0. '• m m BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME FROM THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND THE GIFT OF Henrs 19- Sage 1S91 Am'^35z q,i I . 5901 Cornell University Library E184.S18 N42 v.1-2 History of the Scandinavians and success olin 3 1924 032 767 083 Cornell University Library The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924032767083 HISTORY SCANDINAVIANS SUCCESSFUL SCANDINAVIANS United States Compiled and Edited BY O. N. NELSON VOLUMES I AND II SECOND, REVISED EDITION Minneapolis, Minn. O. N. NELSON & COMPANY 1900 D E Copyright, 1893, 1897, 1899, by O. N. Nelson All Rights Beserred LIST OF COLLABORATORS Tols. I. and U. of History of the Scandinavians in the United States Bditok-in-Chief and Managing Kditoe, . O. N. NELSON, LL. B. Associate and Revising Editors, KNTJTE GJEBSBT, Ph D. J. J. SKOEDALSVOLD, B. A., B. L. Assistant Editobs, ADOLPH BREDESEN, B. A. Norwegian Synod Clergyman. LUTH JAEGER, Journalist. G. N. SWAN, Vice-Consul of Sweden and Norway. H. STOCKENSTROM, Editor of Sv. Am. Posten. Editoeial Revisers of the Biographies ot Clbegtmen, T. H. DAHL, United Norwegian Clmroli Clergyman. GEORG SVERDEUP, President of Angsburg Seminary. C. J. PETRI, A. M., Swedish Lutheran Clergyman. O. P. VANQSNES, B. A., Norwegian Synod Clergyman. Conteibdtoes and Revisers, Jos. A. Anderson, A. M., Swedish Lutheran Clergyman. J. Christian Bai, Bacteriologist, Des Moines, Iowa. G. O. Brohodgh, B. L.. LL. B., Professor in Red Wing Seminary. Ehha Sherwood Chester. Adam Dan, Danish Lutheran Clergyman. P. G. Dietbichson. C. M. Esbjoen, Ph. D., Swedish Lutheran Clergyman. Ajtdrew Estrem, Ph. D., Professor in Wartburg College. John Greeneield, Moravian Clergyman. John Halvorson, B. A„ Norwegian Synod Clergyman. J. J. KlLDSIG, United Danish Chnrch Clergyman. N. M. Liljegben, Swedish Methodist Clergyman. 0. Neumann, Victor Nilsson, Ph. D., Author of History of Sweden. Julius E. Olson, B. L., Professor in the University of Wisconsin. J. T. Peters. Fbank Peteeson, Baptist Clergyman. P. A. Schmidt, D. D., Professor in the United Church Seminary. S. SlGVALDSON, B. S. Ernst Skarstedt, Author of Svensk-Amerikanska Poeter and Vara Pennfaktare. E. A. Skogsbbrgh, Swedish Mission Clergyman. C. H. Spalding, LL. B., Attorney at Law, Goldendale, Wash. P. O. Stromme, B. a.. Author of Hvorledes Halvor blev Prest. Majob John Swainson. P. S. ViGj Professor in Trinity Seminary. B. L. Wick, A. M., LL. B., Attorney at Law, Cedar Rapids, Iowa_ in CONTENTS Vol. I. of History of the Scandinavians in the United States Page Characteristics of the Scandinavians and Review of their History, O. N. Nelson 1 History of the Scandinavian Immigration, O. N. Nbi,son 35 The Icelandic Discoveries of America, S. Sigvaldson 77 The First Swedish Settlement in America, Emma Shekwood Chester. 87 The First Norwegian Immigration, or The Sloop Party of 1825, O. N. Nelson 125 The Swedish Colony at Bishopshill, Illinois, Major John Swainson. . 135 The 15th Wisconsin, or Scandinavian, Regiment, P. G. Dieteichson. . 153 Historical Review of the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Rev. Adam Dan 167 Historical Review of Hauge's Evangelical Lutheran Synod in America, Pkop. G. O. Bbohocgh 173 Historical Review of the Norwegiao Evangelical Lutheran Synod in America, Rev. John Halvobson 183 Historical Review of the Scandinavian Baptists in the U. S. and in the North, Rev. Frank Peterson 197 Historical Review of Scandinavian Methodism in the U. S. and in the North, Rev. N. M. Liljegren 205 Historical Review of the Swedish Evangelical Mission Covenant of America, Rev. E. A. Skogsbergh 211 Historical Review of the Swedish Lutheran Augustana Synod, Rev. C. J. Petri 217 Historical Review of the United Norwegian Lutheran Church in America, Pboi'. Knutk Gjebset 225 Statistics Regarding the Scandinavians in the United States, O. N. Nelson 243 Bibliography of the Scandinavian-American Historical Literature of the Nineteenth Century, O. N. Nelson 265 ■ Historical Review of the Scandinavians in Mianesota, O. N. Nelson. . 297 Historical Review of the Scandinavian Schools in Minnesota, J. J. Seordalsvold ' 3X7 Historical Review of Scandinavian Churches in Minnesota, O. N. Nelson and J. J. Skobdalsvold ' 335 Historical Review of the Minnesota District of the Norwegian Synod, Rev. John Halvoeson ' 35]^ Historical Review of the Minnesota Conference of the Augustana Synod, Rev. C. J. Petri 261 Biographies of Scandinavians in Minnesota, Editors, Contbibutoks and Revisers ' 355 IV CONTENTS Vol. II. of History of the Scandinavians in the United States Page The Nationality of Criminal and Insane Persons in the United States, O. N. Nelson 1 Historical Review of Luther College, Prop. Andrew Bstbem 23 Social Characteristics of the Danes and a History of Their Societies, O. N. Nelson and C. Neumann 39 Historical Review of the United Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, O. N. Nelson 49 Historical Review of the Moravian Church and its Scandinavian- A merican Work, Rev. John Greeneield 57 Historical Review of the Scandinavians in Iowa, O. N. Nelson 61 - Historical Review of the Scandinavian Schools in Iowa, J. J. Skordalsvold 75 Historical Review of the Scandinavian Churches in Iowa, O. N. Nelson and J. J. Skordalsvold 83 Historical Review of the Iowa Conference of the Augustnna Synod, Rev. Jos. A. Anderson 91 Historical Review of the Iowa District of the Norwegian Synod, Rev. Adolph Bredesen 99 Historical Review of the Scandinavians in Wisconsin, O. N. Nelson. . 105 Historical Review of the Scandinavian Schools in Wisconsin, J. J. Skordalsvold 129 Historical Review of the Scandinavian Churches in Wisconsin, O. N. Nelson and J. J. Skordalsvold 135 Historical Review of the Eastern District of the Norwegian Synod, Rev. Adolph Bredesen 145 Biographies of Scandinavians in Iowa and Wisconsin, Editors, Con- tributors, and Rbvcsees 153 LIST OF BIOGRAPHIES Page Vol. Aaker, LaraK 365 I Agar, Wm 237 II Akermark, G. E 237 II Almen, Louis G 366 I Anderson, Abel 238 II Anderson, Abel 366 I Anderson, Andrew G 153 II Anderson, Berudt 36S I Anderson, Daniel 369 I Anderson, J. A 238 II Anderson, J. E 239 II AndersoD, Mons 193 II Anderson.E.B 195 II Anundeen, B 154 II Arctander, J. W 369 .1 Arosin, O. H 370 I Aslceland, H. T 371 I Bendeke,Karl 371 I Bengston, C. J 240 II Bennet, C. C 372 I Berg, Albert 373 I Bergh, J. A 240 II Bergh,K. E 1,^6 II Bergh, Martin 241 II Bergsland, H. H 373 I Biennann, Adolpb 374 I Bibrn, L. M 375 I Bjorgo, K 375 I Bookman, M. O 376 I Boeckmann.E 377 I Boen, H. K 377 I BorcUsenius, H 241 II Borup, C. W. W 378 I Bothne, Gisle 242 II Boye.N.C 157 II Boyeeen, A. E 379 I Brandt, Christian 380 I Breda, O.J 381 I Bredeaen. Adolph 242 II Brohonrii, G.O 382 I Brown,F,P 382 I Bmsletten, C. L 383 I Brydolf.F 158 II Bull, Storm 243 II Burg, P.N 244 II Barnquist, Sam 159 II Cappelen. P. W 383 I Carfien, LA.K 384 I Carlson, Anton 244 II Carlson, J, S 38S I Carlson, O. W 245 II Cassel, P 161 II Chantland, P. W 245 II ChriBtensen, F. S 386 I CUnsen.C, L 387 I Clausen, Pet^r 391 I Colbere, A. P. J 392 I Dahl, J. M 246 II Dahl.T. H 247 II Dahle, O. B 247 II Dan, Adam 248 II Darelius, A. B 392 I DaTideoD. J. 249 II Dnndas, J. C 199 II Esge, A. E 249 11 Egeen, J. Mneller 393 I Engstrom.A.E 394 I Brdall. J. L 250 II Erickson, Halford 250 II Ericson, C. J. A 164 II Page Tol. Estrem,A 251 II Falatrom, Jacob 395 I FeUand, 0, G 396 I Fjelde, Jacob 396 I Fleischer, F 251 II Fliesburg, Oscar A 397 I Fosmark, O, N 399 I Fo3nes,C. A 399 I Foss, H, A 400 I Foss, Louis O 400 I Fremling, John 401 I Frich.J. B 401 I Gausta,H. iS 402 I Gjertsen, H. J 402 I GjertBen,J. P 201 II Gjertsen, M. F 404 I Granberg.O 262 11 Grinager, Mons 405 I Grmdelaud.A 406 I Gronberger, R 406 I Grundtvig, F, L 2S3 II Gatteraen, G 407 I Halgren,C Q 408 I HalTand, B, M 253 II HalTorsen, H 254 II HalTorson, John 408 I Halvorson, Kittel 409 I Hansen, Oesten 410 I Hatlestad.O. J 166 II Haugen.G. N 254 II Hangen.N.P 202 II Heg,H.C 204 II Hendtiokson. P 255 II Hilleboe, H. S 410 I Hobe.E. H 411 I Hoegh, Knut 412 I Hokanaon, M. F 167 II Holmes, Ludvig 255 II Holst,M 256 II Holt, Andrew 413 I Homme,E.J 257 11 Hougen, J. O 267 II Hoyme, G 207 II Husher,F.A 413 I Jackson, Andrew 414 I Jacobsen, J. D 176 II Jacobson, J. F 415 I Jaeger, Luth 416 I Janson, Kristofer N 418 I Jeanson, H. E 258 II Jenson, Andrew 258 II Jensson. J. C 419 I Jensvold, John 420 I Johnsen, Thomas 421 I Johnson, C, J 421 I Johnson, B. P 239 II Johnson, Gnstavus 422 I Johnton, J, A 209 II Johnson, Marcus 423 I Johnson, 0. C 260 II Johnson, Tosten 433 I Johnston, L. A 424 I Kildahl, J.N 425 I Kildsig, J. J 426 I Kittelson, Charles 427 ' I KnatTold, T. V 428 I Keren, U. V 178 II Kumlien, T. L. T 210 II Lagerstrom, E 428 I Langeland, K 213 II VI LIST OF BIOGRAPHIES Page Vol. LaDgum, Samuel 429 I Larsen, Iver '6 II Oftedal, Sven 464 I Oleson, Ole 266 II Olsen, Johan 1S7 II 0!son, C. O. A 485 I Olson, JuUos E 267 II OIson,01eBr 268 II Olson.S.E 466 I Ostrom, O. N 467 I Ostlnnd, O. W 468 I Ottesen, J. A 188 II Paulson, Ole 268 II Pedsrsjn, Knud 469 I Petersen, Ole P 469 I Petersen, W. M. H 469 I Peterson, Andrew P 470 I Peterson, Atley 269 II Peterson, Prank 470 I Peterson, James A 472 I Peterson, John 472 I Peterson.J.W 473 I Peterson, O. C 270 ll Peterson, Sewell A 271 II Petri,C.J 475 I Petri, G. A 476 I Pettersen, WUhelm M 474 I Preus.H. A 220 II QTale, S. A 271 II Railson, Andrew 477 I VII Page Vol. East, Gustaf 478 I Keimestad, Th. S 479 I Eeque, L. 8 271 II Rice, A. E 480 I Eingnell, C. J 481 I Eoe,0.0 272 II Eoos, Oscar 482 I Eosing,A.Q 482 I Eosing, L. A 483 I Sagen,A. K 272 II Sandberg, G. P 483 I Sandberg, J. H 484 I Saugstad, C 4S4 I Searle,0.0 485 I Shaleen, John 486 I Sjoblom, P 487 I Skaro, J. G 487 I Skogsbergh, E. A 488 I Skordalsvold, J. J 489 I Smith, C. A 490 I Soderstrom, A 492 I Sohlberg, O 492 I Solem,A 493 I Sorensen, S 494 I Stark, L.J 494 I SteenersoD, H 495 I Steensland, Halle 228 II Stockenstrom, H 496 I Stromme, Peer O 273 11 Stub,H.G 497 I Sunwall, G. F 504 I Sverdrup, G 498 I Swainson, J 500 I Swan.G. N 274 II Sward.P.J 601 I Swenson, John 502 I Swenson, Lars 502 I Swenson, L.S Wi I Tharaldsen, 1 5(i5 I Thompson, E.E 606 I Thorpe, L. O 506 1 Thorsen, John 230 II Thorson, A .507 I Thorvilson, T. K 275 II Thrane, Markas 232 II Thygeson.N. M 508 1 Tollefsrude, C. H 275 II Torgerson, T. A 190 II Torrison, Osuld 233 II Torrison, T. E 276 II Trandberg.P. C 509 I Tronsdal, F. L 276 II Turnblad.M 510 I Turnblad,S. J 611 I Ueland, A 512 I Valder, Hans 513 I Vangsues, O.P 277 II Veblen, A. A 278 II Vig,P. S 278 II Vinje,A. J 279 II Waerner, Ninian 514 I Wahlstrom, M 518 I Warner, H. B 235 II Werner. N.O 516 I Wick, B. L 279 II Widstrand, P. H 517 I Xavier.N. P 280 II Vlvisaker, J 517 I Ytterboe, H. T 518 I LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Page Vol. Aadereon, A 153 II ADderaon, Bemdt 36S I Anderson, Rev . J. A . . .' 153 II Anderson, Prof. E. B 81 I Anandsen, Br;nild 152 II Angsbnrg Seminary 193 I Augustana College 222 I Bendeke, Dr. Karl 377 I Bergh, Rev. J. A 233 II Bergh,M 249 II Bergslsnd, Prof. H. H 369 I Biom, Rev. L. M 369 1 Bookman, Prof. M. 425 I Boyesen, A. E 376 I Brandt, C 369 I Bredesen, Rev. A 217 II Brnsletten, C. L 369 I Burg,P.N 249 II Carlson, A 153 II Carlaon, Prof. J. S 384 I Chantiand, P. W 169 II Clansen, Rev. C. L 425 I Dahl. Rev. T. H 201 II Darelius, A. B 489 I Egge, Prof. A. E 169 II Brioson, C. J. A 168 II Fliesburs, Dr. O. A 400 I Fosnes, C. A 409 I • Frich, Piof. J. B 481 I Gjertsen.H.J 385 I Gjertsen, Eev. M. F 393 I Granherg, O 233 II Grindeland, A 409 I Gostavus Adolphns College.. 223 I Halvorsen, Rev. H 201 II Haugen, N. P 200 II Hobe, E. H 416 I Hokanson, Rev. M. F 184 II Holmes, Rev. L 184 II Hoyme, Rev. Gjermund 216 II Jaeger, Luth 449 I Jeaaon, A 233 II JensBon, Rev. J. C 393 1 Johnsen, Hev. T 481 I Johnson, C. J 513 I Johnson, E. P 169 II Johnson, Prof. G 513 I Johnston, Rev. L. A 425 I Kildsig.Rev. J. J 393 I Koren, Eev. tJ. V 185 II Langeland, Knud 225 II Larsen, Prof. Lanr 185 II Lind, Dr. A 513 I Lind, John 432 I Lindholm.A.T 249 II Listoe, Soren 417 I liokensgaard. Prof. O 409 1 Land, Prof, E. G 249 II Lund.Eev.L 201 II Luther College 192 I Mngnus, Prof. D 408 I Page VoL Mattson. Col. Hans 401 I Megaarden. P. T 440 I Myran, O. H 465 I Nelson, Knute 448 I Nelson, O 265 II Nilsson, Eev. F. O 449 I Nilsson, Victor 449 I Noreliua, Eev. E 425 I Norrbom, Eev. A 153 II Oftedal. Prof. Sven 4S6 I Old Swedes' Church, The 80 I Olsen, Bev.J 265 II Olson, CO. A 4!i9 I Olson, Prof. Julius E 217 II Ottesen, Rev. J. A 265 II Peterson, A 248 II Peterson, Eev. Frank 472 I Peterson, J 513 I Peterson, J. A 489 I Peterson, O.C 264 II Petri, Eev. C.J 424 I Petri.Q. A 489 I Preus, Eev. H. A 224 II Eeimeatad, Prof. T. S 393 I Rice, A. E 48(1 I Rice,C.A 465 I RingeeU, Dr. C. J 464 I Roamij, L. A 433 I Sandberg, Dr. G. P 465 I Soarie.O.O 488 I Shaleen. J 465 I Skaro, Dr. J. G 392 I Skogsbergh, Rev. E. A 473 T Smith, C. A 496 I Soderstrom, A 401 I Sohlberg, Dr. Olof 400 I Steensland, H 201 II Stockenstrom, Herman 497 I St. Olaf College 193 I Stromme, P. O 217 II Stub, Prof. H. G 481 I Sunwall, G. P 441 I Sverdrup, Prof. Georg 457 I Sw.Hn, G. N 272 II Sward, Rev. P. J 504 I Thompson, R.E 409 I Thorpe, L. O 449 I ToUefsrude, 0. H 235 II Torgorson, Eev. T. A 273 II Torrison, Osuld 232 II Torrison, T. E 217 II Tronsdal, F. L 233 II Turnblad.S J 512 I Vangsnes, Eev. O. P 273 II Veblen, Prof. A. A 273 II Viking Ship, The 80 J Wahlstrom, Prof. M 505 I Wick, B. L 169 II Xavier, Hev. N. P 273 II Ylviaaker, Prof. J 481 I VIII PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION For nearly ten years I have devoted all my time to the investigation of Scandinavian-American history; and the first edition of my first volume, which appeared in 1893, was far more favorably received than I ever anticipated or dared to hope. Yet it was by no means faultless ; and as the pages from 1 to 276 were electrotyped, it was no easy task to correct every mistake. But at great expense of time, labor, and money, all errors of facts and most of the gram- matical mistakes have been corrected. Several pages, and even whole articles, have been rewritten. The article on The First Norwegian Immigration, or The Sloop Fartj^ of 1825, is a new production. Nearly twenty pages of Bibliography and some valuable statistical tables have been added. Pages 291-364, dealing with Scandinavian settlements, churches, and schools, in Minnesota, are new matter, prepared for this edition ; and the balance of Vol. I. consists of biographies of Scandinavians in Minnesota, most of which appeared in the first edition; but all of them have been rewritten, rearranged, and brought up to date. In fact, the revision and reconstruction of the whole first volume have been so thorough and complete that in many respects it is an entirely new history of the Scandinavians in America, brought up to the beginning of the twentieth century. The first edition of the second volume was issued so recently (in 1897) and prepared with such great care that hardly any changes were made up to page 236, except in regard to the arrangement of the biographies. The rest of IX PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION the work was reset altogether. But owing to the lack of space, several biographies which appeared in the first edition had to be omitted, and some were .very much abridged. It must be admitted that, excepting the church organ- izations, there are hardly any Scandinavian institutions in this country. Whatever is accomplished in the political, social, or financial spheres by any Scandinavian-American, is accomplished by the individual. Hence, the record of such individuals necessarily has to be an important feature of Scandinavian-American history. Partly to sell my work, and partly to secure the most reliable information on his- torical and biographical topics, I have personally visited all the counties and cities in Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin where any considerable number of Scandinavians reside. In selecting and editing the biographies — as well as in preparing everything else for this work — I have endeavored to be impartial. It has been my aim not to be influenced by any religious belief, national prejudice, political conviction, or personal friendship or dislike. In cases where I felt that I might be liable to lean toward one side or another, some of the editors or revisers, whose opinions differed from mine, were consulted. To state the unadorned facts, without lite- rary display or expression of judgment, has been the con- stant endeavor in regard to the biographical sketches. Yet sometimes it was almost necessary to pass judgment on a man's standing within a certain sphere, and I have not shrunk from doing so, or from permitting it to be done, when- ever it seemed advisable or desirable, and when the opinions expressed were by general consent considered to be true. No one has been allowed to write his own biography, even the editors of, and contributors to, this work having been subjected to this rule. The parties themselves, how- PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION ever, when living, have been permitted to examine their biographies in regard to the facts; but the language used, the views expressed, and the method of treatment, are strictly our own. The proper equilibrium of modesty and self-esteem is a difficult virtue to attain, and some of our Scandinavian-Americans are sadly deficient in this respect. One man, whose chief merit apparently consisted in having been in the lower branch of the legislature a couple of terms, was indignant because his biography did not begin thus: "Hon. is one of the most popular and active Repub- licans in the state of ." A much larger percentage, however, go too far in the other direction. For an historian to avoid the sins of commission and omission under such circumstances, and at the same time not to offend people, is a Herculean task. Consequently, the biographies of living men are more or less unsatisfactory. At the same time the great pains which have been taken with the biographies, some of which have been revised by half a dozen different parties, ought to make them exceptionally reliable. In regard to the spelling of the geographical names in the Scandinavian countries, the postoffice directories of Den- mark, Norway, and Sweden have been carefully consulted, and in most cases the latest mode of spelling has been followed. The radical changes in spelling which have been adopted by the government of Norway in recent years has a comical side in connection with this work, namely, that several educated Norwegian-Americans do not know^ how to spell correctly the name of their own birthplace. When- ever possible, not only the forsaxnling or prestegjeld where a person was born has been mentioned, but also the stift or province, and of course the country ; this was neces- sary because several places in the North have the same name; for example, there are in Sweden over 50 places XI PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION called Saby, and 75 Berg. Whenever it is stated that a person has received a college education in one of the Scandi- navian countries, it is meant that he has completed a course at one of the eJezaentar Mrovarken in Sweden or the Latin schools of Denmark or Norway— the names of these institutions cannot be properly translated, but the best equivalent for them is college. Nearly all the names of newspapers and books, as well as foreign words, have been printed in Italics. For fifty years past numerous attempts have been made by different parties, both in the English and the Scandina- vian languages, to elucidate certain features of the life of the Scandinavian- Americans. Many of these productions were meritorious, and a few of them are standard works as far as they go. Among the men making these attempts were several who by intellectual endowment and thorough- ness of education were well prepared to undertake and suc- cessfully complete their task. Yet, apparently, none of these productions have received sufficient recognition and support to enable any one of the many Scandinavian- American writers to devote time and talent to extensive historical research concerning their countrymen on this side of the Atlantic. That I have been enabled to devote several years to historical investigations, to meet the various and often heavy expenses connected with the prep- aration and publication of such a large work, and to make a living out of the sale of the book, seems to indicate that my labors are appreciated. This appreciation has not only been manifested by a courteous reception of the author wherever he has traveled, and by a flattering endorsement of his work, but by a generous financial patronage, some- times involving considerable sacrifice on the part of the admirer of the enterprise. The keen interest which the XII PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION educated Scandinavian-Americans, especially the clergj^, have taken in the history, has incited the author to greater exertion in the prosecution of his labor. I am indebted to so many people for the successful com- pletion of this edition that it is beyond my power to give fall credit to all those who have assisted me in the under- taking. Special mention, however, should be made of Consul G. N. Swan, Rev. Adolph Bredesen, Ernst Skarstedt, Rev. C. M. Esbjorn, and J. J. Skordalsvold, who have carefully and critically revised several important articles and rend- ered valuable assistance in the completion of the Bibli- ograpbjr. The last mentioned has also revised and read proof of the whole work, and without his able aid it might not have appeared in its present form. Elias Ander- son and F. L. Tronsdal have taken more than ordinary interest in the enterprise. My wife has looked after the purely artistic part of the work. I am also under obliga- tion to the Lumberman Publishing Company, the typesetter; the Tribune Job Printing Company, who have done the press work; Bramblett & Beygeh, the engravers; and A. J. Dahl & Company, the binders. Owing to the magnitude of the labor and expense involved in completing this edition, a few years may pass before I shall be able to prepare and publish the third vol- ume, which no doubt will deal with Illinois and some neighboring states. Partly on account ol having different writers to pre- pare the various articles, no absolutely uniform system of capitalization and punctuation has been maintained throughout this work. Yet the exceptions to the rigid "Rules of Nelson and Skordalsvold" are few and unimport- ant. Sometimes in quoting from another author, it was inconvenient to use his exact language. In such cases the XIII PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION single quotation mark ( ' ) has been employed to indicate that the expression is not my own. As has been said before, no literary brilliancy has been attempted. Hamlin Garland remarked recently: "I believe the -well-educated descend- ants of the Scandinavian settlers of the Northwestern states are closer to Webster's dictionary to-day than are the languid Southerners, or the erudite Easterners." If his assertion be true, I may entertain the hope that the lan- guage used in this work is tolerably correct, because the classes of people he refers to have written or revised a large portion of it. The greatest master of history, Edward Gibbon, says, "Diligence and accuracy are the only merits which an historical writer may ascribe to himself." Another celebrated writer, James Clark Ridpath, asserts, "The his- torian must either lay down his pen or cease to be a parti- san;" and on the altar of Diligence, Accuracy, and Impar- tiality I have laid down the best fruits of my labor. O. N. Nelson. Minneapolis, Minn., January, 1900. XIV HISTORY SCANDINAVIANS SUCCESSFUL SCANDINAVIANS United states VOLUME I Compiled and Editbd 0. N. NELSON Characteristics of the Scandinavians A.ND EEVIEW OF THEm HISTOEY. O. N. NELSON. This is an age of classification, and mankind has been divided into different races, or types, of men. But history, with a few exceptions, deals only with one race — the Cau- casian — ^because hardly any others have succeeded in becom- ing civilized. The Hindoos, Persians, Greeks, Latins, Slavonians, Kelts, and Teutons, all belong to the Indo- European branch of the great Caucasian race. The English, the Germans, the Dutch, the Scandinavians, and their descen- dants in other countries, are all members of the Teutonic family. It may seem strange that the theoretical Greek and the practical Englishman, the fanatical Hindoo and the philosophical German, the rude Russian and the polite Frenchman, should all have, if we go far enough back, a common ancestry. Yet the resemblance of their languages and their mythologies proves that they were once one people, who lived together somewhere. But when or under what circumstances they separated, and migrated to different countries cannot be determined. But if the different nations 2 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. of the Indo-European branch diifer greatly in physical ap- pearance, mental culture, social conditions, religious beliefs, and political attainments, the closest relation exists between the different nations of the Teutonic family. Physically, the Teutons resemble each other; mentally, they are equally endowed. The development of the political history of Sweden is similar to the development of the political history of Eng- land. Blackstone, the father of English law, and Stjernhook, the father of Swedish law, agree on many of the finest points in jurisprudence. Danes, Norwegians, Swedes, Germans, Dutchmen, and Englishmen have a common mythology and common superstitions; but it is only the Scandinavians- Danes, Norwegians, and Swedes — who have, almost, a com- mon language. The Danes and the Norwegians write virtually alike, but differ a httle in their pronunciation; nor is it, at all, difficult for a Swede to understand a Norwegian, or for a Dane to understand a Swede. All the Scandinavian people, with the exception of the Icelanders, understand each other's languages When and under what circumstances the Scandinavians first came to their northern homes has always been a mat- ter of dispute among scholars. Different theories have been advocated. Learned men have maintained that the human race first saw daylight in the Land of the Midnight Sun, and that the Paradise of the Bible was located near Upsala, Sweden. The Icelandic sagas claim that Odin, the god and king of the Teutons, taught his people the art of writing and the science of war, and led them out of Asia, through Russia, and colonized the Scandinavian countries. It is only one hundred and fifty years since a noted scientist endeavored to SCANDINAVIANS — CHARACTERISTICS AND HISTORY. 3 proTC that the greatest part of the North could not have been inhabited at the time of the birth of Christ, because most of the land there was then covered with water. Others again assert that Scandinavia has been the cradle of the Indo- European branch of the human race. A well-known Nor- wegian-American educator and author says: "There is a strong probability that their (the Scandinavian tribes) inva- sion of the countries which they now inhabit must have taken place during the second century preceding the Christian era." But the latest and most celebrated Scandinavian anti quarians and historians have — ^by comparing the old skulls, as found in the graves, with the skulls of the present people — come to the conclusion that the same race of people which now inhabit the Scandinavian countries, have been there for thousands of years, at least, before the Christian era commenced. The Scandinavians entered late upon the historical arena. The Grecian history had begtm eight hundred years before even their existence was known. Grecian literature, philoso- phy, and art had flourished centuries before they could write their own names. The Romans had conquered the fairest part of the earth, legislated for the world, made good roads through the whole empire, and civilized a large portion of mankind, before the Scandinavians occupied houses or fixed habitations, but wandered through the dense forests as semi- savages. The French, English, and Germans had been Chris- tianized four or five hundred years before the Northern peo- ple accepted Catholicism astheirnationalreligion,andaslate as in the sixteenth century some of them still worshiped Odin. This late development, which is no doubt due to the 4 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. severity of the climate, and tlie great separation from the higher civilization of the South, must be taken into con- sideration -when we compare the Scandinavians with other nations, and endeavor to determine the quantity and quality of influence which each nation has had upon the general his- tory of mankind. That the Northmen, in spite of their lateness, have had a great influence, and taken an active part in the world's busi- ness, no one can successfully contradict. They have not merely been savage plunderers and rude conquerors, but also discoverers, civilizers, and organizers. They assisted in over- throwing the magnificent Roman power, conquered France, enslaved England, discovered America five hundred years before the voyage of Columbus, organized the Russian Em- pire, and liberated Germany from religious and political thraldom. Of course the greater part of their contact with other nations and their influence upon other people have been accomplished through war; but war, until recently, has been the mainspring of nearly all undertakings. The very fact that the Scandinavians have, by the might of their swords, crowned and dethroned foreign rulers; dictated terms to popes and emperors; fought, both for and against, the liberties of men; and in many other ways taken an active part in the affairs of the world, must have had a great influ- ence upon civilization. The Scandivanian countries were first referred to in Grecian literature as early as three hundred years before the birth of Christ. "But," says Geijer, "if the Greek ever knew anything about them, the Roman again forgot them." But if the Roman had forgotten them, he was soon to be re- SCANDINAVIANS— CHARACTERISTICS AND HISTORY. 5 tniaded of their existence in a forcible and positive manner, for, under the name of Goths, the Scandinavians became the principal participants in undermining and destroying the Roman power in the third, fourth, and fifth centuries of the Christian era. By a chain of successful conquests; by good management through very capable and honest men; by establishingpub- lic order, law, and justice; by encouraging literature, science, art, and the accumulation of wealth, the Roman Empire had, in the second century of this era, reached a state of greatness, power, and civilization, which has hardly been equalled, never surpassed by any nation, either of the ancient or the modern world. The Romans, who had at first assailed the domains of the barbaric Teiitons beyond the river Rhine, were in the third and fourth centuries of this era called upon to defend their own territories against the invasion of the very same bar- barians whom they had been unable to conquor or subdue. For this purpose a line of military posts had been estab- lished along the river to protect the Roman citizens against the invading hordes, being similar to those which the United States keeps on the western borders to protect the whites from Indian outrages. Of the many different tribes, all belonging to the Teu- tonic family, who pressed upon the Roman frontier, none were so powerful or intelligent as the Goths. These Goths dwelt on both sides of the Baltic Sea, and it is said that those who joined their kinsmen to participate in the plunder of the Mistress of the World, crossed the sea from the Scan- dinavian countries in three ships. But, as later was the 6 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAYIANS IN THE TJ. S. case with the Vikings, they were not formidable in numbers, but in courage, endurance, and ferocity. These wild men are described as being very tall, strong, and robust; having white bodies, yellow hair, broad shoulders, wiry muscles, florid complexion, and fierce blue eyes that during excite- ment gleamed with fire and passion. Physically, they, in general, resembled the people of the whole Teutonic family of today; but, more specifically, they came nearest to the people who now live in the southern part of Sweden and on the Danish islands. Little or nothing is known in regard to the semi-civilization which they had attained to at the time they first came in contact with the imperial power; but they probably had reached a fairly high standard of moral devel- opment, and enjoyed some luxuries. It was with these men, " Who astonished the nations of the South by their reckless courage and gigantic stature, ' ' that the imperial army of Rome had to measure swords. It w^as ancient renown against barbaric ferocity, disciplined order against natural courage, law against anarchy, Christianity against Odin, Latin against Teuton. The Roman fought by prescription, his movements were as regular as clock- work. The Teuton obeyed the commander, but the com- mander was chosen for his fitness. If the Teutons could not stand their ground, their wives and sisters assisted them. The women fought and screamed with a fierceness never witnessed before or after, save during the French Revolution. The Romans feared the wild yells of the women almost as much as they feared the swords of their husbands and brothers. Rome was doomed. It was to no avail that the barbaric warriors were engaged to defetid the Roman SCANDraAYIANS— CHARACTERISTICS AND HISTORY. 7 territories against barbaric invasion; they, of course, turned traitors. It delayed, but did not change the result. In the latter part of the fifth century of this era a Teutonic savage sat on the throne of Rome. At about the same time Spain, France, and in fact all western Europe fell into the hands of the Northern hordes. Now an exhibition was made on the grand stage of the historical theatre that has never, in all the various dramas of human actions, had its likeness. Side by side, on apparent social equality, walked the refined Roman — dressed in his toga — by the rude man from the North — dressed in a goat-skin suit — his long, yellow hair combed towards the four winds. The citizen carried centuries of learning in his head, the luxuries from many countries on his back. He was the poet, the artist, the statesman, and the phi- losopher. The Goth possessed nothing; he only knew^ how to eat, drink, and fight. But he carried the sword of state, before w^hich the proud Roman bowed in humble subjection. By the fall of Rome, civilization had been thrust backward many centuries. Anarchy reigned supreme. Time rolled on; for centuries the Roman world — yea the world itself— was hidden in darkness. For this wholesale barbarization the Romans themselves were partly responsible. They lacked the frankness, manliness, honesty, and virtue requisite to pre- serve sufiicient moral power to govern decently a great state. The old civilization which Rome represented had lost its force. The Roman believed in nothing. Right and wrong were only relative terms. To him anything which succeeded was right, everything which failed was wrong. The Romans 8 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. had become greatly degenerated, debaucliery and licentious- ness were the common practice. The new race was ignorant, but had strong convictions and high moral principles. To the Goth falsehood was a great vice, secret stealing was a cowardly act, for which no torment was too severe. He robbed openly, he faced his victims boldly. He was honest and frank, living up to his rude ideas oi life. The Persians, the Egyptians, the Greeks, and the Romans had their liberties on account of belonging to a powerful, free state. The Teuton was a free man be- cause he was a man ; individuality was his strongest char- acteristic. The native population out-numbered, by far, the invaders, who, nevertheless, swayed the scepter of power. In time the Goths adoplted the Christian religion and became some- what civilized. The slaves became their master's instruc- tors. Out of the Roman confusion rose the modem states. In the eighth and ninth centuries w^estem Europe had been somewhat organized and Christianized, only, however, to be thrown into confusion again by the kinsmen and partly countrymen of the Goths — namely, the Vikings. Before the fall of Rome little is known of the history, customs, or characteristics of the Scandinavian people; but it is certain that they were tribes of the great Teutonic family, and had, probably, not advanced much above the condition of the semi-civilized races at that time. The Teutons, however, unlike some people, had the talent to adopt new ideas, to assimilate with other people, and to ad- vance. History proves sufficiently that they have been very progressive. The Goths had been the principal participants SCANDINAVIANS— CHARACTERISTICS AND HISTORY. 