CHAPTER XXX

_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.