Historical Timeline

1850, There are seven Norwegians in Minnesota Territory. Nelson, O. A., History of Scandinavians in the United States, p. 300. Some say the census said nine, but there were two soldiers at Ft. Snelling. Qualey, Norwegian Settlement in the United States, p. 111.

1850, There are 29,000 people in Chicago now. Odd Lovoll, The Promise of America, p. 48.

1850, Fredrika Bremer, the Swedish author, expressed "What a glorious new Scandinavia might not Minnesota become". Qualey, Norwegian Settlement in the United States, p. 97. See also Blegen, Land of Their Choice, p. 419.

1850, There were 562 Norwegians in Chicago now, and 12,678 Norwegians in the U.S. census of 1850. Blegen, The American Transition, p. 481.

1850, Epidemic, Yellow Fever, Nationwide (USA)

1850-1851, Epidemic, Influenza, North America

1850, December 14, Ole Østeinsen (24) and Astrid Johnsdatter (19) are married at Dal Parish. The next year my g-g-grandparents sailed for America. Their daughter, Aase, did not survive her first year. Thus begins the sacrifice that must be remembered. Gene Estensen Family.

1850, Census shows 361 Norwegians in Iowa, with 8,651 in Wisconsin. There are 105 in Texas due to the recruiting efforts of John R. Reiersen. Blegen, Norwegian Migration to America, p. 151. See also Flom, Norwegian Immigration to the United States, p. 86.

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.

1850, Torgier Torgiersen Såheimsmogen came to America in 1850 with his brother Gunleik. Their sister Gro, married to Ola Kittilsen Såheim, had come to America early, in 1841. Torgier would settle at Ridgeway Township, Winneshiek County, near Decorah, Iowa. Later, he would become the well know pioneer Tom Thompson of Burk County, Minnehaha County, South Dakota. In 1859 his kid brother, Peder Torgiersen Såheim, came to Ridgeway just as war clouds were forming in America. He died with the Norwegian Regiment, the 15th Wisconsin. Gene Estensen Family.

1850, Even Heg dies at Muskego, as did his wife Siri seven years earlier. Rønning, N. N., The Saga of Old Muskego, p. 43. He was one of the most famous of the lay preachers.

1850, September 15, Kittil is born to Tov and Astrid Kaase. He died May 7, 1907. Gene Estensen Family.

1850, Quebec becomes a port of entrance for immigrants from Norway. 250 came this year. Nearly all went on to the United States. Blegen, The American Transition, p. 358. Also Odd Lovoll, The Promise of America, p. 28.

1850, The Reverend C. L. Clausen wrote to the governor of Minnesota Territory seeking information "about the domain which he governed". Blegen, Norwegian Migration to America, p. 366. The next summer, Clausen set off to investigate St. Cloud, St. Paul, and St. Anthony Falls. He also went up the Minnesota River.

1850, 18,200 have left Norway by 1850, nearly 70,000 by the start of the Civil War. Lovell, Odd, The Promise Fulfilled, p. 10.

1850, May 18, the last issue of Nordlyset is printed. On June 8 it became Democraten. Lovoll, Odd, The Promise of America, p. 103. Emigranten didn't come out until January 23, 1852.

1851, Norwegian vessels brought emigrants to America from Galway, Dublin, Limerick, Antwerp, and Havre de Grace. Blegen, The American Transition, p. 13.

1851, Epidemic, Cholera, Great Plains of America. Is this what caused the death of little Aase Olsdatter Bøen on October 1? Gene Estensen Family.

1850, A township was in charge of the local school. All American men over 21 could vote. Immigrants could vote as soon as they had signed a declaration of their intention to become American citizens, what was known as "taking out their first papers". Semmingsen, Norway to America, p. 90.

1851, "These two treaties of 1851 at Traverse des Sioux and Mendota acquired for white settlement nearly 24,000,000 acres of the finest lands in the world". Gresham, Nicollet and Le Suer Counties Minnesota, p.36.