9 in the destruction of Rome, but the Goths were not exclu- sively Scandinavians, because part of the tribe, in all prob- ability, lived in Germany. The Teutons constituted many tribes, no nationalities existed, which, however, commenced to develop shortly after the fall of Rome. In the seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, and eleventh centur- ies — at the time when the foundation of the European king- doms w^ere in process of construction — ^the inhabitants of the Scandinavian countries became famous as Vikings. But the Viking practice had been in operation ever since the Teutons and Romans came in conflict with each other. The Scandi- navian Viking age is only a continuation of the barbaric flood that deluged the classical civilization. The two may differ in the particulars, but not in the essentials; it is im- possible to understand one, without having a clear concep- tion of the other. "All wars hang together, " Gustavus Adol- phus used to say. According to Sars,the Scandinavian Viking age is divided into three periods; but it might be more correct to say that there were three kinds of Vikings, as no sharp divisions, in regard to time, can be made. No one can tell when the age commenced. Northern Vikings had, no doubt, practiced their trade ever since the Christian era began, and, perhaps, before. The First Period: A small number of chieftains, or one alone, would, at irregular times, gather together crews for a few ships and sail over to England, Ireland, France, or Flanders, where they would plunder a city or a monastery, and quickly return home with their booty. The Second Period: An advance was made, not only in the art of war and military management, but even in the systematic plan of 10 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. robbing defenceless people. Several Vikings club together, take possession of some exposed point — for example, a small island near the coast — erect fortifications, and thus control a large extent of territory. Thev may remain at one place for years, and forage the surrounding country accord- ing to a regular plan, then proceed to their native lands. The Third Period: Plundering, robbing, and piracy have been abandoned. The Vikings came as conquerors. Their fleets counted fi-om one to five hundred vessels. Cities were stormed and sacked. They conquered territories, settled them, and governed them. They treated with kings and rulers. Of course the third period, during the ninth, tenth, and eleventh centuries, is without comparison the most im- portant and fascinating. It has had a very great influence both upon the Scandinavian countries and abroad. The Vikings, who had at first occasionally plundered the western European countries for the sake of pleasure and small profits, commenced "Piracy as a trade" on a wholesale scale in the first part of the ninth century. "These bold sailors and admirable foot-soldiers " had madea general and perpetual declaration of war on all mankind, but especially on those who possessed any kind of tangible property that was worth having. The seas swarmed with their sails. The miserable people along the coasts of the North Sea, who had lately been Christianized, fled in terror. Priests prayed in vain: "Deliver us, Lord, from the rage of the North- men." The world, it was thought, would soon come to an end. Germany, Holland, Belgium, England, Scotland, Ire- land, France, Spain, and Italy were all punished with fire and sword, sacked and robbed, drenched in blood and tears. SCANDINAVIANS — CHARACTERISTICS AND HISTORY. 11 That time has been called the heroic age, the age of individ- ualism. Princes had to buy their freedom in gold and cede their torritories to the conquerors. Paris was beseiged, Dublin -was taken by storm, and in the very heart of London, not far from the celebrated St.Paul's Cathedral, have been found skeletons of old Northern warriors. Many scattering Scandinavian settlements were made in foreign countries during these terrible times. The Northern people intermarried and mixed with the native population. In a comparatively short time the fierce pirates became Christianized and civilized, giving new vigor and energy to the degenerated people of western Europe. Besides the many smaller settlements, scattered throughnearly every European country, the Norwegians colonized Iceland in the latter part of the ninth century; the famous Rolf— also a Norwegian, though several of his followers were Danes and Swedes — w^rested Normandy from the weak French king in the first part of the tenth century, and the Danes conquered the whole of England a hundred years later. The colonization of Iceland, and the conquest of Normandy and England were the last and greatest acts of the bloody drama of the Viking age; these were beneficial to civilization, and may be said to have palliated the former atrocities of the Northmen. The Ice- landers created a classical litei'ature from which is received the best information we have in regard to the mythology of the Teutons in general, and of the Scandinavians in particular; established a humanitarian, free republic, on the basis of the Northmen's conception of a civil government, which lasted for nearly four hundred years; discovered America five hun- dred years before Columbus sailed from Spain, and perhaps 12 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. his knowledge of what they had accomplished partly induced him to undertake the voyage. The followers of Rolf found Normandy in poverty and distress. In a short time they made it the richest, most populous, and most civilized pro- vince in France, where the best French language w^as used. The Normans, being virtually independent of the French monarch, conquered England in 1066, and founded the king- doms of Naples and Sicily. Danish kings reigned over Eng- land, as well as in their native country, of course, for several years, and to-day many English words, laws, and customs are purely Scandinavian. The names of many cities, lakes, rivers, etc, in France, England, Scotland, Ireland, and other countries, have aScandinavianorigin. Several of the greatest noblemen in the western European countries — notably Lord Nelson of England — are descendants of the Northmen. During the Viking age the boundary lines between the Scandinavian countries were not sharply drawn. In fact the people were at first tribes; then a great number of petty kingdoms were formed. It was not until the latter part of the ninth century that the present divisions of the Northern nationalities were established, and the Scandinavians con- tinued to speak one and the same language for tw^o or three hundred years later. Even after the stronger kings had suc- ceeded in defeating the weaker and adding their territories to their own dominions, which resulted in laying the founda- tion of the present Northern powers, it was yet a long time before the present boundary lines were established. A large part of southern Sweden, which is now the richest and most populous portion of the country, belonged to Denmark, and some of its western land belonged to Norway. It is, there- SCANDINAVIANS — CHARACTERISTICS AND HISTORY. 13 fore, incorrect to speak about a Danish conquest or a Nor- wegian colonization, for things were rather mixed up in those days. Yet it is certain that the Swedes participated less in the destruction, and later in the upbuilding of the western European countries than the Danes and Norwegians. The Danes confined themselves principally to England and France. The Norwegians attended to Scotland, Ireland, and other northern islands. The Swedes, being closed out from the North Sea, went east, where they founded the Russian Empire in the middle of the ninth century, and served in large numbers in the imperial army at Constantinople. The descendants of the Swedish founders of Russia ruled that country until the sixteenth century. In certain parts of Switzerland the people claim, at least they did half a century ago, that they are descendants of the Swedes. What were the causes which produced the Viking age ? The answer is : First — Although there is every reason to believe that the Scandinavian countries were a great deal less populous than at present; yet, being poorly tilled, and one man often having children by several women, there were more people than could be supported. Some had to seek their fortune in foreign countries. Frequently a father was com- pelled to drive all his sons away from home to make their own living, save one who inherited his estate. Second — The religion, the desire for adventure, and the spirit of the times, induced many to leave their native coun- tries to court dangers and turn the wheel of fortune in for- eign lands. It was believed that only those who died a vio- lent death were entitled in the next life to associate with the 14 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. gods in Valhalla. It was considered a liigh honor to have fought successfully in foreign countries. Young princes receiTed their first education on board of a war vessel. In a short time the Viking business became a fashion. Third— The love for freedom and the passion for inde- pendence, or the strong individuality, induced many to leave the North rather than submit to a superior, which they were especially called upon to do during the latter part of the period when the stronger kings at home subdued the weaker. But at the bottom it was essentially a question of economy. Men's religion often coincides with their business interests, and that was sometimes the case with the Vikings, for several of them believed a great deal more in their own strength than in the powers of the gods. We must not look at the Vikings through the glasses of the twentieth century, or judge them according to the stand- ard of modem civilization, but examine them in accordance with the spirit of the times, and measure them by the in- fluence their deeds have had upon general history. They honestly believed that "War was the natural condition of man," and that a legitimate reason for declaring hostility was, that those who were attacked had valuable property. After all, this robbery did not differ much from the English opium war, the plundering of Denmark and Prance of their provinces by the Germans, and the treatment of the Indians, Mexicans, and Spaniards by the United States. The Northmen were in a kind of continual state of hostility. The modem wars are so terribly destructive to life and property that their continuation for a longer period would annihilate the whole human race. It is true that modem warfare is con- SCANDINAVIANS — CHARACTERISTICS AND HISTORY. 15 ducted on a more systematic plan, but the struggles of the Vikings were not altogether irregular. For if anyone be- sides the great noblemen and kings indulged in the plunder- ing business on a small scale, they were at once driven off the sea as a set of lawless robbers, whom the Vikings them- selves considered it to be a moral duty to exterminate. Therefore, according to the spirit of the times, the operation of the Vikings was a perfectly legitimate, honorable, perpet- ual state of war, limited to certain persons, who made it their profession for the sake of pleasure and profit. It must also be remembered that the description of these fierce outrages has always been recorded by their enemies. Very often crimes were charged to the Vikings which in reality were committed by, what may be termed, their camp- followers, or the worst element of the respective countries in which the Northmen might happen to be. In regard to the ultimate results, and the benefits to the human race which was the consequence of these bloody times, reference has already been made to the state of affairs at and after the fall of Rome. The same was the case shortly after in the western European countries. For as Prof Worsaae says, who, perhaps, is the best authority on the his- tory of the Vikings : ' In the first ages Christianity pro- duced among the people, as was the case in other countries besides England, a sort of degeneracy and weakness. In- stead of the dire battleof the heathens there were now heard songs and prayers, which, joined with the constantly increas- ing refinement, made the people dull and effeminate, so that they willingly bent under the yoke of their masters, both spiritual and temporal. In the ninth, tenth, and eleventh 16 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. centuries the Anglo-Saxons had greatly degenerated from their forefathers. Relatives sold one another into thraldom; lewdness and ungodliness had become habitual; and cow- ardice had increased to such a degree that, according to the old chroniclers, one Dane would often put ten Anglo-Saxons to flight. Before such a people could be conducted to true freedom and greatness it was necessary that an entirely new vigor should be infused into the decayed stock. This vigor was derived from the Scandinavian North, where neither Romans nor any other conquerors had domineered over the people, but where heathenism with all its roughness, and all its love of freedom and bravery, still held absolute sway. This admirable description of the condition in England applies, perhaps, with greater truth and force to other w^estem European peoples; for they are in no small de- gree indebted to the old Northmen for whatever freedom, honesty, virtue, and heroism they now possess. The founda- tion of the present European states w^as laid by our ances- tors. Out of the confusion, disorder, and anarchy arose a new civilization. From the union of the degenerated w^estera European peoples and the courageous Scandinavians sprung a new, a better, a nobler, a manlier race. During the Viking periods great changes had taken place at home in the Scandinavian countries. The smaller king- doms were conquered and united with the larger, thus laying the foundation of the modern Northern states. The many w^ars degraded the Northmen's honesty and simplicity; for- eign corruption, deceit, and luxury were introduced. The old religion had lost its force. Many Vikings asserted that they believed in nothing, save their own strength. The more SCANDINAVIANS — CHARACTERISTICS AND HISTORY. 17 prudent men did not believe in the old gods. Harold the Fairhaired, of Norway, acknowledged only one suoreme being in heaven, the creator of the universe and of mauKind. The attention of the Roman church had been directed towards the North by the atrocities of the Vikings, and she sent missionaries thither. The men who had been a terror to Christendom, and the savage -olunderers of Europe, be- came sons of Mother Rome. It is true that they never were very obedient children, and they took the first opportunity offered to be their own masters, yet something had been accomplished. The Viking age ceased, partly because many of the boldest, the bravest, the most independent, and the most turbulent had settled in foreign lands; leaving the weak, the cowards, and the contented at home, who either did not care or did not dare to attack foreign countries, which were now to a great extent defended by their former compatriots; partly because the people in the Scandinavian countries had, at least in name, become Christianized and bowed to the dic- tates of a pope, who now opened a new field for their bar- barity, and gave them a new employment for their swords — ^namely, the crusades; partly because at home the internal disputes, conflicts of principles, and the struggles connected with the formation of new states, kept the Northmen busy with their own affairs. From the eleventh to the sixteenth century Catholicism swayed the religious faith of the North. There was, consid- ering the times, a great deal of advance and contact with the more highly civilized nations of the South; yet rude, savage manners were in general practice, and Odin, in many places, was still worshiped. During the greater part of the four- 18 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINA\n[ANS IN THE U. S. teenth and fifteenth centuries Denmark, Norway, and Sweden were united under one government. But their history is merely a record of internal strife, war, and bloodshed. Den- mark, which by means of its superior civilization was the acknowledged leader, became the seat of the govern- ment, but the unwise and cruel Danish kings created, by their bloody acts, a hatred between the Scandinavian people, which even the time between then and now has been tmable to eradicate. Guided by popular leaders the Swedish peasants rebelled successfully twice, and Sweden separated forever from Denmark in 1521, while Norway for about four hundred years remained virtually a province of Denmark. Ever since the first part of the sixteenth century Luther- ism has been the national religion of the Scandinavian coun- tries, and a hundred years later the famous Gustavus Adol- phus became the prime defender of Protestantism, intellect- ual freedom, and German liberty. The rebellions of the com- mon people of Sweden in the fifteenth and sixteenth centur- ies, during the Kalmar Union, gained for them a great influ- ence and a confidence in their own strength which they have never since ceased to exercise upon the national affairs. In Denmark, on the contrary, the peasants became almost slaves of the great landowners. But since 1849 the Danes have virtually enjoyed full universal male suffrage, which none of the other two Northern countries possess. * Yet the king of Denmark has a greater veto-power than the king of Sweden-Norway; consequently the people of the former country have, in reality, less political rights than those of the two latter. In Norway nature has divided the country into great valleys; each valley managed its own local affairs; *In Norway the suffrage was greatly extended ia 1808. SCANDINAVIANS — CHARACTERISTICS AND HISTORY. 19 the common people knew and cared nothing about the Danish rulers or the doings of the world, and retained their personal independence. In Denmark and Sweden feudalism, aristocracy, and patriotism became more general than in Norway. It is only in this century that the Norwegians have in any sense indicated a desire for nationalization; since 1814, however, — when a very liberal constitution w^as adopt- ed, and Norway was separated from Denmark and joined with Sweden — they have, perhaps, had a stronger national spirit, and certainly possessed more political freedom than either of the other two Northern people. The most prominent of the characteristics of the Viking was his strong individuality. His loveforfreedom, his desire for personal independence, amounted to a passion. He w^ould endure the rigid climate of the north, the burning sun of the south. He would sleep beneath no other roof than the arch of heaven, use bark for bread, drink rain-water as a bever- age, make the forest his habitation, and have the w^ild beasts for his companions. But he would never give up one inch of his rights as a free man. The people of the classical countries were free men, because they belonged to a powerful and free state; they boasted of their citizenship. The Northman was a free man because he was a man, he boasted of himself and the deeds he performed. The same passion for freedom has run through the whole Scandinavian race from the earliest time to the present day. A great portion of the Vikings left their native lands because they refused to submit to a superior chief. No king or ruler has been able, for any length of time, to be the absolute master of the Scandinavian peo- ple. No foreign nation has been powerful enough to subjugate 20 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. them. Sweden and Denmark have dethroned their obstinate monarchs, Norway dared to draw the sword against Europe and demand national independence. The Scandinavians were the last people who submitted to the Catholic yoke; they were the first to cast it off. Today the Swedish-Nor- wegian and Danish kings have as little authority and power as any rulers in Christendom. To be free and independent has always been the greatest ambition of everj'- true North- man. The second characteristic feature of our savage ances- tors is courage. Bravery, however, sometimes turned into a fierceness that could hardly be distinguished from in- sanity. War was their profession. They hunted men as well as wild beasts, but prefered men who possessed some kind of valuable property. " For they deemed it a disgrace to acquire by sweat what they might obtain by blood." And whether we wander with the Goths when they plunder and destroy Rome, or sail with the Danes and Norwegians w^hen they dethrone English kings and humble proud French monarchs, or live in the camps of the Swedes when Gustavus Adolphus and Charles the Tw^elfth dictate terms to popes and emperors, or accompany the Northern immigrants when they clear the dense forests of Wisconsin and subdue the wild prairies of Dakota, we find that they all excelled in en- durance, heroism, and courage. In fact the Scandinavian warriors have been so noted for their fearlessness that they have conquered by the very terror of their names. Honor on earth and salvation in heaven, joy in this life and happi- ness in the next, could only, according to their religion, be gained by physical, brutal prowess. Their doctrine was SCANDINAVIANS— CHARACTERISTICS AND HISTORY. 21 that only the brave Avarriors who died a violent death were in the next life entitled to associate with the gods, fight in the celestial abode, enjoythe companionship of young maids, drink wine, and eat pork. Stubbornness, Srmness, and determination are qualities which the follovcer of Odin has been largely blessed with . To him no defeat was final. Failure meant only delay. He over- came all opposition, conquered every obstacle, defied every dif- ficulty. Mountains, oceans, deserts, rivers, mustnot hinder his purpose. Charles the Twelfth during his childhood examined two plans. Under one plan, which showed how the Turks had taken a town in Hungary from the emperor, were written these words : "The Lord hath given it to me, and the Lord hath taken it from me; blessed be the name of the Lord." After the young prince had read this, he wrote under the other plan, which showed how the Swedes had taken Riga about a century before: "The Lord hath given it to me, and the devil shall not take it from me." Charles the Twelfth was a good representative of Scandinavian stubbornness. Besides being independent, stubborn, and courageous the old Viking was, on the whole, honest and truthful, but terribly revengeful. Mercy seldom entered his harsh breast. He never forgave an ofiense. "He had a sense of honor which led him to sacrifice his life rather than his word." A promise once given, either to a friend or an enemy, had to be carried out unconditionally. Yet deception and cunning might be practiced in war, but the highest honor was bestowed upon those who were open and frank towards their enemies, kind and merciful towards the weak and those who sought pro- tection. Deception and cunning they never tolerated 22 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. among each other. One of the noblest characteristics of the Northman was the brotherly union which he entered into with a friend or antagonist whom he could not conquer or subdue. This union, which was the most sacred that could be entered into, was effected by opening each other's veins, mixingtheir blood, and taking anoath that they would share each other's joy and sorrow in this life, and revenge each other's death. Hospitality w^as an essential part of the North- men's religion. There was a kind of unwritten social la-w which compelled every person to entertain, to the best of his ability, the time not being limited, and free of charge, anyone, either his best friend or his worst enemy, who should ask or be in need thereof. And no guest needed to fear to be molested or imposed upon. This custom of hospitality is yet to a great extent practiced in the rural districts of the Scandinavian countries. The Northmen had a higher respect for women than most heathen nations. It is true that they bought their wives of their fathers-in-law. The Romans sometimes stole their wives. But after the bargain had been once made the women were generally treated with respect and dignity, and their place in the house was that of free beings, not slaves. The men were attached to home and family, and, of course, enjoyed the wine and the feast. It is true that civilization has changed their manners, cus- toms, mode of thinking, ideas of right and wrong, and to some extent even their appearance. Yet at bottom the Scan- dinavians of today are the same as their ancestors were a thousand years ago. "Civilization," says Carlyle, "is only SCANDINAVIANS— CHARACTERISTICS AND HISTORY. 23 a wrappage through which the savage nature bursts infernal as ever." The diverse influences of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden have developed different characteristics of the people in the respective countries. But the people of the northern part of Sweden differ more from the inhabitants of southern Sweden than the latter do from those who live on the Danish islands — ^the last tw^o having a very fair complexion, being the purest descendants of the Goths; the former are often as dark as Frenchmen, which is also the case with many Nor- w^egians, and those residing in Danish Jutland. The Danish islanders and the southern Swedes in par- ticular, and all the Danes in general, are open and frank, easy to become acquainted with, polite to strangers, not specially witty, but refined and polished in their intercourse with other people. They are industrious, frugal, peaceable, and possess a great amount of push, energy, and business shrewd- ness. They are not so much of agitators and extremists as the Norwegians, nor as aristocratic and conservative as the northern Swedes, but a combination of both. In business they are democratic, in social affairs they prefer the class dis- tinction. Both in politics and commerce they are conserva- tive. Risky speculations, and radical reforms are repugnant to their very nature. They will answer you by yea and nay, but prefer the ifs and huts. Their motto is; "In the sight of our Lord all men are 'SmManningar.' " This part of the North is by far the most populous and wealthy; the peo- ple are more business-like and cosmopolitan in their ideas than any other Scandinavians. In their social intercourse they pay less attention to the form than the substance; thev 24 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. are less earnest, but more courteous than the Norwegians. They have been called the Germans of the North. A northern Swede, and especially a Stockholmer, is re- served, hard to get acquainted with, conservative, but above all, an aristocrat. He is proud of his country, its history, and himself. Business is not in his line. He is the poet, wit, historian, statesman, philosopher, and patriot. He must dress well, comply rigorously with the latest rules of eti- quette, and drink the most expensive wine. He has a large assortment of bows, bobs, courtesies, and hat-liftings, vary- ing according to the age, sex, condition, and class distinc- tion. The class distinction is greater and more varied in Swe- den than in any of the other Scandinavian countries. The northern Swedes have been called the Frenchmen of the North. The Norwegians are less ceremonious than the Danes or Swedes, as no class distinction exists among them; they treat strangers w^ith a certain kind of cold courtesy, and do not ap- pear to be anxious to make anybody's acquaintance. They are independent, somewhat haughty, radical, progressive, ex- treme, and above all, Norwegians. Religious, political, and social changes must not be hindered, but promoted. They are more earnest and turbulent than any of the other Scandinavian people, but lack that smoothness and courtesy which the Danes especially master with great perfection. They are bold sailors and daring adventurers, resembling more than anyone else the old Vikings. The Norwegians have been called the Englishmen of the North. These different characteristics of the Northmen are, of course, as has always been the case, largely due to "The climate, the soil, and the general character of the countries." SCANDINAVIANS — CHARACTERISTICS AND HISTORY. 25 The southern part of Sweden, and Denmark are largely pro- ductive prairies, where the climate is rather even the whole year round; no great changes occur in the seasons to compel the people to make any extraordinary exertions. The coun- try is rich, productive, and thickly settled; consequently, social and financial intercourse is so frequent that the people out of necessity become courteous, refined, enterpris- ing, and broad-mined. This part of the North was first civi- lized and Christianized. Later, the introduction of feudal- ism and the enslavement of the peasants could easily be ac- complished here, vs-here, unlike Norway and northern Sweden, no great mountain walls and deep fjords defended the weak against the encroachment of the strong. But the same European influence which in the middle ages compelled these people to submit to the spirit of the times, has at pres- ent made them the broadest and most cosmopolitan of all the Northmen. In the northern part of Sweden nature is stern, the win- ters are severe, existence must be obtained by hard toil, and activity becomes a necessity. It was the brave people from Dalame w^ho in olden times often insisted upon their rights of free men, and twice enforced their demands by the sword. It is due to the population of northern Sweden that she has one of the most brilliant histories in Christendom, and that the peasants have never, as was the case in Denmark, been chained to the soil, but have always exercised a great in- fluence upon the political affairs . But the grand careers of Gus- tavus Adolphus and the Charleses have had a tendency to make the Swedish people proud, which is but natural, for few countries, and certainly neither Denmark nor Norway has 26 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. such a renowned history. The nearness of Russia, French influence, and a brilliant history have been the chief agencies in making the Swedes a conservative, a polite, and an aris- tocratic nation. "Sweden," a Dane says, "is the one of the three kingdoms which, according to its whole history and present position, is called upon to take theleadership in allfor- eign Scandinavian politics. The nation has still a vivid memory of its participation in the great European strifes in the days of the Gustaves and the Charleses, and takes continually the greatest interest in all great political questions. That country has, furthermore, what the other two kingdoms have not, a class especially adopted to be the bearers of such a policy. It cannot be denied that the great foreign questions are the most difficult to grapple with for the democracies. Sweden, more than Norway and Denmark, has something of an able national aristocracy. Norway has no noblemen at all, and the few in Denmark are too fresh from absolute gov- ernment, and it seems also — although some of them are very w^ealthy— that they are hardly to the same extent as in Sweden, interested in the economic life of the country. While in Denmark we only find few names like those of Moltke, Bille, and Frijs, prominent in its foreign politics; in Sweden we still find a number of names from the great European wars— skjolds, svards, hjelms, stjernas, kronas (or all the names ending in words as shield, sword, | helmet, star, crown, etc.) — as leaders in agriculture, mining, banking, or other important interests of the country. Nor can it be denied that such a class, as a rule, has a better understand- ing of the great questions than a pure democracy of peas- ants or of workingmen in the cities." SCANDINAYIANS— CHARACTERISTICS AND HISTORY. 27 In Norway "The ocean roars along its rock-bound coast, and during the long, dark winter the storms howl and rage, and hurl the waves in white showers of spray against the sky. The Aurora Borealis flashes like a huge shining fan over the northern heavens, and the stars glitter with keen frosty splendor." The many deep cut valleys, protected by mountains and fjords, are by nature independent princi- palities. Even when the country was a province of Denmark each valley governed its own local affairs. The Norwegians are, like the elements that surround them, daring, indepen- dent, radical, and turbulent. An educated Danish-American speaks about the Scandi- navians at home in the following manner: "If we look for the differences in character between the Scandinavians and the Anglo-Saxons, we find that our countrymen, with all their solid qualities, are lacking in that energy which prob- ably, more than anything else, characterizes the English and American nations. The average Scandinavian has at bot- tom a good deal of the same nature as the Anglo-Saxon. He is rather cold and taciturn. Southern people even find a certain kind of brutality in his nature, but they admire his strength of character. Outward, as well as inward, the Scandinavian and the Anglo-Saxon are probably more alike than men of other nationalities. It is only w^hen it comes to activity that the Scandinavians fall back compared w^ith the pushing and enterprising Anglo-Saxons. This difierence has not always existed. Energy, individuality, and love of free- dom were just as characteristic of the old inhabitants of the Scandinavian north as they are at present of the English speaking race, especially in the greatest period of their his- 28 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. tory, that of the Vikings, when the Normans, Danes, and Swedes conquered half of Europe, and the Danish blood on French soil, the Normans of Normandy, instituted the great- est development of the mediaeval epoch. "But the old Scandinavians did not keep up this great evolution of force at home, whether this was due to the mol- lifying influence of Christianity, or to the destruction of the small independent communities by the larger kingdoms, or to both together which ended the old life of continuous fight- ing. The northern empire of Canute the Great, as well as the later of the Valdemars, were even more short lived forma- tions than the Prankish empire; and at no later period of their history have the Scandinavians been able to make any great extension of their power. They have developed a re- spectable civilization, but no great enterprise, and they are not counted among the leading nations of the world. Only the poet can now sing, 'Again shall the glorious race of the North lead to victory the freedom of nations.' In actual life they are at present a more modest people. "There is certainly in this respect a great difference be- tween the three Scandinavian nations. The Swedes have formerly been more aptto go to extremes. Although they are not lacking in any of the more solid qualities of the Danes and Norwegians, they have in their composition more of the French elan than their brethren; and they have at least a certain kind of pushing energy. We shall not attempt to de- cide whether this is due to the difference in climate — there being in Sweden more of the stirring, continental difference between the seasons, more frequent changes from heat to cold than in Denmark or Norway; or to the accidental his- SCANDINAVIANS — CHARACTERISTICS AND HISTORY. 