, the caravan was ready to go on a new track of the immigrant stream.
    They had four good wagons, heavily loaded, five ox spans, cows, sheep, grunting pigs and cackling hens.
They set off on the military road from Madison to Prairie du Chien, crossed the Wisconsin River by ferry and drove up the narrow Kickapoo Valley to Coon Prairie. Then down to Sparta and Black River Falls. Here they got lost and traveled for weeks through unknown and lonely valleys without number. These valleys in Trempealeau County are now full of Norwegian people. For many days at a time they saw no sign of people. But they had all the necessities in their wagons. They baked bread and cooked coffee, milked their cows and had fresh eggs every day. Sometimes they had to build bridges and cut roads. The children herded the pigs and sheep, picked flowers and strawberries and thought this was a splendid life. There were also many partridges to shoot.
    On the 6th of July 1856, the smoke rose from the first hearths in Buffalo County. In two years these were the only people in a large area with the exception of the Indians, who had a large camp in the same valley. In the beginning the women felt a little insecure with these neighbors, since they could not really depend on whether they would not, one fine day, be seized by war fury, storm down and scalp them all. It is told that one day when Jens Hovland was up on a ridge, he noted that there was great activity in the Indian camp and that an unusual number of Indians hopped around and howled. This could mean nothing else but that they were on the warpath, and with gloomy eyes, he hurried home, shut in his oxen and livestock, wife and children, barricaded the door defensively. He stared through the cracks, intending to sell his life as expensively as possible.
    He lived in this desperate defensive position a couple of days. But when he saw no Indians, he finally opened the door and began to breathe again.
    These Indians belonged to the Chippewa tribe, who were a peaceful folk. Often in the evenings, when their hunters came down the valley, each with his hind quarter of deer or some other wildlife on their back, they tended to peek in to one or another Norwegian and borrow a little tobacco or syrup.
    There were extensive agreements between the Sogninger and the Chippewa, through gestures and facial expressions, about how much syrup one should get for a deer quarter. Unlike other Indian tribes, they were very attentive about bringing things back that they had borrowed. When a pot was returned, it was usually filled with meat."
    Lyster Evangelical Lutheran Congregation, that was founded at Urne in 1856, was the first Norwegian congregation in the county. Its first priest was K. Thorstensen of The Norwegian Synod. The county's first Norwegian church was built by the aforementioned congregation in 1867. Now there are 8 Norwegian congregations and 8 churches, 4 belonging to The Norwegian Synod, 3 to The United Church and 1 to Hauge's Synod.
    The aforementioned Erik Alme, who was elected County Treasurer in 1884, was the first Norwegian county official here.
Norwegian place names: Norden, Urne and Nelson.

Burnett County,Wisconsin
    The Hon. Canute Anderson† from Lærdal, Sogn, was the first white settler in this county. His name in Norway was Knut Ingvarsen Sprakahaugen. He came from Koshkonong, Dane Co. and settled at Grantsburg in 1852. Later in the year came Thore Ingebrigtsen†, Thore Simonsen† and Peter Anderson, all from Hasseløen in Nordland. The new settlers' main sales products were potatoes, beans and meat. Their nearest marketplace was St. Croix Falls, which was about 35 miles away and to which they drove with oxen.
    The first settlers in the area of Timberland were A. J. Sand from Frosten near Trondhjem and Hans Arnes from Ringebu, Gudbrandsdalen.
    The first in the area of Webster was Johan Kjelmo from Maalselven.
    The first in Marshland was P. B. Johnson from Mo, Helgeland. There were only Indians when he came there.
    One of those who emigrated in the 60s writes, "Of our travel companions, many died, some on the sea, others in the quarantine station at Quebec. A virulent disease broke out on board. It was pitiful to see whole families lying helpless. The worst was to witness little children standing or lying and crying beside their dying, or sometimes, dead mothers. It was truly not pleasant to come to America in such conditions."
    The Lutheran congregation that was established at Wood River (near Grantsburg) in 1862 by Pastor Ole J. Hagestad of The Norwegian Synod, was the county's first Norwegian congregation. Its church was built in 1870. There are now 13 Norwegian congregations and 9 churches, 6 belonging to The Norwegian Synod, 2 to Hauge's Synod, 2 to The United Church, 2 to The Methodist Church and 1 to The Lutheran Free Church.
    The aforementioned Canute Anderson, the county's first settler, was also the first Norwegian county official here (1865) and the first Norwegian who represented Burnett County in the State Legislature (1878).
    Norwegian place names in Burnett County: Alstad, Anderson, Branstad, Ekdahl and Freya.

Calumet County, Wisconsin
    No Norwegian settlement can be found in this county. John Christophersen from Østre Slidre, Valders settled here (at Hayton) in 1883, but he is the only Norwegian in this area and he goes to the Norwegian church in Valders, Manitowoc Co.

Chippewa County, Wisconsin
    The settlement at Big Elk Creek, the first Norwegian settlement in this county, was founded in 1857 by Brant Hansen and three others from Bærum Jærnverk. Hansen, who is now a very old man, still lives in Albertville. The other three are dead and unfortunately, I have not found their names. During the first 2-3 years these men lived in the area, only Indians could be seen. Now it is different.
In the area of Cox, Chippewa County, a little settlement was established later - in 1878. The first there was Ole Pedersen Bjerke, from Nannestad.
    And in the area of Estella, there is also a small settlement, that was in 1881. Knut Hensricksen from Laurvik, was the first here.
    In Chippewa County, there are 11 Norwegian congregations and 6 churches, 6 of them belonging to The United Church, 3 to The Norwegian Synod and 2 to The Lutheran Free Church.
    Norwegian place names in this county: Eggan and Hofsted.

Clark County, Wisconsin
    Anton Larsen and Chr. Larson from Byaasen and Carl Nechelsen from Ørkedalen near Trondhjem, were the first Norwegian settlers in this county. They came from Black River Falls in  County and settled at Greenwood in 1870. The first Norwegian in Greenwood City was shoemaker Elias Pedersen Woddan, similarly from Trøndelagen. He settled there (Greenwood) in 1871.
    The congregation, that was founded in Greenwood in 1872 by Pastor A. O. Alfsen of The Norwegian Synod, was the first Norwegian congregation in the county. Now there are 10 Norwegian congregations and 6 churches, 5 of them belong to The United Church, 4 to The Norwegian Synod and 1 to The Baptists.
    For information in the political arena, see the section 'Norwegians in public positions in America.
    In Clark County there was a post office a short time ago with the good Norwegian name, Eidsvold.

Columbia County, Wisconsin
    The first Norwegian settlers in this county were Odd Johnson Himle†, Herman Hermansen†, John Fosmark† and Nils Fosmark all from Voss, as well as John Johnson Frondal†, Iver Vangen† and Mikkel Knudsen†, all from Sogn, and Hans Tollefsen† from Telemarken. They settled in the area of Otsego in 1845.
    They spread out over a large area and were, actually, the founders of two settlements - Bonnet Prairie and Spring Prairie.
    The new settlers took up wheat growing, which became the county's main source of income. It was 70-80 miles to the nearest marketplace, Milwaukee, and they went there by oxen. People, who worked for wages, earned 50 cents per day at that time.
    Elling Eielsen established a congregation at Spring Prairie in 1846 and Pastor J. W. C. Dietrichsen founded one in the same area the following year.
    Now, there are 13 congregations and 10 churches in Columbia Co., 7 of them belonging to The Norwegian Synod, 2 to hauge's Synod, 2 to Elling Eielsen's Society and 1 to The United Church.