1851, Indian treaties open up the greater portion of Minnesota west of the Mississippi River and into present day Dakotas.. The first Norwegian settlers in Minnesota settle in Houston and Fillmore counties. Blegen, The American Transition, p. 383. Also Norlie, The History of the Norwegian People in America, p. 181. The opening up of this rich land was advanced by the railroads to the Mississippi at Rock Island in 1854, to East Dubuque in 1855, to Prairie du chien in 1857, and La Crosse in 1858. Blegen, Norwegian Migration to America, p. 371-72. Houston and Fillmore counties received swarms of Norwegians from the near-by Iowa settlements and from Rock Prairie, Koshkonong, Muskego, and elsewhere to the southeast, with the process beginning in 1851 and 1852. See also Qualey, Norwegian Settlement in the United States, p. 98 and 111, see p. 112 for a detailed map of settlement. Also see Carley, Kenneth, The Sioux Uprising of 1862, p. 2.

"Among the individuals who were highly influential in attracting Norwegian settlers to Minnesota was the pioneer pastor and farmer, C. L. Clausen……Of far greater influence was Paul Hjelm-Hansen. Qualey, Norwegian Settlement in the United States, p.106.

1851, It is claimed that several Norwegians settled in St. Paul in 1851. Nelson, O. A., History of Scandinavians in the United States, p. 299.

1851, Aase Olsdatter Bøen is born in Vestfjorddalen, Tinn, on February 14 but does not survive the year. She dies on October 1 at a place unknown, but she did arrive at New York with her parents Ole Østensen Bøen and Astrid Johnsdatter. Gene Estensen Family.

1851, Ole Østensen Bøen leaves for America with Astrid and her father John Gunnulvsen Bøen (age 63). They arrive in New York on August 21, 1851 aboard the "Centurion" from Havre, with Edward Coombs as Captain. Little Aase is 3 months old in this record. Gene Estensen Family.

1851, The famous violinist Ole Bull comes to Muskego. Rønning, N. N. The Saga of old Muskego, p. 41.

1851, Halvor Kittilsen Bømogen (25) leaves for America. Gene Estensen Family.

1851, The "Ebenezer" took emigrants to New York, then carried freight to the West Indies. Blegen, The American Transition, p. 11. See p, 15 for a description of the ships fittings, not too cozy. Then follows the description of the journey.

1851, Ole Austin (Østensen) Bøen arrives in United States with Astrid on October 10. This is per his intention to become a citizen, filed June 9, 1855. He signed with his mark. Gene Estensen Family.

1851, Nine Norwegian settlers come from Muskego to Southeastern Minnesota to open up Minnesota to settlement. They settled at Newburg in Fillmore County.

1851, Thomas Kittleson arrived, lived in Winneshiek for 15 years, then on to Burk Township, Minnehaha County, SD in 1877. Gene Estensen Family.

Langmvhr A. Austin was one of he pioneers in the Minnetonka tourist traffic. He was born in Bø, Telemark in 1851 and came to America at the age of eighteen, making his home with an uncle in Stevens, County, Minn. Where he remained a couple of years, then lived at Glenwood, Minn. a short while and 1n 1875 located at Lake Minnetonka. Hansen, Carl, My Minneapolis, p. 152.

1852, Epidemic, Yellow Fever, Nationwide (USA)

1852, On the night between August 19th and 20th the vessels "Atlantic" and "Ogdensburg"collided on Lake Erie. "Atlantic" sank and 300 of 600 passengers drowned. Onboard were 138 Norwegians, 68 were drowned and the rest were rescued. Blegen, The American Transition, p. 35. For an account of the incident see Blegen, Land of Their Choice, p. 171.

1852, Ole Bull founded his "glorious" but unsuccessful settlement at Potter County, Pennsylvania. It was called Oleana.