29 toric dcTelopment which connected Sweden, more than Den, mark-Norway, with general European politics; or, finally, to the old difiference in race between the remarkably gifted people of the Svear north of the great Swedish lakes, and the Goths and other Scandinavian tribes farther south. The Danes are certainly a people of extreme moderation. They are unbearably conservative in business, where they work respectably, but seldom exert themselves very much. In their religion they rarely show much zeal, although, as a rule, on the other hand, they are far from being professed free-thinkers. In art, their national school copies with truth- fulness the characteristics of the country and of the people, but lacks all brilliancy in colors and in ideas. Molesworth, an English ambassador of two hundred years ago, in des- cribing the country and the people, speaks of their extraor- dinary moderation in virtues as in vices; and thus it certainly cannot be their absolute government which has produced all this respectable mediocrity in the nation. The temperate climate makes one day like another, and their isolated loca- tion allows the people to live their own life free from the great European movements. The Norwegians have more earnestness, as their soil and climate are harder and more severe than the fertile Danish country and the moderate Danish climate. But their location has kept them still more apart from general European matters, and their greatness as a seafaring nation can hardly keep up with the changes of the times. It was in the former Danish-Norwegian state largely due to the Norwegians that the sea was called the 'Path of Danes to praise and might.' Lately came the epoch of steam, which made even navigation a question of 30 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. machinery and money rather than of personal prowess and ability. Already when navigation and commerce went over distant parts of the world and through greater seas, the very location of England and Holland gave them an advantage over the natives of the North. Nature contributed its part, and together with free government made the Anglo-Saxons the real successors of the Scandinavian Vikings in enterprise and energy. Today this natural advantage in the location of Great Britain is again neutralized by the marvelous develop- ment of the railway systems of the world; and not only the political preponderance, but also the new changes of com- munication by land, that is making Germany — and especially the Prussians, these able German colonists on Slav territory — ^the successful competitor of England. This, too, is one of the main causes of the greatness of the United States; and it is especially — as everybody knows — the railways w^hich at this moment make the great American West the main field of development of the whole Teutonic race. This is now, more than any other part of the world, what in olden times the northern and western seas were in Europe. Here there is room for the individuality and energy of our race ; for the free development of co-operation of all human forces. "This feature of moderation, so prominent in the charac- ters of the present Scandinavians, also shows itself in their internal policy. Honest administration and justice are characteristics of their national life." In a letter to Prof. Hjame, of Upsala, Sweden — pub- in The North in 1893 — Bjonstjeme Bjomson characterizes the Norwegians in this manner: "The Norwegians are, in my opinion, not that people in the North which is SCANDINAYIAXS — CHARACTERISTICS AND HISTORY. 31 least gifted or has the weakest character. But its fate has brought it to such a pass that it has not had enough cohesive power, not enough sense of national honor; therefore its aims are not far reaching. It is not so grand as the Swedish people (not so flippant either, per- haps). It is not so industrious and faithful as the Danish people (not so zealous either, perhaps). It takes hold and lets go, it lets go and takes hold of persons and aims. It will exert itself to the utmost; but it demands speedy and signal success; its ambition is not so great as its vanity. Hot-headed, impetuous in small things, it is patient in great ones, so that with all its faults it has talents for a noble deed, provided the conditions are present. But the condi- tion of conditions is the right of self-determination in order that it may concentrate its bias for adventure and its talents in forming new things and, if possible, in making these an example for others. The Norwegian people must needs take the lead in certain things. If its craving for honor and its character can be marshaled in a spontaneous exertion for the accomplishment of a certain purpose, you may see that it is capable of something, and the North shall be benefited by us." It is, however, not fair to blame the Scandinavians at home for their lack of energy and enterprise. Nature is against them. The countries, on the whole, are barren and unproductive, the opportunities for safe investments are scarce, and a speculator after having once failed will find it extremely difficult to re-establish himself in business. Con- sequently the people become conservative in business, as well as in politics and in religion. Diligence and frugality has to 32 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. be adopted, not as a matter of choice, perhaps, but as a matter of necessity. In the United States the country is new, undeveloped, and rich; a failure, or even several, can be amended, vrhich induces us to become bold speculators, and daring advocates of new social, religious, and political theories; changes and excitement become a passion; every- thing is conducive to activity; the air we breathe is commer- cial. In the North all this is reversed. Yet it would be wrong to accuse the people of sluggishness. For whoever has seen Stockholm, hewed out of the rocks, or Kristiania — both located nearly a thousand miles farther north than the northern boundary line of the United States, and having about the same latitude as the central part of Alaska and the extreme southern portion of Greenland — must admit that they possess all the energy and enterprise which nature permits them to exercise. Taking into consideration the harshness of the climate and the barrenness of the soil in the greater part of the Scandinavian countries, no one can deny that the people have shown more push and perseverence in supporting themselves by cultivating these districts than any of the other nations — all of which, as a general thing, have been more favored by nature. It is not difficult to live in splendor when one has plenty, but it takes skill and prudence to manage to make a comfortable livelihood out of a small income. The Scandinavians at home have not only sup- plied their physical wants, but are among the most civi- lized nations on earth. Their lower schools — the bulwark of a nation— are excellent, and certainly better than the much- boastedof American common schools. Denmark, Norway, and Sweden are among the five European states, which vir- SCANDINAVIANS — CHARACTERISTICS AND HISTORY. 33 tually have no illiterate classes of people. In Russia only 21 persons out of a hundred can read and write, in Italy 58, in Hungary 61, in Austria 75, in Ireland 76, in the United States 78, in Great Britain 91, in Holland 92, in Germany 99, and in the Scandinavian countries 99%. It is true that the people of the North are somewhat in- clined tow^ards drunkenness, and crimes and vices are, of course, as is the case in every country, committed. Yet in the Northern countries, where large cities can hardly be said to exist, where the poorer classes of the community are scattered through the farming districts and not congregated in dirty quarters of great cities, morality naturally stands high. And whoever has, by actual observation, compared the facial expressions of the lower strata of humanity in the country districts of the North with those of the same grade in the large European and American cities, must certainly come to the conclusion that the former are morally so far superior to the latter that no comparison can properly be made between them. History of the Scandinavian Immigration. O. ISt. NELSON. The Icelanders discovered America, as is well known, about the year 1000, and the Scandinavians have, in all probability, emigrated to the United States ever since the country began to be colonized. For example, Hans Hansen Bergen, of Ber- gen, Norway, came with the Dutch emigrants to New York as early as 1633, and became the ancestor of a large Ameri- can family by that name. In the Dutch colonial and church records he w^as variously called Hans Hansen von Bergen, Hans Hansen de Noorman, etc. He married a Dutch lady, was quite a noted character in those early days, and his namehas, perhaps, been mixed up with the supposed Danish- Norwegian colony at Bergen, N. J., which should, according to some questionable authorities, have been founded there in 1624. Although there is every reason, and some historical evidence for assuming that there were Danes and Norwegians in America at that time, they were not numerous enough to establish a distinct settlement. The weU-kno wn Swedish colony was founded at Delaware River in 1638 , and a Swedish clergyman preached in his native (35) 36 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. tongue in Philadelphia as late as 1823. United States min- ister to Sweden-Norway, W. W. Thomas, writes: "New Sweden as a distinct political organization under the Swedish flag, existed but for seventeen years. Yet, brief as was its life, this little colony occupies a memorable place in American history, and has left a lasting impress upon this continent. Most of the Swedish colonists continued to live onthebanks of the Delaware, and their descendants have ever been, and are today, among the most influential and honored citizens of the three states of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey. The raan who, as a member of the Continental Congress, gave the casting vote of Pennsylvania in favor of the Declaration of Independence, was a Swede of the old Delaware stock — John Morton. And when the civil w^ar burst upon the land, it was a descendant of New Sweden, the gallant Robert Anderson, who, with but a handful of men, calmly and bravely met the first shock of the rebellion at Fort Sumter. Surely, love of freedom, and patriotism, and state-craft, and valor came over to America, not only in the May£ower, but also in that Swedish ship, the Kalmar Nyckel. ' ' The brave Captain Bering, a Dane, entered the service of Peter the Great, and discovered the strait which bears his name, in the first part of the eighteenth century. It was on his discovery that Russia based its claim to Alaska, which afterwards was bought by the United States. The early Swedish immigrants in this century found countrymen of theirs in Charleston, S. C, who had come to this country during the previous century. In the first year, 1820, when the United States com- HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION. 37 menced to record the number of immigrants who arrived, 20 are registered from Denmark and only three from Sweden- Norway. It is a remarkable fact that the total sum of the Danish emigrants from 1820 to 1840 equals in number the total sum of both the Norwegians and Swedes during the same time; yet the Danish immigration has never been very heavy, reaching its maximum of nearly 12,000 in 1882, when, on the other hand, 30,000 Norwegians and 65,000 Swedes arrived. Since, the immigration of all the Scandinavi- an countries has declined. The Norwegians never exceeded a thousand a year until 1843, the Swedes not until 1852, and the Danes not until 1857. It seems that the early Danish immigrants in this coun- try and the Swedish colonists at Delaware River should have been the means of spreading reliable information in re- gard to America in their respective countries, and thus be- come factors in making the emigration from Denmark and Sweden much earlier than from Norway. But it is just the reverse. The Danes, however, have been too busy in re-con- structing their affairs at home, and on that account have, ' probably, been prevented from participating in the move- ment towards the West. The common people in Sweden knew nothing about the colony at Delaware River, the rela- tion between these settlers and their father-land had virtu- ally ceased before the present century commenced. Such ad- venturers as Kleng Person came in direct contact with the laboring classes of Norway, and thus hastened the American fever in that country. The Kleng Persons of Denmark and Sweden appeared on the scene much later. Nor must we for- get that before the middle of this century a citizen of Sweden 38 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. was required to have a special permit from the king and pay three hundred kronor* before he could leave the country, while the constitution of Norway granted that freedom to every man. It must also be remembered that the conservatism of the Danes and Swedes has somewhat hindered their westward march, while the passion for radical changes among the Norwegians has been the means of pro- moting their emigration. The emigrants of today have a great deal of trouble with their baggage, steamship agents, hotel runners, and impos- ers of all kinds. Yet their annoyance and inconveniences are small in comparison with the misery which the early pio- neers passed through. Before the middle of this century no regular steamers plowed between the North and this coun- try, no Western railroads existed. The Scandinavian emi- grants rode after a horse team to a seaport at home, where they often had to wait for weeks before a chance could be se- cured to embark for England, France, or Germany, where they again had to rest in patience for a while until a sailing- vessel brought them across the stormy Atlantic. Some- times several emigrants clubbed together and hired or bought a small, old ship; others again took passage on a merchant-vessel. Generally the journey lasted from two to six months. Provisions often failed, sickness and suffering always occurred, and more than once starvation and hun- ger stared them in the face. Prom New York they generally proceeded to the Northwest by slow boats up the Erie Canal and continued the tedious journey on the Great Lakes. "In early times migrations consisted of movements of whole tribes in a career of conquests, and differed radically *Ia "Sjelfbingrafi", p. 10, by Kev. S, B. Newman, It is asserted that emigrants had to giye bonds for the amonnt mentioned. HISTORY OF THE SCA tmiNAVIAN IMMIGRATION. 39 from emigration, which is a movement of individuals." The "wandering of the Goths and other barbarians at the time of the fall of Rome, and to a certain extent the conquests of the Vikings, were migrations. The early colonies of America, for example, the Swedish settlement at the Delaware River in the first part of the seventeenth century, were not private affairs, but national, under the direction of the respective governments; they also differed from emigration. Thegreat stream of human beings who have sought and seek homes on the American continent and in Australia in the nineteenth century are emigrants. But if migration, colonization, and emigration have differed in their nature, the causes which have lead the Scandinavians, and to a great extent other people, to participate in these movements have always been the same. What have been the chief motives and main causes which have induced the one-and-a-half million Scandinavians to exchange their northern homes and settle on the wild prairies and in the thick forests of the Western continent in the nineteenth century? First: The Northern countries, on the whole, are barren and unproductive. The wealth, and especially the best part of thelaud, has been, toagreatextent, concentrated in a few hands. And although the Scandinavian countries in many places are not thickly populated, yet the land being poor, unequally divided, and not always culti- vated to its fiillest capacity, a large portion of the intelligent, industrious, and prudent classes have been compelled to drag out their lives in poverty. The idea of dependence was repug- nant to their very nature. But revolution against the powers that be and the property of other people was al- 40 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. most equally objectionable, for civilization has made tlie fierce and turbulent Northmen law-abiding people. Yet revolutionary movements, on a small scale, of the laboring classes were attempted during the first part of this century, both in Denmark and Sweden. In Denmark these move- ments of the people resulted in important changes. Prop- erty was revolutionized. The greater part of the land be- fore 1849 belonged to the large estates; the laboring people and tenants, being bound to the soil, were virtually slaves of the great land owners; but since most of the land has passed into the hands of small and middle-sized farms; and the people now exercise a great influence upon all affairs per- taining to the government. This reconstruction of Den- mark has, no doubt, hindered the Danish emigration, which before 1880 did not reach 5,000 in number a year, and has never exceeded 12,000 annually. In southern Sweden, how- ever, an attempted revolution failed totally; some of the leaders got drunk when action was necessary. But on the whole little has been attempted or accomplished by revolu- tionary movements to better the economical conditions of the Scandinavians at home. Nor can it be denied that feud- alism, a strong central government, a mistaken idea of pat- riotism, the great distinction between the classes, the religi- ous belief that the superiors must be obeyed in all things, and the continuous preaching of contentment by the clergy to the masses, had induced the descendants of the independ- ent Vikings to submit slavishly to'the condition of things. But the spirit of freedom was not dead, it only slept. Kin- dle the spark and the old Viking blood will again boil with, fire of passion and seek for adventure, conquests, and liber- HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION. 41 ty. And when the report reached the North that beyond the Atlantic Ocean, freedom of conscience, liberty of thought, and, above all, independence in life, could be attained by honest toil, struggle, and self-sacrifice, they were at once ready to embrace the opportunity. But as a people they move slowly, 'they are more conservative than radical; con- sequently their emigration began late, which, however, was largely due to the fact that no reliable information in regard to the Western World could reach the poorer and middle classes, scattered, as they are, over a large tract of terri- tory thinly populated. Secondly — A few Scandinavian sailors and adventurers had settled in the United States in the early part of this century. Some of them were educated men. In letters to relatives, contributions to newspapers, and, above all, by personal visits to their old homes, they pictured in fine colors the economic, social, religious, and political advantages to be gained in the New World. They created a sensation among the laboring and middle class, which has resulted in changes at home that maybe said to be revolutionary in theirnature. When Scandinavian-Americans visited the North, the people would travel on foot, during the cold winters, long dis- tances to hear their wonderful tales — some are said to have been a professional expert in the art of tale-telling. OIo Rynning's book, A True Account of America, which was published in Kristiania in 1839, was read by everybody. Gustaf Unonius, who with his wife and a few others arrived in America in 1841, and may be said to have given the first impulse to the Swedish emigration, was looked upon in America as a curiosity, and his letters to the press in Sweden 42 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. created a great excitement. Col. Hans Mattson, who came to this country in 1851, says: "At this time the Swedes w^ere so little known, and Jennie Lind, on the other hand, so renowned in America, that the Swedes were frequently called Jennie Lind men." When he visited his native country in 1868, the people flocked to see him, the servant girls drew lots who should wait upon him, and the one who succeeded in having the honor, expressed her disappointment that "He looked just like any other man." In the early times the opinions in the North regarding America differed. Class opposed class. The clergy, the school, the press, and the upper classes leagued together in opposing the whole emi- gration movement. The clergy maintained that to emigrate to a foreign country was a sin against the fourth command- ment : "Honor thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God commandeth thee ; that thy days may be long, and that it may go vrell with thee upon the land which the Lord thy God gi veth thee . " But these pious men omitted to mention that their God had brought his chosen people out of thebondage of Egypt. In the public schools, children were taught that to emigratew^asa crime against patriotism. The press ridiculed the whole movement and published the contributions from Scandinavian- Americans only as a matter of curiosity, and as a specimen of American mendacity. Scandinavian travelers, tourists, and those who had ruined their financial and social conditions in the old country, often went to the United States and described in the newspapers at home the sufferings and horrors which awaited the emigrants, and the barbarity of the American nation. Frequently these accusa- tions were true. In the early part of this century the emi- HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION. 43 grants were swindled, defrauded, ill-treated, robbed, mur- dered, and even sold as slaves into the Southern states. According to the Constitution of Norway, which is one of the most liberal in Europe, those who were convicted of a penitentiary offense, and those who had emigrated to a foreign land, were put on an equal footing. To emigrate in those days was considered a crime by all the Northern powers. Henrik Wergeland wrote : " Did ind hvor Fyrren siiser ind Tor ingen Nidding vandre, Som har forglemt i trolost Sind Sit Faedreland for andre." Thirdly — Religious persecution and military service have not compelled many Northmen to leave their native lands. For, excepting Eric Janson's party from Sweden, few have emigrated on account of direct religious oppression. On the whole, and especially in later years when the Northern emi- gration has been heaviest, the religious laws of the Scandi- navian countries have been very liberal. But it cannot be denied that indirectly the religious narrowness, the un- favorable and unjust religious laws, have had a great in- fluence in promoting the movement, especially in starting it; yet sometimes the emigrants have mistaken law and order for oppression, and left their native lands on account of their wrong notion of liberty. Quite frequently the very opposi- tion of the clergy and the educated classes lead the working people and farmers to cast the dice in favor of the Western World. Fourthly — After the pioneer immigrants had succeeded , by 44 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. sending letters, newspapers, and special information for em- igrants published by steamship and railway companies, to their relations and firiends in the North, but, above all, by per- sonal visits to their old homes, in giving a true, but sometimes an exaggerated, account of the condition of things in the United States, then the emigration assumed enormous proportions. It became a fashion. Smith, in his book Emigration and Immigration, says : " Emigration is sometimes spoken of as if it were simply the operation of an individual coolly and rationally measuring the advantages to be gained, and thus advancing his own ecconomic condition and that of the country to which he comes. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Emigra- tion proceeds now under the numerous influences, the efforts of steamship companies, the urging of friends and relations, the assistance of poor law authorities and charitable socie- ties, and the subtle but powerfial influence of popular delusion in regard to the New World." Another authority, speaking especially in regard to the ScandinaNian emigration, which Smith does not, although his assertions apply to it as well as to others, writes : "With a few minor exceptions the whole movement has been unorganized, though agents of steam- ship and railway companies, and even some of the states, have systematically worked up immigration sentiment in the Northlands." There are certainly very few Scandinavian paupers and criminals -who have, as has been the practice in other European countries, and especially in England, been sent to foreign countries by the government, local communities, or charitable associations. Yet, in by-gone days, philanthro. HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION. 45 pic societies in Sweden have paid the passage to America of liberated criminals. To sum up the causes which have induced one-and-a- half million Northmen to emigrate to the United States in the nineteenth century, the main reason has at bottom been the same as that which produced the Viking age, namely, ma- teria/ betterment. Yet, as was the case with the Northmen, the love for freedom and adventure, especially as the unjust reUgious, social, and political conditions have been rather oppressive to the middle and laboring classes, has, during the whole history of the Scandinavian emigration, been a pow- erful factor in promoting the movement. It was adventur- ers, and those who were hostile to all class distinction, that gave the first impulse to the movement, and may be said to have directed the Northern immigrants towards the North- west. While, as veas the custom in the heroic age of the ninth and tenth centuries, the spirit of the time and the fash- ion of the age have in latter years induced many young peo- ple in the Scandinavian countries to court dangers and turn the wheel of fortune in foreign lands. The man who dared to leave his native country has always been admired for his courage and bravery, although his motives have often been questioned. To emigrate has of late been looked upon as the proper thing to do for those who were ambitious and pos- sessed sufficient energy to become successful in foreign lands. It has always been considered a great shame to return to the North, even for a short visit, before a person has been suc- cessful abroad, and few have done it. In recent years, letters, newspapers, and printed informations for immigrants, which have been sent to relatives at home, visits of prosperous im- 46 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. migrants to their native lands, and inumerable prepaid pass- age tickets "Have been the most powerful preachers of thie New World's advantages." Age, sex, and occupation prove that the Scandinavian immigrants are the cream of the working classes. According to the United States statistics, 62 per cent are males, 65 per cent arrive between fifteen and forty years of age, 11 per cent are over forty years of age, and 24 per cent are children under fifteen. During the years between 1881 and 1890, 1 person out of 5,914 was a clergyman, 1 out of 5,089 a musician, 1 out of 7,236 a physician and surgeon, and 1 out of 3,074 a teacher — in other words only 1 out of 1,017 had a profession, while 1 out of 12 was a skilled laborer, and one-half of the Scandinavian immigrants w^ere either farm- ers, merchants, or servants. Nor is there any reason to assume that they change their occupations a great deal when they arrive in this country, for, according to the United States census of 1870, 1880, 1890, 25 per cent of the Scandinavian population were engaged in agriculture, and 50 per cent labored at what was called "All classes of work." It is a notable fact that 1 out of 4 of every Scandinavian engages in agriculture, while only 1 out of 6 of the native Americans, 1 out of 7 of the Germans, and 1 out of 12 of the Irish, follow the same profession. It is partly on account ol their great love and fitness for farming that the Scandinavians have been considered by nearly every American political economist to be the best im- migrants which the country receives. "It is," says an au- thority, "to the Scandinavian immigrants from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, that the Northwest is largely indebt- HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION. 47 ed for its marvelous development." "The Scandinavians," adds another, "especially, take to farming. They have suc- ceeded where the Americans -with better start have failed. They have acquired farms and now live in a state of great comfort. In a certain sense it is the survival of the fittest." A fair proportion, however, of the younger element of the Scandinavian immigrants pursue studies in this country, either at some of the Scandinavian institutions or in Ameri- can colleges, and later attend to the professional need of their countrymen. And although not very many, proporT tionally, of the highly educated classes emigrate; yet un- questionably, taken all in all, the people who exchange the North for the United States are, on the aggregate, mentally better endowed, and morally superior to those "who remain at home. In the first place, as a general thing, criminals, paupers, and idiots are cared for by the Northern govern- ments, and are not permitted to leave. The poor and the vicious classes cannot pay for their own passage, nor receive a ticket on credit. Cowards dare not, and fools have not sense enough to emigrate. It is the old story of the Vikings. Gathering together hap-hazzard a thousand Scandinavian emigrants on any vessel w^hich is destined for the United States and an equal number of those who remain in the North, and the former will, in regard to age, sex, physique, mental endowment, and moral purity and courage, be superior to the latter. Smith, the latest and one of the best authorities on the emigration question, says: "It is often the poor and degraded who have not the courage nor the means to emigrate. When emigration is brought about by the free action of a man's own mind, without extraneous 48 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAYIANS IN THE TJ. S. aids or influences, it is naturally the men who have intelli- gence, some financial resources, energy, and ambition that emigrate. It requires all these to break loose from the ties of kindred, of neighborhood, and country, and to start out on a long and difficult journey. On account of that the best people emigrate, therefore the government objects." Secondly, a well school-trained man is not always the best naturally endowed. Besides, even educated emigrants must possess courage, energy, and perseverance in order to suc- ceed in foreign lands. It is only the liberal and broad- minded people of the higher classes who in any sense can ex- change their native customs and manners, and adopt the habits of other nations. It is harder, perhaps, for a cult- ured man, who has acquired a permanent character and fiixed ideas, to forget his native soil than it is for an illiterate person — the former's patriotism is founded on reason, the latter 's on sentiment. The fact that the majority of the educated Scandinavians at home have been hostile towards and not participated much in the emigration movement has been an important factor in hastening the Americaniza- tion of the Northern people. Those having had a home training, and especially the clergy, whose duties it is to guide the intellectual improve- ment and moral conduct of the people have generally been men of broad culture and liberal views.who have founded, or promoted, great Scandinavian-American educational insti- tutions, where the younger elements of the people have been educated, and the latter became the leaders of the Northern race in the New World. It is true that these institutions have been managed somewhat according to a different HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION. 49 method than most American colleges, yet they have been, and are, the stepping stones towards Americanization. And it certainly is, from an American standpoint, far better that the clergy and other men of learning have been educated in Scan- dinavian-American schools than that they should have been imported — which otherwise would have been absolutely nec- essary — ^from the Northern countries. The diflFerent location of each country and the diverse historical connections with foreign countries have made a little variation in the character of the Northmen at home. But these differences are slight, being on the whole merely artificial, and can hardly be said to apply, to any great ex- tent at least, to the Scandinavians in this country. For the immigrants upon their arrival in the United States generally discard their artificial acquirements and begin to practice their natural endowments, namely : courage, determination, industry, frugality, and perseverance. It is remarkable how quickly, for example, a northern Swede will dispense with his elaborate system of bows, bobs, courtesies, hat-liftings, and adopt the practice of simpler manners ; this he often does in spite of himself, for quite frequently he is not a believer in the American simplicity of intercourse; especially is the cold and unceremonious business relation, which is in such contrast to what he has been used to, repugnant to him. Yet even on the streets or in the stores in Stockholm you can easily detect a person who has been in America, perhaps, only for six months; the man has been simplified. But in spite of the fact that the Scandinavians become quickly Americanized, only retaining their original boldness, frankness, and firmness, yet their different training shows itself in many ways. For 50 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. example, the great political agitation whicli has been in operation in Norway ever since the beginning of this century, has created among the Norwegians a taste and ability for politics in which neither the Swedes nor the Danes can, or will not perhaps, compete with them, not even in this country. Between the years of 1880 and 1900 there were, according to the United States census, from ten to one hundred and fifty, thousand more Swedes in America than Norwegians, yet during that period only one Swede was elected to the United States congress, while at the same time seven Norwegians 'had a seat in the national House of Representatives. It may be argued, which of course is true, that the Norwegian immigration is older than the Swedish, consequently the younger elements of the Nor- wegians have had a longer time and a better chance to become acquainted with the political machinery of the na- tion than their brethren ; but even granting this, it yet remains a fact that in Minnesota, where the immigration ol one nationality is just as old as the other, about 170 Nor- wegians and only 80 Swedes have represented their districts in the two legislative bodies of the state from 1857 to 1900; and although the population of the former has, until lately, outnumbered that of the latter, it is not in proportion to their political preponderance. Yet it must also be remem- bered that only 21 per cent of the Norwegians live in cities of over 25,000 inhabitants, where 32 per cent of the Swedes are to be found. The Norwegians thus scattered throughout the farming districts and smaller towns have a better chance to be elected to local offices and to the state legislature than those residing in large cities. The greater political activity HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION. 51 of the Norwegians in comparison with the Swedes is also apparent by the former's greater variation in the choice oS political parties. Some of the best educated Scandinavian- Americans are Democrats, Prohibitionists, or Populists ; yet the great majority of the Swedes have always been, and are, Republicans, which is also, but to a less extent, the case with the Norwegians. Twoof the seven Norwegian- American con- gressmen w^ere elected by the Populists. The difference in the characters of the two people shows itself also, to look at it from an historical standpoint, in their religion. For, while the Swedish- American Lutheran Church has progressed smoothly, uninterruptedly, and undi- vided, the Norwegian-Americans have wrangled about the- ological dogmas, and divided Lutherism into six different and distinct organizations ; some of which, how^ever, have again been united into one body. The Danish immigration is more recent, consequently they do not stand out so prominently in political and relig- ious matters as the other two nationalities, but on the whole they resemble the Swedes in being conservative. Thirty -two percent of the Swedish- American population, twenty-three of the Danish, and twenty-one of the Norwe- gian, reside in cities of over 25,000 inhabitants each ; this does not, however, sustain the general opinion, that the Swedes and Danes are better business men than the Norwegians; but as the Danes and southern Swedes at home seem to have a natural instinct for financial undertakings, it is probably correct. But on the whole the difference in the character between the three Scandinavian- American nationalities is small find 52 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. short-lived. After a few years residence in this country, and very often not even among the emigrants on board of the ship that brings them, can any distinction of the separate iMorthem nationalities be detected. In the second generation only the old Northmen's fearlessness, energy, and strong ■will-power, clothed in American manners, are visible. Of course, the physical features often change considerably in a few generations. The Scandinavians are justly proud of their Viking age. The kings of Sweden have always styled themselves "King of the Swedes, Goths, and Wends." The Danes and Nor- wegians point with pride to their conquests in France, Great Britain, and Ireland. Prof. Worsaae says : " The greatest, and for general history the most important, memorials of the Scandinavian people are connected, as is well known, with the expeditions of the Normans, and the Thirty Years' War." It is true that Rolf, Knute the Great, and Gustavus Adolphus, have had, either directly or indirectly, a great in- fluence upon civilization. But, excepting the Thirty Years' War, the greatest, and for the human race the most import- ant, memorials of the Scandinavian people are connected with their discovery of, colonization in, and emigration to the United States. John Ericsson, the greatest Scandinavian- American, was more of a benefactor to humanity than either Rolf, or Knute the Great, or both together. (We refrain from mentioning other influential Scandinavian-Americans be- cause many of them are living at present). 