Norwegian Settlement
The first Norwegian settler in Gates County was Jens Anderson from Kragerø, who settled at Glen Flora. The year in which he settled there is not known.
The county was created on May 24, 1901, from the northern part of Chippewa County and was named after Milwaukee land speculator James L. Gates. In 1905, the Wisconsin Legislature renamed it Rusk County in honor of former Governor Jeremiah M. Rusk.
Glen Flora, Ingram, and Hawkins
Most of the Norwegians in the county lived in the vicinity of Glen Flora, Ingram, and Hawkins. Pastor R. M. Minne of the United Church established three Norwegian congregations in this area.
There were two Norwegian churches, one at Glen Flora and the other at Hawkins.
Sources:
[Ulvestad, Martin. Nordmændene i Amerika. Utg. History Book Company's Forlag. Minneapolis, Minn. 1907.]
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