Muskego Settlement, Wisconsin: Difference between revisions
→Other Sources: Muskego: Then and Now' (Ringerike-Drammen District Lag. Volume 23, Number 2. May 2008) |
Elling Eielsen, who had immigrated to the United States during 1839, |
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The colony was founded in 1839, primarily by immigrants from the Norwegian county of [[Telemark]], led by John Luraas. They had been encouraged to seek their fortunes in Wisconsin by the pioneer Nattestad brothers. Ansten and [[Ole Knudsen Nattestad]] had immigrated during 1838 from Vaegli in [[Numedal]], [[Norway]] to establish the first [[Norwegian-American]] immigrant community in Wisconsin at the [[Jefferson Prairie Settlement]] of [[Rock County]].<ref> [[Martin Ulvestad|Ulvestad, Martin]] ''Nordmaendene i Amerika: Deres Historie og Rekord '' (1907. translated by Olaf Kringhaug)</ref> |
The colony was founded in 1839, primarily by immigrants from the Norwegian county of [[Telemark]], led by John Luraas. They had been encouraged to seek their fortunes in Wisconsin by the pioneer Nattestad brothers. Ansten and [[Ole Knudsen Nattestad]] had immigrated during 1838 from Vaegli in [[Numedal]], [[Norway]] to establish the first [[Norwegian-American]] immigrant community in Wisconsin at the [[Jefferson Prairie Settlement]] of [[Rock County]].<ref> [[Martin Ulvestad|Ulvestad, Martin]] ''Nordmaendene i Amerika: Deres Historie og Rekord '' (1907. translated by Olaf Kringhaug)</ref> |
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The party staked out {{convert|640|acre|km2}} in two sections in [[Waukesha County]]. The following year |
The party staked out {{convert|640|acre|km2}} in two sections in [[Waukesha County]]. The following year two other settlers, Søren Bache and Johannes Johannsen, settled in an adjacent area in [[Racine County]], just south of the first settlement, in what is now the town of [[Norway, Wisconsin]]. The Muskego Settlement thus came to straddle the county border.<ref>Clausen, C. A. ''An Immigrant Shipload of 1840'' (Norwegian American Historic Association. Volume XIV: Page 54)</ref> |
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Both Søren Bache and Johannes Johannsen played important roles in the life of this colony. It was Johannes Johansen who drafted the Muskego manifesto of 1845, an open letter by the Muskego colonists to the people of Norway. The Muskego manifesto, written on January 6, 1845, was published in the newspaper ''Morgenbladet'' in [[Christiania]] on April 1, 1845. Johansen died less than a year after writing this manifesto. Bache remained prominent in the affairs of Muskego. He served as one of the founders of the first Norwegian language newspaper published in the United States and was the author of a remarkable pioneer diary. Søren Bache returned to Norway in 1847. <ref>''An Immigrant Exploration of the Middle West in 1839'' (A Letter By Johannes Johansen and Søren Bache; translated By the Verdandi Study Club. Norwegian American Historic Association. Volume XIV: Page 41) http://www.naha.stolaf.edu/pubs/nas/volume14/vol14_2.htm</ref> |
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| ⚫ | A number of other immigrants followed, among them Even Hansen Heg (the father of [[Hans Christian Heg]]), who established a transit center of sorts for immigrants. The Heg barn was erected at Muskego during 1843. This barn, the first home in America for many Norwegian immigrant, became a social and religious center in the frontier area |
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| ⚫ | A number of other immigrants followed, among them Even Hansen Heg (the father of [[Hans Christian Heg]]), who established a transit center of sorts for immigrants. The Heg barn was erected at Muskego during 1843. This barn, the first home in America for many Norwegian immigrant, became a social and religious center in the frontier area.<ref>[[Theodore C. Blegen|Blegen, Theodore C.]] ''Norwegian Migration to America, 1825-1860'' (Norwegian-American Historical Association, Northfield, IL.1940)</ref> |
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[[Claus Lauritz Clausen]] arrived during 1843, becoming the pastor in the Muskego settlement. The first [[Norwegian Lutheran Church in America]] was started at the Muskego Settlement.<ref>Fevold, Eugene L.''The Norwegian Immigrant and His Church'' |