'The emigrants coming from the narrow valleys of Norway, the mines and forests of Sweden, the smiling plains of Denmark, the rocky shores of Iceland, with hearts of oak and arms of steel. HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION. 53 are building empires in this Western continent.' They have torn themselves away from home, country, relatives, friends, brothers, sisters, and parents. They have cleared prairies and forests, built railways, and mined the earth in a foreignland. They have by hard and honest toil, struggle, prudence, fru- gality, industry, and perseverance succeeded against adverse circumstances in creating comfortable homes for themselves on American 'soil. They have in war and peace, in commerce and literature, in the pulpits and legislative halls, dis- tinguished themselves, done their duties towards their adopted country, and been an honor to their native lands. But these peaceable and industrious emigrants from the North have not received the same recognition, either at home or abroad, as the savage and plundering Vikings. How long will it take before the victories of peace shall be more renowned than those of war ? The well-known Col. Hans Mattson uses the following language in the conclusion of his Mimien : "Yes, it is verily true that the Scandinavian immigrants, from the early colon- ists of 1638 to the present time, have famished strong hands, clear heads, and loyal hearts to the republic. They have caused the wilderness to blossom like the rose ; they have planted schools and churches on the hills and in the valleys ; they have honestly and ably administered the affairs of tovsrn, county, and state; they have helped to make wise laws for their respective commonwealths and in the halls of congress ; they have with honor and ability represented their adopted country abroad ; they have sanctified the American soil by their blood, shed in freedom's cause on the battlefields of the revolutionary and civil wars ; and though proud of 54 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. their Scandinavian ancestry, they love America and Ameri- can institutions as deeply and as truly as do the descendents of the Pilgrims, the starry emblem of liberty meaning as much to them as to any other citizen. "Therefore, the Scandinavian-American feels a certain sense of ownership in the glorious heritage of American soil, withits rivers, lakes, mountains, valleys, woods, and prairies, and in all its noble institutions ; and he feels that the bless- ings which he enjoys are not his by favor or sufferance, but by right; by moral as well as civil right. For he took pos- session of the w^ilderness, endured the hardships of the pioneer, contributed his full share toward the grand results accomplished, and is in mind and heart a true and loyal American citizen." But not only have the Northern immigrants created per- manent monuments in the New World, but they have also exercised a great reflex influence upon the affairs of the Old World. For, while Gustavus Adolphus defended Protestant- ism and German liberty, which resulted in the intellectual and religious freedom of the world, it w^as Swedish-Ameri- cans who introduced in Sweden the faith of the Baptists in about 1850, and Methodism fifteen years later,* and were largely instrumental in securing that religious toleration in their native land which their ancestors had fought for in foreign countries. A Norwegian- American introduced Meth- odism in his native country in 1849, and Danish-Americans commenced to preach that doctrine in Denmark shortly after. It certainly shows a great amount of bigotry, narrowness, and ignorance, not to say villainy, of the governments at home, that Baptists should, on account *The -work of the English Methodists in Sweden in the early part of the nineteenth century was interrupted, but wai resumed by bwedish-Americans in 1865. HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION. 55 of proselyting, < be sent out of the kingdom by the civil authorities of Sweden as late as in 1851; that Norwegian Lutheran clergymen should endeavor, by force, to prevent the Methodists from worshiping God according to their own conscience, and bury their dead according to their own rituals, as late as in 1860; or that Swedish ministers should refuse to grant the permission of burying a Methodist pas- tor, who was a citizen of this country, in the state cemetery because, they said, he had beena /a/sepropAet, and the widow was compelled to appeal to higher authorities in the name of the American nation, as late as in 1867. Nor w^ere these atrocities simply the result, or relic, of barbarian laws, for until forty, or even twenty years ago, religious intolerance was the accepted theory and common practice of the major- ity of both the educated classes and the masses in the Scan- dinavian countries. It must, however, be remembered that the clergy of the state church thought it was their religious duty to prevent w^hat they deemed to be false religions to be imposed upon the people under their charge. Often the missionaries w^ho represented the new sects were uneducated men whose procedure was unwise. For example, the Jan- sonites in Sweden publicly burned all religious books, except the Bible. This, of course, was unlawful and they had to sufferthe consequences. But the numerous letters and news- papers which the immigrants have sent to their relatives at home, and the frequent visits of Scandinavian-Americans to their native lands, have had an immense influence in moulding the public sentiment in favor of more political, social, and religious freedom. And public sentiment not only governs republics, but even shakes monarchs on their 56 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. thrones, and bends the will of bishops. Today the Northmen at home enjoy, virtually, full religious freedom and possess a great amount of political liberty — blessings which they ought, at least to a great extent, to be thankful for to their countrymen across the Atlantic Ocean. The Scandinavian-Americans, however, have not con- fined themselves to the political, social, and religious con- version of the old folks at home, their influence has also been of a more material nature. About fifty per cent of the Scandinavian emigrants arrive by prepaid passage tickets secured by relatives here. During each year of 1891 and 1892 — according to the estimate of A. E. Johnson of the great emigration firm, A. E. Johnson and Company — six- and-a-half milHon dollars in actual cash was sent from this country to the North by well-to-do immigrants to their relatives. It is impossible, however, to arrive at anything like a correct conclusion in regard to what amount of wealth in the shape of presents, prepaid passage tickets, and actual cash which Scandinavian-Americans have transferred from the United States to the North. Smith, in his excellent book Emigration and Immigration, estimates that each immi- grant sends to his native country $35, and from 1820-99, according to United States statistics, not far from 1,500,000 Northmen have settled in this country. If each of them re- turned $35, the total sum transfered from here to the Scan- dinavian countries, would, during that period, amount to $52,500,000. Each immigrant, however, brings with him a certain amount of capital, which Smith estimates to average from $68 to $100, but in 1898 the Scandinavian immigrants HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION. 57 did not average that, according to the estimate of the com- missioner of immigration. "It costs," to quote Smith, "about $652.50 to bring up a child in Europe till 15 years of age, and twice that amount in the United States. But this estimate does not mean the real value of men; they are not valued in dollars and cents. But every immigrant must represent labor capacity worth at least the value of a slave, which was $800 or $1,000 before the war, but being a free man he may not choose to w^ork. But it is figured that each immigrant is worth $875." Assuming that each Scan- dinavian immigrant has brought $75, which added to $875, the value of his labor capacity, amounts to $950, and multi- plyingthatamount by 1,500,000, the number of immigrants we find that the Scandinavian countries have sent — or rather permitted to be transferred — to the United States one billion four hundred and fifty million dollars ($1,450,000,000) worth of property in the form of human beings and what valuables these have brought with them. Even subtracting the $52,500,- 000 which have been returned in the shape of prepaid tickets, presents, and cash, it yet leaves the United States in a debt of $1,397,500,000 to the Scandinavian countries. The Chinamen are, perhaps, intellectually equal to any people, yet China can never reach a higher civilization than it has attained to until the population is, in some way, reduced. Civilization and luxury go hand in hand. A highly cultured people must have elbow room for their activity. Simply a bare physical existence cannot elevate a nation, no matter how^ well intellectually the individuals may be endowed. That the Scandinavian countries have had a heavier popula- tion than could be decently supported will, perhaps, not be 58 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. seriously disputed; consequently the emigration has fur- thered their development. Facts prove the assertion. The social and political aspects, the relation between the em- ployer and employe, have been revolutionized in Norway since emigration began. It is true that other causes have assisted in extinguishing class distinction, yet emigration has been the main factor. But then the emigration has also been so heavy that, taking into consideration only the im- migrants themselves and their children, there is no-w (1900) half as many Norwegians living in this country as there are in the whole of Norway. In Denmark and Sweden, where the emigration in proportion to the population has not been so heavy as in Norway, the eifect has been less marked. Yet it has had great influence upon the social and political con- ditions. Wages have certainly been raised in both countries as the direct result of the emigration. Besides Scandina- vian-Americans often import, and introduce to the trade in this country, goods manufactured in the North; some of them have returned home and established new industries; thus the manufacturing interests of the Scandinavian coun- tries have been extended, furnishing new employment to their people, and increasing their national wealth. Yet in spite of this widened commercial activity, and ben- eficial political, social, and religious influences, the govern- ments of the Northern powers have always looked upon emigration as a loss to their countries. A Danish-American wrote in 1885: "At present the ofiicial world, the press, and, on the whole, the higher classes, are rather hostile to the whole movement. At the best, they ignore it. They have not yet arrived at the same conclusions in regard to it HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION. 59 as have the leading statesmen in England. They regard emigration as a loss to the old countries. They have the Greek-German view of the state as having interests apart jErom and above those of the individual. The existing state is, in their eyes, sacred, and not — as it is understood in Eng- land and America — identical with the interests of the indi- vidual members of the body politic. Secondly, they do not recognize the ■wholesome influence of the emigration on the people at home. It takes away from the rising population in a good many districts from one-eighth to one-fourth of its laborers. Such a decrease has considerable influence in rais- ing wages ; and employers in the first instance only look on what they lose ; they do not recognize that the better-paid workingmen, as a rule, give more valuable, and, therefore, not at all dearer, work. It is true that the great political influence of the emigrants on their old home at present con- tributes largely to strengthen the elements of opposition to the powers that be; but a self-conscious, independent people makes actually a stronger community." It is impossible to determine, either by statistics or by any historical records, the exact causes which have induced the majority of the Scandinavians to settle in the North- w^est. It is, no doubt, partly due to chance, climate, the direction which the early Scandinavian pioneers, especially Rev. O. G. Hedstrom, gave to the movement ; but, perhaps, more on account of the Northwest being just opened for set- tlement at the time when their emigration began. When some Norwegian emigrants arrived at Milwaukee, Wis., in 1839, in search of suitable land, an old settler w^amed them against the climate of Illinois. He placed two men before 60 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. them, one strong and healthy, the other weak and lean. Pointing towards the former, he said: "There you see a man from Wisconsin ; the other is from Illinois." The Nor- wegians remained in "Wisconsin. Slavery might, in the early days, have prejudiced them from going south. It is certain that movements of Scandinavians in that direction have at different times been attempted, but always failed. Prof. Babcock, of the University of Minnesota, who has made a special study of the Scandinavians in this country, and being a native American his opinions have a specific value, writes in The Foram for September, 1892, as follows: "The passion for the possession of land and for independence that goes with it have characterized the Scandinavians from the earliest times, and it is that -which has made them so valuable as citizens of the Northwest. Had they preferred to huddle together in villages or, still worse, to crow^d into large cities, the progress of this section w^ould have been materially slower. Until within the last eight years the towns have claimed only a small percentage, and now proba- bly not more than ten per cent come to settle in towns . Scanty means, a spirit of economy, and a fearlessness for hard work and temporary privation, have made them frequently pioneers in settling new territory. With the extension of new rail- roads into northwestern Minnesota and the Dakotas, and the opening up of Government and railroad land, great num- bers of Scandinavian immigrants, and Scandinavian settlers from older portions of the West, have settled here. All of the eighty counties of Minnesota, save possibly two, have representatives of all three Scandinavian peoples; whole townships and almost whole counties are tilled by them. HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION. 61 In the newer counties of Minnesota and the Dakotas thirty and even forty per cent are of Scandinavian parentage. In the older portions it is said to be possible to travel 300 miles across Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota without once leav- ing Scandinavian-owned land. Though in every large city and town in the Northwest there are Scandinavians en- gaged in commercial enterprise and the professions with marked success, it yet remains true that the great majority are farmers. " One of the most important indirect results of the love for land-ownership is the hastening of naturalization. To take up homestead claims one of the first conditions for a foreigner is a declaration of intention to become a citizen ; so the prospective farmer at once takes out his first papers ; and the first step in naturalization is made. This done, natural inclination leads him to perfect his title of full citizenship. But the Scandinavian immigrant hardly needs any great incentive to citizenship. In politics he is as much in his element as an Irishman in New York City. His aptitude for politics and his interest in public affairs are natural. Be he Norwegian, Swede, or Dane, he hastened and moved in an atmosphere electric with inde- pendence and individualism. The Norwegian celebrates the Fourth of July all the more loyally, because on the seven- teenth of May he commemorated in the same way the es- tablishment, in defiance of all Europe, of the Norwegian con- stitution of 1814. The Dane is fresh from the constitutional struggle begun in 1849 ; the Swede has had popular repre- sentation since 1866: consequently the Scandinavian immi- grants have had some considerable political education when 62 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. they arrive. The ballot and independence are not meaningless terms to them ; the exercise of them is their right, not merely their privilege. Certainly no class makes greater effort than the Scandinavian to become naturalized ; none enters upon the rights and duties of American citizenship with more en- thusiasm or honest, intelligent appreciation of its high privileges. Statistics from Minnesota show some interesting facts bearing upon this question, comparison being made with the Germans, -who rank among our best immigrants. By the census of 1885 the Scandinavian population was 43.2 per cent and the German 30.1 per cent of the total foreign- bom population. Of the increase of foreign-born population for five years ending with 1885, the Scandinavian was 48.2 per cent, the German 30.9 per cent. For the same period, of the total naturalizations (first papers) the Scandinavians took out 56.3 per cent and the Germans 23.2 per cent. Or, looking at the matter in another way, for the same half-dec- ade the Scandinavians who were naturalized were 35.4 per cent of the increase of Scandinavian population for the same time, the Germans 22.9 per cent. Similar statistics for other half-decades give approximately the same results. " The political affiliations of the Scandinavian voters till about 1886 were almost invariably with the Republican party. The opposition to slavery rallied every son of the Northland, and no soldiers were braver or more patriotic than the Scandinavian Fifteenth Wisconsin regiment and Scandinavian companies in other Wisconsin and Iowa regi- ments. The suppression of the Rebellion, the abolition of slavery, the passage of the homestead law to tvhich they owed so much — all appealed powerfully to their political HISTORY OP THE SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION. 63 senses. New-comers found their predecessors in the Repub- lican party ; they found it the party in power in the State and generally in the Nation ; its principles were acceptable, and so they too became Republicans. Since 1886, however, less reliance can be placed upon a solid Scandinavian vote, though this element has never been the ready tool of "boss- es." It has ever been a ruling rather than a ruled element. The immigration of the last eight years has had a larger percentage from the cities, and a larger percentage has set- tled in the cities, so that "labor questions" have affected them ; local political issues have, to their credit, sometimes shaken their old allegiance more or less, as, for example, prohibition in Iowa and North Dakota, high license in Min- nesota; the Bennett law in Wisconsin temporarily drove them out of the Republican party ; the Farmers' Alliance, People's party, etc., have drawn Scandinavian recruits from both of the old parties ; the tariff and other national ques- tions have divided them as well as other thinking men in both great political parties. However, the majority of them are still and will continue to be Republicans, though no party can mortgage their vote for any election. " Coupled with the love for politics among them is the love for religion and the Church. The vast majority are Lutherans of one branch or another. At any rate, they are Protestant enough to satisfy the most fastidious Catholic- hater, for a Catholic in Norway or Sweden is a rare, suspi- cious object. The dissenting movement among the Scandi- navian Lutherans in America is comparatively strong. At one time there were six divisions of the Norwegians alone, though recently three of them united. The rigid adherence 64 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. to the forms and practices of the mother-state Church is weakened, while, on the other hand, the liberal and atheistic movements have made slow progress, even among the dis- senters. The churches, with a few exceptions, have not maintained regular elementary schools. Poverty, isolation of the families of the great farming class, and the desire to conform to American customs have all lead to a very general patronage of the common schools. The church school is usually open during public-school vacations, if at all, and instruction confined to religious teaching and the use of the mother-tongue. All this has contributed to the rapid Amer- icanization of the second generation. For higher education, the church maintains numerous and well-patronized semi- naries and colleges, while the high-schools and the State universities throughout the Northwest have a large Scandi- navian attendance, auguring well for the future. In the University of Minnesota, for example, located in the same city with two Scandinavian colleges, during the past year one hundred and seventy-five students, out of thirteen hun- dred and seventy-four were of Scandinavian parentage. " The Scandinavians, with all their virtues, are not with- out faults. They are often narrow-minded, in the city some- times clannish and given to making demands, political and social, as Scandinavian-Americans. The Swede is frequently jealous of the Norwegian, and vice versa. But as a class they are sober, earnest, industrious, and frugal. They are not driven here ; they come of their own accord and come to stay, not to get a few hundred dollars and return to a life of idleness. They come not to destroy our institutions, but to build them up by adopting them. They come from countries HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION. 65 not potent or glorious in European affairs, and therefore the more readily denationalize themselves, that they may be- come entirely American. The most of them are plain, com- mon people, strong, sturdy, and independent, required to unlearn little, ready and able to learn much and learn it well. They still have tlie same powers of adaptability and assimilation that made Rollo and his Northmen such good Frenchmen, and Guthrun and his Danes such excellent Eng- lishmen ; and using these powers among us today, thej-- are, or are rapidly becoming, irreproachably and unimpeachably American." The well-know Prof. H. H. Boyesen writes in the North American Review for November, 1892: "The Chicago pa- pers, at the time of the trial of the Anarchists, complimented the Scandinavians of the West on their law-abiding spirit, and the counsel for the accused emphasized the complimenr by requesting that no Scandinavian should be accepted on the jury. He declared his intention of challenging any talesman of Norse blood on the ground of his nativity. Although this man probably had but slight acquaintance with Norsemen, the instinct which bade him beware of them was a correct one. " There is no nation in Europe that is more averse to vio- lence, and has less sympathy with Utopian aspirations than the people of Norway and Sweden. They have been trained to industry, frugality and manly self-reliance by the free in- stitutions and the scant resources of their native lands ; and the moderation and self-restraint inherent in the cold blood of the North make them constitutionally inclined to trust in slow and orderly methods rather than swift and violent 66 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. ones. They come here with no millenial expectations, doomed to bitter disappointment; but with the hope of gaining, by hard and unremitting toil, a modest competency. They demand less of life than continental immigrants of the corresponding class, and they usually, for this very reason, attain more. The instinct to save is strong in the majority of them, and save they do, when their neighbors, of less fru- gal habits, are running behind. The poor soil of the old land and the hardships incident upon a rough climate, have accustomed them to a struggle for existence scarcely less severe than that of the Western pioneer ; and unilluminated by any hope of improved conditions in the future. The qual- ities of perseverance, thrift, and a sturdy sense of independ- ence which this struggle from genergtion to generation has developed, are the very ones which must form the corner stone of an enduring republic. "It is therefore a fact which all students of the social problem arising from immigration have remarked that the Scandinavians adapt themselves with great ease to Ameri- can institutions. There is no other class of immigrants which so readily assimilated, and assumes so naturally American customs and modes of thought. And this is not because their own nationality is devoid of strong character- istics, but because, on account of the ancient kinship and subsequent development, they have certain fundamental traits in common with us, and are therefore less in need of adaption. The institutions of Norway are the most demo- cratic in Europe, and those of Sweden, though less liberal, are developing in the same direction. Both Norsemen and Swedes are accustomed to participate in the management of HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION. 67 their communal affairs, and to vote for their representative in the national parliament ; and although the power given them here is nominally greater than that they enjoyed at home, it is virtually less. The sense of public responsibility, the habit of interest in public affairs, and a critical attitude towards the acts of government are nowhere so general among rich and poor alike as in Norway and Sw^eden, not- withstanding the fact that the suffrage is not universal. No great effort is therefore required, on the part of Norwegian and Swedish immigrants, to transfer their natural interest in public affairs to the affairs of their adopted country, w^hich now must concern them closely. With increasing prosperity comes a sense of loyalty to the flag, and a disposition, per- haps, to brag in the presence of later arrivals. To be an old settler is a source of pride and is recognized as a title to con- sideration. A large majority of the old settlers participated in the war, and naturally shared in the sentiment of militant loyalty and devotion to the Union which animated the Fed- eral army. This is, perhaps, the chief reason why the Scan- dinavian element in the United States is so overwhelmingly Republican; for the newly-arrived immigrant, having no comprehension of the questions dividing American parties, is apt to accept his politics from the respected "old settler" and veteran, and feels safe, at the end of five years, in voting as he votes. Thus it happens that the war feeling w^ith its at- tendant hostility to the South, is transmitted to those to whom the war is but a dim tradition, and the militant poli- tics of the veteran survives amid a peaceful generation that never smelled powder. " It is notable that, though in many of the earliest Norse 68 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. settlements the descendentsof the first settlers are still living, there is very little but their names (often Anglicized) and a certain Norwegian cast of features to indicate their Scandi- navian origin. They speak English, and, if they have ever learned Norwegian, have usually forgotten it. They have intermarried with American families, and live, think, and feel as Americans. I have had letters from many of these people, asking me to suggest Norwegian names for their children, or inquiring about certain localities in Norway from which their parents or grandparents came. It would seem, judging by the rapipity with which they have adopted American speech and modes of life, that the problem of the assimilation of the immigrant may be safely left to time, without the interfer- ence of artificial agencies. But it must be remembered that fifty or sixty years ago, the Scandinavian nationalities were completely lost in the ocean of American life, which beat upon them on all sides, and they had no choice but to drift with the current. I am far from beHeving now that they, or any other nationality, are strong enough to remain perman- ently alien in our midst ; but they are surely able to resist, for a whole generation, the influence of our national life, and make the process of national assimilation extremely diffcult for their children. " The Scandinavians have been accused of clannishness, and not without cause. It should, however, be considered that the immigrant, of whatever nationality, has no choice but to be clannish, unless he chooses to associate with those who look down upon him, or dispense with social intercourse altogether. Native Americans are not in the habit of wel- coming the immigrant with cordiality ; and they have often HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION. 69 good reason for regarding him with eyes not altogether friendly. Social intercourse can only be agreeable among people who recognize each other as equals, and no man can be blamed for shunning the society of those who refuse to grant him this recognition. It is, therefore, inevitable that alien communities should grow up in our midst as long as we permit the stream of immigration to pour unimpeded down upon our shores. Each new arrival is attracted to the locallity v(rliere he has friends or kinsmen ; and when he has laid aside a little money his first desire is to draw more friends and kinsmen after him. Around this nucleus a con- stant aggregation of homogeneous alien elements will gather. "There is continual complaint in the Scandinavian papers of the West that the nationalities which they repre- sent are not recognized in the distribution of offices ; and it is alleged that in the cities and counties, where the Scandi- navians tv\rice out number the Irish, the later have a larger representation in municipal and county offices. The reason of this is not a lack of aptitude for public affairs on the part of Norwegians and Swedes ; for, on the contrary, they take as naturally to politics as goslings do to water. But it is rather because they have not learned to suspend personal spites and resentments for the sake of a larger end to be gained. They have not learned party discipline nor the faculty to assert themselves as a unit. From the American point of view this is perhaps not a matter of regret, but rather of congratulation. For we have already a pestifer- ous abundance of alien nationalities which have the inso- lence to claim recognition, not as bodies of American citizens, but as Irish, Germans, Bohemians, and Poles ; as if in that 70 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAYIANS IN THE U. S. capacity they have any right to participation in the govern- ment of the American republic." Smith in his book, Emigration and Immigration, says