Crawford County, Wisconsin
    The first Norwegian settler in this county was Ole Runice from Sogn. He settled in the Town of Freeman in 1850.
In 1852 came Ole O. Rossevand (Rosenwater) from Heggebostad and settled in the area of Rising Sun. He was the first, or at least one of the very first, there. At Koshkonong, where he stopped for a short time, his mother-in-law and many others died of cholera. R. served in the Civil War and took part in many bloody battles. Once, the regiment he belonged to, lost 300 men. (See the section, 'Norwegians in American wars')
    In 1853, a large settlement was established in the area of Soldiers Grove.
    The first there was Nils Petersen Bjørkum† from Erdahl, Sogn, Ole and Torger† Fortun from Lyster, Christ Hooversen†, and Endre Hestethun from Aardal, Hermund Opheim† from Solvor, Sogn. But even more Sogninger came in a short period, Jacob Hoflund, Hans Natvik†, Sjur Thompson Rundal† and Ole Thompson Rundal, all from Aardal, Erick Christensen Meljem, Jens Turbin, Asbjørn Olsen†, Christopher Johnson, teacher Knut O. Fortun† and Arne Larsen, all from Lyster, Andrew O. Lee from Hafslo, Ole Larsen Heller† and Ole Halvorsen† from Lærdal, Erik Sørensen Holseter from Solvorn and Henry Nilsen Opsul. About the same time came Halvor Halvorsen Græsdal† from Valders and Ole Olsen (Ur?) from Hardanger.
    The nearest marketplace was Prairie du Chien, which was 45 miles away. They had to go there with the wheat and other products they grew, and there they made their purchases. There was no other means of transport than oxen. One could not earn cash. The farmers would pay their workers with a bushel of wheat per day.
    Ole H. Kven, who lives a bit north of Freeman writes, "I emigrated in 1874 on the last sailing ship that brought emigrants to America. Not far from Newfoundland we collided with an iceberg and all the masts and everything on deck went overboard, while the ship itself was damaged. That was a shocking moment. The captain said that within 5 minutes, we would all be dead. But Providence determined that we should live - and within 24 hours, we were rescued by an English skipper.. However, we suffered from hunger and the skipper only had enough provisions for his crew, and we were 471 people. We received an English biscuit and a pint of water at noon every day for the remaining three weeks we were aboard, and in that time, 17 of our company died. Of us, who finally reached land, many were so weak that they could not walk. We were all Norwegians." It can be added that many of the first settlers in these parts had to walk right from Milwaukee to their destination.
    At the end of the 50s, Elling Eielsen established a congregation in Freeman Township. This was the first Norwegian congregation in Crawford County. Now there are 5 Norwegian congregations and 5 churches, 2 of them belong to The United Church, 2 to The Norwegian Synod and 1 to Hauge's Synod.
    T. R. Sime was the first Norwegian county official, Atley Petersen was the first Norwegian who represented this county in the Legislature - and J. O. Davidsen was the first Norwegian-born Governor in Michigan (he belonged here in Crawford Co.). See the section, 'Norwegians in public positions in America').

Dodge County, Wisconsin
    The first Norwegian settlement in the area of Ashippun was founded in 1843. The first settlers were, Hans Gasman†, Nils Gasman and Daniel Simonsen from Gjerpen, agronomist Ellef Bjørnson and Halvor Akerhougen from Saude, Telemarken, Ole Ourøe (?) from Solem as well as Peder Ness, G. Loeberg and Erik Helgesen all from Slemdal and Hans Stinsen from Kongsberg. Next after them came Halvor Salveson Rosvald, Christen Høier, Hans Danielsen,Peder Danielsen, Hans Røe, Christen Røe and Rasmus Jensen all from Gjerpen, John Johnson from Slemdal and Christen Sørensen from Bamle.
    There were only wild Indians nearby when the first Norwegian settlers settled in the above area.
One of the old settlers mentions in passing, that the canal bridges, that the emigrants had to pass under, were often so low that they had to bend down in the boat to not be hit. A youth from Ulefos that the man was traveling with to America (1846) had his head hit so hard that he died instantly.
    St. Olaf congregation, that was established at Ashippun in 1845 by an Episcopal priest was the first Norwegian congregation in the county. Its church was built in 1848. Now there are 2 Norwegian congregations and 2 churches, on of them belongs to The United Church and the other to the Methodists.

Door County, Wisconsin
    The first Norwegian settlement in Door Co. was established in the area of Ephraim in the 50s. Ole Larson from Skien was the first settler but Pastor A. M. Iversen from Kristiansand was the actual founder of the colony. (For more details, see an article under Milwaukee Co.)
    The settlement in the area of Hainesville was founded by Tallak Tellefsen Haines, Lars T. Eeg†, Halvor Tilstad, Søren Anderson as well as Elias, Ole and Jens Halvorsen, all from Bamle, Knud Knudsen† from Laurvig and a couple of others (whose names can not be included, because they were illegibly written so that the author could not read them)
    The first in Washington Harbor was Captain Goodlet Goodletsen from Holt parish. He settled there in 1866.
    In 1871, the Hainesville settlement was almost wiped out by a forest fire. The fire came from the south with a powerful wind. There were many charred bodies in the area where it ravaged. But luckily, the wind turned when the fore reached the Norwegian settlement. Haines and his family escaped by the skin of their teeth.
    The first settlers of Door Co. supported themselves through logging, fishing and game. The new settlers sat in straightened circumstances there as in many other places. There was enough work, but a man could not get more than 50 cents a day in pay.
    The Moravian Brethren, who established (and built a church) at the end of the 50s, are the oldest Norwegian congregation here. The first Norwegian Lutheran congregation was established at Vignes in 1872 by Pastor L. M. Biørn, then of the Norwegian Synod. The first Norwegian Lutheran church was built by the latter (Tanum) congregation in 1883. Now there are 12 Norwegian congregations and 13 churches, 8 belonging to The United Church and 4 to The Moravian Brethren. There is besides a congregation belonging to the Mission Friends(?) and one of the Quakers, that are partly Norwegian.
    Eli Thompson, Sturgeon Bay was the first Norwegian to hold a public position in this county.
    Norwegian place names; Fagerwick, Kolberg, Vignes and Hainesville (named after the Norwegian Haines, mentioned above).

Douglas County, Wisconsin
    In this county, which also includes the City of Superior, there are many Norwegians. Here there are 6 Norwegian congregations and 4 churches, 3 of them belong to The United Church, 2 to The Lutheran Free Church and 1 to The Methodist Church.
The first Norwegian to hold a public position in Douglas Co. was Chas. Lagro, County Clerk. For information about him and others, see the section, 'Norwegians in Public Positions in America.'
    For information about 'Superior Tidende' and more about Norwegian newspapers here, see the section, 'Norwegian-American newspapers and periodicals.'

