Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-04-26
THE E0RWEGIAHs 0
IsooEsIB.
A Just Tribubs to That Nat
Soldiers and O 3


Wisconsin Is one otI the stats
which, historically, is Of 9 create It in
terest TO the Norwegian 2 In that state
the foundation was laid ID the different
church societies and those institutions
that now stand as monuments to Nor
wegian enterprise and the self sacrifice
and untiring efforts of the Norwegian
American pioneers
Norwegian American history has its
inception in the southern part of Wis
consin. A. he curtain Is drawn on the
pioneer life of southern Wisconsin, the
first act of similar drama is being
enacted in northern Wisconsin Far
better conditions, however, present
themselves to the present pioneers of
northern Wisconsin.
Before speaking of the situation in
northern Wisconsin, we cannot refrain
from recalling some of the events con-
nected with the history of the Norwe-
gians in Wisconsin.
THE FIRST TxMIG RANTS.
That history began when Ole Knud-
sen Tattestad, from Rollaug, In Nu-
medal, Norway, settled on Jeffsrson
prairie, near Clinton. Rock county, on
first day OF July, 1888 The following
year, Ansten Nattestad and party OF
people from Numsdal settled near Gin
ton and immigrants from Telemarken
and the vicinity of Stavsnger, made
Muskego their future home. The year
after their arrivals, the well. known
Koshkonong settlement was founded by
Gunnul Olsen ViRdeg, from Numedal.
Nearly all immigrants from Norway
about this time found . refuge in one Of
these settlements. The pioneer minis
ter, the Rev @. l. Claueen, received his
call from Muskego. At Koshkonong,
the Rev. J, W C. Districhaon delivered
bis first sermon on American soil. On
Jefferson prairie, Elling Eileen founded
his church society in 1S46. In 1S47 the
first Norwegian newspaper in America
was issued In the Muskego settlement,
with James d, Reymert as editor. And
in this way we might continue to emu
merate ell those things which are looked
upon with veneration and affection by
Norwegians in all parts of the United
States. and which received its first i'm
petus from the pioneers Of Wisconsin.
NORwEGIANs IN THE WAR.
The chapter which, as American citi-
zens, we are particularly proud of, the
one which treats of the gallant part the
Norwegians took in the civil war, also
belongs TO the history of Wisconsin. The
Fifteenth Wisconsin, which distinguish
ed itself In so many important battles,
consisted mostly of NorwegiRns. The
fact is recalled that the Fifteenth lost
more men than any other Wisconsin
regiment, and that It was this Norwe-
gian regiment which, In the battle OF
Chickamauga, saved the day for the
union cause. In Wisconsin 5000 Nor
wegians and 200 Danes and 100 Swedes
Joined the union forces.
IN THE POLITICS or THE STATE.
The Norwegians have also played an
important part in the political history
OF the state. James d. Reymsrt had
seat In the constitutional convention IN
l547. He later became a member OF the
| assembly aud of the senate. Hans 9.
Heg, the famous colonel of the Fifteenth
Wisconsin, was in 1859 elected to the
| Office of state prison commissioner. Hans
B. Warner wss elected secretary of state
| in 1878; Nils 2. Haugsn, a railroad
| commissioner In 1881, and later several
times TO congress from the Eighth dis
| trict; Atley Peterson railroad commits
sioner in 1886; Sewall A Peterson state
treasurer in 1894 and reelected In 1896:
James q. Davidson, state treasurer IN
1898, and reelected in 1900, elected lien
tenan. governor In 1900, reelected in
1904, and will upon Governor La Fol.
lettes taking his seat in the United
States senate, become governor OF the
state Herman B. Dahle son of one of
the Norwegian pioneers, represented the
Second district in congress two terms.
OF the L, ,67S Norwegian-born people,
who according TO the census OF 1850,
were in the United States, 1851, or
about three-fourths, lived in Wisconsin.
In 1860 Wisconsin had 81, 442 inhabi-
tants born In Norway, about one-half OF
all NorwegIans In America.
According to the census of 1900, Wis
consin had 1874, III persons born of Nor
wegian parents, and. considering the
old Norwegian immigration, 1t may
safely be said that Wisconsin has at
least 200, 900 inhabitants OF Norwegian
extraction The Swedish and Danish
elements of the state constitute together
only about one-half Of the strength of
the Norwegian element From the
Minneapolis Tidende.