that the American traits are : First, " The fcee political con- stitution and the ability to govern ourselves in the ordinary affairs of life ;" second, " The absence of privileged classes ;" third, "The economic -well-being of the masses;" fourth, "Love of law and order, ready acquiescence in the will of the majority." In a political sense these peculiarities are virtually common to both the Americans and Scandinavians ; for even if the latter have had privileged classes in their na- tive lands, they certainly are not in favor of such an arrange- ment. It is no wonder then that the Scandinavians become — according to all authorities on the subject — quickly Amer- canized in regard to all political affairs. What then is the reason that the majority of the Ameri- can people and many of the educated Scandinavian-Ameri- cans accuse the Northmen of clannishness ? In the first place those people difier from each other socially. The American has a broad knowledge of men and things. He can and does approach a stranger with the same ease with which he meets a friend of several years' standing. He questions everybody. He recognizes no class distinction, but associ- ates with everyone who is worthy of his confidence. He is energetic, ambitious, excitable, and extreme. He is remark- ably liberal and tolerant on all religious, political, and social questions ; but equally narrow-minded and bigoted in regard to his patriotism. America, in his estimation, is the only country under the sun fit for civilized man to live in. He points with just pride to the rapid development of the na- HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION. 71 tion. He boasts of, and sometimes exaggerates, the natural, undeveloped resources, and of the great future of his coun- try. He jokes with everything, even the most sacred. A city council will grant a license to a saloon or house of ill- fame one day, the next Sunday all the individuals who com- pose the council will attend a revival meeting and pray for the conversion of mankind. If a foreigner, who knew noth- ing about the life in America, should attend a political mass- meeting, or a large religious revival gathering, he would cer- tainly come to the conclusion that the whole nation was either drunk or insane, or perhaps both. The Scandinavian, on the other hand, is less excitable, enterprising, and ambitious, but more solid, reserved, and conservative. He does not live by jerks, but progresses slowly and surely. He is more moderate in his virtues as well as in his vices. He will attend church once or twice Sunday, and perhaps devote part of the day in visiting a friend or taking a walk. The latter practice is considered to be a great sin among the Puritans. The Scandinavian- American seldom meets the Yankee except in business rela- tions, or at apolitical convention, although he may occasion- ally attend a woman's sufferage meeting or an American church sociable, and make a short, formal call at the Yankee's house to be introduced to the family. The superior social aptness, the great religious and social activity of the American woman leads the Northman to con- clude — as a Norwegian wit expressed it — that all she does is to dress herself, attend church, and take care of her nerves. The United States statistics show that the Scandinavians are less apt to marry American ladies than any other foreig- 72 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. ners, altbough they more frequently inter-marry with other nationalities than any other immigrants. The Scandinavians seldom see the admirable home life for which the Americans are justly noted. They judge the latter as he appears in business life, and conclude that the Yankee is simply a financial and political boomer who is too shrewd and unscrupulous to be depended upon. Their conclusion in regard to business is, on the whole, correct, but in regard to society it is utterly wrong. For no nation is more sympa- thetic, humanitarian,devoted to kindness, andliberal towards charitable objects than the Americans. Secondly, the con- servatism and slowness of the Northmen is often mistaken for clannishness. They settle in large bodies, not with the intention of being exclusive, but because it is con- venient, and often their only choice; here they attend to their own affairs without thinking anything about Americaniza- tion. Struggle for existence, in many cases, requires all their strength. But the American nation has nothing to fear in regard to the foreignism of Scandinavians. They very rapidly adopt the virtues as w^ell as the vices of their adopted country. It is, perhaps, better that a people is a little slow in becoming Americanized, than to hasten too much. A person who takes out his naturalization papers on the day he arrives at Castle Garden, either does not know his obligations to the new country, or doesn't care to perform any duties to any land ; in either case he is not likly to be a desirable citizen. All the Scandinavian immigrants use American ftirnitureand machinery, their style of dress and mode of living are essen- l(t'41y American — all of which has a powerful influence in HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION. 73 Americanizing them. It is true that there are Northmen who have lived in this country thirty years, yet are unable to speak fifteen English words correctly ; but this class of peo- ple are an exception, not the rule. Of course theirmanners, customs, and language are ofben a strange combination of Scandinavian-Americanism and ■would make an excellent theme for a novelist. They some- times talk about, "spika English," "travla pa stimbaten," "maka monni," "mova avej," "go to mitingen," "been chitad," "got a yobb," and, "sinja Yankee Doodle." But most of them agree with H. Stockenstrom : " Men jag mest prisar den nya Svenska, Som ar sa olik den fosterlanska." The bad habit of having a feast of eating and drinking at funerals, w^hich is customary in the Scandinavian countries, is sometimes practiced here also. For example, we read about the early Norwegian settlers in Wisconsin how they astonished the minister at a funeral by presenting to him a glass of whisky between the singing of the first and second stanza, saying: "It is customary in our country to take a glass between the singing of each stanza." And with the hymn book in one hand, a glass of whisky in the other, and the corpse before them, themoumers shed tears over their de- parted friend. Half-way between the house and the cemetery they repeated the act. This, however, is an extreme case. Itis seldom carried to such excess in the North, and far less — ^if practiced at all, — among the Scandinavian -Americans. For, on the whole, the Northmen in this country adopt American manners and customs. The more progressive element of the first generation speak English from choice, the second from 74 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. necessity, and the third knows little about the language of their grandparents. Yet it is to be hoped that the Scandi- navian-Americans of today will never become so completely transformed that they lose their character, courage, earn, estness, frankness, strong convictions, self-possession, and indomitable will-power. According to the United States census of 1870, 1880, and 1890 the Scandinavians have the best records of any nation- alities in the country, either foreign or native, in regard to crime, vagrancy, pauperism, deaf and dumb, and blind. In addition they take most readily to farming, become quickly Americanized, and possess a better education and have more money at their arrival than any other immigrants. It is no w^onder then that nearly every political economist admits that they are the best immigrants which the country receives. W. W. Thomas, United States minister to Sweden-Nor- w^ay, wrote in 1891 as follows: "Probably not less than 2,000,000 Swedes and their descendants are now living in our country and call themselves Americans. In fact the day will soon come when the United States will contain more citizens of Swedish descent than Sweden herself; and we will be not only the newer, but the greater Sweden, as we have already become the greater England." Col. Hans Mattson, in his Minnen, published in 1890, says: "When we take into consideration the numerous Swedish colo- nists that settled in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey in the seventeenth century, and their descendants, together with the descendants of Scandinavian emigrants of the last seventy years, I think it is safe to estimate the total population of Scandinavian descent at over four mil- HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION. 75 Kons, or fully one-sixteenth of the entire population of the United States." These estimations, however, appear to be simply assertions and not based upon any kind of sta- tistical figures or computations, and are, perhaps, too high. Yet in 1900 there were in this country about one-fifth as many Danes as in Denmark, one-third as many Swedes as in Sweden, and one-half as many Norwegians as in Norway. In 1890 one person out of every twenty -five in the United States, was a Scandinavian, either by birth or by descent in the second generation. By the most careful computation of statistical figures, it is a conservative estimate to assume that, in 1900, there are in this country three million Scandi- navian-bom or having Scandinavian parents. The Icelandic Discoveries of America. S. SIGVALDSON. The origin and cause of the movement that led to these discoveries seems to have had their birth in Norway in or about the year 872, when King Harold Fairhair, in a naval battle, overcame the jarls, or independent princes, of that country, and subdued them to his vassalage. Such a subjuga- tion could not be tolerated by the haughty and heroic Northmen, and they were forced to seek relief in other coun- tries more congenial to their free and independent natures. In support of this the histories tell us that a general move- ment took place ; the jarls and Vikings took to their ships, invoked their God of Storms and set sails for distant shores. Some steered to the South and founded homes for them- selves in the sunny climate of sourthem Europe. But we are especially concerned with the northern branch of this army, which discovered and settled on the islands in the North Atlantic, especially Iceland. This noble and historic island is said to have been first discovered in 874 by the heroic Viking Ingolf. It was on this island, especially, that a strong and free republic soon grew up, and to its sturdy sons, we claim, belongs the im- mortal honor of the discovery of America. (77) 78 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. This republic, entirely independent, and consisting of the bravest and boldest of the Northmen, soon developed into a community of wealth and culture; now renowned the world over for its rich literature in old sagas, poetry, and chronicles. It is thus evident that all these combined afford the most reliable authority for the early settlements, achieve- ments, and discoveries of the Northmen. Hence it is mainly from these, as authorities, that we relate the following his- torical facts, undisputed by the best modem historians. In 876, about two years after the discovery of the is- land, we are told by the chronicles, that a certain settler, by the name of Gunnbjom, was driven on to the coast of Green- land in a storm, that his ship was fettered in ice all through the winter, but as soon as spring came they were able to return to Iceland. A great many years after, about 983, another settler, by the name of Erik the Red, got into a quarrel with his foe, and a homicide was the result. For this Erik was condemned by the court, according to the laws of the land, and to escape punishment, as well as to satisfy his nature for exploration and discovery, he fitted out a vessel, and -with a few companions set sail for the land of Gunn- bjorn. After a few days sailing he discovered Greenland and explored it along the coast each side of Cape Farew^ell dur- ing the next three years. He finally settled down on a grassy plain near the coast, which he was pleased to call Greenland, and from thence the whole country has derived its name. After three years, however, he returned to Iceland, but only to induce a greater number of emigrants to embark for Greenland. We are thus told that in re-crossing he had a THE ICELANDIC DISCOVERIES OF AMERICA. 79 fleet of twenty-five ships, but, unfortunately, eleven of them perished in the high seas of the North, and but fourteen reached Greenland. However, the remainder built up a pros- perous colony in the country, which lasted for 400 years. One of the men who came over to Greenland with Erik, Hjerulf by name, had the distinguished honor of being the father of the first white man, who saw the main land of North America. This man's name was Bjami. The event came about thus : during the summer that Hjerulf went over to Greenland with Erik, his son Bjarni had been absent in Norway ; and being unconscious of his father's journey, Bjami sailed home to Iceland the following autumn to pass the Christmas with his father. But on arriving in Iceland he found that his father had emigrated to Greenland ; he there- fore immediately set sail to follow his father to that country. On the way over, a cloudy sky and foggy weather at- tended his voyage, the crew lost their way, and were for many days borne before the wind without knowledge of their course. At length the weather brightened up somewhat, and Bjami sighted land in the distance, but to his disappointment, he soon discovered that it w^as a coast without mountains, covered with woods, instead of the great mountains of ice that he had been told he would see on the coast of Green- land. They therefore put the ship about and sailed for two more days, when they again sighted land, but neither this answered the description of Greenland. Again they went to sea, and having sailed for four days more with the same wind, the coast of Greenland was seen to loom up in the dis- tance. Fortunately enough, Bjarni landed on the very promontory where his father lived. He then assumed control 80 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. of his father's estate, and dwelt with him the remainder of his life. This accidental finding of land by Bjami excited little curiosity until it came to the ears of the famous Leif, the son of Erik the Red, who at this time, about 999, came over to Greenland from Norway. This Leif Erikson, the real discov- erer of America, bought the vessel of Bjarni and manned it with a crew of thirty-five men, leaving Greenland in the autumn of the year 1000, and sailing to the South, for the express purpose of discovering the lands previously seen by Bjarni. Good fortune attended. Some distance to the south- ward, Leif discovered a barren coast, now know^n to be the northern coast of Newfoundland. Having rested here for some time, the discoverer again put to sea, sailing farther southward, and in the space of a few days came upon anoth- er coast, covered with thick woods. Here he landed and inspected the country around, now known by the name of Nova Scotia. But soon he once more set to sea, and, having now sailed for two more days, with a northeast wind, he for the third time sighted land, and pulled ashore "At the estuary of a certain river." Here they found the country pleasant, the river full of fish, and the land abounding in grapes. With this Leif was so pleased that he called the land he had discovered, Vinland. The location of the third discovery corresponds the closest to that about Massachu- setts Bay. Pleased as they were with the country, Leif determined to pass the winter here, his men accordingly built up some huts at this place, and in them they dwelt through the winter. In the spring Leif and his men started home for P - P PI O H O O a 3 5 -^ W Q H O W ^ iiography in Ynl. II, p. 21S.— Editoh. THE SWEDISH LUTHERAN AUGUSTANA SYNOD. 219 could not be secured from home.^ But Esbjorn could not agree with the president of the seminary, who adhered to the New-Lutheranism, and in 1860 he resigned his position. In order to carrj' on the work among the many arriving im- migrants, the Scandinavians had special conferences, namely : The Chicago conference which v/as composed of Swedes and Norwegians ; the Mississippi conference, Swedes ; and the Minnesota conference, mostly Swedes. On account of the existing difference in view^s in regard to the Augsburg Confession, and also owing to differences in language between the various elements composing the Northern Illinois Synod, the Swedes and Norwegians met, in the month of April, 1860, in Chicago, for the purpose of es- tablishing a new sj'nod. As a result of this meeting, what is now called the Swedish Lutheran Augustaiia Synod w^as or- ganized, June 5, 1860, at a meeting on Jefferson Prairie, Wis. Dr. T. N. Hasselquist was elected as the first president, and served for several years in that office. The name Augustana. was adopted at the instance of Dr. E. Norelius. At this meet- ing 49 congregations were represented by 27 ministers and 15 lay-delegates. These were, of course, not all Swedes, some were Norwegians, and the meeting was held in a Norwegian church at Jefferson Prairie, near Clinton, Wis. Swedes and Norwegians were united in one synod, and hence the original and incorporated name of the organization was the Scandi- llt should be observed that althougli several ordained Lutheran clergymen from Sweden have, during the whole immigration period, settled in this country and become pastors of Swedish-American Lutheran churches, yet the Swedish Lutherans in America and Sweden have not been, nor are, officially connected with each other. But the Augustana Synod and the Lutheran church in Sweden have always been on the most friendly terms. The synod considers herself as a daughter of the mother church in Sweden, and is so regarded by her.— [Editor 220 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. navian Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod of North America; it was not until 1894 that the word "Scandinavian" was dropped. According to their own statistics of 1860, 49 congregations, with 4,967 communicants, and 27 clergymen united to form the Scandinavian Synod. Of these, 17 clergy- men, 36 congregations, and 3,747 communicants were Swedes. The union of the Swedes and Norwegians continued until 1870, when the latter, on account of the difference in thelanguages, withdrew and organized themselves into a sep- arate organization. This was considered a wise movement, and since that time a strong and zealous work has been car- ried on by the different Scandinavian Lutherans. The Augus- tana Synod has been a member of the General Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America^ from the beginning of the Council, which met in its first regular convention at Fort Wayne, Ind., Nov. 20-26, 1867. It is at present one of the largest synods belonging to the Council. From the very beginning the Swedish Lutherans have taken great interest in educational work. Every congrega- tion within the Augustana Synod endeavors to maintain good parochial schools and energetic Sunday schools. Higher education has received a hearty support, and the success and progress of the Augustana Synod in this country must be said to have depended in no little degree upon the early and great enthusiasm toward higher education, which made itself manifest among the Swedes. No sooner had the vener- able" fathers " of our synod, such men as Prof. L. P. Esbjorn, 2 The General Council, like the General Synod and similar organizations, is com- posed of several Lutheran synods which have united for the purpose of advising each other. The Council has no authority over the synods, congregations, or indi- viduals. — [Editor. THE SWEDISH LUTHERAN AUGUSTANA SYNOD. 221 Dr. T. N. Hasselquist, Dr. E. Carlson, Rev. Jonas Swenson, Dr. E. Norelius, etc., begun their church work, than they began to work for the establishment of colleges and schools. The people in the churches were ready and quick to respond. In 1860 the oldest and largest of the Swedish-American col- leges, Augustana College and Theological Seminary, was founded at Chicago; moved to Paxton, 111., in 1863, and permanently located at Rock Island, the same state, in 1875. In 18&2 Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn., was founded. Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kan., was founded in 1881. Since then several academies have been organized, namely: Luther Academy, Wahoo, Neb; Hope Academy, Moorhead, Minn. ; Emanuel Academy, Minneapolis, Minn.; and in 1893 two more were organized, namely, Martin Luther College, in Chicago, 111., and Upsala College, in Brooklyn, N. Y. All these institutions are annually attended by 1,500 students, have had a remarkable progress, and have developed themselves in all directions. The [property of these different institutions is estimated to be worth about $500,000. They have been a source of great blessing and in- fluence to the members of the Augustana Synod. The great- est number of the 450 ministers of the synod and many of the school teachers have received their training attheseinsti- tutions. Augustana College and Theological Seminary, how- ever, is the only college where a full theological training is given; it is also the only college dii-ectly controlled by the Au- gustana Synod. The other schools are managed, either by some conference within the synod, or byprivate corporations composed of Swedish Lutherans. In the work of education the synod has realized the 222 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. power and influence of the press. Dr. T. N. Hasselquist started in 1855 the first Swedish newspaper in America, a religious w^eekly, now called Augustana, which is today the largest Swedish weekly church-paper in the world. The synod publishes also Sunday school papers in the Swedish and English languages. The English papers published by the synod proves that the Augustana Synod is a'wake on the question of language. The Augustana Synod in America does not expect always to use the Swedish language. The time w^ill come when the English language will be commonly used in our churches, and even now most of the young men who enter the ministry have received such an education that they are able to preach in English as well as in Swedish. The aim of the synod is, therefore, to furnish the people with English preachers and Lutheran literature in English. The Lutheran Augustana Book Concern at Rock Island, under the supervision of the synod, is doing a grand and noble work in sending forth good Lutheran literature in the Swed- ish and English languages. In 1860 the first' Swedish Lutheran orphans' home in America was established by Dr. E. Norelius, in Vasa, Good- hue county, Minn. At present the sj-^nod supports six orph- ans' homes and three hospitals. The value of the property of these institutions is put at $350,000. At the orphans' homes 300 orphans are supported and educated annuallj-. A deaconess institute is also maintained at Omaha, Neb. The synod is at present divided into eight conferences, viz.: The Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, New York, Nebraska, California, and Columbia. Each conference car- ries on its special misssion work within its ow^n territory. THE SWEDISH LUTHERAN AUGUSTANA SYNOD. 223 The missionary work in territories outside the conferences is carried on by the synod through its general board of mis- sions. At present this board superintends the mission work in Utah, gives aid to churches in Florida, Maine, and on the Pacific Coast. The Church Extension Society has been organ- ized within the synod, the duty of which is to assist small and weak congregations in building churches. The aim of the mission has been to gather the thousands of Swedes in this country around the Word of God ; with this object in view, many large congregations have, during the 50 years past, been organized and maintained. The synod also supports a special immigrant mission in New York City. In Chicago the immigrant mission is carried on by the Illinois con- ference. Since the organization of the synod numerous churches have been organized so that Augustana Synod churches are today to be found in almost every state and territory w^ithin the United States and in different parts of Canada. The synod, according to the statistics of the year ending 1899, numbers about 900 congregations, with 200,000 members, of which 115,000 are communicant members. The value of thechurch property ow^ned by these churches is by a moderate estimate considered to be $4,200,000, and it may safely be said that during the past 40 years the people of the Augustana Synod have used no less than $12,000,000 in building and support- ing churches and carrying on missionary work. Adding then thereto the amounts raised for schools, colleges, the theologi- cal seminary, orphans' homes, and hospitals, it becomes clear to every unbiased observer that the Augustana Synod has shown itself as an active and wide awake institution, well 224 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. deserving the confidence of the Swedes in America and the love of all Christian people. The synod has always without fear and with fervent de- votion defended the pure Lutheranism in theory and prac- tice, planted itself on the foundation of a pure Gospel as set forth in the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, has carefully guarded the pulpit and the altar, has taken a firm stand against secret societies and questionable practises, and has as a result, without doubt, made some enemies ; yet, by the blessing of God, the synod has carried on a noble and success- ful work and is today, by far, the leading and most influen- tial religious body among the Swedes of America. The history of the Augustana Synod during the past forty years shows what can be done by a united effort. The Swedish Lutherans have been a unit from the beginning. No strifes and contentions of any serious nature have existed among the people. The members of the synod have been surrounded by God's favor and united in a true faith, zeal- ously doing their work with a sacrificing love. The synod has had a glorious past but it expects a more glorious future. Long live the Augustana Synod ! Historical Review of tlie United Norwegian Lutlieran Cliurcli of America. —BY — KNUTE GJERSET, Ph. D. The higlier unity of soul and spirit did not exist among the Norwegian Lutherans at the time the immigration to America commenced, a fact for which we have the best evi- dence in the movement originated by Hauge. The church of Norway was itself in the throes of a bitter conflict between two widely different tendencies, which, when they were transferred to American soil, only assumed more definite shape and expression. These tendencies merit a brief atten- tion, since they have had such marked effects upon the reli- gious life of the Norwegian people in America. Hans Nilsen Hauge was a poor, but talented and pious country lad, springing from the yeomanry of Norway. Through pure reHgious zeal he began to preach to the people of the neighborhood, not any new doctrine, but the teach- ings of the state church. His voice was raised against the godlessness and unbelief which had seized both clergy and 225-7 22S HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. lay people by the introduction of rationalism. He de- nounced the worldliness and extravagance of the ministers of the state church, and urged the people to repent. A re- vival movement sprang up, which soon spread over the en- tire country. A strong religious zeal, which was often mis- taken for fanaticism, characterized the followers of Hauge. They forbade the wearing of any ornaments. Even works of art in the home were classed among the vanities. They held that any one who felt an inner calling had a right to preach, without any regulation or interference by thechurch. In severity of life, as well as in religious practice, they much resembled the Puritans in England. Even after a reaction against rationalism had begun in the state church, and the ministers within it were characterized by zeal and devotion in Christian life, as well as by purity of doctrine, this move- ment went on. The state church, however, which looked upon the movement as a revolt against its authority, now tried to put a stop to it. Hauge was imprisoned and his fol- lowers suffered many hardships. But this procedure only increased the bitterness of the struggle and put new hin- drances in the way of understanding and reconciliation. "When the two parties met on American soil, where there was no compulsion or pressure, the chasm which divided them merely widened. EUing Eielsen, who arrived in this country in 1839, was the first preacher of the Gospel to the Norwe- gian settlers. Eielsen was a faithful disciple of Hauge, and already in 1846 he and his followers organized what they called The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the first church organization among the Norwegians in this country. As emigration continued to increase, several ordained minis- THE UNITED NORWEGIAN LUTHERAN CHURCH. 229 ters came over. They attempted to come to an understand- ing with Elling, and several meetings were held for the pur- pose, but no results could be reached. The old differences soon made themselves manifest. The entirely different views in regard to church life, as well as to internal and external church organization, represented by the two parties, made it impossible for them to come to an agreement. Moreover, the differences in education, in mode of life, and in general training of the representatives of the two tendencies, also laid hindrances in the way, as they found it difficult, much on that account, to really understand and appreciate even each others better qualities. Union was, of course, impossible. The ministers who came from Norway then organized the Norwegian Lutheran Synod in 1853. But everything did not work smoothly in the Evangel- ical Lutheran Church in America, established by Elling Eiel- sen and his followers. Elling conspicuously lacked all talents of an organizer. The constitution which they had adopted was deficient in many important respects, so that there w^as often no real connection between the congregations. Dissatisfaction with the condition of things was general, and Elling, who was pre-eminently an evangelist, was unable to remedy it. Consequently the clergymen, Paul Anderson and Ole Andrewson,left Elling's church and effected a temporary union with the Frankean Lutheran Synodof New York, until a Norwegian synod could be organized in the West. After a short time these ministers again left the Frankean Synod and joined the Northern Illinois Synod with which they were con- nected till 1860. To this synod belonged also a number of Swedish ministers and congregations. On the 5th of June 230 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. of the last named year the clergymen, Paul Anderson, Ole Andrewson, 0. J. Hatlestad, and others, Norwegians; and Hasselquist, Carlson, Esbjorn, and others, Swedes, met on Jefferson Prairie to consider the organization of a Scandi- navian synod. The Scandinavian ministers and congrega- tions in the Northern Illinois Synod now left that church and organized the Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Au- gustana Synod, consisting of both Swedish and Norwegian ministers and congregations. According to their own statis- tics of 1861, 60 congregations, with 5,600 communicant members, and 32 clergymen belonged to the new body. Of these, 11 clergymen, 17 congregations, and 1,400 com- municants were Norwegians. The synod erected a school for educating young men for the ministry, at Paxton, 111. This school, which consisted of both a theological and a col- legiate department, had for some time only two professors, and was financially largely supported by the people of Swe- den. The synod grew rapidly, and it was found necessary to have a Norwegian professor at Paxton. A call was extended to Rev. A. Weenaas, of Norway, who accepted, and entered upon his duties as professor of theology in the seminary at Paxton in 1868. Weenaas, however, soon grew dissatisfied with his new surroundings and urged upon the Norwegians to erect a school of their own. In 1869 the Norwegian wing of the Scandinavian Lutheran Augustana Synod, following the wish of Prof. Weenaas, bought a school building at Mar- shal, Wis., where work was begun in the fall, with Prof. Weenaas as president, and the Norwegian students who now moved thither from Paxton. The difference in language had always been a serious THE UNITED NORWEGIAN LUTHERAN CHURCH. 231 diiEculty within the synod, and in 1870 it w^as thought best, on account of this difficulty, for the Norwegians and Swedes to separate. The Norwegians then withdrew and organized the Norwegian-Danish Augustana Synod, while the Swedish branch of the old synod continued under the old name. The two organizations, however, were on the friend- liest of terms, and promised to co-operate and aid each other as far as possible. Shortly after the Norwegian-Danish Au- gustana Synod was organized, certain leading professors and ministers within it began to negotiate a union with Rev. C. L. Clausen, who a few j'ears previous, with the congre- gations in his charge, had left the Norwegian Synod, because of the controversy regarding slavery, or the condition of life servitude. In order to effect this union with Clausen, and his, at that time, quite large congregations, a few ministers and lay delegates at a meeting in St. Ansgar, Iowa, resolved, without asking the congregations, to dissolve the Norwe- gian-Danish Augustana Synod and reorganize it under a new- name. A new organization was effected, called The Norwe- gian-Danish Evangelical Lutheran Conference, of which Rev. C. L. Clausen was elected president. But this action was not favorably received by all the people of the Norwegian- Danish Augustana Synod. At a church meeting on Jefferson Prairie in the fall of the same year the synod declared the St. Ansgar resolutions null and void. This led to a division of the synod ; about half of the congregations and their minis- ters leaving it and joining the Conference. Among those who thus seceded from the Augustana Synod was also Prof. Weenaas, of the seminary at Marshall, together with a ma- jority of the students. This was a hard blow to the Augus- 232 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. tana Synod. There was a heavy debt on the school build- ing ; Prof. Weenaas and the students were gone, besides so many of the congregations whose financial aid had been counted on. The school at Marshall was now^ able to con- tinue work only in the academic department. This, however, w^as of no direct benefit to the synod, and involved consider- able expense ; consequently attempts were again made to put the school into condition for educating ministers. Rev. D. Lysnes w^as chosen professor and president, and w^ith his arrival a new epoch began in the history of the school. The theological department again resumed its work ; the number of students increased rapidly, and the debt on the school buildings was paid. In 1881 the school was moved to Beloit, lowa.w^here 20 acres of land and commodious buildings had been secured. The college department was afterward moved to Canton, S. D., where buildings to the amount of $8,000 were provided. The growth of the synod, however, owing to repeated discouragements, continued to be slow. Accord- ing to statistics it comprised, in 1887, 30 ministers, 90 con- gregations, and 3,500 communicant members. After the organization of the Conference the school at Marshall w^as divided, so that the Conference got the theo- logical department, and the Augustana Synod retained the academic department. The theological department was re- organized by the Conference in 1871 into what is now Augs- burg Seminary, of which Prof. Weenaas became president. It was moved to Minneapolis, Minn., in 1872. The following year Sven Oftedal, from Norway, became professor at the seminary, and in 1874 Georg Sverdrup, who two years later became its president, arrived. The whole subsequent history THE UNITED NORWEGIAN LUTHERAN CHURCH. 