Dunn County, Wisconsin
    The first Norwegian settlement in this county was founded in the area of Elk Mound in 1859. Jacob Andreason†, Hans Haagensen†, Harold Tillesen, Gabriel Jensen and Henrik Nilsen†, all from Bæreum were the first, they came from the Waupon settlement in Fond du Lac Co. Next after them came Ludvig Nilsen†, Hans Ludvigsen†, Jens Tillesen†, Martin L. Howe† and Even Bentsen†, all from Bærum, Christian Christophersen† and Engebrigt Sørensen from Ringerike, and Torsten Olsen from Hadeland. Only wild animals and Indians had their home in this area before the Norwegians came.
    The settlement in Colfax and Sand Creek was established in 1862. Ole E. Running (from him, Running Valley gets its name) as well as Knud Salvesen and Nils Olsen were the first settlers here. Ole Running was from Skien. Next after these came Ole Larsen from Drammen, Gunnar Kinney from Telemarken and many more.
    The land was covered in forests and therefore hard to clear, but they did - inch by inch. The nearest marketplace was Eau Claire and there they took the wheat, oats, potatoes and other products they harvested. Oxen - and Shank's mare was - naturally the only means of transportation. The sawmills paid 50-75 cents a day in those days, so it was not easy to get rich.
    Mrs. Ole Torgersen, a pioneer woman from Menomonie writes, "I left Kristiania the 11th April 1868 on the sailship Hanna Par (Hannah Parr) and all went well for three weeks but then a hurricane blew up. The mainmast and one of the other masts broke right at the deck. Then a pilot came and conducted us into Lemrick (Limerick) Ireland where we remained for 6 weeks while the ship was repaired. We ate up our traveling food there and the captain had to buy provisions for us before we set to sea again. Arriving in Quebec, we had to wait for a while again before we could go further. While we were there a Valders boy drowned while swimming. The trip continued partly by train, that resembled cattle cars of our day, and partly by boat. We landed in La Crosse, Wis., and continued the trip up the Mississippi River to Reed's Landing, Minn. From there up the Chippewa River to Goose Lake, Peru Town, where Mrs. Torger Oleson and Mrs. Tore Lund came to lead me to my destination."
    A pioneer man in Menomonie writes, "This happened long before the railway was built down to Menomonie and long before Menomonie was a city. There was a mixed train - one that carried both people and cattle and all the goods one needed - and stopped up on the hill. The worst was that it came and arrived when - or the driver - found it convenient. No one knew anything about a timetable. Then one day, we heard a whistle, and off it went with all those who wished to travel. Among these was old Pastor R. R. The others ran as fast as they could up the hill, but he neither could or would run. Quite the contrary, when he had gotten a way up, he stopped and sat down to rest, and he called to the others, 'Tell the conductor that Pastor R. R. is coming!' The rest of the story, one can guess. The conductor did not wait. When the priest came up to the so-called station, he saw the back end of the train far off on the horizon, and that he was in a bad mood, he said himself. Later, when he became accustomed to American ways, he was amused by the occurrence. In this country, it helps little to shout one's title or position. He said himself, that it was a bad habit that he had brought from Norway. But he, and others, brought many good habits from there."
    Bærum's Lutheran congregation, that was founded in Elk Mound in the 60s, was the first Norwegian congregation in this county. In 1878, it built a church. Now there are 19 Norwegian congregations and 16 churches, 8 of them belong to The Norwegian Synod, 8 to The United Church, 2 to The Lutheran Free Church and 1 to The Evangelical Free Church.
    Samuel Omdahl†, Menomonie was the first Norwegian to hold a public position in Dunn Co., when he was elected sheriff in 1874.

Eau Claire County, Wisconsin
    Who the first permanent Norwegian in Eau Claire City was is not known. It is certain, however, that some had settled here by the beginning of the 60s. In that time, though, Eau Claire was more an entry place and stop for people who were seeking a home further west.
    In the south part of the county (in the area of Norseville and Anthony), where we now find many Norwegians, the first was Knut Knutsen from Næs, Hallingdal. He settled there in 1871.
    "The First Norwegian Evangelical Congregation of Eau Claire" (City) was also the first Norwegian congregation in the county, it was established in 1865. Its first priest was Amund Johnson, of The Conference. The church, that was built by it in 1869-71, was the first Norwegian church in the county. Now there are 7 Norwegian congregations and 6 churches, 3 of them belong to The United Church, 2 to The Norwegian Synod and 2 to The Methodist Church.
    For information of a political nature, see the section, 'Norwegians in public positions in America'.
    For information about 'Arbeideren', 'Reform', see the section, 'Norwegian-American newspapers and periodicals'
    Norwegian place names (in Eau Claire County): Drammen, Ness and Norseville.

Florence County, Wisconsin
    In this county, the number of Norwegians is still small.
    Here an excerpt of a new settler's diary:
    "April 10th: Came to my log cabin in the clearing after 40 miles of hard driving. The trip took me 2 days and the route was very poor, since the frost is not yet out of the soil. Set my apple trees in a circle in the garden - fed the horses and oxen and had a good cup of tea. And so ended my first pioneer day.
    11th: My helper Hans watered the horses and cattle, and since it was Sunday, we went to Prayer Meeting.
    12th: Admonished Hans because he had been out too late at night, planted apple and flowering trees, worked on the fence, checked the meat barrel and found it good, fixed the spout on the tea kettle, borrowed a frying pan and cooked potatoes in a brewing kettle since I had forgotten to provide the house with good utensils. One cow calved and a sheep had a lamb.
    13th: Hired a cook for $4 a month, bought 4 cows for $18 each.
    14th: Sowed wheat after soaking the seed in salt water and dried it with lime, planted early peas and other garden seed. Hans ploughed with oxen. Two sheep lambed.
    15th and 16th: Raining both days. Worked on 4 new rakes and shafted the new axes. Repaired the hay barn.
    17th: All working on the roads.
    18th: All at Prayer meeting, since this is Sunday, and we never fail to attend services. Terrible thunder. We got home from town by the skin of our teeth.
    19th: A neighbor was killed by a tree that fell on him.
    20th: Sowed more oats and finished corn planting. Slaughtered a calf, sold a quarter for $1.25.
    21st: Rainy day. Sheared the sheep that were brought in before the rain began.
    22nd: Hans spread manure before the plough, I set potatoes by hand after him. It must be noted that as long as the tree stumps remain, it is impossible to drill the potato fields.
    23rd: Completed the new fences and built a little, tiny house far back in the garden, of which there are very few in this area, but that people with any sense of decency would not be without. There are only poorly civilized people and no Norwegians in my neighborhood.
    24th: Hilled the corn. Intolerably hot, the thermometer read 88 Fahrenheit in the shade.
    25th: Sunday and we were in church.
    26th: Rainy. Sharpened scythes.
    12th Sept.: Have been too busy during the summer to keep up the diary. Begin again today. Again rain with a terrible storm with thunder and lightning. A barn burned in the neighborhood when a worker went in it with a lit pipe. Some people have a pipe in their mouth at all times. Slaughtered a fat calf.
    13th: A dried cow set to feeding for slaughter. One of my neighbor's oxen died because it had come into my cornfield and over eaten. This had the happy consequence that he (the neighbor) came and fixed his part of the fence, which I had never before been able to get him to do.
    14th: Hans churned before breakfast, cut wood for the kitchen. It was too hot to plow at midday, so Hans and I worked on the fences.
    15th: Good weather. Drove to town with beef, butter and eggs, also booked some of the harvest. Was happy to hear that several Norwegians are coming here to displace these Bohemians, or whatever they call themselves these days"

Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin
    The brothers Ole† and Kolbjørn Helgesen from Sokendal, Dalerne, were the first Norwegian settlers in this county. They came from the Rock River settlement, where they had lived for two years and settled at Waupon in 1845. Next after them came Engebret Madsen as well as Isak and Halvor Langerud, all from Gjerpen, the brothers Lars, Hans, Anund, Torkel and Thorsten Thompson as well as Halvor and Gullik Gulliksen, all from Saude, Telemarken and Sven Gulbransen from Aker, near Kristiania.

