Wood County, Wisconsin

Early Norwegian Settlement

In the Norwegian settlement at Marshfield, Hans Huseby from Østre Toten was the first settler. He settled there in 1873 and was followed by Jacob H. Grosvold from Sandsvær near Kongsberg. At that time, there were few other inhabitants in the area besides Indians. Karenus Knudsen from Telemark was the first Norwegian settler in the vicinity of Babcock, where a number of Norwegians later settled. He arrived there in 1897. Hay farming and cattle raising became the county’s principal sources of income.

Churches and Congregations

St. Mattai Congregation, established at Marshfield in 1880, was the oldest Norwegian congregation in Wood County. Pastor N. Førde of the Norwegian Synod was its first pastor. By 1905, Wood County had five Norwegian congregations and three churches, all belonging to the Norwegian Synod.

Sources:

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