233 of the institution is closely connected with the energetic ef- forts of these two men. The seminary was badly in debt till 1877, when Prof Oftedal organized committees throughout the congregations of the Conference, who by personal solici- tations raised the sum of $18,000, which was more than enough to liquidate the existing debt. The seminary has been constantly growing, in extent and thoroughness of the courses of study, as well as in numerical strength. The course of study for ministers is no-w five years preparatory work, and three years theological training. In 1891 the seminary had 10 professors and instructors, and 188 students in at- tendance. The property, including, besides the seminary build- ings, also a dormitory and professor's residence, and the block on w^hich they stand, is valued at $150,000. The Con- ference w^as, undoubtedly, better financially situated than any of the other Norwegian Lutheran bodies. It was without debts, and had large funds at its disposal. It enjoyed a steady growth, and exhibited a remarkable vigor in church life. According to statistics the Conference had, in the year 1887, 101 clergymen, 383 congregations, and 30,000 com- municant members. In 1880 a new church controversy broke out, this time within the Norwegian Synod itself, more serious in character than any of the preceeding. The controversy first arose in the Missouri Synod between Dr. C. F. W. Walther, of the theological seminary, at St. Louis, Mo., and Dr. F. A. Schmidt, of the theological seminary, at Madison, Wis., re- garding the doctrine of election and predestination. The con- troversy, involving very fundamental tenets of the Lutheran faith, soon found its way into the Norwegian Synod, which 234 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. for a number of years had been friendly related to the Mis- souri Synod. From year to year the struggle grew more in- tense, inYolving not onlytlie ministers, but also the lay people in the contest. Discussions were held throughout the Synod at private conferences, and at the yearly synodical meetings, but no agreement was reached. At a church meeting held in Decorah, Iowa, in 1884, each party drafted a statement of their position in the controversy. Redegjorelsexi (The Ex- planation) of the Missourians, as the followers of Dr. Walther were called, was signed by 107 ministers. Bekjen- delsen (The Confession) of the Anti-Missourians, as Dr. Schmidt's followers were called, was signed by 72 ministers, which number was afterward increased to 97. Dr. Schmidt and his followers, who considered the difference in the doc- trine of the two contending parties a fundamental one, now established a theological seminary of their own at North- field, Minn., and hereworkwas begun in the fall of 1886 with Dr. Schmidt and Prof. Bockman as theological professors. This step, however, was not tolerated by the Synod. At the next joint synodical meeting held in Stoughton, Wis., it was condemned as an act of secession and a virtual separation. The Anti-Missourians, however, claimed a right to continue the seminary, and 57 of their ministers signed a protest against the resolutions passed upon them by the meeting, and seceded from the Synod. This step was soon followed by a large number of congregations. According to reliable reports about 100 ministers and over one-third of the con- gregations left the Norwegian Synod. These ministers and congregations did not, however, de- sire to organize themselves into a new permanent church THE UNITED NORWEGIAN LUTHERAN CHURCH. 235 denomination, which would constitute the sixth distinct body among the Norwegian Ltitherans in America. They met in Northfield, Minn., in 1886, and effected a temporary organiza- tion, known as The Anti-Missourian Brotherhood, of which Rev. L. M. Biom was elected president. It was their pur- pose and hope to bring about a union with the other Norwe- gian Lutheran churches, as soon as possible. For this pur- pose a series of Fri-Konferenser, or conferences for a general consideration of the subjects w^hich divided them, ■were held, in which all the bodies belonging to the Norwegian Lutheran church in this country took part. Six of these conferences were held during the years preceeding and following the organ- ization of the Anti-Missourian Brotherhood; in Roland, Iowa, 1882; Holden, Minn., 1883; St. Ansgar, Iowa, 1884; Chi- cago, 111., 1885; Gol, Minn., 1886, and in Willmar, Minn., 1887. These conferences, where discussion was thorough and earnest, and conducted in a brotherly spirit, helped the different parties to come to a better understanding of each others true position, and were largely instrumental in bring- ing about the union which was soon afterwards effected. The first meeting for the purpose of considering the possi- bility of union was held by the Anti-Missourians in Minne- apolis in February, 1888. Another meeting for the same pur- pose was held by all the parties, in Scandinavia, Wis., in November, of the same j'car. At the meeting in Scandinavia the articles of union were adopted for the first time by the denominations which afterward united. They were then submitted for consideration to the congregations, and to each of the organizations in particular. They were approved of by all, not a single congregation raising any objections to 236 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. the stipulations made. At this same meeting Opgjor (Settle- ment) -was also made in regard to the various doctrinal con- troversies which from time to time had been carried on among the Norwegian Lutherans in America, and an agree- ment was reached concerning the points in dispute. In the early part of June, 1890, the three organizations. The Norwegian-Danish Conference, The Norwegian Augustana Synod, and The Anti-Missourian Brotherhood, held a meet- ing in Minneapolis for again to consider the subject of union. At first the organizations held separate meetings. But a strong sentiment in favor of union soon became predomi- nant. They v^ere all tired of the bitter controversies which for so many years had divided into hostile camps those that ought to stand united. On the 13th the delegates, minis- ters, and professors of the three organizations met in the old Trinity Church, belonging to the Conference, but as this structure was too small to hold the large assembly, they formed in procession and proceeded to the church belonging to the Swedish Augustana Synod, where they organized themselves into The United Norwegian Lutheran Church in America. The articles of union, adopted at the meeting in Scandinavia, Wis., and sanctioned by all the congregations, and by each of the organizations separately, were made the basis of the union. Some of the stipulations in these articles are as follows : "In order that the contracting parties can organize them- selves into a church, they jointly and separately agree to the following stipulations : "1. The church shall erect and operate one theological seminary. THE UNITED NORWEGIAN LUTHERAN CHURCH. 237 "2. This seminary shall be Augsburg Seminary, in Minneapolis. "3. The professors at this seminary shall be paid by the interest from a fund. (a) The Augustana Synod shall contribute a fund of $15,000. (fe) The Conference shall contribute a fund of $50,000. (c) The Anti-Missourians shall contribute a fund of $50,000. (d) The fund is to consist of cash, or notes drawing in- terest, or other safe property. "4. At said seminary there shall be 5 theological pro- fessors. (a) The Anti-Missourians shall employ two theological professors. (fo) The Augustana Synod shall employ one theological professor. (c) The Conference shall employ two theological pro- fessors. "5. The constitution for said seminary shall be drawn tip as soon as the union is effected. " 6. Theological students already admitted to the theo- logical seminaries of the different organizations shall by ■virtue of this admission be entitled to admission in the new theological seminary. "7. The church shall be incorporated as soon as pos- sible. "8. To this church shall be transferred all school prop- erty — as well real estate as funds — which said organizations may be in possession of, at the time of union. 238 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. "9. This real estate shall, when it is transferred to the church, be free fi-om debt. " 10. The preparatory departments at Augsburg Semi- nary, and at Canton Academy, shall be operated as usual, at least one year after the union is effected. InBeloit, lo-wa, the school shall also continue at least one year after the union is effected. "23. The board of trustees for the respective organiza- tions, such as they have previously been elected by said or- ganizations, shall continue in their office, after the union is effected, until the new church is incorporated, when they shall immediately deed all property, w^hich they hold as board of trustees, to the new corporation." The part of the contract relating to the transfer of pro- perty was fulfilled in due time by the Augustana Synod and the Brotherhood ; but Augsburg Seminary, held in trust by its board of trustees, was never transferred according to article eight above.* Within a year after the organization of the United Church a number of newspaper articles began to create a feeling of distrust among the people, and Augs- burg Seminary and St. Olaf College were pitted against each other as rival institutions by their most devoted patrons. It was also contended that the United Church had violated the stipulations of its organization bypassing the following resolution a couple of days after the date of its origin : "St. Olaf College at Northfield shall be the college of the United Norwegian Lutheran Church." Resolutions of a similar na- ture were also passed at the annual meeting in 1891, while the college department of Augsburg Seminary was to be * See the articles oq the schools and the churches in Minnesota. THE UNITED NORWEGIAN LUTHERAN CHURCH. 239 maintained "for the time being." This only made the Augs- burg faction the less inclined to transfer the property, their stock arguments being, in a nutshell, about as follows: " The founders of Augsburg Seminary intended it to be a theo- logical seminary and a college combined under our board. If it is transferred to the United Church, the college depart- ment may be dropped. But that would be contrary to the intention of the founders of the institution : therefore it ought not to be transferred to the United Church." Prof S. Oftedal, the president of the board, for a long time also con- tended that the property could not be legally transferred. In this controversy Oftedal was frequently characterized as one w^ho w^anted to keep property to which he had no rights ; while he and his followers made the countercharge that the United Church intended to violate the agreement on which that association was based. The feeling engendered by this contention w^axed quite bitter during the years 1890-93, and w^hen the United Church, at its annual meeting in 1893; decided to abandon the Augsburg buildings in case the pro- perty was not deeded over to the United Church in the sum- mer of that year, there was nothing left but to fight to the bitter end. The United Church "removed" its school, thenceforth called the United Church Seminary, from the Augsburg buildings to rented quarters ; the Augsburg Pub- lishing House was wrested from the board of trustees of Augsburg Seminary in the spring of 1894, by means of recourse to the courts ; legal proceedings were begun in 1896 for the recovery of the Augsburg property ; in the fall of 1897 the district court handed down a decision which was favorable to the United Church ; in the spring of 1898 this 240 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE V. S. decision was quashed by the state supreme court; the United Church took steps to have the case tried in the court of eqidty ; but in the summer of 1898 the matter was settled out of court by mutual agreement. The main stiptdations of this agreement w^ere that the United Church should have the endow^ment fiind, nominally amounting to about $39,- 000 ; and that no more efforts should be made to dislodge the old board of trustees of Augsburg Seminary. Thus ended one of the most memorable struggles in the history of the Norwegian Lutheran churches in America. The lawyers' fees and other expenses directly connected with the law suit to recover the Augsburg property entailed a total outlay of $11,000 on the part of the United Church. It is easy to appreciate this loss, because it may be expressed in dollars and cents. But it is not so easy to estimate the mental suffering and moral injury caused by the so-called " Augsburg Strife ; " and much of the good work done in the United Church during the years 1893-98 was marred by this strife. But no reflection ought to be cast upon the sincerity of the participants, for they believed they were struggling for a good cause, the one party as well as the other. From 1893 to 1898 the Augsburg faction in the United Church w^as bent on antagonizing the work of the latter at every point. But the real friends of the United Church, con- sisting of the people from the Brotherhood, the Augustana Synod and most of the Conference congregations in Iowa, Wisconsin and southern Minnesota — were equal to the occa- sion. The United Church was never seriously hampered by lack of funds. The treasurer reported to the annual meeting in 1898 : " We asked for $13,388 for general expenses, and THE UNITED NORWEGIAN LUTHERAN CHURCH. 241 we received $14,971.55." On Jan. 1, 1897, a dozen congre- gations were formally expelled, and a number of others with- * drew of their own accord. The whole number of churches served by the 330 minis- ters who were connected with the United Church in 1900 was 1,100. These churches embraced about 225,000 souls, of whom 125,000 were communicant members. But the whole number of congregations formally belonging was only about 750, which had 100,000 communicant members and 185,000 souls. The reports of the parochial schools showed that on the average almost 30 days were taught in each congregation. The finances were in a healthy condition. The value of the church and school property directly or in- directly controlled by the organization may be put at about $4,000,000. The Augsburg Publishing House issued about 120,000 books, tracts and other items. Latheraneren and Latb- ersk Bbrneblad had a combined circulation of 26,000. In 1899 the United Church owned and controlled a theo- logical seminary, located in Minneapolis, Minn.; St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn.; Augustana College, Canton, S.D.; a normal school at Madison, Minn.; and an orphans' home at Beloit, Iowa. The institutions mentioned below were either wholly or partly supported by members of the United Church, and several of them were officially connected with that body: Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn.; St. Ans- gar Seminary, St. Ansgar, la.; Mount Horeb Academy, Mount Horeb, Wis.; Scandinavia Academy, Scandinavia, Wis.; Pleasant View Lutheran College, Ottawa, 111.; a dea- conesses' institute in Chicago ; orphans' homes at Lake Park, 242 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. Minn., in Chicago, 111., and at Wittenberg, Wis.; and hospi- tals at Austin, Crookston and Zumbrota, Minn, Steps have been taken to establish a home for aged people, and to put up new buildings for the theological seminary in or near the Twin Cities. Missionary work was carried on at several places in southern Madagascar ; but since the French took possession of that island the Catholics have somewhat hampered the efforts of the Norwegians. Members of the United Church also contributed quite liberally to the different missions in Asia. The Augsburg controversy and the withdrav/al of the Free Church element subjected the United Church to a great strain. But its honest supporters only rallied the more energetically to her support. At this stage it seems reason- able to anticipate that a body which could not be crippled by passing through such a crisis wiU be fully able to weather the storms that may rise on her future course, and whatever may happen in the fiature, the organization of the United Church is the grandest attempt ever made by Norwegiau- Americans to neutralize the spirit of religious discord and disintegration among them. Pages 238-42 were TewrittoD tor the ssoond edition by J. J. Skordalirold,— XorroB. Statistics Regarding the Scandinavians in the United States. O. N. NELSON. Some one has said that figures never lie. But certainly different statistics on the same subject disagree very much, at least that is the case in regard to the reports of immigra- tion and emigration, by the governments of the United States and the Scandinavian countries. Therefore, I publish, in tables I. and II., all the statistics regarding the Scandinavian immigration and emigration which I have been able to se- cure. Everything in the United States census which refers to the Scandinavian-Amerians has been compiled in convenient tables, or, when such an arrangement was impossible, the facts have been stated in this article. But the figures, as given in immigration and emigration reports and in the census, are not altogether correct — far from it — but they are, after all, the nearest approach to the truth which can be had. And if anj' portion of this book de- serves to be studied, it is, perhaps, the following tables ; thej', for example, contain a good history of the great Scandi- f243) 244. HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. navian movements toward the Northwest ; they show the proportion of Scandinavian paupers, criminals, idiots, etc., in comparison with other nationalities. In my opinion, hovsr- ever, the Scandinavian statistics, as far as they go, in regard to the Northern immigration into this country, are more re- liable than those of the United States. The United States statistics regarding immigration com- menced in 1820. From the close of the Revolutionary War up to 1820 it is estimated that 250,000 immigrants arrived, although the accurate number is not known. BetAveen the years of 1820-68 only the arrival of alien passengers were indicated, no distinction being made between the real immi- grants and transient sojourners, but it is estimated that 98 per cent of all the alien passengers remained in this country. Prior to 1868 there vv^as no distinction made between the immigrants from Sweden and Norway ; both countries were considered as one. Since 1869 the sex of the immigrants has been recorded by the United States; since 1873, the age; since 1875, the occupation. Immigrants from the British North American possessions and Mexico, comprising about one per cent of the entire immigration into the country, are not included in the United States statistics, from 1885 to 1893 owing to the absence of law providing for the collec- tion of accurate data in regard thereto. The minister of agri- culture of the Dominion of Canada reports that during the years of 1885-91 over 500,000 European emigrants arrived at Canadian ports en route for the United States. Of course a large proportion of these immigrants were Scandinavians, but their exact number cannot be ascertained. It was not until 1869 that there was a law in Norway STATISTICS REGARDING SCANDINAVIAN-AMERICANS. 245 which required the taking of accurate data in regard to Nor- wegian emigration. But from various sources the Norwegian government has secured and published facts in regard to the whole emigration, which, although not very correct, yet on the whole are, perhaps, more reliable than those published by the United States. The Norwegian statistics state that the American statistics in regard to the Norwegian immigration, prior to 1868, are very inaccurate. The Swedish statistics of emigration date from 1851. In a letter from the statistical bureau of Sweden it is stated that the figures regarding the Swedish emigration to this country are too lowup to the year of 1884, and whenever the American statistics are lower, they are still more inaccurate. Since 1884 the Swredish statistics are comparatively correct. While in latter years, even before 1884, the American reports regarding the Swedish immigration are too high, owing to the fact that many thousand Finns, who pass over Gothen- burg, are recorded as Swedes. But it must also be remem- bered that several persons who live in Finland are Swedes by race, and still more so by education and by language. The Danish statistics regarding emigration began in 1869. According to the United States statistics, there have ar- rived from 1820-90 over 15,000,000 immigrants to this country. Most of them have, of course, come from Europe. For example, Germany has supplied about 4,500,000, Ireland 3,500,000, England 2,500,000, the Scandinavian countries 1,250,000, and the immigrants from no other single country have exceeded 500,000. Taking into consideration those who have been omitted from the official reports, it is fair to 246 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. estimate that 1,500,000 Scandinavians have settled in the United States since the country began to be colonized, up to 1900 The Scandinavian emigration began very late. The Nor- ^vegian, which is the earliest, did not exceed 1,000 a year until 1843, the Swedish not until 1852, and the Danish not until 1857. The Scandinavian immigration reached its max- imum in 1882, when nearly 65,000 Swedes, 30,000 Norwe- gians, and 12,000 Danes arrived in this countrj'. Since then the emigration from all Northern countries has declined. From 1821-90 the Scandinavian emigrants constituted seven per cent of the total immigration. Sixty -two per cent of the Northern emigrants are male, 65 per cent arrive between the ages of 15 and 40, 24 per cent are children under 15, and 11 per cent are over 40 years of age. During the years 1881-90, one person out of 5,914 was a clergyman, one out of every 5,083 a musician, one out of 7,236 a physician and surgeon, and one out of 3,034 a teacher — in other w^ords, only one out of 1,017 had a profession, while one out of 12 was a skilled laborer, and one-half of the Scandinavian emigrants were either farmers, common laborers, merchants, or serv- ants. ' Nor is there any reason to assume that they change their occupations a great deal when they arrive in this country, for, according to the United States census of 1870, 1880, 1890, 25 per cent of the Scandinavian-born population were en- gaged in agriculture, and 50 per cent labored at what -was called "All classes of work." It is a notable fact that one out of every four Scandinavian engages in agriculture, while onlj^ one out of six of the native Americans, one out STATISTICS REGARDING SCANDINAVIAN-AMERICANS. 247 of seven of the Germans, and one out of twelve of the Irish, follow the same profession. In 1890 only 32 per cent of the Swedes, 23 per cent of the Danes, and 21 per cent of the Norwegians, in this coun- try lived in cities of over 25,000 inhabitants. When the first census of the United States was taken, in 1790, there were about four millions of people in the country ; in 1830 the population exceeded three times that amount. It was not until 1850 that the foreign elements were taken into account by the census reports. In that year one out of every 1,200 persons was a Scandinavian ; in 1860, one out of 435; in 1870, one out of 160; in 1880, one out of 114; and in 1890, one out of 66. But until recently the census did not take into account the children born in this country of Scandinavian parents. In 1880,* however, it was estimated that 635,405 persons in this country, bom anywhere in the world, had Scandinavian fathers, but about four thousand less had Scandinavian mothers — these two sums must not be added together, because most of the Scandinavian men and w^omen have married among their own nationalities. About 84 persons out of 100 have both Scandinavian fathers and mothers, 86 have both German fathers and mothers, and 91 have both Irish fathers and mothers. The fact that the Scandinavians inter-marry more frequently with other nationalities than either the Germans or the Irish, although less with native Americans, must have a powerful effect in Americanizing the former more quickly than the latter. In 1880 there were 440,262 Scandinavian-bom persons in this country ; adding these to those of Scandinavian parent- age bom in the U. S. must equal 1,000,000. But this re- * The cansas balletin enumerating the persons of Scandinavian parentage in the United States for 1890, did not appear nntil the latter part of 1891, and the result of said report has been tabulated on page 264< 248 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. suit is, virtually, also obtained by multiplying 440,262 by 2%. Therefore, if anyone desires to ascertain the exact num- ber of Scandinavians and their children, in proportion to the total population, of any year, state, territory, or city, he can multiply the figures — as found in tables III., IV., V., VI , VII. and VIII., in this volume — by 2V^. But the census re- ports are far from being correct, they omit many persons of all nationalities, and frequently confound foreigners as well as natives ; but, as a general thing, they fall below and not above the real number. And, without doubt, the nearest approach to the truth in regard to the number of Danes, Norwegians, Swedes, and their children, in this country, can be had by multiplying the Scandinavian-bom — as recorded in the United States census for each year, and in each state, territory, and city — by 3. According to this method of calculation, one person out of every 25 in the United States was, in 1890, a Scandinavian, either by birth, or by parentage. It is, perhaps, a conserva- tive estimate to assume that there are, in 1900, three millions of Northmen in this country. In several of the Northwestern states they are the controlling power. Two-fifths of the total population in Minnesota are Scandinavians. There are in this country about one-fifth as many Danes as in Denmark, one-third as many Swedes as in Sweden, and one-half as many Norwegians as in Norway. The United States statistics in regard to the defective population in the country, by nationalities, are very incom- plete. In 1870, however, one out of every 670 of the Irish in this country was either deaf and dumb, or blind ; one out of 962 of bhe French; one out of 980 of the English; one out STATISTICS REGARDING SCANDINAVIAN-AMERICANS. 249 of 1,033 of the natiYe-born Americans; one out of 1,142 of the British-Americans ; one out of 1,480 of the Germans ; and one out of 1,810 of the Scandinavians. In thesame year one in 197 of the Irish was insane or idiotic, one in 380 of the French, one in 465 of the Germans, one in 584 of the English, one in 672 of the native-born Americans, one in 682 of the Scandinavians, and one in 1,075 of the British-Ameri- cans. In 1880, 1 in 165 of the Spaniards was a prisoner, 1 in 199 of the Chinese, 1 in 207 of the Mexicans, 1 in 2G0 of the Italians, 1 in 350 of the Irish, 1 in 411 of the Scotch, 1 in 433 of the French, 1 in 456 of the English, 1 in 590 of the British- Americans, 1 in 813 of the Portugese, 1 in 916 of the Rus- sians, 1 in 949 of the native-born Americans and Germans, 1 in 1,033 of the Poles, 1 in 1,173 of the Welsh, 1 in 1,195 of the Belgians, 1 in 1,231 of the Swiss, 1 in 1,383 of the Hollanders, and 1 in 1,539 of the Scandinavians. The census of 1890, in regard to the defective classes, is very faulty. Yet it appears that one in 132 of the Irish in this country was a pauper, one in 356 of the Germans, one in 387 of the English, one in 690 of the Bohemians, one in 792 of the Scandinavians, and one in 974 of the British- Americans.* Considering the excellent record of the Scandinavians in regard to crimes and pauperism, the readiness with which they take to farming and become Americanized, the com- mendable educational and religious training they have re- ceived in the North, and it is no wonder that they are by American economists considered to be the best immigrants. *For a complete discussion of criminality and insanity see pp. 1-22, Vol. II. 250 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. About 50 per cent of the Scandinavian emigrants arrive by prepaid passage tickets secured by relatives here. During each year between 1890 and 1900, the postal money orders issued in the United States, payable in the Scandinavian countries, amounted to about $2,250,000, and it is estimated that something like $6,500,000 besides was in one year sent to the North through banks and by other means. During the same period only about $500,000 was annually sent from the North to the United States by means of postal money orders. Of course, part of these sums were settle- ments for business transactions ; yet the United States post- office reports assert that the excess noted is mainly due to the fact that the immigrants contribute liberally to the sup- port of their friends across the ocean. It is impossible, however, to arrive at anything like a correct conclusion in regard to w^hat amount of w^ealth in the shape of presents, prepaid passage tickets, and actual cash which Scandinavian-Americans have transferred from the United States to the North. Smith, in his excellent book, Emigration and Immigration, estimates that each immi- grant sends to his native country $35, and from 1820-99, according to the United States statistics, not far from 1,500,- 000 Northmen have settled in this country. If each of them returned $35, the total sum transferred would amount to $52,500,000. Each immigrant, however, brings with him a certain sum, which Smith estimates to average from $68 to $100 ; but no accurate statistics on this subject have ever been published. "It costs," to quote the same authority, "about $562.50 to bring up a child in Europe till STATISTICS REGARDING SCANDINAVIAN-AMERICANS. 251 15 years of age, and twice that amount in the United States. But this estimate does not mean the real value of men ; they are not valued in dollars and cents. But every immigrant must represent labor capacity, worth at least the value of a slave, which was $800 or $1,000 before the war, but being a free man he may not choose to work. But it is figured that each immigrant is worth $875." Assuming that each Scan- dinavian immigrant has brought $75, which added to $875, the value of his labor capacitj^, amounts to $950, and multi- plying this by the whole number of immigrants, we find that the Scandinavian countries have sent — or rather permitted to be transfered — to the United States one billion four hun- dred and fiftymillion dollars (1,450,000,000) worth of prop- erty in the form of human beings and what valuables these have brought with them. Even subtracting the $52,500,000, which have been returned in the shape of prepaid tickets, presents, and cash, it yet leaves the United States in a debt of $l,397,500,000.to the Scandinavian countries.* The different Scandinavian churches in this country have always exercised a great influence. But it is impossible in this article to give very elaborate statistics in regard to them; nor is it necessary, because this volume contains his- torical sketches of several of the leading Scandinavian- Ameri- can church organizations, and each of these sketches deals more or less with the statistics of each denomination. Table X., however, contains some facts in regard to the Scandi- navian churches in this country. These facts have mostly been gathered from their own published reports, but in a few cases from the United States census of 1890 ; and, although they are incomplete, and in some cases inaccurate, they are ♦According to the immigration report of 1898. the Scandinavian immigrants, who in wealth averaged more than the total Earopean immigrants, had only $20 each. 252 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. unquestionably a fair estimate of the strength of the Scandi- navian-American churches. Of course, there are other Scan- dinavian church organizations in this country, besides those enumerated in table X. ; but they are small, their union gen- erally loose, and I have been unable to secure any data in regard to them. But I doubt if any one of the church or- ganizations "which have been omitted in table X. exceeds 1,000 in membership. Yet there are a great number of Scan- dinavian churches which are independent, and not connected with any synod, or general organization of several churches; besides, many Scandinavians are members of purely American churches ; and it is, perhaps, fair to assume that one-half, or at least one-third, of the Scandinavian-Americans are mem- bers of some religious society. During the last fifty years the Scandinavian churches in this country have, no doubt, ex- pended for religious, educational, and charitable purposes, between fifty and one hundred million dollars. Besides the churches, there are in this country many Scandinavian tem- perance, benevolent, and secret organizations, which have ex- ercised quite an influence, but it has been impossible to secure any statistics in regard to them. It is a notable fact that, although the Swedish population, first and second genera- tions, in this country, exceed, in 1900, the Norwegian by 130,000, yet the different Norwegian-American church or- ganizations have at least 50,000 more communicant mem- bers than the Swedish. Strange as it may seem, the various church strifes among the Norwegians appear to have been the main cause of this great difference, because there is no reason to assume that the Swedish people are less religious than the Norwegian. STATISTICS REGARDING SCANDINAVIAN-AMERICANS. 253 TABLE I. Showing the number of Scandinavian passengers and immigrants, togkther WITH THE total NUMBER OF ALL ALIEN PASSENGERS AND IMMIGRANTS, ARRIVED IN THE United States during each year from 1820-68. Passengers And immigrants — According to the statis- tics OP THE United States. Emigrants— Accord- ing TO THE statis- tics OP THE Scan. NAVIAN COUNTRIES. Year. Denmark. Sweden and Norway. Total Scandi- navians. Total Aliens. Norway. Sweden. 1820 20 12 18 6 11 14 10 15 50 17 16 189 23 21 173 24 37 416 109 52 56 152 1,063 31 35 29 ■a5 54 114 13 210 8 20 539 14 3 32 691 528 173 1,035 252 499 542 3,749 234 1,658 1,492 712 1,149 1,862 1,436 819 9,363 3 12 10 1 9 4 16 13 10 13 3 94 13 313 16 42 31 57 250 60 324 55 1,161 195 553 1,748 1,311 928 1,916 1,307 903 3,473 1,569 13,903 2,424 4,103 3,364 3,531 821 1,157 1,712 2,430 1,091 298 20,931 616 892 1,627 2,249 6,109 12,633 7,055 11,166 43,357 23 24 28 7 20 IS 26 28 60 30 19 383 36 334 189 66 68 473 359 112 380 207 3,324 226 588 1,777 1,336 982 2,030 1,320 1,113 3,481 1,589 14,443 2,438 4,306 3,396 4,223 1,349 1,330 2,747 2,682 1,590 840 34,700 850 2,550 3,119 2,961 7,258 14,495 8,491 11,985 51,619 8,385 9,127 6,911 6,354 7,912 10,199 10,837 18,875 27,382 22,520 23,322 153,034 22,633 60,481 58,640 65,365 45.574 76,242 79,340 38,914 68.069 84,066 599,134 80,289 104,565 52,496 78,615 114,371 154,416 234.968 226,527 297,024 369,980 1,713,351 379,466 371,603 368,645 427,833 200,877 200,436 251,306 123,126 121,282 153,640 3,598,214 91,918 91.985 176,282 193,418 248,120 318,568 315,722 142,023 1,578,036 1821 1 1822 1823 1824 1825 53 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 Total '30-30. 