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(Norwegian American Historic Association.Volume 23: Page 3)</ref> |
(Norwegian American Historic Association.Volume 23: Page 3)</ref> |
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[[Elling Eielsen]], who had immigrated to the United States during 1839, had first arrived at Muskego prior to moving to the [[Jefferson Prairie Settlement]]. Eielsen was resident pastor at Jefferson Prairie from 1846 to 1872. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ([[Eielsen Synod]]) founded in 1846 at the Jefferson Prairie Settlement, was to bear his name. <ref>''Norwegian Lutherans to celebrate founding of first church at Bergen''. (Janesville, Wisconsin Gazette. September 27, 1924) http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/wlhba/articleView.asp?pg=3&id=4666&hdl=&np=Janesville+Gazette&adv=yes&ln=&fn=&q=&y1=&y2=&ci=&co=&mhd=&shd=</ref> |
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Swamp fever, ague, and malaria plagued the early settlers at Muskego. The settlement was afflicted by cholera at least twice, in 1849 and 1851. Ultimately, the original settlement site was abandoned, and the settler relocated principally to other locations in southern Wisconsin.<ref>Gjerset, Knut and Hektoen, Ludvig, ''Health Conditions and the Practice of Medicine Among the Early Norwegian Settlers, 1825-1865'' (Norwegian American Historic Association. Volume I: Page 1)</ref> |
Swamp fever, ague, and malaria plagued the early settlers at Muskego. The settlement was afflicted by cholera at least twice, in 1849 and 1851. Ultimately, the original settlement site was abandoned, and the settler relocated principally to other locations in southern Wisconsin.<ref>Gjerset, Knut and Hektoen, Ludvig, ''Health Conditions and the Practice of Medicine Among the Early Norwegian Settlers, 1825-1865'' (Norwegian American Historic Association. Volume I: Page 1)</ref> |
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The [[State of Wisconsin]] erected a Historic Marker during 1963 to commemorate the Muskego Settlement. It is located at the entrance to Norway Evangelical Lutheran Church, across from Heg Park, on [[Wisconsin Highway 36]] in [[Wind Lake, Wisconsin]]. The inscription of the plaque acknowledges the leadership of John Luraas, Even Hansen Heg, [[James DeNoon Reymert]], |
The [[State of Wisconsin]] erected a Historic Marker during 1963 to commemorate the Muskego Settlement. It is located at the entrance to Norway Evangelical Lutheran Church, across from Heg Park, on [[Wisconsin Highway 36]] in [[Wind Lake, Wisconsin]]. The inscription of the plaque acknowledges the leadership of John Luraas, Even Hansen Heg, [[James DeNoon Reymert]], Johannes Johannsen, Søren Bache, [[Elling Eielsen]], and [[Claus Lauritz Clausen]].<ref>“Old Muskego Historic Marker" http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=12110&keyword=Muskego+Settlement </ref> |
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==Additional Reading== |
==Additional Reading== |
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Revision as of 15:59, 19 June 2009
The Muskego Settlement, was one of the first Norwegian American settlements in the United States. Situated near today's Muskego, Wisconsin, the Muskego Settlement covered areas within what is now the town of Norway, Wisconsin.[1]
History
The colony was founded in 1839, primarily by immigrants from the Norwegian county of Telemark, led by John Luraas. They had been encouraged to seek their fortunes in Wisconsin by the pioneer Nattestad brothers. Ansten and Ole Knudsen Nattestad had immigrated during 1838 from Vaegli in Numedal, Norway to establish the first Norwegian-American immigrant community in Wisconsin at the Jefferson Prairie Settlement of Rock County.[2]
The party staked out 640 acres (2.6 km2) in two sections in Waukesha County. The following year two other settlers, Søren Bache and Johannes Johannsen, settled in an adjacent area in Racine County, just south of the first settlement, in what is now the town of Norway, Wisconsin. The Muskego Settlement thus came to straddle the county border.[3]