1852, January 23, the newspaper "Emigranten", the Emigrant, was founded at Inmansville, Wisconsin, in the heart of Norwegian territory. It lasted into the change of the century and best reflected the life and position of the majority of the emigrants. The Rev. C. L. Clausen had a lot to do with it. Clausen ran a history of the U. S. in it. Concurrently, he wrote a history of the state of Wisconsin. The first issues were in an election year and the paper took an anti-slavery position.

1852, the Reverend C. L. Clausen sets out for land along the Iowa-Minnesota border. The following year a caravan of 40 canvas covered wagons set out and established a colony, named St. Ansgar. Blegen, Norwegian Migration to America, p. 367. Also, see Mitchell County, Iowa for 19 years. Nelson, O. A., History of Scandinavians in the United States, p. 389.

1853, mid June, C. L. Clausen leads 40 settlers to Cedar River country in Mitchell County, Iowa. They found St. Ansgar. Clausen remained until 1872. Qualey, Norwegian Settlement in the United States, p.92. This settlement quickly spread into
Worth County. See also Norlie, The History of the Norwegian People in America, p. 160.

1853, Surveying of public land in Minnesota begins. Land sales begin two years later. One who claimed land was called Klæmeren. Lovoll, Odd, The Promise of America, p. 137.

1853, The second oldest cemetery in the state of Minnesota, at St. Peter, with burials starting this year, contains the graves of many soldiers and many of those killed by Indians in 1862. Gresham, Nicollet and Le Suer Counties Minnesota, p. 346.

1853, Nicollet County, in the great bend in the Minnesota River, with 78 miles of river frontage, is organized. Gresham, Nicollet and Le Suer Counties Minnesota, p.59.

1853, Elisabeth Koren and her minister husband leave for America. Nelsen, David, The Diary of Elisabeth Koren, p. 1.

1853, Elisabeth Koren reports cholera onboard, 14 are buried at sea. Nelsen, David, The Diary of Elisabeth Koren, p. 6.

1853, Pastor Koren reports that the first railroad between Buffalo and Chicago was completed in the fall of 1853. Nelsen, David, The Diary of Elisabeth Koren, p. 72.

1853, The first Norwegian farmer whom the Korens met when they neared Washington Prairie, Winneshiek County was Gullik Johnson Rønningen, later Running. His wife was Anne. Nelsen, David, The Diary of Elisabeth Koren, p. 96.

1853, Pastor Koren preaches for the first time at Spring Grove, MN on September 9. Nelsen, David, The Diary of Elisabeth Koren, p. 158.

1853, Torgier Luraas took land in Winneshiek County, Iowa. His granddaughter was Mr. John Thingvold of Decorah. Nelsen, David, The Diary of Elisabeth Koren, p. 171.

1853, It is a time of famine in Norway. Nelsen, David, The Diary of Elisabeth Koren, p. 213.

1853, Indians are discussed on pages 79, 256, 363. Nelsen, David, The Diary of Elisabeth Koren.

1853, Nicollet County - The early (first) pioneers went to this area from Wisconsin in 1853 and took land on the site of St. Peter. Between 1854 and 1860 Scandia Grove and Lake Prairie settlements arose. Qualey, Norwegian Settlement in the United States, p. 124. and Ulvestad, Nordmaendene I America, 1:111, and Holland, Norske Settlementers Historie, p. 478, and History of Nicollet and Le Suer Counties, p. 163.

1853, Hans Valder of Vats Parish, Stavager Amt and an immigrant of 1837 became one of the first Norwegian pioneers in Minnesota. When asked who was first, he stated that he saw three young men in a cabin at Spring Grove. The first probably came in 1852. Anderson, Rasmus, Norwegian Immigration, p. 222.

1853, February 18, John Olsen Bøen is born in a railroad shanty near Galena, Illinois to Ole and Astrid. Gene Estensen Family.

1853, July 29, Gunnhild is born to Niels Østeinsen Bøen and Gro Gregardsdatter. Gene Estensen Family.

1853, Kjetil Kjetilsen Tveito lived at Bømogen. Gene Estensen Family.