54 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 '206 ' 200 100 400 300 1,300 400 700 1,600 1,200 1,100 1,300 1,600 1,400 4,000 3,700 17,000 2,640 4,030 6,050 5,950 1,600 3,200 6,400 2,500 1,800 1,900 36,070 8,900 5,250 1,100 4,300 4,000 15,455 12,829 13,211 6.5,045 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 Total Ml -40. 1841 1842 1843 1844 . 1845 1846 1847 184S 1849 1850 Total '4l-.'yO 1851 1852 1853 934 3,031 2,619 1854 1855 1856 3,980 586 959 1857 1858 1,762 512 1859 208 1060 Total >51-60 1861 266 14,857 1.087 1862 1863 1,206 1 ,485 1864 2,461 1865 3,180 1866 4,466 1867 5,893 1868 21,472 Total '61-68 41,3.'->0 The United States statistics include only six months of the year 1S68, and afterward every statistical year ends June 30. 254 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. m 13 < •«! ^ u hj O < ti< -< o H n Q a z; s ■ O to H O) U tH B a H o g ^ < O w H c ?; (H M z u «! a O s H a • 05 tn 0) 6 >• H 00 9 H § O •«i « u e «» s S U P z K < O O z o f* z 8^ O Q §3 m.S w > CDCOH^fKOTjiHOOOt-nn 00 i-( -* IN 00 T-( 00 tJi t- OJ O r}.Or^lO-*I.OHHeOfll CO •*COOOr-(mOOJO t-rH CO H to o CO i*-*000(DOOlO»OOiO) i>courfeoco-*t't'-^-* s •a OOlOaOH«HWT-CCO o-^oioo-^coiob-aiwt^w 01 o 0) a '^ o» CO M 1-1 0) t' W in t^ to 10 00 01 '^ •* « tH n « -^ '!}< c^ o» CO u OOOtDCWHOOlOtDWCOM t-COh-(DinO-^lOOCDOT-i ooowxeotoowwoocDN (OTjitXDHCCtOOOt^CO (s. o (0 1- O T-l O -^ 01 0) 01 00 1-< t> 01 T-n^ CO »o a 01 CO ^ rH T-l H H C-l H H 10 « COlOCDWlO t^OI_ CO 00^00 CO tJI 01 00 -^ 00 M w r^ H T^ oT eo" N oi" H 00 i^t^ lOQOWOlOHWCDTjieONlO CQCOCOTjl-^eOClrHiHHTH-* ■HW«MtOeOfllOit-« COOlMOlTfiOOOOWO ■^- 01_02_10^O_ C^ H «_■*, CO cToO CO'OO lO' ■^" O" CO ■*' «5 CO 00 O H 01 CO 01 tJi -^ 10 (Ol^COlOCOCOTfilO^Tfi HWWlOT-iOOHCO'*'*Ob- ■lOi-HO 01_ •> H »0_-* H CO C0^« W M_(0 eo"© cf 00 lo" 01 Tf~cf th ci" hio ^eOWWCOrHHi-iTHrHN'O «(DiH00'^IOOl-*-O010)O00 W -(Jl y^^'^^^CO (> W «'^Cl_C0_OiH TjT co"© CO* ■^* lo" 10 10 ■^'lO th oT Ch-'^WOOr-'COQOlOOl CD O t- »0 *<*< 10 CO 01 ri CO t^ CO M 10 « 1^ 00 CO ■^ to 00XIOtJ'0> OW-^TjiWCOOiHlOl^COOO lOi-CCO'diCOOlOl'^OO OOOJt-iOiOCOCDOlN t-T-iCOQCOt-MOICOCO CD CO 01 H CD O CO 10 ■^•*t- 01 '^ 01C0100HNION1010-*CD ■^QOi-iOlCOOOLO-^OlOl-^t^ cDOOCDOIOCDIOcOt-i'T'IO t* 00 0) W O U5 -* W 01 CD rt T-i T-< O O M « CD 0) CD HCOCOMnNlOOCOCO COtJWCO-^CONi-ii-iWCOCD 0) H O 01 (0 CD 00 00 X 0- 00 o X o s ? 01OH(MC0-^i0CDb-»01O COt-N^-l^l'-l^t-t-NNX OOXXOOODXOOOOXCCOOQO rH rH T-1 H i-t rH iH H tH H H H ■H«C0-^WC0t*000)O QOXXXOOXXOOXOl ■H H H -H H H H ri 1-1 W STATISTICS REGARDING SCANDINAVIAN-AMERICANS. 255 •a o a a a 1 o 5 « o 5 o 1 H n o a M a w H M i§ H n (H Si H oCQd _o(5 ^ ai is oO o OS c-* ^00 ^ -rTeo lO — r rH CS ?3 i« OS 00 ^OC5 JJSOt-OS-^-^OOSCM CO to 00 lO <0 ]C4 l-l g's c-oot-MOsin S^«D«OSrt OSNOOMC-^ "c4''*oscooofi-r tr23W5*DOO>CTiN— « oonti^ipos^aoos i-^CQ OS O CO iHO QJ_tH oaJc^Tcoc^co-^orM Ot-r-oomt-»c«jqpeo DO-*t-QOOt-«DCftOS Q0NO©50»^iHC0C- CO'NOSC-COmMOOiCi IfS-vOOOCOOqOOOSt:- M-*«Dfidt^odinWcD cseooiH-^t-iflWO i«OSC-00-rl1(Dt*-.>*Cn i-tNCOitfimtDt-oom atosasQscsoso^cscs OO OO OO OO QO 00 OO 00 00 ■SS--S ^ "■P& ^ ■§l| >> 01 5^1 a ««*" y* Sfla &.S 2 "1.2 -.M wrt " n ^ S «'-3 ■o O'" a a - •■§e|s|.2 PS agg a H g a p'g 256 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. TABLE III. Showing the number of Scandinavians born in the Scandinatiak countries, together with the total population, in each state and territory in the united states — according to the united States census of 1850. States and Territories. Denmark. Alabama Arkansas California ■Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida 'Georgia Illinois Indiana Iowa Kentucky l^ouisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Territory.... Mississippi Missoiiri New Hampshire Newjersey New Mexico Territory., New York North Carolina Ohio Oregon Territory Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina Tennessee Texas Utah Territory Vermont Virginia Wisconsin Total . 18 7 93 36 1 6 21 24 93 30 39 7 288 •47 35 181 13 1 24. 55 3 28 2 429 6 53 2 97 15 24 8 49 2 IS 14fi Norway. 3 1 124 1 17 6 2,415 38 361 18 64 12 10 69 110 7 8 15.'i 2 4 2 392 18 1 27 25 7 105 32 8 5 8,651 12,678 Sweden. Total Scandi- navians. 51 1 163 13 3 5 33 11 1,123 16 231 20 249 55 57 253 16 4 14 37 12 34 1 753 9 55 2 133 17 29 8 48 1 16 88 72 9 378 30 3 11 71 41 3,631 44 611 45 601 134 103 503 139 ^12 46 247 17 63 5 1,671 1) 12S 5 257 57 6(1 36 202 3.T 8 36 8,885 18,075 Total Popu- lation. 771,623 209.897 92,597 370,792 91,518 61,687 87,445 906,185 851,470 988,416 19-', 214 982,405 617.761 683,169 683.034 994.514 397,654 6,077 606.526 682.044 33 7.978 489,555 63,547 3,097.394 869.039 1,980,329 13.294 2.31 1,786 147.545 668,507 1,002,717 213.592 11.380 314,120 1,421.661 305,391 23,191,876 STATISTICS REGARDING SCANDINAVIAN-AMERICANS. 257 TABLE IV. Showing the number of Scandinavians born in the Scandinavian countries, together with the total population, in each state and territory in the united states — according to the united States census of 1860. States and Territories. Alabama Arkansas California Connecticnt Delaware Florida Geor^a Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachnsetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri New Hampshire Newjersey New York North Carolina Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina Tennessee Texas Vermont Virginia Wisconsin Colorado Territory Dakota Territory District of Columbia Nebraska Territory Nevada Territory New Mexico Territory.. Utah Territory Washington Territory.. Total Denmark, 92 7 1,328 91 5 21 21 712 109 661 70 44 309 59 67 213 192 170 31 464 3 175 1,196 11 164 50 234 10 38 32 150 3 41 1,150 16 5 150 8 9 1,824 27 9,962 Norway. 51 5 713 22 11 13 4,891 38 6,688 223 10 63 27 7 171 440 8,425 IS 146 5 65 539 4 19 43 83 38 4 14 326 8 21,442 12 129 1 103 16 2 159 22 43,995 Sweden. 155 25 1,405 42 8 31 37 6,470 329 1,465 122 43 193 74 48 685 266 3,178 21 239 20 88 1,678 9 117 56 448 33 38 32 1S3 1 57 673 27 16 70 41 3 196 33 18,625 Total Scandi- navians. 298 37 3,448 155 13 63 71 12,073 476 , 7,814 415 97 565 160 122 1,069 89S -11,773 67 849 38 328 3,413 24 300 149 765 81 80 78 629 4 106 23,265 55 129 22 323' 65 14 2,179 82 72,582 Total Popu- lation. 964,201 4,33,450 379,994 460,147 112,216 140,424 1,057,286 1,711,951 1,850,428 674,913 107,206 1,155,684 708,002 628,279 687,049 1,231,066 749,113 172,023 791,305 1,182,012 326,073 672,035 3,880,735 992,622 2,339,511 52,465 2,906,215 174,620 7O3,r08 1,109,801 604,215 315,098 1,596,318 775,881 34,277 4,837 28,841 6,857 93,518 40,273 11,594 75,080 31,443,321 258 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. TABLE V. Showing the number op Scandinavians born in the Scandinavian countries, together with the total population, in each state AND TERRITORY IN THE UNITED StATES- States census OP 1870. ■According to the United States and Territories. Alabama Arkansas California Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey. New York North Corolina Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina Tennessee Texas Vermont Virginia "West Virginia Wisconsin Arizona Territory Colorado Territory Dakota Territory ;.. District of Columbia.... Idaho Territory Montana Territory New Mexico Territory.. Utah Territory Washington Territory. . Wyoming Territory Total . Norway. 80 53 1.8S7 116 8 40 -t2 3,711 315 2,827 502 53 290 120 106 267 1,354 1,910 193 665 1,129 208 11 510 1,698 S 284 87 561 24 50 86 1S9 21 23 21 5,212 19 77 115 29 88 95 15 4,957 84 64 30,098 21 19 1,000 72 16 14 11,880 123 17,554 588 16 76 58 17 302 1,516 35,940 78 297 506 80 55 90 975 5 64 76 115 22 37 403 34 17 1 40,046 7 40 1,179 S 61 88 5 613 104 28 114,243 Sweden. 105 134 1,944 323 9 30 35 29,979 2,180 10,796 4,954 112 358 91 100 1,384 2,406 20,987 970 2,302 2,352 217 42 554 5,522 38 252 205 2,266 106 60 349 364 83 30 5 2,799 7 180 380 22 91 141 6 1,790 1S8 109 97,327 Total Scandi- navians. 206 208 4,781 511 17 86 91 44,570 2,618 31,177 6,044 181 724 251 223 1,953 5,276 ,58,837 1,241 3,264 3,987 505 108 1,154 8,195 51 600 368 2,942 152 110 472 926 138 70 27 48,057 33 297 1,674 56 240 324 26 7,360 346 191 241,668 Total Popu- lation. 996,993 484,471 560,247 537,454 125,015 187,748 1,184,109 2,539.891 1,680,637 1,194,020 364,399 1,321,011 726,913 626,913 780,894 1,457,351 1,184,059 439,706 827,923 1,721,295 122,993 42,491 318,300 906,096 4,382,759 1,071,361 2,665,260 90,923 3,521,931 217,353 705,606 1,258,520 818,579 330,551 1,225,163 442,014 1,054.670 9,658 39,864 14,181 131,700 14,999 20,593 91,874 86,786 23,955 9,118 38,558,371 In this census nine Danes, three Norwegians, and five Swedes are classified as Colored. Ofcourse these persons do not properly belong to the Scandinavian people. STATISTICS REGARDING SCANDINAVIAN- AMERICANS. 259 TABLE VI. Showing the number of Scandinavians born in the Scandinavian countries, together with the total population, in each state and territory in the united states — according to the united States census of 1880 States and Territories. Denmark. Norway. Sweden. Total Scandi- navians. Total Popu- lation. Alabama Arkansas California CoU'rado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New York North Carolina Ohio , Oregon ._ Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina Tennessee Texas Vermont Virginia "West Virginia Wisconsin Arizona Territory Dakota Territory District of Columbia... Idaho Territory Montana Territory New Mexico Territory Utah Territory Washington Territory WyomingTerritory..., Total 69 98 3,748 507 428 36 259 53 6,029 583 6,901 1,838 73 285 273 128 576 3,513 6,071 99 970 4,511 350 30 1,264 3,145 58 642 385 945 55 60 98 489 35 60 38 8,797 131 1,447 45 586 190 23 7,791 296 188 24 33 1,765 354 168 6 79 23 16,970 182 21,586 1,358 21 78 99 108 639 3,520 62,521 56 373 2,010 119 79 229 2,185 10 178 574 381 56 5 25 880 10 29 3 49,349 45 13,245 19 276 174 17 1,214 580 74 119 211 4,209 2,172 2,086 71 231 138 42,415 3,121 17,559 11,207 95 270 988 177 4,756 9,412 39,176 302 3,174 10,164 317 131 1,622 11,164. 24 1,186 983 7,557 776 63 2S1 1,293 68 49 21 8,138 106 3,177 51 323 280 39 3,750 648 249 212 342 9,722 3,033 2,682 113 569 214 65,414 3,886 46,046 14,403 89 633 1,360 413 5,971 16,445 .107,768 457 4,517 16,685 786 230 3,115 16,494 92 2,006 1,942 8,883 887 128 374 2,662 118 138 62 66,284 282 17,869 115 1,185 644 79 12,755 1,524 611 1,262,505 802,525 864,694 194,327 622,700 146,608 269,493 1,542,180 3,077,871 1,978,301 1,624,615 996,096 1,648,690 939,946 648,936 934,943 1,783,085 1,636,937 780.773 1,131,597 2,168,380 452,402 62,266 346,991 1,131,116 3,082,871 1,399,750 3,198,063 174,768 4,282,891 276,531 995,577 1,542,359 1;591,749 332,286 1,512,565 618,457 1,315,497 40,440 135,177 177,624 32,610 39,159 119,565 143,963 75,116 20,789 64,196 181,729 440,262 50,155,783 260 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. TABLE VII. Showing the number of Scandinavians born in the Scandinavian countries, together with the total population, in each state and territory in the united states ^according to the united States census of 1890. States and Territories Alabama Arizona Territory Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia — Florida Georgia Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico Territory.. New York North Dakota North Carolina Ohio Oklahoma Territory., .. Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Dakota South Carolina Tennessee Utah Territory Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Denmark. 71 180 125 7,764 1,650 1,474 41 72 105 61 1,241 • 12,044. 718 15,519 3,136 92 332 696 130 1,512 6,335 -14,133 90 1,333 683 ■ 14,345 332 64 2,991 54 6,238 2,860 26 956 37 1,288 2,010 154 4,309 36 92 649 9,023 58 108 2,807 44 13,885 680 Norway. 47 59 60 3,702 893 523 14 70 179 88 741 /" 30,339 285 .^ 27,078 1,786 120 136 311 164 2,519 7,795 ► 101,169 64 526 1,957 3,632 69 251 1,317 42 8,602 X 25,773 13 Sll 36 2,271 2,238 285 / 19,257 23 41 1,313 1,854 38 102 8,324 7 / 65,696 345 Total 132,543 322,665 478,041 933,349 62,622,250 Sweden. 294 168 333 10,923 9,659 10,021 246 128 529 191 1,524 r 86,514 4,512 / 30,276 17,096 184 328 1,704 305 18,624 27,366 A 99,913 305 5,602 3,771 28,364 314 1,210 4,159 149 X28,430 5,583 51 2,742 138 3,774 19,346 3,392 7,746 60 332 2,806 5,986 870 215 10,272 72 20,157 1,357 Total Scandi- navians. 412 407 518 22,389 12,202 12,018 301 270 813 340 3,506 ,'128,897 5,515 72,873 21,998 396 796 2,711 599 22,655 41,496 .■215,215 449 7,461 6,411 y 46,341 715 1,4,25 8,467 245 <■ 43,270 34,216 90 4,209 211 7,333 23,594 3,831 31,372 119 465 4,768 16,863 966 425 21,413 123 • 99,738 2.382 Total Popu- lation. 1,513,017 59,620 1,128,179 1,208,130 412,198 746,258 168,493 230,392 391,422 1,837,353 84,385 3,826,351 2,192,404 1,911,896 1,427,096 1,858,635 1,118,587 661,086 1,042,390 2,238,943 2,093,889 A- 1,301,825 l,2iS9,600 2,679,184 132,159 1,058,910 45,761 376,530 1,444,933 153,593 5,997,853 182,719 1,617,947 3,672,316 61,834 313,767 5,258,014 345,506 328,808 1,151,149 1,767,518 2,235,523 207,905 332,422 1,655,980 349,390 762,794 1,686,880 60,705 STATISTICS REGARDING SCANDINAVIAN-AMERICANS. 261 TABLE Yin. Showing the number of Scandinavians born in the Scandinavian countries, together with the total population, in every city IN THE Union having a population of 25,000 or more, and where THE Scandinavians exceed 1,000 — According to the United States CENSUS OF 1890. Cities. Denmark. Norway. Sweden. Total Scandi- navians. Total Popu- lation. Boston, Mass Brockton, Mass Brooklyn, N, Y Cambridge, Mass Chicago, 111 Denver, Col Des Moines, Iowa Duluth, Minn Grand Rapids, Mich., Jersey City, N.J Kansas City, Mo La Crosse, Wis Milwaukee, Wis Minneapolis, Minn..., New York, N. Y Oakland, Cal Omaha, Neb Philadelphia, Pa Portland, Org Providence. R. I Salt Lake City, Utah San Francisco, Cal.... Seattle, Wash Sioux City, Iowa St. Louis, Mo St. Paul, Minn Tacoma, Wash Worcester, Mass 353 18 1,839 SI 7,087 470 227 301 149 195 294 56 341 1,542 1,495 413 4,242 704 300 65 1,041 1,785 457 464 285 1,445 544 64 861 10 4,873 226 21,835 297 301 2,389 128 316 119 2,707 1,821 12,624 1,075 242 624 1,500 704 163 415 1,396 1,353 1,758 134 3,521 1,702 194 3,413 1,282 9,325 746 . 43,032 3,622 1,952 4,102 791 558 1,556 193 320 19,398 7,069 648 6,265 1,626 1,312 1,339 1,328 3,594 1,525 2,227 876 11,787 1,983 4,658 4,627 1,310 16,037 1,033 i 71,954 4,389 2,480 6,792 1,068 1,069 . 1,969 2,956 2,482 <■ 33,564 9,739 1,303 /, 11,131 3,830 2,316 1,567 2,784 6,775 3,335 4,449 1,295 H W 2; H 01 « n «) S 1-1 »< ■< Q •A < o" 1 M 00 P< ll< " a w K ■< w H CO r-l 0" n !D is P? fe S o w « p a P.0 HffitO t-COO ccoocoW'^4iooinajocoinotD'*«*O00-HXC0t-00Ci«)'^t> "-0 CiTjiODT-llDlOTHlOIOOCONCOai-HCOW ^0 HCOTfiOOrl «ri COM tO tOCO lOCOCOCIlO-rl'ODCOCO'^HW'^HCOOlOOr-ICOOt^W \t\ oico-^co C']aj»-lOHt-iHrHCOCCO 010 CO Dt-00 :coi--c :inT}it ^3 coino -? Oincoo uoio w-^ lOCOW iWNOO t--inco 10 CO-* CD C^ -^1 10 ■* t> CO CKO COrfi'^COCDWlO'^CO ■^10CDC0t>C0Hi-(m O W O CO c COH-^OiU ft ■* -^ ■* O CO t^ 10 iH Tf ra p o pa &.2 C0HI>10-<: -JOCOt 010 00 OlCOCl I CO 10 c^ lO o • o t-ioco CO coo 04 I> 10 l> ■* ^ O) O 1> CD ■^■HriOlOOO W rii-lOH 00 CO 10 CI Ci HHC^JCO OOtOOlT-lCl CO 01 CDCl tHCC r^Ol tHOI C>1 H 01 01 CO CO ■* lO CDH OOOCOOJ W COi-C* erf Sr P « o HOOtOlOOOcDOOO-^lOt- ?TltDCr>01rHCDr-l'^tWC>J ^_lO_^-*_01_CI_Ti_^ 10 CI CO CO 1 o't-'co (-■"■^'"co'co''^'od"co'o ■^tHM-^ O i-iiOif coco coco cot- ^ rt S «:; a « a(^ :3So2So3'3a^oooagg,^i -to 01 ■3m STATISTICS REGARDING SCANDINAVIAN AMERICANS. 263 pas qainqo •BnopBSojSaoo 'Sjsqraepi •sc^uBJtanrarao^ §OOOOQOQOOOOOQOOQOOC O O O ini O O O O O O O 0_0 lO O O.i0 00 1? iniftO lO i-Tco CO 1ft CJ O<»odl:-^W5 CO CQ TOtH ■suoT^-BSaiSnoo •eiequieji ■ s^jnBonmniraoo •s aop BSa jSaoQ ■sjequiopf 'SijTiBomTiTncaoo ■saoi!jBSaj3noo ■siaqaiei^ OCOO QOO gs§s ■s^HBOinnniraoo •suoi%BSai3aoQ ■s^nBOinnraoiOQ 3q^ neqAi. {jnoqy CO 1-1 in o oac>go 8SS OOOiO CQCO CQOSiOOOGO lO CO =* IX) eo - , OOOOCOQOOO •oooooCoooo 8g OlO 88 oia eDO»3.»rac-oios(Ma ? S s H sa S "fl-. ,, .,^|i|2S|•^.,• a ^ o o ^ rt fes^dcflogce® a ■ 2 Ed >,S f^ H*:2 " '^ n d gS d d £ ffl a) rt" ca ca I ? o o o_- o o jH hTS rtflj to O 2 fi '•i M s 5— D,_2 H a „ s " o jUii ill I!g||gf2£2 •- o p S B -- OS'S 5*1 a _ ^^-O - o i !|'s.sSg&!| iS"5'«'-3?'as BIBLIOGRAPHY — OP THE — Scaiidinavian-American Historical literature of tlie Nineteenth Century. — BY— 0. N. NELSON. It has been the aim to enumerate in these notes all of the most important books, pamphlets, shurch reports, and magazine articles which relate to the Scandinavian- American historical literature of the nineteenth century. In order to make the collection as complete as possible, all the leading libraries in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, as well as some in the Scandinavian countries, have been consulted; a thorough search has been made of a large number of book stores and publishing houses, both in Europe and in this country, and even private libraries have been ransacked. But all these establishments together do not by any means contain all the matters enumerated in this list. There is not a public library in the world that has a fairly complete collection of Scandi- navian-American historical literature. The Royal Library in Stockholm and the Angustana College Library in Bock Island have a large number of books, etc., in relation to Swedish-Americans, and Luther College in Decorah has begun to collect materials in regard to the Norwegians. But even these collections are defective. Consequently this bibliography has been compiled from various sources. The voluminous "Sabin's Dictionary of Books" has been carefully examined; and for several years back, I have corresponded with hundreds of Scandinavian-American writers and book collectors. As a result of all this, I have collected in my private library a large number of books and pamphlets, written by Scandinavian- Americans, on various subjects. But even my collection, although very comprehensive, does not contain all the works enumerated in this biblio- graphy. Besides the books, pamphlets, church annuals, etc., which are men- tioned in this list, a large number of emigration reports, school catalogues, legislative manuals, county histories, newspapers, and statistics of various kinds have been consulted in the preparation of the first and second volumes. All the volumes of the U. S. Census from 1790 to 1890, and several state census reports of the Northwestern states, have been carefully examined. But it is, of course, impossible to enumerate all of it here. Hundreds of Scandinavian-American newspapers have been pub- lished during the last fifty years, and most of them have contained more or less matter of an historical nature. I have searched the flies of several of the most important of such publications, and collected some valuable newspaper articles. Most journals in the North and many English papers 265 266 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAYIANS IN THE U. S. in America have at one time or another referred to the Scandinavian- Americans. Millions of private letters have passed between the Scandi- navian countries and the United States, and many of them have been valuable historical documents. Evidently, it is beyond the power of mortals to enumerate all historical materials in regard to the Scandi- navian-Americans, and I have, rightly or wrongly, limited the list to books, pamphlets, magazine articles, and church reports. Often it is difHcult to determine whether a book ia historical, theo- logical, poetical, or simply the product of some crank or stupid fanatic. Nor has it always been possible for me to scrutinize all of the materials enumerated in this bibliography, and I am undecided whether I have sinned most by commission or by omission in this connection. Considering the various church disputes which have been carried on among the Nor- wegian-Americans, it was deemed wise to include some productions which can hardly be called historical. In fact, some of these so abound in truth and falsehood, personal abuse and religious bombast, as to deserve to be classified as "insane or malicious" literature. The Danes and Swedes have issued less of this class of brain product. The Swedish-Americans can boast of a fairly solid historical literature, which in point of quality excels by far that of the other two nationalities put together. Some works of fiction often paint the social life and customs of a people with a brilliancy and a clearness which surpass most historical productions. In this line of literature the Norwegian-Americans have produced some masterpieces, but none of them have been enumerated in this connection. It has been deemed unnecessary, in this connection, to deal with the bibliographies regarding the discovery of America by the Northmen and the Swedish settlement on the Delaware Kiver, because the tv;o articles on these subjects have been published in this volume only to make the Scandinavian-American history complete; otherwise the main object of this work is to relate the story of the Scandinavians in the United States in the nineteenth century. Besides, P. B. Wataon has published, in the fourth edition of Prof. K. B. Anderson's "America not Discovered by Columbus," a very complete bibliography regarding the Northmen's dis- covery of America, and Marie A. Brown, in her work, "The Icelandic Dis- coverers of America," treats the same subject; while the fourth volume of the "Narrative and Critical History of America" contains a very extensive bibliography regarding the Swedish settlement on tha Delaware Kiver, by Prof. G. B. Keen. In the preparation of this work, the following authorities have mainly been relied upon in regard to the history of the Vikings and the history of the Scandinavian countries: Odhner's "Sveriges, Norges och Danmarks Historia"; Geijer's "Svenska Folkets Historia"; Montelius's "Sveriges Historia"; Sars's "Udsigt over den Norske Historie"; Boyesen's "Story of Norway"; Worsaae's "Danes and Norwegians in England, Scotland, and Ireland"; Gibbon's "Roman Empire"; Green's "History of the English People"; Prederiksen's articles in "Scandinavia"; Cornelius's "Svenska Kyrkans Historia." Pages 267-76 were electrotyped for the first edition, and it was not deemed necessary to rearrange them, although a few publications enumer- ated there might have been omitted. The rest of this bibliography treats of works omitted in the first edition, which appeared in 1893, and of publications issued since that time. BIBLIOGRAPHY. 267 1841. Om Amerika samt om Emigrant-Foreningen i Stockholm. Stockholm, Sweden. "Intended to fctmisTi Swedisli emigrants with the necessary informa- tion abont the United States. It contains also a short historical introduc- tion in "which the fate of the Swedish settlements in North America is re- lated." 1846. Reise blandt de Norske Emigranter i de Forenede Nordamerikanske Fristater. Rev. J. W. Dietrichson, Sta- vanger, Norway. 1847. Erik Jansismen i Nord Amerika. This little pamphlet is an anonymous account given forth as '* Bref frSll en af Utvandrame," and is in reality a most violent attack upon the beliefil of Janson and his methods in conducting the party of emigrants. 1848. Beretning om de Norske Setlere i Amerika. C. Rudolf, Bergen, Norway. 1851. Nogle Ord fra Praedikestolen i Amerika og Norge. Rev. J. W. Dietrichson, Stavanger, Norway. 1851. Jenny Lind in America. C. J. Rosenberg, New York City. 1853. The Homes of the New World ; Impressions of America. Fredrika Bremer, New York City. These two volumes are mostlymade up of letters, written by the author- ess during her visit to America, in 1849-52, and contain some information regarding the early Swedish pioneers in this country, as -well as descriptions of the places she visited. 1853. Geografisk Politisk Beskrivelse over de Forenede Nordamerikanske Stater, i saerdeleshed for Emigranter. J. Bollin, Kristiania, Norway. 1862. Minnen. Rev. Gustaf Unonius, Stockholm, Sweden. This -work is bound in two large volumes. Rev. Unonius came from Sweden to the Northwest in 1841JJ remained in America for seventeen years, then returned to Sweden. His work is, perhaps, the best and the most ad. mirable description of the early pioneer life that has yet been published ia the Swedish language. 268 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. 1865. Protocoll och Handlingar rorande Prestmotet i Upsala kr 1865. Upsala, Sweden. This volume contains a lecture delivered by Prof. L. P. Esbjom, at the conference of the Swedish Lutheran clergy, held in Upsala in 1865, in -which he gives a good historical review of the early Swedish- American Lutheran Church. The lecture is also published in "Korsbaneret" for 1885, 1865. The Emigration from Europe during the present century; its Causes and Effects. A. Jorgensen, Quebec, Canada. Translated from Norwegian statistics and reports, and from extracts of other authorities. 1866. The Bergen Family; or the Descendants of Hans Hansen Bergen. T. G. Bergen, New York City. This volume gives a complete biography of H. H. Bergen, a Norwegian, who came to America in 1633 and settled in New Amsterdam. His name has probably been identified with the supposed Norwegian settlement at Bergen, N. J., in 1624-, w^hich is referred to in Nordmaendene i Amerika, by Knud Langeland, but undoubtedly never existed. 1867. Syv Foredrag over de Kirkelige Forholde blandt de Norske i America. Rev. H. A. Preus, Kristiania, Norway. Containing a great deal of valuable information in regard to the early history of the Norwegian- American Lutheran churches. 1869. Det Skandinaviske Regiments Historic. J. A. Johnson, La Crosse, Wis. This volume is one of the first histories of the famous Fifteenth Wiscon- sin Regiment, besides it contains biographies of the leading officers in the regiment. 1868-70. Skandinavisk Billedmagazin. Madison, Wis. This magazine contains, among other things, quite an extensive account of the first Norwegian settlements in "Wisconsin and Illinois, as well as a history of the early Norwegian emigration; w^ritten by Prof. Svein Nilsson. 1872. Beskrifning ofver America. Alex Nilsson, Gothen- burg, Sweden. A pamphlet containing some valuable information in regard to emigra- tion, being, in fact, only an emigration guide-book. BIBLIOGRAPHY. 269 1874. Ty& Ir i Amerika (1872-1874). Hugo Nisbeth, Stockholm, Sweden. This volume contains descriptions, by ttie author, -who was a ncTvs- paper correspondent traveling' through the country, of several Swedish settlements, especially in the North w^est and in California. 1876. Fra Amerika. Y. C. S. Topsoe, Copenhagen, Denmark. The author traveled through the United States, describes the country, and sometimes refers to the Scandinavian-Americans, especiallj the Danes. 1876. Wisconsinismen belyst ved Historiske Kjendsgjer- ninger. Prof. A. Weenaas, Chicago, 111. This book contains a lengthy discussion of the different theological questions which have divided the Norwegian-American Lutherans. The w^ork is rather an attack upon the teachings of some of the ministers of the Norwegian Synod, and w^as answ^ered by Rev. H. A. Preus in his book, Professorerne Oftedals og Weenaas' s Wisconsiniszne betragtet i Sandhedeas Lvs, 1876. Professoreme Oftedals og Weenaas's Wisconsin- isme betragtet i Sandhedens Lys. Rev. H. A. Preus, Decorah, Iowa. This is an answer to Prof. A. Weenaas' book, Wisconsinismen, and de- fends the teachings of the Norw^egian Synod and discusses the diiferent theological questions which have divided the Norwegian-American Luther- ans. 1877. HistoryofHenry County, III. Chicago, 111. This book contains a concise history of Bishop Hill Colony. 1879, Svenskarne i St. Croix-dalen, Minnesota. Rob- ert Gronberger, Minneapolis, Minn. A small pamphlet containing a good description of the early Swedish settlements in "Washington and Chisago counties, where the first Swedish settlements in Minnesota w^as made. It also contains a long biography of Jacob Falstrom. Gronberger maintains that Oscar Roos, who came to Minnesota in 1850, was the first Swedish settler in the state ; but Rev. E. Norelius, in his great and valuable work, De Svenska L,aterska Forsan2~ lingarnas och Svenskames Historia i Amerika, asserts that the first Swed- ish settlement occured in 1851. But in a letter to the editor of this work, Roos affirms Gronberger's statement. 270 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE Tj. S. 1880. GenomDenStoraYestern. J. Stadling, Stockholm, Sweden. This volume contains a very good description, especially of the Pacific Coast and the West, where the author traveled through. He was very friend- ly towards America, but the -work contains little or nothing in regard to Scandinavian- American history. 1880. Svenskame i Illinois. Capt. Eric Johnson and C. F. Peterson, Chicago. This book is one of the largest and most reliable Swedish-American histories. It contains descriptions of the different Swedish settlements in Illinois, and biographies and pictures of hundreds of Swedes in that state. It also contains some new matter in regard to the Swedish settlement on Delaware River. It is the oldest, and among the best authorities on the Swedish settlement at Bishop Hill. The work is w^ell w^ritten and impartial. 1882. Svenka Nationaliteten i Forenta Staterna. Tan* cred Boissy, Gothenburg, Sweden. A small pamphlet containing information in regard to the social, religi- ous, and economical conditions of the Swedes in the United States. The main value of the work is the fact that the author looks at most things from a purely Swedish standpoint. 1883. Ole Bull. Sara C. Bull, Boston, Mass This volume contains a biography of Ole Bull and a short mention of his Norwegian colony in Pennsylvania. 1883. EUing Eielsens Liv og Yirksomhed. Rers. Chr. O. Brohaugh and I. Eisteinsen, Chicago, 111. This book contains a complete biography of Rev. E. Eiclscu, giving a good review of the religious conditions in Norway and among the early Norwegian settlers in this country in his time. It contains also much valu- able information in regard to Hauge*sSynod,Norwegian-AmericanL,utheran church disputes, and in regard to the hardships of the early pioneers. 1884. Amerika; Sect Fra et Landbosstandpunkt. H. Andreasen, Copenhagen, Denmark. The author traveled through this country, described it, and sometimes refers to the Scandinavian-Americans, especially the Danes. 1884. Det Fcmtende Wisconsin Regiments Historic og BIBLIOGRAPHY. 271 Yirksomhed Under Borgerkrigen. P. G. Dietrichson, Chi- cago, 111. A small pamphlet containing a history of the Fifteenth Wisconsin, or Scandinavian, Regiment, and a list of all the persons -who ■were enlisted in the regiment. 1885. Rockfords Svenskar. Geo. Kaedeiig, Chicago, 111. A pamphlet containing a sketch of the Swedes and their biographies in Rockford and of the business enterprises in which they are engaged. 1883-86. Scandinavia. Chicago, 111. This magazine contains several lengthy and important articles on Scandinavan-American history. The last two numbers of 1886 contain historical information about and biographies of the Scandinavians in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minn. This Magazine, published and edited by N. C. Frederiksen, w^as among the best literary productions in the English language that has yet been attempted by the Scandinavian- Americans. 1886. Svenska Tidningar och Tidskrifter titgiiha inom Nord Amerikas Forenta Stater. Bernhard Ltindstedt, Stockholm, Sweden. This work is very valuable and was published under the direction of the Royal Library of Sweden. It contains a complete history of all of the Swedish newspapers and periodicals that have been, and are, published in the United States. , 1886. The History of the Baptist Mission. Rer. G. W. Herrey, St, Louis, Mo. This Tolume contains a. history of the Baptists in Denmark, Norw^ay, and Sweden, and refers to the Sw^edish Baptists in this country, 1887. The Scandinavians in the United States. Dr. Al- fecrt Shaw. This article, published in The Cbautauquan in Dec., 1887, contains a great deal of valuable statistics regarding the Scandinavian-Americans, as well as other information. The calm and judicious views of the writer, re- garding the topic of the paper, make it of great value. 1887. Historiske Meddelelser omdenNorskeAugustana Synode. Rev. O.J. Hatlestad, Decorah, Iowa. This volume contains not only a history of the Norwegian Augustana Synod, but also touches upon the history of the other Norwegian-American Lutheran churches, as well as on the settlements. It is the most complete NQrwegian-Anaericoa history that has yet appeared. 272 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. 1887. Scandinavian Studies in the United States. Dan- iel Kilham Dodge. This article, published in Science in May, 1887, contains a good, bat rather incomplete, historical review of the studies of the Scandinavian. langTiages in American and Scandinavian-American colleges and universi- ties. Prof. J. P. Uhler, in a letter published in the same magazine shortly- after, adds some new facts on the subject. 1887. Appletons* Cyclopedia of American Biography. James Grant Wilson and John Fiske, New York City. This great and valuable work contains a few biographies of Scandi- navian-Americans. 1888. Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the First Swedish Settlement in America. Col. Hans Mattson^ Minneapolis, Minn. Containing nothing nev?, except a letter from the Hon, T. F. Bayard, in which he acknowledges that one of his ancestors, on the maternal side, was a Swede. 1888. Praedikener over Kirke-Aarets Evangelier holdte of Prester i den Norske Synode i Amerika. Rev.Einar Wulfs- berg, Decorah, Iowa. This volume contains several sermons and a few short biographies of" ministers of the Norwegian Synod. 1888. Norwegian Emigration. Prof. H. H. Boyesen. This article was published in American, in 1888. 1888. Den Evanglisk-Lutherske Kirkes Historic i Amerika. Rev. R. Andersen, Brooklyn, N. Y. This volume contains a history of all the American Lutheran churches^ as well as biographies of some of the Swedish- American Lutheran ministers in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The last ten pages contain a. brief historical review of the Scandinavian- American Lutheran churches. 1888. The "Foreign Element" in New York City. Geo. J. Mason. This article, publisbed in Harper's Weekly, Sept.l, 1888, contains some information regarding tlie Scandinavians in the United States, especially in New York City. BIBLIOGRAPHY. 273 1889. History of Utah. H. H. Bancroft, San Fran- cisco, Cal. The sixteenth chapter and foot-notee on page 411 contain some matters re- garding the Scandinavian immigration to Utah. 1889. Den Norske Indvandring til 1850 og Skandinav- eme i Amerikas Politik. Jobs. B. "Wist, Madison, Wis. A small pamphlet containing a, good history of the Danish and Nor- ■wegian immigration, and of the Norwegian settlement in Texas. 1889. Nordmaendene i Amerika. Knud Langeland, Chi- cago, 111. This work contains some valiaable information in regard to the Norwe- gian immigration, the first settlements, and the early Norwegian-American press; but, on the w^hole,it is more of an autobiography of Kntid Langeland than a history of the Norwegians. The author is unquestionably mistaken w^hen he asserts that a Norwegian colony existed at Bergen, N. J., in 1624; but for a full discussion on this point consult O. N. Nelson's article on Hans Hansen Bergen, published in The North, Dec. 21, 1892, and in Nordvestea about the same time. A brief statement of the facts regarding this point ia also made on page 35 in this volume. 