Pierce County, Wisconsin

Early Norwegian Settlement

Hans Iversen, Mathias Sletten, and Nils Lien, all from Land Parish; Peder Hovde from Modum; and Peder Ellertsen Granum and Hans Stomli from Biri were the first Norwegian settlers in Pierce County. They settled in the vicinity of Martell in 1849, and most of them came from the Rock River Settlement in southern Wisconsin. They were followed by Harald Haavnen from Land Parish, Anders Johnson from Vardalen, and Gul. H. Dahl, Guttorm Anderson, Anders Bakke, Anders Sand, Ole Sæter, and S. Svennungsen. All, or at least most, of these settlers were from Modum. Stener Thorsen from Drangedal near Kragerø arrived about the same time.

Pioneer Life

Wheat farming was the settlers’ principal source of income, but their nearest markets were Hudson and Prescott. Oxen were their only draft animals, both for plowing and transportation. Indians were still living in the area when the Norwegian settlers arrived. An American who later wrote a history of Pierce County mentioned few Norwegians by name and could not say where they had come from. He did, however, describe them as good people, which the author remarked was certainly the most important thing.

Churches and Congregations

Rush River Congregation was established in 1855 by Pastor Laur. Larson, later Professor Larson, of the Norwegian Synod. It was the first Norwegian congregation in Pierce County. The congregation also built the first Norwegian church in the county at Martell. Construction began in 1858, and the church was dedicated by Pastor R. Brandt in 1863. By 1905, Pierce County had fourteen Norwegian congregations and fourteen churches. Five congregations belonged to the Norwegian Synod, four to the United Church, two to Hauge’s Synod, two to the Methodist Church, and one to the Evangelical Free Church.

Public Office

Chr. G. R. Heyerdahl of Martell was the first Norwegian to hold county office in Pierce County. He was elected Register of Deeds in 1862. 

Hans B. Warner was elected Secretary of State in 1877. Niels P. Haugen, who later served in Congress, was the first Norwegian to represent Pierce County in the State Legislature, having been elected in 1878.

Norwegian Place Names

Norwegian place names in Pierce County included Lund, Moeville, and Viking.

Sources:

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