Forest County, Wisconsin
    In the area of Crandon there is a single Norwegian. Otherwise there are none to speak of in this county. And there is no Norwegian congregation. Pastor Erick O. Mørstad of Elling Eielsen's Society runs mission activity among the Indians in this area.

Gates County, Wisconsin
    The first Norwegian settler in this county was Jens Anderson, who settled at Glen Flora. He is from Kragerø. The year he settled here in Gates Co. is not known. This county (it was earlier a part of Chippewa Co.) is, however, not old.
    Most Norwegians live in the area of Glen Flora, Ingram and Hawkins. Three congregations were established in this area by Pastor R. M. Minne of The United Church. There are two churches, one in Glen Flora, the other in Hawkins.

Grant County, Wisconsin
    The brothers Andrew and Ansten Petersen from Rollag, Numedal were the first settlers in Grant Co., they settled in Fennimore Township in 1855. In Fennimore as well as Castle Rock, Homer and Boscobel and area, here are now some Norwegians and many of them are found in 'Sammenstillinger af Norske Sambygdinger i Amerika', the book's last part.
    There are two Norwegian churches and 2 congregations in the aforementioned area, both belonging to The United Church.

Green County, Wisconsin
   The east part of Green Co. was settled right after Rock Co., where the first Norwegian settlement in Wis. was established. (See Rock Co.)
    In the west part of Green Co., at Browntown, Lasse L. Boyenton from Sogn, was the first. He settled here in 1844.
The first in York Township were Christen J. Ula† (Ula P. O. is named after him), Ole K. Hougen†, A. O. Eidsmoe, C. O. Eidsmoe, M. O. Eidsmoe, Ole O. Sletten†, Tore O. Sletten, Lars Hellanshagen, Halvor Kristiansmoen†, Martin Bringager†, Mons G. Løkke†, Erik S. Sviggum, Johannes Sønnesun†, Anders C. Wee†, Rasmus Holand† and his stepsons, Erik, Christen, Syver†, Bjørn and Haldor Holand†, Gulbrand O. Trondrud†, Jermus O. Sorei†, Torger Skarto†, Ole Lia†, Halvor Vennen, Christian Berek†, Peder Houg†, Anders Strømmen†, Ole Sørom†, Gulbrand Winger, Nils Lunda, Sven Øen, Nils Nessa, Edward Børreson, Anon Kjelsvig, Gulbrand Sørom, Magnus Anderson†, Nils O. Rood, Brynjulf Enversen, Kittel Jeglom, Johannes Groner, Ole Fuglelien, Helge Olsen, Guttorm Maler†, Guttorm Bakken†, Hans Framsta, Erik Myren†, Thomas Lanmark†, Amund Jorde, Engebret Lee†, Aadne Borgesen†, Anton Selgen, Elias Christophersen†, Erick Mikkelsen† and J. H. Johnson.
    Pastor Magelsen of The Norwegian Synod established the first Norwegian congregation at Browntown in 1860. Its church was erected 1860-61. There are now 5 Norwegian congregations and 5 churches in Green County, 3 of them belong to The United Church and 2 to The Norwegian Synod.
A footnote to Green County:
    *One of the pioneers at Brodhead was Tore Knudsen from Mostadværket. While he lived in Norway, he made himself famous in the community for his verses - about gossipy women for example. Then, to such women's great annoyance, they were not free, for he also continued his art after he came to America.

Iowa County, Wisconsin
    The brothers Erick†, Ole† and Halsten† Halvorsen from Vægli, Nummedal were the first Norwegian settlers in Iowa Co. They came direct from Norway and settled 3-4 miles from Dodgeville in 1841. Halsten was a blacksmith, Ole and Erick were farmers. Next after them came John Lee from Toten. Wheat, barley and rye were their main source of income. The day pay at that time varied between 25 and 50 cents.
    Knut Halvorsen Bromsdalen† from Numedal was the first in the area of Pine Knob. He settled there in 1846.
In 1846 a settlement was established in the area of Moscow, Ole Sandersen from Hallingdal and Ellef Knudsen from Nissedal were the first there.
    Otter Creek congregation (in Highland Township) and Dodgeville congregation, that were established in 1850 (or thereabouts), were the first Norwegian congregations in the county. They were in The Norwegian Synod.
    Their first permanent priest was Johan Munch, who took over the post in 1855. Now here are 6 Norwegian congregations and 4 churches, 4 of them belong to The United Church, 1 to The Norwegian Synod and 1 to The Lutheran Free Church.
    Gunder Paulson of Hollandale was the fist Norwegian who held a public position here, he was elected County Treasurer in 1884.
    In Iowa County there is only one place, whose name is said to be Norwegian, namely the aforementioned Hollandale, to which the Hon. Bjørn Holland likely gives his name.

