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History of the Norwegian Settlements: A translated and expanded version of the 1908 De Norske Settlementers Historie and the 1930 Den Siste Folkevandring Sagastubber fra Nybyggerlivet i Amerika
By Hjalmar Rued Holand
Translated by Malcolm Rosholt and Helmer M. Blegen, Co-edited by Jo Ann B. Winistorfer and Deb Nelson Gourley
Chapter supplements, layout and graphic design, 32-page colored map insert and 3,800 name index by Deb Nelson Gourley
Published by Deb Nelson Gourley, Astri My Astri Publishing
WINNER of two National Awards, History of the Norwegian Settlements provides an engaging and enthusiastic depiction of the struggles as well as the triumphs of pioneer life in the Upper Midwest during 1830 - 1870. The 63-chapter non-fiction book lets readers trace the trails of 3,800 indexed immigrants through Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and the Dakotas as they explore new frontiers and tame the wilderness. Along the way lurk killer diseases, grasshopper plagues, prairie fires and loneliness.
Contents
EARLY EXPEDITIONS and SETTLEMENT
Ch. 1 The Vinland Expeditions
Ch. 2 The Norwegian Pioneer
Ch. 3 Cleng Peerson, Father of Norwegian-American Immigration
Ch. 4 From New York to the West
Ch. 5 Fox River Settlement, northern Illinois
Ch. 6 Chicago, northeastern Illinois
WISCONSIN
Ch. 7 Muskego Settlement, Milwaukee County, south eastern Wisconsin
Ch. 8 Jefferson Prairie Settlement, Rock County, Wisconsin, and Long Prairie Settlement, Boone County, Illinois
Ch. 9 Rock Prairie (Luther Valley) Settlement, Rock County, Wisconsin
Ch. 10 Koshkonong Settlement, eastern Dane and western Jefferson Counties, Wisconsin
Ch. 11 Norway Grove Settlement, Dane County, Wisconsin, and Columbia County, Wisconsin
Ch. 12 Ashippun, Rock River, and Pine Lake Settlements, southeastern Wisconsin
Ch. 13 Wiota Settlement and the Lead Miners, Lafayette County, Wisconsin
Ch. 14 Blue Mounds Settlement (Dodgeville, Otter Creek and Castle Rock), Iowa, and Grant Counties, Wisconsin
Ch. 15 Winchester Settlement, Racine County, southeastern Wisconsin
Ch. 16 The Indian Land, western Waupaca and northeast Portage Counties, Wisconsin
Ch. 17 Mt. Morris Settlement, Waupaca County, Wisconsin
Ch. 18 Oldest Valdres Colony in America, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin
Ch. 19 Ephraim, Door County, northeastern Wisconsin
Ch. 20 Southern Door County (Sturgeon Bay, Hainesville and Clay Banks), Wisconsin
Ch. 21 Roch-a-Cree (Roche-a-Cri) Colony, Adams County, central Wisconsin
Ch. 22 Lemonweir Settlement, Juneau County, central Wisconsin
Ch. 23 Crawford and Vernon Counties, southwestern Wisconsin
Ch. 24 Rush River Settlement, between St. Croix and Pierce Counties, western Wisconsin
Ch. 25 Most heavily populated Norwegian area in U.S., western Wisconsin
Ch. 26 La Crosse County, western Wisconsin
Ch. 27 Black River Falls, Jackson County, western Wisconsin
Ch. 28 Trempealeau Valley and surroundings, Trempealeau County, western Wisconsin
Ch. 29 Lyster Colony in Buffalo County, western Wisconsin
Ch. 30 Chippewa Valley, northern Eau Claire and southern Chippewa Counties, western Wisconsin
IOWA and MINNESOTA
Ch. 31 First Norwegians in Iowa and Minnesota
Ch. 32 Clayton and Allamakee Counties, northeastern Iowa
Ch. 33 Winneshiek County, northeastern Iowa
Ch. 34 Houston County and eastern Fillmore County, southeastern Minnesota
Ch. 35 Setesdal, western Fillmore County, southeastern Minnesota
Ch. 36 Bloomfield Settlement, Fillmore and Mower Counties, southeastern Minnesota
Ch. 37 Bear Creek Settlement, Mower County, southeastern Minnesota
Ch. 38 Little Turkey and Crane Creek Settlements, Chickasaw County, northeastern Iowa