Both Søren Bache and Johannes Johannsen played important roles in the life of this colony. It was Johannes Johansen who drafted the Muskego manifesto of 1845, an open letter by the Muskego colonists to the people of Norway. The Muskego manifesto, written on January 6, 1845, was published in the newspaper Morgenbladet in Christiania on April 1, 1845. Johansen died less than a year after writing this manifesto. Bache remained prominent in the affairs of Muskego. He served as one of the founders of the first Norwegian language newspaper published in the United States and was the author of a remarkable pioneer diary. Søren Bache returned to Norway in 1847. [4]
A number of other immigrants followed, among them Even Hansen Heg (the father of Hans Christian Heg), who established a transit center of sorts for immigrants. The Heg barn was erected at Muskego during 1843. This barn, the first home in America for many Norwegian immigrant, became a social and religious center in the frontier area.[5]
Claus Lauritz Clausen arrived during 1843, becoming the pastor in the Muskego settlement. The first Norwegian Lutheran Church in America was started at the Muskego Settlement.[6]
Elling Eielsen, who had immigrated to the United States during 1839, had first arrived at Muskego prior to moving to the Jefferson Prairie Settlement. Eielsen was resident pastor at Jefferson Prairie from 1846 to 1872. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (Eielsen Synod) founded in 1846 at the Jefferson Prairie Settlement, was to bear his name. [7]
Swamp fever, ague, and malaria plagued the early settlers at Muskego. The settlement was afflicted by cholera at least twice, in 1849 and 1851. Ultimately, the original settlement site was abandoned, and the settler relocated principally to other locations in southern Wisconsin.[8]
The State of Wisconsin erected a Historic Marker during 1963 to commemorate the Muskego Settlement. It is located at the entrance to Norway Evangelical Lutheran Church, across from Heg Park, on Wisconsin Highway 36 in Wind Lake, Wisconsin. The inscription of the plaque acknowledges the leadership of John Luraas, Even Hansen Heg, James DeNoon Reymert, Johannes Johannsen, Søren Bache, Elling Eielsen, and Claus Lauritz Clausen.[9]
Additional Reading
- Anderson, Rasmus B. The First Chapter of Norwegian Immigration (1821-1840) Its Causes and Results (published by the author. Madison, Wis., 1896)
- Flom, George T. A History of Norwegian Immigration to the United States : from the earliest beginning down to the year 1848 (Privately Printed Iowa City : 1909)
- Legler, Henry Eduard Leading Events of Wisconsin History: The Story of the State (The Sentinel Company. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 1898)
Other Sources
- A Chronicle of Old Muskego: The Diary of Søren Bache, 1839-1847 (Translated and edited by Clarence A. Clausen and Andreas Elviken. Norwegian American Historic Society. Northfield, MN. 1951)
- Muskego: Then and Now (Ringerike-Drammen District Lag. Volume 23, Number 2. May 2008)
References
- ^ Barton, A. O. The Old Muskego Settlement (Waukesha Freeman. September 7, 1916)
- ^ Ulvestad, Martin Nordmaendene i Amerika: Deres Historie og Rekord (1907. translated by Olaf Kringhaug)
- ^ Clausen, C. A. An Immigrant Shipload of 1840 (Norwegian American Historic Association. Volume XIV: Page 54)
- ^ An Immigrant Exploration of the Middle West in 1839 (A Letter By Johannes Johansen and Søren Bache; translated By the Verdandi Study Club. Norwegian American Historic Association. Volume XIV: Page 41) http://www.naha.stolaf.edu/pubs/nas/volume14/vol14_2.htm
- ^ Blegen, Theodore C. Norwegian Migration to America, 1825-1860 (Norwegian-American Historical Association, Northfield, IL.1940)
- ^ Fevold, Eugene L.The Norwegian Immigrant and His Church (Norwegian American Historic Association.Volume 23: Page 3)
- ^ Norwegian Lutherans to celebrate founding of first church at Bergen. (Janesville, Wisconsin Gazette. September 27, 1924) http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/wlhba/articleView.asp?pg=3&id=4666&hdl=&np=Janesville+Gazette&adv=yes&ln=&fn=&q=&y1=&y2=&ci=&co=&mhd=&shd=
- ^ Gjerset, Knut and Hektoen, Ludvig, Health Conditions and the Practice of Medicine Among the Early Norwegian Settlers, 1825-1865 (Norwegian American Historic Association. Volume I: Page 1)
- ^ “Old Muskego Historic Marker" http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=12110&keyword=Muskego+Settlement
External links
- “Telelaget of America - Early Settlements In America”
- Waukesha (Wisconsin) Freeman. September 07 1916”
- "Norway Evangelical Lutheran Church"
- "Muskego Historical Society"
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