Lincoln County, Wisconsin

Early Norwegian Settlement

Nils Hansen from Ulefoss was the first Norwegian settler in Lincoln County. He settled in the vicinity of Donavan. In Merrill, the first Norwegian settlers were H. Gundersen and Martin Larsen, both from Hedmark.

The Chat Settlement

The Norwegian settlement in the vicinity of Chat was established in 1883. The first settlers there were Ole G. Larsen from Hedrum Parish, Henry H. Johnson, Anton J. Farmen, Jakob Odberg, Anton Hansen, Charley H. Johnson, Sam S. Dahl, Johan Farmen, Thor E. Kvarnes, Hendrik Hendriksen, Edward Aske, Elev Sigurdsen, Gullik Helgesen, Syver Horgen, John Horgen, Andrew Horgen, Ole Anderson, Thomas Alm, Syver Thomsen, and Jonas Thomson.

Livelihood

The settlers supported themselves through logging and mixed farming. 

Churches and Congregations

Vor Frelsers Congregation at Chat was established in 1895 by Pastor A. O. Dolven of the Norwegian Synod. It was the first Norwegian congregation in Lincoln County. By 1905, there were three Norwegian congregations in the county, each with its own church. One congregation belonged to the Norwegian Synod, one to the United Church, and one to the Evangelical Free Church.

Sources:

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