1853, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" becomes a best seller in Norway. Blegen, Norwegian Migration to America, p. 346.

1853, Ft. Ridgely was commenced as a protection to settlers along the frontier. Gresham, Nicollet and Le Suer Counties Minnesota, p.82.

1854, July 7, at Jackson, Michigan the Republican party was born. Since the Norwegians did not feel that National unity was threatened, because the Republicans did not advocate outright abolition of slavery, they moved heavily to Republican from Democrats.

1854, Harmony (then Greenfield until 1895), Minnesota Territory, first Norwegian settlers arrive from Koshkonong. John Jacobsen Einong came in July. Herbjorn Nilsen Ingulfsland with four sons, Hans Johanson Bergan, Knud Pedersen Husevold, Niels and Østein Nielsen Ingulfsland, Hallak Olsen Marum, Ellis and Johannes Thoe from Hjartdal, and Tosten Ellis Quammen. Almost all of the "Tindølar" had come from Muskego. Many settled along the state line opposite Ridgeway, Iowa. Telelaget, Telemark to America Volume II, p. 80. Also see Johnson, Millicent, Let's Have Harmony, p. 3.

1854, Torgier Tovsen Mogen (Såheimsmogen) came to America with his parents and lived in Muskego for one year, then on to Ridgeway. He came in 1876 to Burk Township, Minnehaha County, SD as Tom Thompson. Gene Estensen Family.

1854, June 16, Herbjorn Nielsen Gausta was born in Vesfjorddalen. He came to America at age 12, to Harmony in 1867. Two years later his father died and Herbjorn had four sisters, and no brothers. At age 18 he went to Luther College where his talent for drawing was discovered. Then he went to Oslo for art training, then on to Munich. He returned to the United States in 1882. He died May 22 in 1924, after long having his home in Minneapolis, but often returning to Harmony for the summers. He never married. Johnson, Millicent, Let's Have Harmony, p. 104. "The scenes of this grandly beautiful region left a deep impression on him", speaks of Vestfjorddalen. Hansen, Carl, My Minneapolis, p. 171.

1854, The railroad between Milwaukee and Madison was opened in 1854 and reached Prairie du Chien on the Mississippi River in 1857. Qualey, Norwegian Settlement in the United States, p. 99.

1854, The Norseland settlement at present day St. Peter, MN is founded by Torstein Østeinsen Böen from Tinn, John Tollefosn from Toten, and Lars Swensen Rønning from Hallingdal in the spring. Torstein was my g-g-uncle. Gene Estensen Family.

1854, The Luther Valley settlement is ravaged by cholera.

1854, Gunnulv Kittilsen Såheim and Gro Torgiersdatter Mogen (Såheimsmogen) leave for Ridgeway, Lincoln Township, Iowa from Muskego. Gene Estensen Family.

1854, This year ordinary compulsory military service was introduced in Norway. Young men under the age of 21 could emigrate freely, unless they had already met before the medical board.

1855, Epidemic, Yellow Fever, Nationwide (USA).

1855, The first Norwegians arrive at Northfield, the year that John Wesley North founded the town. Bernt Julius Muus, p. 155.

1855, A caravan of nine covered wagons from Muskego arrives in Dakota County.

1855, At Norseland, New Sweden Township, Norwegian Grove, Ole Østeinsen Bøen, Gunder Nereson, and Swenke Torgurson found the Township. Ole and Tosten are the first to arrive in Nicollet County, MN Territory. Holland, De Norske Settlementers Historie, p. 479. Also see Ole Estensen in Gresham, Nicollet and Le Suer Counties Minnesota, p.166. Ole was my g-g-grandfather. Gene Estensen Family.

New Sweden Township, Nicollet County, MN Territory. "Its people, largely Scandinavians, are the true type of men and women who fear not to do and to dare. They have developed this six-mile square tract of Nicollet County in a manner that would put to blush many an older and fairer looking country, by nature, than was this when they first set their plowshares to the tough prairie sod in the fifties and sixties. Gresham, Nicollet and Le Suer Counties Minnesota, p. 168.