Jackson County, Wisconsin
    The brothers Knut† and Ole† Anderson Lunde from Telemarken were the first Norwegian settlers in Jackson Co. They came from the south of the State and settled in the area of Taylor in 1848. Next after them came Sjur Finney, Nils Finney† and Anders Skutly†, all from Voss as well as Gunder, John† and Ole† Nickels from Telemarken.
    They lived in dugouts (earth cellars, or more precisely, holes) for the first years. Wheat and oats were the main items for sale. Day pay for farm or forest work was 50-75 cents. Oxen and log-wheeled wagons were the only means of transport at that time.
    The first in the area of Black River Falls was Martin Matson from Gudbrandsdalen. The settlement here was called 'Lille Norge' (Little Norway) and the oldest (United Church) congregation has the same fair name.
    The first in the area of Merrillan was Christian Heierdal from Urskoug parish.
    In the area of Hixton, the first were, Anton Baardsen from Trøndelagen, Simon Simensen, Mikael Simonsen, T. A. Haugen, John J. Aasegaard, Halvor P. Qværnsletten, Peder P. Lien, Simon A. Kjollom, Jørgen B. Hovdet†, Ole B. Hoff, Hans Embretsen Furuhovdet, Ole S. Eidet, Even S. Bransness, Erik A. Lien, Peder T. Bihaugen, Simon Foldet, Esten Samuelsen, Iver Tronson, T. T. Thompson, Ole H. Riismoen and Halvor Pedersen, all from Foldalen, Østerdalen, Ole C. Knudsen and Ingvald Knudsen from Land parish and Stengrim Hansen from Syndalen. And at City Point, were Hans Olsen from Aamot, Østerdalen, Anders Amundsen from Vang, Hedemarken, E. R. Holm from Lillehammer and the Fransen family from Enebak near Kristiania, the first.
    Martin Matson, a pioneer at Black River Falls, tells that in the first years he lived on his farm, he harvested nothing other than some potatoes and a little maize. He had no other tools to work the soil with than a homemade wooden plough, that his oxen pulled through the hard earth, and that now and then collided with tree roots, stumps and rocks. In the winter he ground his maize in a coffee mill, and that was all the flour he had to live off. The first wheat, he threshed in this manner; he laid the wheat on the barn floor and walked his oxen back and forth until the wheat separated from the straw.
    To get their grain milled, the new settlers had to drive all the way to Sparta, and many times there could be hunger before they came back and made bread of it.
    Beaver Creek congregation, that was established in Franklin in 1860 and went into The Norwegian Synod, was the first Norwegian congregation in Jackson Co. It must, however, be noted that the Trempealeau Valley congregation that lies on the county border between Blair and Taylor and that is listed under Trempealeau County, was already established in 1857.
    The first Norwegian church in this area was built by the Beaver Creek congregation in 1864. There are now 13 Norwegian congregations and 11 churches in Jackson County, 5 belong to The United Church, 3 to The Norwegian Synod, 3 to Hauge's Synod and 2 to Elling Eielsen's Society.
    Olavus Gulord of Northfield was the first Norwegian to hold a public office here.
    There was once a post office with the Norwegian name Tindahl in Jackson County.

Jefferson County, Wisconsin
    Pioneer and Civil War veteran, Torger Wesley tells, "I emigrated with my parents from Gran parish, Hadeland in the summer of 1848. We were supposed to depart from Hamburg, but when we came to Drammen, war had broken out between Denmark and Germany and all passenger traffic from the Scandinavian countries was stopped. After waiting 7 weeks in Drammen we got passage in a sailship to New York. From New York to Albany we went by steamship and from Albany to Buffalo, we went by canal boat, that was drawn by horses. That took all of 6 days. From Buffalo to Milwaukee we continued by steamship, and from the latter, by horse wagon to the Rock River settlement in Jefferson County. It was not good here. Within a few weeks, 7 of the family's 9 members became sick and father was out of money. We got through the winter in a way, but later things got better."
    A large number of Norwegians (some of whom had come there as early as 1842) moved away from the Rock River settlement. (The aforementioned T. Wesley now lives in Garfield, Portage Co., Wis.)
    Since I am talking about the old settlements here, I should refer the readers to the section 'Norwegians in American Wars) There one will again find these pioneers - while their children, in newer settlements elsewhere in the book.
    At the end of the 40s a Norwegian Lutheran congregation was established in Jefferson County and several were established later, none of them exist now. There is a little Adventist congregation, that is all. But, in the neighboring counties, it is quite different.
    Kroghville Post Office, which has gotten its name from Norwegians, was closed a long time ago.

Juneau County, Wisconsin
    Nils Bjørnson†, Ole Gjermundsen and Ole Johnson†, all from Øvre Telemarken were the first Norwegian settlers in this county. They came from Dane Co. and settled in the area of Manston in 1850. Later that year came Knudt Ormson† from Suldal, and Knudt Mikkelsen and Anders Mikkelsen from Røldal. They built log cabins and began clearing the land, which was not easy since the land was covered in forest. Wheat growing was their main source of income, but the wheat they had to drive to Portage, about 40 miles. They used oxen.
    The first in the area of Miner was Timon Aslaksen from Vestre Slidre, Valders. He also came from Dane Co. Wis. That was in 1857 and he settled at Miner. Later in the year came Lewis Larsen from Hurdalen. This settlement was called Valders Prairie.
    The Telemarking, Ole Olsen Bordalen, who died here (at Fountain) in 1904, was at that time the oldest Norwegian in America. He was born in 1799 and was therefore about 105 years old. Not once in his long life has he had need for a doctor, but he has been blind for 18 years. (A woman is now the oldest person in this country, see Barron Co. Wis.)
    Lemonweir Lutheran Congregation that was established by Pastor H. A. Preus in 1854, is the oldest Norwegian congregation in Juneau Co. The letter of call was written so:
    "To Herr Pastor Phrøis; Since we live in a little colony that is distant from the other Norwegian settlements and has not, since we began to settle here, had a visit from a Norwegian priest. So we are here in agreement and wish in our hearts that we would be joyful to see a Norwegian priest visit our colony once or twice a year. Since you serve at various times by visiting the Norwegian colony north of Portage, that borders partly on the Wisconsin River, the trip here to our settlement will not be too far in comparison with the road from 'sand' (Sun?) Prairie, from its bridge to our colony is 2 miles in a northwest line through Adams County to where we are, which is called Town of Lisabon in Lemonweir. We hereby all wish and have the hope we to meet with you if you could make a trip this summer so we could speak with you about what is written above. We have, here, begun to build a schoolhouse by which we have selected a place for a church which would want dedicated. Since we wish our request fulfilled, we wish an answer if you what time you could come and if you could write how much you would ask for each trip here. We are 12 settlers and about 43 persons.
Adams County Town of Lisabon, May 22, 1854.
    We will here sign our names, as many of us who are present as we write this letter. We greet you, all of us and have the hope that we will see you this summer. Live well.
    Lemmonvier Town of Lisabon, May 22, 1854.
    John Halvorsen
    Knud Ormson
    Ole Jhanson
    Nils Bjørnsen
    Gunder Johansen
    Laurans Augondsen
    Andres Mikelsen
    The address of our settlement
    Seven Mile Creek
    Adams County, Wis."
    At the bottom of the letter, Pastor H. A. Preus has written, in pencil, the following notes about a part of the way from Spring Prairie to Lemonveir:
    12 miles from Kingsberry Tavern -- no road.
    10 miles from Rogger's (dger's) Mill -- has road.
    The first Norwegian church in the county was built by the aforementioned congregation in 1861. Now there are 6 churches and 6 congregations, 3 belonging to The Norwegian Synod and 3 to The United Church.
    Odd Larson of Mouston was the first Norwegian who held a public office here. He was elected County Treasurer in 1884.
    Some time ago in Juneau County there was a post office with the name Suldal. (after Suldal in Ryfylke)

Kenosha County, Wisconsin
    In this county, Norwegians have never achieved a real foothold. The only place one can say there is any number of them is Kenosha City. There is also a congregation that is partly Norwegian. The congregation has a church.

Kewaunee County, Wisconsin
    John† and Tollef† Øien from Østerdalen were the first Norwegian settlers in this county. They came from Port Washington and settled in the neighborhood of Tisch Mills in 1854. Later in the year came Ole† and Didrik† Christensen from Lier near Drammen and Ole Jensen from Kristiania. Halvor Johnson from Stavanger came about the same time.
    They settled at Skovland, built log cabins and began clearing land. Day laborers earned 25 cents per day and board. The settlement's main source of income was wheat and rye. The nearest marketplace was Two Rivers, to which they had to drive with oxen.
    In 1855, a Norwegian Lutheran congregation was established by Pastor J. A. Ottesen of The Norwegian Synod. The church was built about 1860. There are now two churches and two congregations, one belonging to The Norwegian Synod, the other to The United Church.
    Norwegian place names in Kewaunee County: Krok and Norman.

