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1850, Blegen, The American Transition, p. 489, A party of settlers started from Muskego, stopping at Koshkonong to recruit other migrants, pushing on as a company of more that a hundred people in every manner of vehicle, including wagons with wheels "made of solid sections of oak logs". At Prairie du Chien the caravan divided, some heading north for the Coon prairie and valley country, the others crossing the great river into Iowa and making their way to Winneshiek County. John Nielsen Rue was one of the first into Winneshiek County. Clausen, C. A., A Chronicler of Immigrant Life, p. 12.
1850, Twelve families founded the Washington Prairie settlement in Winneshiek County, Iowa. Most came from Wisconsin and the first settlers that came direct came in 1853. The Reverend Ulrik V. Koren became pastor in 1853. It was not long before thriving settlements showed up in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota. Decorah became one of the leading Norwegian cultural centers in America. 1846, Ole Valle and Ole Tollefson Kittilsland lead the way into Iowa. Blegen, Norwegian Migration to America, p. 364. Also, Lovoll, Odd, The Promise of America, p. 117.
1850, The earliest settlement in Winneshiek County, Iowa was at Washington Prairie. Flom, Norwegian Immigration to the United States, p. 368. Mikkel Omli was the one from Telemarken. Nels Johnson was the leader.
Decorah, Iowa, for a variety of reasons, became one of the most important cultural centers. Perhaps no Norwegian magazine published in this country has attained a high literary and cultural excellence than "Symra" issued in Decorah. 1846, Ole Valle and Ole Tollefson Kittilsland lead the way into Iowa. Blegen, Norwegian Migration to America, p. 364.
1860, Around Ridgeway, near Decorah, Iowa, were Gunnulv and Halvor Kjitilsen, Torgier, Tov, and Gunliek Torgiersen Mogen (Såheimsmogen). Also, Knut, Jon, and Alv Vesset; Jacob Knutsen, Niels Vemork, Kjittil Sondresen, Torgrim and Ole Tveito.
