_The Expansion of the Koshkonong Settlement into
Sumner and Oakland Townships in Jefferson
County. Increased Immigration from Telemarken.
New Settlers from Kragerö,
Drammen and Numedal._
In our discussion of the settling of Koshkonong by immigrants from
Numedal in 1840-42, mention was made of Tore Knudson Nore and wife
Gjertud among those who arrived in 1842. Tore Nore did not, however,
locate in Christiana or Albion townships, where his compatriots had
settled. He selected land about three miles southeast of where Gunnul
Vindeig had located, across the Jefferson County line in what later was
named Sumner Township. Tore Nore, who was then a man of about forty
years of age and had a large family, had emigrated in the spring of
1842, but had not, as the immigrants from Numedal so far had generally
done, gone to Jefferson Prairie or Rock Prairie, but had stopped in
Muskego. Being dissatisfied here, he decided to go to Koshkonong.
Taking his family with him, he arrived there about October first
of that year. Soon after he erected his log cabin in Sumner,[261]
being, therefore, the first Norwegian to settle in that part of
Jefferson County, his being the second family to enter the township
of Sumner.[262] Here he lived till his death in 1868, at the age of
seventy-six. Gjertrud Nore died in 1884. Three sons are prosperous
farmers living in the neighborhood of the father's original homestead.
A daughter, Gro, married Peder Larsen Svartskuren (or Svartskor) in
Norway, in June, 1842. They became the second Norwegian family to
settle in the township. Peder Svartskuren was a native of Konigsberg,
Norway, being, as it appears, the third emigrant to America from that
locality.[263]
[261] This log-cabin was still standing not many years ago.
[262] An American family had come there before him.
[263] The first emigrants from Kongsberg were Thomas Braaten, and
Halvor Funkelien.
In an interview with Svein Nilson printed in 1870, Peder Svartskuren
mentions Björn Anderson (Kvelve), Amund Hornefjeld, Gunnul Vindeig and
Thorsten Olson as being the only Norwegians living in the neighboring
towns of Albion and Christiana when he came there. He speaks of Sumner
Township as being a heavy primeval forest, with only here and there a
stretch of open country. "There was an abundance of game, deers and
prairie chickens, and the lake (Koshkonong) and creek were full of
fish. The Indians were roving about the country, but they did no one
any harm and were kindly and ever ready to help."
Mrs. Svartskuren, who is now eighty-seven years old and quite feeble,
has, since 1902, lived at Leeds, North Dakota, with a son, Carl,
he having sold the homestead after the father's death, and moved to
Viroqua, Wisconsin, and later to Leeds. Peder Svartskuren was among
the founders of the East Koshkonong Church; he was a man of strong
character, who enjoyed in large degree the love and the respect of his
fellows.
The Town of Sumner did not receive many accessions from Norway. In
the same interview Svartskuren says: "There are now twelve Norwegian
families, besides six Swedish families. The rest are German and
English."
The Town of Oakland, Jefferson County, also received a few settlers at
this early period. The earliest arrival there was, I believe, Tollef
Bækhus and wife, Aasild; they came to Koshkonong in 1843 and located
two miles east of the village of Rockdale. They were from Laurdal
Parish, in Upper Telemarken, had been married in 1838, and had two
children when they came to this country. Tollef Bækhus died in 1897,
the widow lived until 1906, being ninety years old at the time of her
death. A son, John Bækhus, now owns the homestead.[264]
[264] They had twelve children in all.
In Chapter XVIII above we gave an account of the founding of the
Koshkonong Settlement, which began in the townships of Christiana,
Deerfield and Albion, in 1840-41. We spoke briefly of the founders and
of those who came and joined the three groups of pathfinders in the
following year. In Chapter XXVIII a similar record has been given of
the events which led to the settling of the Town of Pleasant Spring by
four families in 1843, and by others in the following year. We have
also observed how the towns of Dunkirk and Cottage Grove became settled
in 1843, and that Dunn received its first Norwegian settlers in 1844.
The towns of Sumner and Oakland, in Jefferson County, in the eastern
extremity of Koshkonong Prairie also received a small contingent
of Norwegian immigrant settlers in 1842 and 1843 respectively. The
original nucleus and the subsequent expansions of the settlement, east,
west and north, are thereby indicated.
In four years after its inception, the settlement covered an area
of about fifteen square miles. But the settlers lived, for the most
part, far apart; geographically they had made ample provisions for a
great settlement in this garden spot of Wisconsin. While there were
as yet (in 1843) not more than a hundred and fifty individuals in the
settlement, there was room for thousands more without going beyond
the boundary as already laid out. The beginning made in a few years
was remarkable, but the growth in the years immediately following was
even more wonderful. For a time Koshkonong was the destination of
four-fifths of those who emigrated from Norway.