La Crosse County, Wisconsin
    John Anderson (Bekkemelum)† and Christian Ekern†, both from Biri were, according to a couple of reports, the first Norwegian settlers in La Crosse County. They came from Dane County and settled in Louis Valley in 1850. Later in the year came Ouden Evenson from Ringsaker.
    In 1851 came Mons Anderson†, Stengrim Olsen and Lars Knudsen Bye from Valders, Henry R. Solberg and Charles B. Solberg from Lillehammer, Børre Støen and Ole Støen from Ringsaker as well as John Kjøs, Lars Olstad, Hans Gunderschwein, O. Nelson, Paul Tollefsen, Lars Strand, Christian Hulberg and G. Onrud, whose birthplace in Norway is unknown to the author. All these settled in Bostwick Valley. (The aforementioned Mons Anderson moved later in to La Crosse, where he established himself as a businessman. He founded and was for a long time the owner of the largest store west of Chicago).
    About the first settlers in Bostwick Valley, it is told that when they came driving with their loads to steep hills, they unhooked their oxen and eased the wagons and loads down the hills with strong ropes.
    Wheat, oats and potato growing were the county's leading source of income. Pay in those times was 50 to 75 cents a day.
    Col. A. Knudsen, a Civil War veteran, who now lives in Grand Forks, N. Dak., but who in his time ran 'the first Norwegian hotel' in La Crosse, tells that among his guests he had such important people as P. Jelm Hansen, Minister Schrøder, Editor Fleischer, Dr. Høeg and Sheriff Solberg.
    Engel Thompson Ringøen, one of the old settlers at Beaver Creek, where there are now many Norwegians, tells, "When I emigrated in 1858 on the bark 'Hebe' from Bergen, we had a devil of a time, you can be sure. The ship heeled and rocked so all the joints creaked. From the passengers, most of whom were seasick, one could hear moaning and complaining, some were in absolute despair. In the weak lanterns that lit the cabin, one could see people in various situations, partly or fully flat, clinging to the walls so not to accompany the chests, boxes and milk cans in their wild rattling about in steerage. The lids of some of the milk cans had flown off and the contents pored out. One man who just came in the cabin and saw the mess, exclaimed, "Lord help us, look at all the 'skyr' that has been lost!" This and much else awoke some humor among us who were more healthy and used to the sea. Sadly, the sadness was mixed with the comic. That night, amid all the hullabaloo, the company was increased by an emigrant, a little girl..."
    Mr. Thompson, however, wished to forget the 'skyr' as soon as he reached the meat pots in Stoughton (Wis.) But here he was disappointed since the Norwegian farmers had not become that rich yet. He mentions for example that he had to do some construction work for 30 cents a day. But after the teacher (later State Senator) John A. Johnson (Skivnes) had taught him enough English so he could work anywhere, things got better.
    In 1856, a Norwegian Lutheran congregation was established in La Crosse Co. This encompassed a large area, namely Half Way Creek, Lewis Valley, La Crosse Valley and Bostwick Valley. Pastor H. A. Stub was its first priest. Now there are 22 congregations and 19 churches, 10 belonging to The Norwegian Synod, 6 to The United Church, 3 to The Lutheran Free Church, 2 to The Methodist Church and 1 to the Baptists.
    Henry L. Solberg†, La Crosse, was the first Norwegian county official here, since he was elected sheriff in 1859.
The first Norwegian who represented this county in the State Legislature was A. C. Hansen, Mindoro, elected in 1900.
For information about 'Fædrelandet og Emigranten', 'Illustrert Børneblad', 'Amerika', 'Varden', 'Folkevennen', 'Det Udflyttede Norge', 'La Crosse Tidende' and 'Indremissionæren' that all were published in La Crosse for a shorter or longer time, see the section, 'Norwegian-American Newspapers and Periodicals'.
    For information about Lutheran College that began at Half Way Creek in 1861 and the La Crosse Norwegian Lutheran Hospital, raised in 1902, see the respective institution's sections.
    In La Crosse County, where Norwegians are otherwise quite prominent, there is only one Norwegian place name, Holmen, a post office. They should have had more.

Lafayette County, Wisconsin
    Peder Davidsen Skjervheim from Hardanger as well as Sjur Sjursen Ulvund† and Peder Iversen Undi† from Voss, were the first Norwegian settlers in this county. They came from Chicago and settled in the area of Wiota in 1841. Next after them came Ole Undi† from Voss, Thore Thompson† from Tindal and Ashley Gundersen† from Nummedal. Among the very first settlers there was also a Mr. Knut Knutsen†.
    They settled in forested land, built their log cabins and began to clear and prepare the land for farming. Wheat became the settlement's main source of income. At first they had no closer trading place than Milwaukee and Chicago and they had to drive there with oxen and 'kubberuller'. For cutting fence posts and ordinary labor they were paid 50 cents per day, and for harvest work, 75 cents per day. (If one was offered such pay in our days, everyone would go on strike).
    A letter from Mrs. Martin Johnson of South Wayne reads, in abbreviated form, "At your request, I will write a bit about the first settlers around here. My father, Peder Davidsen Skjervheim, from Hardanger, came to America in 1837 with his married sister and her family. They settled in Chicago where father, who was a bachelor, obtained employment. My mother, who was born in Vang Parish, Bergens Stift, and whose maiden name was Marthe Thorstensdatter - she and her sisters with (their) families came to Chicago the following year. In 1841, Sjur Ulvund, Peder Undi and my father came here, where they took land and built their log cabins. Afterwards they went to Chicago by ox team, the others after their families, father after a bride, to whom he was married by Pastor Clausen, and then they went the same long way and the same transport back to their farms in Wisconsin.
    But there was much sickness (malaria was the worst) in the new settlement. There was also poverty, in that what one sold was cheap, while what one had to buy was expensive. After bringing their farm products to Milwaukee or Chicago, they got 50 cents for a bushel of wheat, 3 cents for a pound of meat etc.
    In 1850, father went to Chicago to meet two of his brothers who had then come from Norway with their families. There was, alas, at that time cholera (in Chicago) and when he got there, some of his family was sick and others dead. And father shared that fate with the others, they died and were buried at the place where Lincoln Park is now located. Only two small boys were saved. Only after many weeks did my mother hear about my father's death.
    She was later married to Ole Monsen from Torpen in Land Parish, who had lost his wife and three children on their trip and who was also alone."
    Their condition improved bit by bit - also in this settlement.
    There are 10 Norwegian congregations and 8 churches in Lafayette Co., 7 belonging to The United Church, 2 to The Lutheran Free Church and 1 to The Norwegian Synod.

