Chippewa County, Wisconsin

Early Norwegian Settlement

The Big Elk Creek Settlement, the first Norwegian settlement in Chippewa County, was established in 1857 by Brant Hansen and three other men from Bærum Jernverk. Hansen, who was already a very old man when this account was written (ca. 1905), still lived in Albertville. The other three had died, and the author had unfortunately been unable to determine their names. During the first two or three years these men lived in the area, only Indians were to be seen.

The Cox Settlement

A small Norwegian settlement was established in the vicinity of Cox in 1878. The first Norwegian settler there was Ole Pedersen Bjerke from Nannestad.

The Estella Settlement

Another small Norwegian settlement was established near Estella in 1881. Knut Hensricksen from Larvik was the first Norwegian settler there.

Churches and Congregations

Chippewa County had eleven Norwegian congregations and six churches. Six congregations belonged to the United Church, three to the Norwegian Synod, and two to the Lutheran Free Church.

Norwegian Place Names

Norwegian place names in Chippewa County included Eggan and Hofsted.

Sources:

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