Burnett County, Wisconsin

Early Norwegian Settlement

The Honorable Canute Anderson from Lærdal in Sogn was the first white settler in Burnett County. His name in Norway was Knut Ingvarsen Sprakahaugen. He came from Koshkonong in Dane County and settled at Grantsburg in 1852. Later that same year came Thore Ingebrigtsen, Thore Simonsen, and Peter Anderson, all from Hasseløen in Nordland. The settlers’ principal products for sale were potatoes, beans, and meat. St. Croix Falls was their nearest market, about thirty-five miles away, and they traveled there by ox team.

Other Early Settlements

The first Norwegian settlers in the Timberland area were A. J. Sand from Frosta near Trondheim and Hans Arnes from Ringebu in Gudbrandsdalen. Johan Kjelmo from Målselv was the first Norwegian settler in the Webster area. P. B. Johnson from Mo in Helgeland was the first Norwegian settler at Marshland. Only Indians lived there when he arrived.

The Journey to America

One of those who emigrated during the 1860s recalled:

“Many of our traveling companions died, some at sea and others at the quarantine station in Quebec. A virulent disease broke out aboard the ship. It was pitiful to see entire families lying helpless. Worst of all was seeing small children standing or lying beside their dying, or sometimes already dead, mothers and crying. It was certainly not pleasant to come to America under such conditions.”

Churches and Congregations

The Lutheran congregation at Wood River, near Grantsburg, was established in 1862 by Pastor Ole J. Hagestad of the Norwegian Synod. It was the first Norwegian congregation in Burnett County. Its church was built in 1870. Burnett County had thirteen Norwegian congregations and nine churches. Six congregations belonged to the Norwegian Synod, two to Hauge’s Synod, two to the United Church, two to the Methodist Church, and one to the Lutheran Free Church.

Public Office

Canute Anderson, the county’s first settler, was also the first Norwegian to hold a county office there, in 1865. He was also the first Norwegian to represent Burnett County in the State Legislature, in 1878.

Norwegian Place Names

Norwegian place names in Burnett County included Alstad, Anderson, Branstad, Ekdahl, and Freya.

Sources:

[Ulvestad, Martin. Nordmændene i Amerika. Utg. History Book Company's Forlag. Minneapolis, Minn. 1907.]