Langlade County, Wisconsin
    Hans Honen from Graatenmoen, Telemarken, was the first Norwegian settler in this county. He came from Waupaca Co. and settled at Antigo in 1880.
    In the area of Elcho, where there is a little Norwegian settlement, Thorwald Solberg from Kristiania and Lewis K. Lee from Herrefos, were the first. They came there in 1885.
    Potato growing and logging were the settlers' main source of income.
    There is a congregation belonging to The United Church.

Lincoln County, Wisconsin
    Nils Hansen from Ulefos was the first Norwegian settler in this county. He settled in the area of Donavan.
In Merrill, H. Gundersen and Martin Larsen from Hedemarken, were the first.
    The Norwegian settlement in the area of Chat was founded in 1883. Ole G. Larsen from Hedrum Parish as well as Henry H. Johnson, Anton J. Farmen, Jakob Odberg, Anton Hansen, Charley H. Johnson, Sam S. Dahl, Johan Farmen, Thor E. Kvarnes, Hendrik Hendriksen, Edward Aske, Elev Sigurdsen, Gullik Helgesen, Syver Horgen, John Horgen, Andrew Horgen, Ole Anderson, Thomas Alm, Syver Thomsen and Jonas Thomson were the first there.
    They supported themselves with logging operations and mixed farming.
    Vor Frelsers congregation, that was established at Chat in 1895 by Pastor A. O. Dolven of the Norwegian Synod, was the first Norwegian congregation in the county. There are now 3 congregations, each with its own church, 1 belonging to The Norwegian Synod, 1 to The United Church and 1 to The Evangelical Free Church.

Manitowoc County, Wisconsin
    Until 1848, Manitowoc County was ruled by wild animals and Indians, but then the Valdriser came and made the original inhabitants obstinate. It was in 1848 then that Anders Aabol† from Nordre Aurdal, Stephen Helle†, Thomas Helle† and Gudmund Brekken, all from Vang, as well as Juul Gulhaug from Slidre settled in this area, that was called The Valders settlement, and where the the post offices Valders and Oslo were founded in the course of time. Another part of the territory that the Norwegians occupied was called Gjerpen. But there were more than the mentioned persons and families that came to Manitowoc in 1848. Later in the year came Ole† and Søren† Volstad from Gjerpen, Ole Svendsen† from Arendal, Anders Aanensen Bjørkhus† from Grimstad and Halvor Wilson† from the Skien area. Next after them came Halvor† and Johan† Johnson and Hans† Hengning, Hans Helland† and Erik Enochsen, all from the Stavanger area, Ole Lykset† from Ringsaker, Ole O. Helle†, Gulbrand Berge† and Johannes Tollefsen†, all from Valders as well as Ole Evensen Hovi, Gulbrand Gulbrandsen Prestegaarden, Anders C. Kval, Johannes Rebne (?) and Knud Oppen and more.
    Forestry and wheat growing was the settlers' main source of income. For land clearing, the pay was 50 cents a day. Oxen did service as draft animals, both at home on the farm and for the long city trips.
    The above information I have received from various quarters. I shall however, quote a little of what Prof. A. A. Veblen writes about the first Valdres settlement in America (the one in Manitowoc Co., Wis.):
    "----When the mighty trees were felled, the branches lopped off and cut into large logs, they had to be rolled and stacked for burning. All the power of the community's men and oxen had to come together for a great 'log bee'. One can believe that it was a mighty task. It was a delight to see the great logs set right with the pikes. When evening came and smiled on the huge piles of tree trunks, there could sometimes be joy enough. They were the victors over the proud forest kings, and they contently ate as man needed to eat, of the good food that the women had provided, and besides they had flasks and glasses as an incentive throughout the day.
    But it was not just the clearing and cultivation of the land around the stumps and the problem of difficult tree roots that tested the new settlers' sinews and patience. Even though they had very hard work laid on them, there were also other frightening dangers to experience. Often there were tense adventures with aggressive bears, wolves and wildcats and even the forest animals' great numbers and their taste for the seed grain caused conflict and trouble.
    But now the forest has long disappeared and log cabins are barely remembered by the young. Where the tamarack swamp once lay, a puffing locomotive now races by. Where the octagonal, timbered Valders Church stood on the rock slope, now stands a splendid church of a wholly other appearance and style. Prosperity smiles everywhere and the old days remain as a dream from childhood's imagination. The community is populous, but a number of clever people have moved from there and across the northwest and many of them are the new community's leaders and fine people.
    It was particularly from Slidre and Vang, but a number from Aurdal also, that the people came. They have well retained their language and the old customs are far from having died out. A remarkable number of the young people have taken different occupations than their parents, especially trade and all sorts of business.
    Manitowoc Norwegian Lutheran congregation, that was established in 1850 by Pastor H. A. Stub of The Norwegian Synod, was the first Norwegian congregation in the county. Past. J. A. Ottesen, of the same Synod, was its first priest. The first Norwegian church in the county was built at Gjerpen in 1851. Now there are 6 Norwegian churches and 6 congregations, 4 belonging to the Norwegian Synod and 2 to The United Church.
    For information in the political field, see the section, 'Norwegians in public positions in America'.
    Norwegian place names in Manitowoc County; Valders, Gjerpen, Oslo and Northeim.

Marathon County, Wisconsin
    In the area of the Johnson P. O., where there is a small Norwegian settlement, Martin Thoresen from Kragerø was the first. He settled here in 1888.
    Pastor Mikkelsen of The United Church established a congregation here in 1891. The church was built in 1892. Now there are 2 congregations, one belonging to The United Church, the other to The Norwegian Synod.
    Norwegian place names; Holt Bergen and Johnson.

Marinette County, Wisconsin
    The first Norwegian farmers in this county were P. Pederson† from Blakjer, Gudbrandsdalen and Andrew Olson, who settled in Porterfield in 1875.
    But it is probable that there were Norwegians in Marinette City before that time.
    There are 8 Norwegian congregations and 7 churches in this county, 3 of them belong to The United Church, 3 to The Lutheran Free Church and 2 to The Methodist Church.
    Hans B. Pouse†, who was elected County Clerk in 1880, was the first Norwegian to hold a public office here.
    Post offices Konsted and Amberg have, as far as is known, gotten their names from Norwegians.

Marquette County, Wisconsin
    With the exception of Even Hansen from Næs, Øvre Romerike and a few other Norwegians who have settled in the area of Briggsville, there is no Norwegian population in this county.
    At the aforementioned place there is a small congregation, belonging to The Norwegian Synod.

Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
    The Muskego settlement, that was founded in Waukesha and Racine Counties in the beginning of the 40s, also stretched into Milwaukee County - its southwest corner. The settlement's history is found in those counties.
However, there are not many Norwegian farmers in Milwaukee County.
    But we find many countrymen in Milwaukee City, but who was the first is difficult to say. It is, however, certain that he or those who first settled in Milwaukee were seafarers. Captain Saveland, the first one we know about, came here about 1840. And of the others that settled here in the beginning of the 40s mentioned a boarding house host by the name of Nordbo† as well as the Kildal family and Mr. John Thoresen† (later one of the city's leading businessman). A great part of Milwaukee's Norwegian population is, as suggested above, seafarers and they have therefore won the name as such. Many of them are ship masters, yes, and a considerable number are owners of the ships they skipper. There are as well many Norwegian tradesmen (with own homes) and not just a few business and professional men of Norwegian origin.
    The first Norwegian congregation was established in 1844 by Pastor C. L. Clausen. Now there are 6 Norwegian congregations and churches, 2 of them belonging to The United Church, 1 to The Norwegian Synod, 1 to Hauge's Synod, 1 to The Methodist Church and 1 to The Baptist Church.
    For information about 'Fram', 'Templar-Bladet' and other newspaper ventures, see the section 'Norwegian-American newspapers and periodicals'
    A Leif Erickson statue decorates one of Milwaukee's parks; it stands by the lake, naturally, and is an honor for the Norwegians - especially those who raised it, and a reminder to Americans about America's discoverer.
Below is cited part of an article, that Mr. Hjalmar Knud Holand recently wrote in The Norwegian Society's 'Quarterly':
"In 1846, there came to Milwaukee one of the Moravian Brethren by the name of Olsen, who was from Farsund. He was a renowned singer and energetic lay preacher, and since there was little opportunity here in Milwaukee to hear religion proclaimed in their mother tongue, many flocked to him. In 1849 he wrote to the Brethren's Mission Society in Norway to send an ordained priest over. A. M. Iversen, a young student was called and came. Iversen was born in Kristiansand in 1823. He arrived in Milwaukee in the spring of 1849 and was joyously received. There was at that time no congregation in Milwaukee, even though Iversen had an audience of up to four hundred at his meetings, which shows that there were already at that time, many Norwegians in the city.
    The next year, 1850, he was ordained in Bethlehem, the sect's headquarters in America.
    These were hard times in Milwaukee, little work and poor wages. As well there were many temptations in the city that the newly established congregation wished to save its members from. They decided as a congregation to move to a place where they could support themselves in a more sure way and at the same time avoid worldly temptations.
    Just then - in 1850 - there came to Milwaukee one of the most remarkable Norwegians that ever came to America. His name was Nils Otto Tank and he descended from a powerful old noble family at Fredrikstad. He was the only son of Carsten Tank, one of the most powerful men in the court at Stockholm during three reigns. As member of Gustav the IV's government, he helped with deposing him from the throne. When Karl the XIII was selected as king and Carsten Tank became his Prime Minister, the ambitious Norwegian began to lay far-reaching plans. King Karl was old and childless and there would soon have to be a royal election. Why then should the powerful Prime Minister's promising son not come into consideration? He was a proud chieftain's descendant, had a royal demeanor, possessed great ability and knowledge and his father stood at the government tiller. In those shaky days with the intrigues and cabals, when kings were quickly deposed and lands traded like horses, it was no daring thought. It was only necessary then to make a marital connection with one or another princess of the old royal house. With this aim, Nils Otto was sent offshore to enter Europe's best circles to put the last smooth coat on his advanced education. This went entirely according to plan. After a long stay in foreign lands, Nils Otto had obtained a polish and a brilliant culture, and was on his way home to play his role in the court intrigues. But it happened that while far up in the German mountains, in a little village called Herrnhut, he stared into a pair of deep, serious and soulful eyes, that belonged to a young woman among the pietistic brotherhood that made up the place's population. Forgotten were his father's worldly reminders, the dreams of kingdom, the court's pomp and circumstance and worldly power and glory. Hurriedly, he said yes and went home with his bride.
    But his father, the ambitious old statesman, had forgotten all about romance and love. Shattered was his dearest hope, lost was his life's joy. With scorn and reproach, he disowned his son.
    Nils Otto Tank's mind had thereafter gone to an altogether different stage. Instead of the happy ballroom, where smiles and witticisms ruled, we now see him among dismal heathens, tolerantly and simply explaining the saving gospel.
    When he came home to Norway in 1850 after several year's stay as a missionary in Surinam, South America, he heard about the new congregation that had just been established among Norwegians in America. He decided to go there to help them. When he came to Milwaukee, he heard that the whole congregation had moved out. He bought 900 acres of superb forest land, that now makes up the southwest part of Green Bay City. It was his intention to build a town in the Herrnhut pattern as well as build a large teaching institution for the children of the Norwegian emigrants. He then invited the whole congregation to move there. He further promised that all the members would get the necessary farmland without paying.
    This was the beginning of the large Norwegian colony at Green Bay and the many congregations in the area. The Milwaukee congregation happily accepted the offer and moved there.
    Green Bay was at that time just a small settlement in the wilderness encircled by the mighty ancient forest for hundreds of miles around.
    Fantastic as it sounds, the old man of the world with his rich life settled down here and remained one of Green Bay's and Fox River's significant figures. Even now the old settlers have not overcome their amazement at his princely grace, his perfect dress and his distinguished civility. For his own farm he bought an old French manor, where he lived until his death. It is now the oldest house in the city and one of Green Bay's most remarkable sights.
    Here he arranged things with artistic taste that would have given any of the country's palaces honor. Fine furniture chosen from rare French originals, obscure portraits by famous Dutch masters, old silverware with the most perfect engraving and an abundance of Wedgewood porcelain. He also had a book collection as hardly any other private person in the country.
    Some of it, namely 5000 volumes, consisting of old Dutch books, parchments and letters, was in 1868, donated to the Wisconsin Historical Society. It was information obtained from this book collection with the help of our countryman, James Hansen, now with the Congressional Library in Washington, that in 1898, settled the dispute between England and the United States with regard to Venezuela's borders, and so prevented a war.
    But, back to the Herrnhut colony at Green Bay. Since there was much to organize at first, it took some time before Tank could divide his property and deed to the colonists. In the meantime, he wished they would work the land without deeds. The fiery Pastor Iversen saw this as a manifestation of the Norwegian manorial system and spoke against what he called the introduction of the Norwegian cotter system. Other discord also came up and he got most of the colony's members convinced to move away. In response, he obtained on his own reputation, a loan of $50,000 from the head parish in Bethlehem for a colonizing attempt.
    Equipped with this money, Pastor Iversen crossed over to Sturgeon Bay. At that time there were only three fishing huts here. There was good land here, but it was difficult to get clear title to it, and besides the mosquitoes were unusually bothersome, so Iversen did not get a favorable impression of it. He went back the nest day. Guided by his report, however, several of his company decided to settle there, among whom can be mentioned, Anton Thompson from Farsund, who should be considered to be the first Norwegian in Sturgeon Bay and area.
    When Iversen came back to Green Bay, he met a man with the name Ole Larson, who came to him from an, until now, unknown quarter.
    Ole Larson was one of the first to emigrate from Skien and area. He came early in the 40s to Buffalo, N. Y., where for some years he ran a rooming house. Later he came to Green Bay, where he started a bakery but it went poorly. Then he was made aware by some sailors of the hugely rich fishery that later made Green Bay renowned throughout the country. Larson learned that, about 75 miles northeast of Green Bay, there was a pretty little island with an excellent bay, incomparably accessible in all sorts of weather and wind. The island was called Eagle Island but was also known as Horseshoe Island because of its unique shape. Throughout the country I have met hundreds of farmers who had previously been fishers at Green Bay, who could tell how good it was to enter that peaceful harbor. Larson got some Indians to help and settled there in 1851. And he remained living there for many years and ran a profitable fishery.
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