|
|
In 1833, Cleng Peerson with two companions sets out on foot to explore the great west and ends up starting a second colony, the Fox River Colony in La Salle County, Illinois. Peerson is said to have walked 2,000 miles in this adventure. Blegen, Norwegian Migration to America, p. 61. Peerson left from the 1st settlement at Kendall, New York. Flom, Norwegian Immigration to the United States, p. 53. Chicago was then a village of about 20 huts. Norlie, The History of the Norwegian People in America, p. 117.
1834-1835, Cleng Peerson led the Kendall people to the second settlement at Fox River, Mission township, La Salle County, Illinois. Six families moved in 1834 to found the second colony in America. Land was $1.25 per acre. Blegen, Norwegian Migration to America, p. 61. See also, Flom, Norwegian Immigration to the United States, p. 55.
1836, The territory of Wisconsin was organized and in 1848 it became a state. Jefferson Prairie grew rapidly when Ole's brother Anstein brought a party in 1839 aboard the Emilie, mostly from upper Telemark. This colony was also called the Luther Valley settlement. Many of these farmers owned gaards in Telemark but were burdened with interest and other payments. Clausen, C. A., A Chronicler of Immigrant Life, p. 50.
1836, Annual emigration from Norway begins. Knud Andersen Slogvig leads the first group on the Norden. Lovell, Odd, The Promise of America, p. 13. Mass emigration did not occur until the mid 1860's. Two brigs, Den Norske Klippe (June 8) and Norden (May 25) sailed from Stavenger to New York with 167 people. Most went to the Fox River settlement. Some went to Kendall but moved on to Fox River within a few years. Blegen, Norwegian Migration to America, p. 72. See also Flom, Norwegian Immigration to the United States, p. 91. There are a lot of names here. Also, Anderson, Rasmus, Norwegian Immigration, p. 43. Also Norlie, The History of the Norwegian People in America, p. 136.
1837, First to leave for America from Tinn, were the Rue party. At Sandven at the shores of Lake Tinnsjø a crowd gathered on May 17. Fifty-nine from Tinn and Hovin were leaving. The minister and sheriff (lensmann H. A. Bernaas) made speeches. The emigrants wore old costumes, had trunks and supplies with them, and rowed down the river as family, left behind, waved. In the south end of Tinnsjø the emigrants had to walk through Gransherad and Heddal down to Lake Heddalsvatn. They went by boats along Lake Heddalsvatn and thereafter Lake Norsjø they almost reached Skien. The last distance was made by foot. Five days after departure from Tinn the group embarked, went onboard the sailing vessel "Paketten" in Skien (May 22) with Ole Halvorsen as Captain. Norwegian-American Studies, Vol. 29, p. 53. The ship arrived at Gøteborg/Gothenburg, Sweden a few days later. The emigrants changed ships and left for New York with "Niord" about May 31. The ship arrived August 15 in New York after 10 weeks. From New York it was to Chicago(in early September) and the Fox River Settlement south-west of the City in Illinois. Most of them settled there, including Snowshoe Thompson (Jon Torsteinsen Rue). What happened on the shore of Sandven really was the beginning of a wave. The event was a sensation. Newspapers and magazines made articles. The authorities didn't say much, but they did not discourage emigration. From a letter by Anfinn Bernass.