"The early days in Minnesota were anxious and troublesome ones for the hardy white settlers, as Indians were numerous and not always disposed to be friendly". Gresham, Nicollet and Le Suer Counties Minnesota, p. 129, VII.

1856, Ole Austin (Østeinsen) and Astrid arrive in Minnesota Territory on June 17. He stakes out his 134 acres in Nicollet County, MN Territory on September 12, 1856. Tosten Austiensen (Østeinsen) signed in beautiful handwriting. At $1.25 per acre, this came to $168.45. Gene Estensen Family.

See Gresham, Nicollet and Le Suer Counties Minnesota, p. 143, VII telling how Tosten Estensen came over from Wisconsin (Muskego). Gene Estensen Family.

1856, the frontier settlers were thrown into panic by the murder of forty persons at Spirit Lake Settlement in Iowa and the southern extreme of Minnesota. McConkey, Harriet, Dakota War-Whoop, p. 21.

1856, July 24, Østein Olsen Bøen is born in Nicollet County, MN to Ole and Astrid. Østein was my g-grandfather known as Austin Estensen. Gene Estensen Family.

1856, July 18, Gunnulv (Gilbert) is born to Tov and Astrid Bømogen. He died July 21, 1928. Gene Estensen Family.

1857-1859, Epidemic, Influenza, Worldwide, one of worst ever

1857, Carl Fredrick Solberg a native of Christiania to over the newspaper "Emigranten" and was its greatest editor.

1857, October 1, the first Norwegian newspaper in Minnesota became "Folkets röst (The Voice of the People). It appeared just two weeks before the voting on statehood.

1857, Thorstein Veblen was born in Wisconsin but the family moved into Minnesota eight years later. Blegen, The American Transition, p. 487.

1857, March, 42 settlers were killed at Spirit Lake by the Sioux. Gresham, Nicollet and Le Suer Counties Minnesota, p.38.

1858, Pastor Laurentius Larsen made a trip to St. Peter and found a settlement of about 30 to 40 Norwegian families and four or five times as many Swedes. Blegen, Norwegian Migration to America, p. 375. He was present when the congregation was organized October 24, 1858. Bernt Julius Muus, p. 168. See Ostensen names in Gresham, Nicollet and Le Suer Counties Minnesota, p.297.

1858, The treaty of April 19 with the Yanktonai Sioux cleared all the region between the Missouri and the Big Sioux rivers of Indians and the new lands were thrown open for settlement July 10, 1859. Qualey, Norwegian Settlement in the United States, p. 131. A number of families migrate from Iowa, and wait for the lands of open. Two scouts from Koshkonong in Wisconsin visit.

1859, Six wagons of Norwegians pioneers set out from Stoughton, Wisconsin (Koshkonong) for Dakota. This was two years before Dakota Territory was established. This would become South Dakota. Because of a lack of trees, it was 1860 and 1861 before many more Norwegians went there. Then the Sioux wars slowed settling. Pioneer minister, Abraham Jacobsen, visited the Dakota settlements in the fall of 1861, traveling from Decorah with a party of eight Norwegians. Qualey, Norwegian Settlement in the United States, p. 132. Also see Qualey, Norwegian Settlement in the United States, p. 140.

1859, Ole Austin (Østeinsen Bøen) buys his 134 acres in Nicollet County, MN for $1,859. Gene Estensen Family.

1859, To read about the Sierras, and their spring flowers, see Blegen, Land of Their Choice, p. 317.

1859, January 15, Gunhild is born to Tov and Astrid Bøkaase. In 1856 they were at Bømogen, part of the greater Bøen farm of Tinn, Telemark. Gene Estensen Family.

1859, Peder Torgiersen Såheimsmogen sails to America. He will die in the Civil War with the 15 Wisconsin, the Norwegian Regiment. Gene Estensen Family.