Ch. 39 Clausen’s Big Colony, Iowa and Minnesota border
Ch. 40 St. Ansgar and surroundings, Mitchell County, northern Iowa
Ch. 41 Six Mile Grove and Adams, Mower County, southern Minnesota
Ch. 42 Worth and Winnebago Counties, northern Iowa
Ch. 43 Freeborn and Waseca Counties, southern Minnesota
Ch. 44 Faribault County, southern Minnesota
Ch. 45 McGregor, Clayton County, northeastern Iowa
Ch. 46 Stavanger and Hordaland colony, Story, Hamilton and Hardin Counties, central Iowa
Ch. 47 Norway Settlement, Benton County, and Calamus Settlement, Clinton County, eastern Iowa
Ch. 48 Lykkensborg Village, Hennepin County, Minnesota
Ch. 49 St. Peter area and Nicollet County, Minnesota
Ch. 50 Christiania Settlement, Dakota, Scott and Rice Counties, Minnesota
Ch. 51 Big Goodhue County colony, Minnesota
Ch. 52 East and West St. Olaf colonies, Olmsted County, Minnesota
Ch. 53 Main community of Gudbrandsdøler in America, Brown and Watonwan Counties, southwestern Minnesota
Ch. 54 Jackson County and the 24 August 1862 Belmont Massacre, southwestern Minnesota
Ch. 55 Largest Norwegian Settlement in America, central Minnesota
Ch. 56 Norway Lake and surroundings, Kandiyohi County, central Minnesota
Ch. 57 The Indian war of 1862-65
Ch. 58 The first large prairie settlement
Ch. 59 The grasshopper plague
Ch. 60 The Land of a Thousand Lakes
Ch. 61 When law and order came to Grant County, Minnesota
DAKOTA
Ch. 62 When Dakota was settled
Ch. 63 The Red River Valley, western Minnesota
Hjalmar Rued Holand deserves credit for being one of only a few who gave us documentation of the Norwegians’ first years in the U.S. While Holand may at times be criticized for his reliance on secondary rather than primary sources, his book provides an engaging and enthusiastic depiction of the struggles as well as the triumphs of pioneer life. His stories will appeal to a broad spectrum of interest levels, from the grass roots to academia. This publication is an important milestone, one that will serve as a foundation for future generations of Norwegians on both sides of the Atlantic. This new book will create discussion, proof of important work done.
— Steinar Opstad, Ph.D., Sarpsborg, Norway, Norwegian scholar and writer
Hjalmar Rued Holand captured on paper the captivating sagas of the early Norwegian immigrants and the settlements they established across the Upper Midwest. This translation of Holand’s writing lets readers trace the trails of their ancestors through Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and the Dakotas as they explore new frontiers and build new communities. Along the way lurk killer diseases, grasshopper plagues, prairie fires and loneliness. Thanks to this book, countless Norwegian- Americans will be able to learn more about their own heritage from the pioneer sagas recorded here and to pass these stories down to their children and grandchildren.
— Walter F. Mondale, Minnesota, former U.S. Vice President, 2005 Norway Centennial Chairman
History of the Norwegian Settlements gives today’s generations of Norwegian-Americans fresh insight into their heritage. This new 512-page, hard-cover book details the unprecedented migration of the Norse people to America in the 19th and early 20th centuries and their struggles to build a better future. Holand’s translation also describes the importance of faith and worship to the new immigrants. The impact of the pioneer pastors to the settlers and their new communities is beyond measure. Indeed, some such as Pastor C. L. Clausen explored new territories and established colonies to help the new arrivals.
— Pastor Jens Dale, Norway, 2002-05 at Mindekirken in Minneapolis, Minnesota
