Green County, Wisconsin

Early Norwegian Settlement

The eastern part of Green County was settled soon after neighboring Rock County, where the first Norwegian settlement in Wisconsin had been established. See the section on Rock County. In the western part of Green County, at Browntown, the first Norwegian settler was Lasse L. Boyenton from Sogn. He settled there in 1844.

The York Township Settlement

The first Norwegian settlers in York Township included Christen J. Ula, after whom Ula Post Office was named; Ole K. Hougen; A. O. Eidsmoe; C. O. Eidsmoe; M. O. Eidsmoe; Ole O. Sletten; Tore O. Sletten; Lars Hellanshagen; Halvor Kristiansmoen; Martin Bringager; Mons G. Løkke; Erik S. Sviggum; Johannes Sønnesun; Anders C. Wee; Rasmus Holand and his stepsons Erik, Christen, Syver, Bjørn, and Haldor Holand; Gulbrand O. Trondrud; Jermus O. Sorei; Torger Skarto; Ole Lia; Halvor Bennen; Christian Berek; Peder Houg; Anders Strømmen; Ole Sørom; Gulbrand Winger; Nils Lunda; Sven Øen; Nils Nessa; Edward Børreson; Anon Kjelsvig; Gulbrand Sørom; Magnus Anderson; Nils O. Rood; Brynjulf Enversen; Kittel Jeglom; Johannes Groner; Ole Fuglelien; Helge Olsen; Guttorm Maler; Guttorm Bakken; Hans Framsta; Erik Myren; Thomas Lanmark; Amund Jorde; Engebret Lee; Aadne Borgesen; Anton Selgen; Elias Christophersen; Erick Mikkelsen; and J. H. Johnson.

One of the pioneers at Brodhead was Tore Knudsen from Mostadværket. While living in Norway, he had become well known in his community for composing humorous verses, including verses about gossipy women. To the annoyance of such women, they were not entirely safe from his wit after he emigrated, since he continued composing verses after coming to America.

Churches and Congregations

Pastor Magelsen of the Norwegian Synod established the first Norwegian congregation at Browntown in 1860. Its church was built in 1860–61. By 1905, Green County had five Norwegian congregations and five churches. Three congregations belonged to the United Church and two to the Norwegian Synod.

Sources:

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