The year 1842 records the beginning of the great development, which
in five years resulted in the settling of almost the whole of this
vast area by immigrants from Norway. The next year was that of the
great influx from various points in Telemarken, especially, Siljord,
Laurdal and Hvideseid, although there were considerable numbers also
from Vinje and Tin. The year 1843 was the one in which the Telemarkings
took possession of Koshkonong; they gradually selected their permanent
homes in Pleasant Spring, extending into Dunkirk and Cottage Grove and
the northeastern sections of Christiana (as Eggleson, Bjoin, Hauge,
Borgerud, Bosbön and Kingland). The Numedalians came only in limited
numbers after 1842 and did not spread much beyond the original center
around East Koshkonong church in southeastern Christiana and northern
Albion townships. Those on the extreme west were Levi Kittilson, Levi
Holtan, O. O. Lenaas and Tore E. Smithback, all coming somewhat later
than those in the eastern extremity. The immigration from Numedal,
which began in Rollaug, is after 1842 almost confined to Flesberg, a
parish which furnished no immigrants before 1842.
In the year 1843, there came to Koshkonong, 35 families and many single
persons, or a total of 182 individuals. This was the year of heaviest
immigration to Koshkonong. The year's influx is significant in the
large number of districts in Norway represented, Telemarken leading
as has been pointed out above. In addition to 9 persons from Numedal,
and a small contingent from Voss, the first party of fourteen persons
arrived from Kragerö. These first immigrants from Kragerö were: Bjorn
O. Rom, Kjöstolf Tollefsen Hulderöen[265] (b. 1821), Even E. Buaas (b.
1799), Abraham K. Rönningen, Erick K. Rönningen, Halvor E. Dahl (b.
1802), wife Anne, and family, Torbjörn K. Rönningen, Glus P. Tyvang and
wife, Audi, and Peder K. Rönningen. From Leikanger in Sogn[266] Anna L.
Eggum (or Eggene, b. 1811), who in 1845 married Sjur C. Droksvold, from
Voss; from Lier came Knut O. Lier, as also the widow Anne Thorstad,
Knut Asdöhldalen and Gabriel Björnson (from Drammen); from Drangedal
came Baruld J. Strandskougen and family, from Sandsværd, Ellef A. Berg,
from Skauger, Halvor J. Stubberud, from Rögen, Lars P. Haukelien and
family, from Holte, Tarald E. Midböe, from Gjerpen, Peder H. Moe, and
from Hallingdal, Even Olson.
[265] Came to Muskego in 1843, went back to Norway and returned,
settling in Koshkonong in 1846.
[266] There was one immigrant from Aurland, Sogn, in 1843, but he
stopped the first winter in Muskego. See next chapter.
We have noted the fact above that there came for the first time in
1843 a group of immigrants from Flesberg Parish in Numedal. We shall
note here briefly who these were. For the facts I am indebted to Mrs.
Levi Holtan, formerly of Utica, at present of Stoughton, Wisconsin.
The name of the ship on which these people came, Mrs. Holtan cannot
remember, but it was commanded by Captain Overvind; the first mate
was Friis. In the party of ninety persons were: Halvor Kjölen, Juul
Hamre and wife Anne, Tostein Ullebær and Halvor Aasen, who went to
Jefferson Prairie,[267] Gulleik Laugen, who stopped in Rochester, but
soon after came west, locating on Rock Prairie, Paal ("Spelleman")
Lund, Guldbrand G. Holtan, a widower, his brother Ole G. Holtan,[268]
Knut K. Bakli and Kittil G. Bakli and families, Ambjör Olsdatter and
Synnöve Kristoffersdatter Bekkjorden from Lyngdal Annex of Flesberg.
This was the ship on which also Per Svartskuren and wife Gro, Knut
Lier and Baruld Johnson came on.[269] In the same party emigrated also
Klemet Larson Stalsbraaten and wife Gunild, and his brother Halvor
Stalsbraaten (Kravik) from Sigdal in Numedal. Halvor Stalsbraaten took
the name Kravik from the estate where he had worked five years before
emigrating. Reverend Kasberg writes me, citing Halvor Kravik, that they
(the Stalsbraatens)
"Bought tickets for America at Konigsberg Fair, left Drammen May
6 ult., 1843, arrived at New York July fourth, ninety passengers
on the ship." ... "The company of immigrants went from Milwaukee
to Muskego. Halvor Kravik and a young boy from Sandsværd walked to
Koshkonong, arriving Friday evening. Monday morning Halvor was at
work for one of the Englishmen further south. Kravik took a claim
in 1844. During the winter he staid with Gunnul Vindeg, sleeping
in the part of the house occupied at the time by Rev. Dietrichson,
while the parsonage was being built."
[267] Rev. K. A. Kasberg, of Spring Grove, Minn., writes me that
Halvor Kravik in speaking of some of these people says Halvor
Aasen went to Rock Run as did also Paal "Spellemand." He also
adds the name Gunnar Springen who, he says, went to Rock
Prairie.
[268] As I learn through Rev. G. A. Larsen.
[269] The name of the ship, as we learn elsewhere, was _Hercules_.
See above page 228.
The rest of the party also came to Koshkonong a short while after,
except those who went to Rock County. Ole G. Holtan (b. 1821) and
Ambjör Olsdatter (b. 1821) were married a few weeks after arriving;
Ole Holtan died in 1851, leaving wife and two children, Anna and Ole.
Anna later became the wife of Levor Kittilsen Fjöse (Levi Kittilsen)
well known farmer and prominent in the councils of the West Koshkonong
Church.[270] Ambjör, widow of Ole G. Holtan, married Nils Torgerson
Grötrud in 1852; he had come to America in 1849.[271]
[270] Levi Kittilsen died suddenly in 1907; the widow is living (at
Stoughton); a daughter, Andrea, is married to Rev. Abel Lien,
Ada, Minn.; a son, Carl, is in Nome, Alaska. Dr. Albert N.
Kittilsen, another son, owns valuable mines at Nome, Alaska;
he is living in the State of Washington.
[271] Nils Grötrud assumed the farm name Holtan and is therefore
Nils T. Holtan. He located first on the Holtan farm south of
Utica. About 1868 the family settled two miles east of Utica.
We have, on page 183 above, spoken of Lars J. Holo, who was the
earliest immigrant from Ringsaker (1839). From Rochester, New York,
he came to Muskego, Racine County, Wisconsin, in 1841; in 1843 he
located permanently on Koshkonong. His son Johannes also settled on
Koshkonong, as also the sons Lars and Martin Holo. The latter now owns
the farm originally purchased in Albion Township by Björn Kvelve.
Halvor Kravik (b. 1820) was the son of Lars A. Stalsbraaten and wife
Maria. In 1845 he married Kristi Guldbrandson, who had come to America
in 1842. They bought land and settled permanently about three-quarters
of a mile south of East Koshkonong Church at what came to be called
_Kravikhaugen_ (the Kravik hill). The homestead has now for many years
been occupied by the oldest son, Lars C. Kravik. Since about 1899,
Halvor and his wife lived with their son-in-law, Rev. K. A. Kasberg,
in Stoughton, Wisconsin, later in Grand Forks, North Dakota, now for
several years past at Spring Grove, Houston County, Minnesota. Mrs.
Kravik died a year ago; Mr. Kravik in February, 1909.
Kjöstolf Hulderöen (Hulröya), who came to Muskego in 1843, went back to
Norway two years later, but returned to America in 1846, settling on
Koshkonong, at Cambridge. In 1848 he married Hæge O. Sube, who had come
from Telemarken to this country that year. In 1853 he started a general
merchandise business in Rockdale, Dane County, where he lived till
his death in 1889. The widow is living with her oldest daughter Mrs.
John Halvorson in Rockdale. A son, Charlie C. Tellefson, one of Dane
County's prominent democrats, resides at Utica, Wisconsin.
Gabriel Björnson was one of the few who came to Koshkonong from the
region of Drammen. He married Gunhild Grötrud, sister of Nils T. Holtan
(Grötrud). Björnson is said to have been the first Norwegian to be
admitted to the bar in this country. He died in Ada, Minnesota, in
1889; he was at that time County Attorney of Norman County.
There were two families from Voss, who had immigrated earlier among
those who settled permanently on Koshkonong in 1843, namely Styrk
Olson Saue, who, we have seen, came to America in 1837, and Gulleik
Torsteinson Saue, who immigrated in 1840; they had lived most of
the time in Chicago. There Styrk Saue married Eli K. Væte; she
died at Deerfield about 1885. Styrk died in 1894. Gulleik Saue (b.
1821) married Donant Rölje in 1844. They purchased land in northern
Christiania, not far from Cambridge; here, and in neighboring parts of
Deerfield Township, Gulleik Thompson, as he called himself, became in
the course of time the owner of about 1,000 acres of farm land. At the
time of his death he was Koshkonong's wealthiest farmer. His son, Hon.
T. G. Thompson, occupies the old home and owns the estate.