1887-90. Norges Laeger i det Nittende Aarhundrede. Dr. F. C. Kjaer, Kristiania, Nor-way. Contains biographies of the Norw^egian physicians of the 19th century, some of whom now reside in this country. 1890. Norsemen in the United States. Rev. Kristofer Janson. In this article, published in The Cosmopolitan in October, 1890, the author makes some assertions in regard to Norwegian- American history which hardly coincide with the actual facts; yet his discussion is valuable, both from a literary and historical standpoint. 1890. The Norwegico-Danish M. E. Church in America. A small pamphlet containing some valuable information in regard to the early history of the Norwegian-Danish Methodist Church in this coun- try. No date or place of publication is mentioned, the author's name does not appear. But the work was written by Rev. A. Haagensen, of Chicago, and, perhaps, published in 1890. 1890. American Lutheran Biographies. Rev. J. C. Jens- son, Milwaukee, Wis. A large volume containing biographies of over 350 Lutheran-American ministers, a large proportion of w^hom are Scandinavians. As a. work of 274 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. reference it is -^ery valuable, tliro-wing much light upon the church history of the different Scandinavian-American Lutheran denominations. 1890. Emigration and Immigration. R. M. Smith, New York Citj. This .volume contains a very able discussion upon the immigration question, audlfrequently refers to the Scandinavian immigrants. 1890. Life of John Ericsson. W. C. Church, New York City. This -work, bound in t-wo Tolumes, contains a complete biography of John Ericsson, the greatest Scandinavian-American. 1890. The Swedes in America. Rev. C. A. Swensson, Topeka, Kan. A lecture published in pamphlet form. 1890. De Svenska Luterska Forsamlingarnas och Svenskarnes Historia i Amerika. Rev. E. NoreHiis, D. D., Rock Island, 111. This is a large volume containing an extensive history of the Swedish- American Lutheran Church, and biographies of the ministers, as well as a history of the different Swedish settlements, from the earliest time of the immigration in the nineteenth century up to 1860. The -work, on the whole, is fairly accurate, intensely Lutheran, but not bigoted. The author is, no doubt, mistaken w^hen he asserts that the j&rst Sivedish settlement in Min- nesota occured in 1S51„ Both Robert Gronberger, in his STrenskarne i St. Croix-dalen, Minnesota, and Oscar Roos, who was the first Swedish set- tler in the state, contradict him. Norelius's description of the early settle- ments is especially excellent and vivid, 1890. Pastor S. Newmans Sjelfbiografi. Rev. S. B. New- man, Chicago, 111. This volume contains an autobiography of the author, as well as a great deal of valuable information in regard to the history of the Swedish Metho- dist Church in this country, 1890. Det Norske Luther-College. Rev. J. Th. Ylvisaker, Decorah, Iowa. Contains ». history of Luther College, at Decorah, Iowa., and bio- graphies of the professors and instructors connected with the institution BIBLIOGRAPHY. 275 1890. The Lutherans in America. Rev. E. J. Wolf, D. D. New York City. This Toliame contains short, bxit quite good historical sketches of the different Scandinavian-American Lutheran organizations, including the Swedish Lutherans on the banks of the Delaware Ri rer in the ,seTenteenth century. 1890. Genom Norra Amerikas Foreuta Stater. P. Wal- denstrom, Stockholm, Sweden. A large volume containing a chapter relating to the Swedes in America, giving some good specimens of the Sw^edish- American language. The author is unfriendly towards America, and the w^ork as a whole is very unreliable, 1890. Svensk-Amerikanska Poeter. Ernst Skarstedt, Minneapolis, Minn. This volume contains biographies and pictures of eighteen Swedish- American poets, together with well selected specimens of their poetical productions. From a literary standpoint, it is one of the best Swedish- American compilations; from a historical standpoint, it shovirs the tendency and mode of thought of the Swedes in this country, and gives some good examples of the Americanization of the Swedish language. Especially is Det Nya, Modersm^let, by H. Stockenstrom, an excellenf illustration of Swedish- Americanism, 1890. Oregon och Washington. Ernst Skarstedt, Port- land, Ore. This volume contains a great deal of information in regard to the his- tory of the Scandinavian settlements, churches, and societies in Oregon and Washington, as well as biographies of about a hundred Northmen in those states. The work is very reliable. 1891 . United Scandinavian Singers of America Souvenir. Hj.rry Randall, Minneapolis, Minn. A small pamphlet containing a short history of the organization, and biographies and half-tone pictures of some of its leading members. 1890-91. Minnen. English translation: The Story of an Emigrant. Col. Hans Mattson, Lund, Sweden; and St. Paul, Minn. This volume is not a mere autobiography of the author, which, how^ever, forms the principal part of the work, but as he was one of theearlySwedish 276 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. riioneers in this country, being for years one of the leading* Scandinavian^ Americans, his -work contains much valuable information in regard to Scandinavian- American history. The Swedish edition is the best and most ccmplete, although the last chapter of the English edition contains certain statistical information in regard to the Scandinavian- Americans -which is not contained in the Swedish. 1892. The Scandinavians in the United States. Prof. H. H. Boyesen. In this article, published in Tbe North American iJeWew in Nov., 1892, the author, among other things, criticises the Scandinavians for their clan- nishness. But the article contains also much valuable information in re- gard to the Northmen. 1892. Scandinavians in the North^vest. Prof, Kendric C. Babcock. This article, published in The Forum in September, 1892, contains valu- able information in regard to the Scandinavian- American population, especially in regard to statistics. The author being a native Amer can, his opinions about the Northmen have a specific value, 1892. The Bishop Hill Colony. Dr. M. A. Mikkelsen, Baltimore, Md. This pamphlet is the most complete history on the subject that has yet appeared. It contains also a discussion of the religious movement in Hels- ingland, -which finally caused the colonists to emigrate. 1892. Augustana College Album. Rock Island, 111, A pamphlet containing a history of the school, and biographies of all the professors and instructors who have been, or are, connected with the institution, together with several half-tone pictures. 1892. Ett Hundra Ar.; En Aterblick pa det Nittonde Seklet. C. F. Peterson, Chicago, 111. A large volume. Only the 6th chapter is devoted to the Sw^edish im- migration and biographies of noted Swedish-Americans. 1892. Sweden and the Swedes. Hon. W. W. Thomas, Chicago, 111. The last two chapters contain some original matter in regard to Swed- en's commerce with the United States, the Swedish settlement on Dela- ware River, the Swedes in America in the nineteenth century, and a report of John Ericsson's funeral. BIBLIOGRAPHY. 277 1839. Sandfardig Beretning om Amerika. Ole Rynning, Kristiania, Norway. This little volume was the first book which was published iu the Norweerian language in regard to America. It was extensively read, and created quite a sensation which resulted in a heavy emigration from Norway to this country in the early forties, 1844. Veiviser for Norske Emigranter. J. R. Reiersen, Kristiania, Norway. It is mainly an emigration guide, although the first part of the work con' tains some valuable matters in regard to the early Norwegians in this country. 1846-. Beretning om Hauges Norsk Ev. Luth. Synode. It is doubtful if any statistics were issued, or even kept, before the reorgani- zation of the synod in 1875. Since that date annual reports, more or less imper- fect, have been printed. 1849. Wagledning for Emigranter. Theodor Schytte, Stockholm, Sweden. This is an emigrant guide, but contains also a description of the condition of the Scandinavian settlements in America. 1851. Walkomst-Helsning till den Swenska, Norska och Danska Emigranten. Rev. L. P. Esbjom, New York. Every evidence seems to indicate that this four-paged pamphlet was the first Swedish publication printed in America in the nineteenth century. It contains religious advice to the Scandinavian immigrants, with directions how to reach theSwedish settlementsin Illinois. Four thousand copies were published. 1851-60. Minutes of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Northern Illinois. These reports contain statistics and other informations concerning the Swed- ish and Norwegian congregations connected with this organization. 1852. Scandinavians in the Northwest. Rev. W. M. Reynolds, D. D. This article was published in the '^Evangelical Review." 1853. The Mission of the Lutheran Church in America. Rev. S. W. Harkey, Springfield, 111. This pamphlet refers to the Sea adia avians in connection with church work. 278 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. 1853-. Beretning om det Ordentlige Synode-mode af Synoden for den Norsk-Evang.-Luth. Kirke i Amerika. It doas not appear that any re^lar church statistics were published by the Norwegian Synod until about 1863, and it is to be regretted that this conservatiTe organization has not issued any first-class reports. All other Norwegian and Danish Lutherans appear to have modeled their statistics after those of the Norwegian Synod, at least as to defects and omissions. Consequently^ none of them keep any record of the value of church property, and omit many other things of importance. All the reports of the Norwegian and Danish Lutherans are poorly classified and badly summed up. 1853-55. Bref om Amerika till Hemmavarande Lands- man. C. E. O. Svalander, Halmstad, Sweden. It was published in two parts, and intended as an emigrant guide-book. 1854. Protocol!, H411et vid ett Gemensamt Mote af Chicago och Mississippi Evang. Lutherska Conferensen i Chicago. This is the first church report published in the Swedish language in America in the nineteenth century. It may be of interest to many people that in this pamphlet of a dozen pages, some space is devoted to the discussion of temper- ance. 1855-. Kirkelig Maanedstidende and Evangelisk Luth- ersk Kirketidende. Decorah, Iowa. The last mentioned magazine is a continuation of the first, both being the official organs of the Norwegian Synod, It contains a vast amount of historical data concerning aU the Scandinavian- American churches, especially as long as it was issued only monthly or semi-monthly. I860-. Protokoll af Skandinaviska Ev. Lutherska Au- gustana Synoden. This was the official name of the annual reports of the Augustana Synod for over thirty years. The statistical tables in the reports of this organization have always been and are master productions, covering every subject of church work, and having, perhaps, no superior in the world in the line of perfect statistics, other matters of importance are also included in these publications. Kev. Erland Carlsson was the man who first systematized this work. 1862. Forhandlinger paa det 3die Skandinaviske Kirke- mode i Kristiania 29-31 Juli, 1861. It contains a lecture delivered by Rev. O. C. T. Andren about tLe Angnstana Synod, BIBLIOGRAPHY. 279 1863. Her Fremtrader atter en Skare af Troende Sjale. Kristiania, Norway. This little work contains a number of letters endorsingr the miBsionary labor of Elling Eielsen. The greneral bombast of the contents resembles the recom- mendations of a mnch advertised patent medicine. 1865. Amerika og de Danskes Liv Herovre. Ivev. L. Jorgensen. Copenhagen, Denmark. This pamphlet is virtually valneless. 1867. Hvad Jeg Oplevede under de Sex Forste Aar af Min Virksomhed i Amerika. Rev. C. I. P. Pedersen, Madison, Wis. The author gives an extensive review of the Norwegian Lutheran church disputes in Chicago during 1861-67. 1867. Skandinaveme i de Forenede Stater og Canada. Johan Schroder, La Crosse, Wis. It is intended as an emigrant guide, but refers also to the Seandinavian set- tlements in the United States and Canada. 1868. Historisk Fremstilling. Madison, Wis. This pamphlet contains a history of the disputes concerningr the slavery question which was agitated among the Norwegian Lutherans in 1861-8, espe- cially by Rev. C. L. Clausen and some Norwegian Synod ministers. It waa pub- lished under the auspices of the church council of the synod, and called forth Clausen's book "Gjenmale." 1869. Gjenmale. Rev. C. L. Clausen, Chicago, 111. In this work the author defends himself in regard to his position on the slavery question, on which he could not agree with the majority of the ministers of the Norwegian Synod. 1870. Ev. Lutherska Augustana Synoden i Nord-Amer- ika och dess Mission. Rev. E. Norelius, Lund, Sweden. A very concise and impartial history of the Augustana Synod. In many respects it is superior to the larger work by the same anthor. 1870. Markelige Tildragelser. Rev. T. A. Torgerson, La Crosse, Wis. It deals only with some local church disputes. 280 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. 1870-89. Beretning om den Norsk-Dansk Evang. Luth. Konferentse. Most of these reports are, like those of other Norwegian Lutherans, rather defectiTe. 1871. En Rejse i Amerika. Rev. A. C. L. Grove-Rasmus- sen, Odense, Denmark. The author traveled in this country in the interest of "TJdvalget," Denmark* and the above is a report of his investigation, which led to the establishment ol Lutheran missionary work among the Danes in this country. 1872-. Referat af Forliaudlingeme ved Frikonferen- ser og Fallesmoder. A number of reports have been published in regard to meetings held by the various Norwegian-American Lutheran church associations for the purpose of uniting them or discussing certain subjects. Such reports have been issued con- cerning conferences held at Rock Prairie, Wis., 1872 ; St. Ansgar, Iowa, 18S1 ; Decorah, Iowa, 1881; Chicago, 111., 1885; WiUmar, Minn., 1887 and 1892; Lanes- bore, Minn., 1897 ; Austin, Minn., 1899, and no doubt at other places. 1873. Anteckningar frS,n en Svensk Emigrants Yistelse i Amerika 1871-72. J. E. Wennstrom, Upsala, Sweden. 1874. Aaben Erklaring. A. Weenaas and S. Oftedal, Minneapolis, Minn. This is one of the fiercest attacks upon the Norwegian Synod imaginable, being virtually a declaration of war, and it called forth numerous replies. Weenaas. in his book "Wisconsinismen," witbdrew his name from it; bat Oftedal never took back a single word in it, 1875. Tale ved Femti-Aarsfesten for den Norske Ud- vandring til Amerika. Prof. R. B. Anderson, Chicago, 111. This small pamphlet contains very little concerning the Norwegian emi- gration. 1875-9. Kvartal-Skrift for den Norsk Lutherske Kirke i Amerika. G. Sverdrup and S. Oftedal, Minneapolis, Minn. This magazine contains some valuable articles in regard to the various Norwegian-American Lutheran churches. 1876. Yore KIrkelige Modstanderes Vaaben. Rev. V. Koren, Decorah, Iowa. It cites quotations from A. Weenaas's book "Wisconsinismen,** as well as comments on them. BIBLIOGRAPHY. 281 1876. Vor Tids Muhamed. John Ahmanson, Omaha, Neb. The first two chapters contain a brief history of the beginning of Mormoo- ism in Denmark and Norway, and the immigration of some Scandinavians to Utah in 1856. 1876. Om Absolutionen. Rev. N. C. Ylvisaker, Bergen, Norway. This pamphlet contains short definitions of the subject by various Nor- wegian-Americans. 1876. Reseminnen frAn Amerika. C. J. N., Kristi- nehamn, S^?sreden. The author, Rev. C. J. Nyvall, who traveled in this country in 1875, refers to the religions condition among the Swedes in the United States. 1876-93. ProtokoU af Metodist Episkopal Kyrkans Nordvestra Svenska Arskonferens, These reports of the Swedish Methodists in this country are fairly well pre- pared and quite complete. No statistics, however, are compiled concerning the annual appropriations which the Swedish-American Methodists have for many years received from the American Methodists, sometimes amounting to over $30,000 in one year. Complete information on this point may be found in the annual reports of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In comparison with other denominations, the Swedish Methodists value their church property too high. Since the division of the conference in 1893, their statistics have been very unsatisfactory. , But for most purposes, the reports of the Missionary Society can be safely consulted. 1876-94. Nordisk Familjebok. Konversationslexikon och Realencyklopedi. Stockholm, Sweden. This masterly cyclopedia in eighteen volumes contains biographies of some * Scandinavian-Americans, especially such as have returned and settled in Scandi- navia. The article on emigration, "Utvandring," is one of the ablest on that subject that has ever appeared in any language, and is superior to those on the same subject in the English and American cyclopedias. It is boldly asserted that the early Scandinavian emigrants were mostly adventurers, unsuccessful individuals, and criminals ; but it is admitted that in later years the emigrants are the cream of the middle and working classes. In 1896 an addition to the original work was issued. 1877. Frin Nya Verlden. Ernst Beckman, Stockholm Sweden. Only a few pages refer to Swedish-Americans, and none of it is of any great importance. 282 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. 1878. Minnen. Rev. J. A. Edgren, Chicago, 111. It contains an interesting autobiography of the author, as well as other matters of interest, especially to Swedish-American Baptists. 1878. De Kirkelige Partier blandt vort Folk i Amerika. Rev. Y. Koren, Decorah, Iowa. A pamphlet giving an excellent review of the various Norwegian Lutheran church organizations in this country. 1878. Om Splittelse i Kirken. Decorah, Iowa. In this pamphlet the predestination question is discussed. 1878. Missourisynoden og den Norske Synode. Rev. O. Asperheim, Brooklyn, N. Y. This work was written, apparently, for the purpose of showing that the Nor- wegian Synod has been wrong in most of its disputes with other Lutheran organizations. Bat it contains also some other matters of historical value. 1879. Trende Breve. De Forest, Wis. It deals with the schism of Hangers Synod and EUiug Eielsen in 1875, 1879. Falskt Yidnesbyrd af Prof. A. Weenaas. Rev. B.J. Muus, Decorah, low^a. In this pamphlet the author defends the teachings of the Norwegian Synod against the attacks of Prof. Weenaas. 1880. Om den Lutherske Kirke i Amerika. Rev. P. Andersen, Chicago, 111. This pamphlet refers mostly to the Norwegian Augustana Synod. 1880—. Korsbaneret. Edited by various AugustanS, Synod clergymen, Rock Island, 111. This annual publication is vury valuable, containing an immense amount of historical and biographical information concerning the Augustana Synod and its men. 1880-. Protokol af den Norsk- Danske Methodist Aars- konference. These reports are fairly well prepared and quite complete. But no statistics are compiled concerning the annual appropriations which the Norwegian- Danish Methodists in this country have for many years received from the Amer- ican Methodists, sometimes amounting to over $20,000 in one year. Complete BIBLIOGRAPHY. 283 infoTmatioQ oa this subject, as well as oq many others, caa be secured by cod- Bultiug the annual reports of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In comparison with other denominations, the Norwegian-Danish Methodists value their church property too high. 1881. Naadevalg-Striden. Prof. F. A. Schmidt, Chi- cago, 111. It contains lectures on predestination, and some historical facts concerning the Norwegian Lutherans during the great predestination controversy. 1881. Celebration of the Decennial Anniversary of the Founding of New Sweden in Maine. Portland, Me. It contains a review of the Swedish colony in Maine, founded in 1870 by W W. Thomas, U. S. Minister to Sweden-Norway. 1881-2. I Amerika. C. E. H. Gestrin, Stockholm, Sweden. The author resided in this conn try for twelve years, and refers to the Swedish- Americans. 1882. The Scandinavian Immigration, Rev. W. K. Prick. This article appeared in *'The Lutheran Church Review" for Jan. and April, ]882» and deals with the Northmen principally from a religions and statistical standpoint. 1882. Mormonismen. Rev. J. Telleen. This small pamphlet refers very briefly to the Scandinavian Mormons. 1882. Fri Menighed i Fri Kirke. Svar paa de 30's Er- klaring. Prof Georg Sverdrup, Minneapolis, Minn. This pamphlet advocates individual and congregational liberty as against high church principles and practices. 1883. Forhandlinger ved Synodalkonferensen i Chi- cago. Most of the report is devoted to the position of Prof. F. A. Schmidt in regard to the predestination question. 1883. Amerikanska Studier. Ernst Beckman, Stock- holm, Sweden. It is composed of two parts, one referring to the Swedes in America, and the other describing the press in the U. S. 284 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE TJ. S. 1883. Foredrag cm Amerika. Isidor Kjellberg, Stock- holm, Sweden. A small pamphlet referring to Swedish- American conditions. 1884. Emigrantmissionen. Rev. R. Andersen, Brooklyn, N. Y. As an emigrant guide, and as a treatise on the Lutheran work among the Banish immigrants, it is considered to be quite valuable. 1884. Den Gamle og Nye Retning. Rev. J. A. Bergh, Chicago, 111. This pamphlet ia a protest against the free, new, or loose tendency within the Norwegian-Danish Lutheran Conference. 1884. Betragtninger og Meddelelser fra Amerika. Rev. P. C. Trandberg, Minneapolis, Minn. It is virtually an autobiography. 1884-96. Beretning om det Danske Evangeliske Luth- erske Kiricesamfund. These reports do not contain any statistics until 1892, but after that time they are fairly complete. 1885. Bidrag till Utvandringsfr^gan. Gustav Sund- barg, Upsala, Sweden. This large volume is a statistical compilation in regard to the emigration from Sweden, a subject on which the author is recognized as a high authority. 1885-. Svenska Ey. Missions-Forbundets Arsberattelse. The statistics of the Swedish Mission Covenant of America are undoubtedly among the worst in Christendom. Up to 1895 unsuccessful attempts were made to include in the annual reports the ordinary church statistics, but since that date only the number of ministers and congregations have been mentioned, the former being about twice as numerous as the latter. 1886. Minne. Rock Island, 111. This pamphlet contains orations and poems in Swedish, English, German, Latin, and Greek, all delivered in honor of Br. T. N. Hasselquist on his seventy- first birthday. 1886. Svenska Kyrkans Historia efter Reformationen. C. A. Cornelius, Stockbolm, Sweden. The second volume of this valuable work conlains a history of Eric Janson^s BIBLIOGRAPHY. 285 sect and of the Angnstana Synod, and refers to many other matters in connection with the Swedish emigration. 1886. Hvad Jeg Vil. Rev. P. C. Trandberg, Chicago, 111. It is a general harangue about himself, the Lutherans, and the Congrega- tionalists. 1887. Fra mit Besog blandt Mormoneme. Rev. And- reas Mortensen, Kristiania, Norway. The latter part of the booli: refers to the Scandinavian Mormons. 1887. Skal der Blive Fred? Rev. H. Halvorsen, Chicago. This pamphlet treats of the disputes in regard to predestination 1888-9. Beretning om det Antimissouriske Broderskab. These reports do not contain any statistics at all, and apparently are of littls vaine. 1888-. Statistik ofver Svenska Baptist Forsamlingama. These reports of the Swedish-American Baptists are fairly well prepared and quite complete. No statistics, however, are compiled concerning the annual appropriations which the Swedish Baptists in this country for many years have received from the American Baptists, sometimes amounting to about $25,000 in one year. Some information on this point can be secured in the annual reports of the American Baptist Home Mission Society. 1889. Vitus Bering. Peter Lauridsen, translated by Prof. Julius E. Olson, Chicago, 111. This is a biography of the great Banish explorer, the discoverer of Bering Strait, who was iu the service of Peter the Great. 1889. Address. Rev. C. A. Swensson, Topeka, Kan. This pamphlet refers to the Swedish-American institutions of learning. 1889. Minnesotas Historia. Robert Gronberger, Min- neapolis, Minn. This volume contains nothing in regard to Scandinavian-American history, except biographies and pictures of about sixty Scandinavians in Minnesota. 1889. Ett HaMr i Nya Verlden. Alexandra Gripen- berg, Helsingfors, Finland. The authoress was a delegate to the international woman's congress at Washington, D. C, in 1888, and afterwards traveled extensively through the United States, visiting and describing some of the Finnish and Swedish settle- ments, especially in Pennsylvania and California. 286 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. 1890. Vid Hemmets Hard. Rev. C. A. Swensson, Chi- cago, 111. This immense volume is, like most of Swensson's productiona, virtually value- less to an bistoriaUf often being incorrect and misleading. The same is true of his books "I Sverige" (1890), "Forgat Mig Ej" (1893), and "Again in Svpeden" (1898). Yet they may be consulted, as several subjects relating to Svpedish- American history are referred to. 1890. Minnen fr4n en Fard genom Amerika. Axel E. Lindvall, Karlskrona, Sweden. The author traveled through this country, and refers to the Swedish-Ameri- cans. 1890. Frugter fra Northfield-Skolen, og lidt fra Augs- burg Seminar. M. Shirley, Minneapolis, Minn. This pamphlet is a ma^s of rambling and bitter tirades against some prom- inent members of the United Church. 1890. Mindeblade eller Otte Aar i Amerika. Rev. A. Weenaas, Volden, Norway. The author gives an historical review of the religious condition of the Nor- wegian-Americans during 1868-76, especially in regard to the separation of the Swedes and Norwegians in the Augustana Synod and the formation of the Nor. wegiaU'DaBish Conference. 1890. Afskeden ogdens Grunde. Rev. P. C. Trandberg, Chicago, 111. It contains something concerning the work of the Congregationalists among the Scandinavians in America. 1890. Festtaler. Chicago, 111. This pamphlet contains the speeches delivered at the dedication of Luther College in 1890. 1890. Hvad den Norske Synode Har Villet og fremdeles Vil. Rev. V. Koren, Decorah, Iowa. This pamphlet contains the main principles of what the Norwegian Synod teaches. 1890-. Beretning om den Forenede Norsk Lutherske Kirke i Amerika, The statistical tables in the reports of the United Church treat of about half as many topics as those of the Augustana Synod, but the former occupy almost BIBLIOGRAPHY. 287 twice as much space as the latter. In half a dozen diSerent places, the Tarions subjects have beea tablulated ia alphabetic order according to the names of the pastors, covering nearly 150 pages. All of which could easily have been put under two headings, thereby saving much space. Besides, on account of the statistics being classified on a single basis, it is very difficult to find any informa- tion in regard to a certain congregation if the name of the officiating clergyman is not known. To ascertain the strength of the United Church in a given state would require as much labor as to search in a waste-basket for a. pin. Many of the ministers report as members all the children they have baptized, notwith- standing that the parents do not belong to the church, and that some of these children will never attend any service. In fact it is impossible to tell the strength of the United Church until their methods of keeping statistics have been thor- oughly reformed. 1891, Amerika. K. Zilliacus, Chicago, 111. This is only an emigration guide, full of patent medicine advertisements. 1891. Svenskame i Minnesota. Axel A. Ahlroth, St. Paul, Minn. Two small pamphlets, containing historical matter regarding several of the Swedish settlements in Minnesota. The work is unreliable. The writer has quoted several pages from ^'Svenskame i St. Croix, ItlCD \VI.\(i. ItKV. L. M. BIORN, ZUMBROTA. C. BItANDT, ST. I'AL'L. ('. L. I'.UrSLETTEN, KENYdX BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIA AS IN MINNESOTA. 369 conscientious attention to the duties imposed upon him, he did much to raise the standard of Minnesota cheese and butter; and certainly was one of the ablest dairy and food commissioners the state ever had. Anderson has for several years taken a very active part in politics and has been a delegate to many Republican local and state conventions. He is married and has grown children. Anderson, Daniel, state legislator — Cambridge — boirn 3 Feb., 1842, in Hassela, Helsingland, Sweden. He came with his parents directly from Sweden to Chisago Lake, Minn., in 1851. They moVed to Kreebom county in 1857. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Anderson joined the Tenth Minnesota Infantry, fought at Tupelo, Miss., and served in the army for three years. He came to Isanti county in 1868 and was elected county auditor the same year ; since he has been county surveyor, county commissioner, and judge of probate. He was a member of the state legislature in 1873, 1875-77, 1879, and 1889. Anderson is a plain, unassuming man, who has hardly a common school education, though Col. Mattson taught him how to drive oxen. In the legis- lative manuals he was always styled "laborer;" yet he is considered to have been one of the most influential Scan- dinavian legislators in the state. He has gone through all the adversities of pioneer life. Anderson is a life-long Republican, and was married in 1869. Aretander, J. W,, lawyer— Minneapolis— born 2 Oct., 1849, in Stockholm, Sweden. His father, who belonged to one of the oldest families of Norway, was for some years a professor in Sweden, but returned to his native land in 1854. Young Aretander received a college education in 370 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAYAINS IN THE U. S. Skien, graduated with honors from the University of Nor- way, was a journalist for a while, but his radical views brought him into trouble, and he became a political exile and emigrated to America in 1870. For a couple of years he was connected with a Norwegian paper in Chicago, where he also studied law, and was admitted to the bar in Minne- sota, in 1874. For about ten years he practiced law at Willmar, and has been located in Minneapolis since 1886. Arctander has a great reputation as a criminal lawyer, and has been very successful in handling personal damage cases. He is author of Practical Handbook of Laws of Minne- sota, published in the Norwegian language in 1876, and thoroughly revised and published in Norwegian and Swedish twenty years later. He has also translated Henrik Ibsen's play. The Masterbuilder, into English. The 17th of May, 1897, a magnificent statue of the famous Norwegian violin- ist, Ole Bull, was put up in the main park of Minneapolis, mostly through the untiring energy and self-sacrifice of Arctander. For about two years he spoke, wrote, stormed, until his efforts were crowned with success ; and in connec- tion with the Ole Bull statue — the only statue in the public parks of Minneapolis — Arctander's name -will long be remembered with gratitude throughout the Northwest. In 1898 he made a great stir by publicly announcing that he had been converted to God, although he at the time was a mem- ber of the American Methodist Church, which he had joined in 1897 and which is supposed to accept as members only such persons as profess to have been converted. Arosin, 0. H., county treasurer — St. Paul — born 14 May, 1861, in Stockholm, Sweden. He received a high BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 371 school education in his native city; learnt the printer's trade; emigrated to America in 1879, coming directly to St. Paul; was connected with the Swedish paper Skaffaren for a couple of years; started a jeweler store in 1883; worked in the postoffice in 1883-7; was elected assembly- man in 1894, being re-elected two years later, and served as president of the assembly for tw^o years; and w^as elected county treasurer in 1898 by a small majority. During all these years of public activity, Arosin has retained his jeweler store. He is a member of the English Lutheran church; affiliates with the Republican party; belongs to the orders of Free Masons and Odd Fellows; was married to Laura Nelson, of St. Paul, in 1891, by whom he has a couple of children. Askeland, Hallward Tobias, librarian and musician- Minneapolis — ^bom 30 Nov., 1860, in Stavanger, Norway. He completed a course in the Latin school of his native city; emigrated in 1875, coming directly to Minneapolis ; gra- duated from the literary department of Augsburg Seminary in 1882; taught music for a few years; was editor of Felt-Raabet, the first Norwegian prohibition paper pub- lished in Minnesota, from 1886—89, but the paper ceased; and he has ever since 1889 been librarian of the Franklin Avenue branch of the public library. Askeland takes great interest in music and literature, and for several years was organist of the Norwegian Lutheran Trinity Church, and secretary of what is now the Minnesota Total Abstinence Association. In 1883 he was married to Julia Skallerud of Minneapolis. They have several children. Bendeke, Karl, physician and surgeon — Minneapolis — 372 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. bom 1841, in Kristiania, Norway. After going through the regular old country college course, he was admitted to the University of Norway as a student in 1859. He studied medicine there from 1863-68, when he was appointed sur- geon on board an emigrant vessel which brought him to this country. He settled first in Chicago, where he practiced his profession for tw^o years; moved to Minnesota in 1870; located in Minneapolis in 1875, where he has since resided. Bendeke has at different times visited foreign medical insti- tutions for the purpose of extending his studies in certain specialties, principally diseases of the eye and ear. In 1877 he visited the eye clinics of London and Paris ; in 1881 attended the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary for three months, and in 1891 spent about the same length of time at the university clinics of Berlin, Germany, where he studied the most modern methods of research and treatment in the various branches of medicine and surgery. His professional skill in conjunction with his long residence in the country has naturally given him a reputation as one of the leading Scandinavian physicians of the Northwest. In 1869 he was married to Josephine Fauske, of Bergen, Norway. They have one daughter, who is an accomplished violinist. Bennet, C. C, merchant— Minneapolis— born 1847, in Malmo, Sweden. He is the son of Baron Wilhelm Bennet, w^ho was an officer in the Swedish army. Young Bennet re- ceived a good education ; ~went to Copenhagen, Denmark, at the age of fifteen, to learn the furrier's trade ; emigrated to Montreal, Canada, in 1867, where he worked at his trade for over a year; then traveled through several of the Eastern states, but returned to Montreal to become a member and BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MANNESOTA. 373 manager of a far company. In 1877 he went to Omaha, Neb., and opened a wholesale house in furs ; but as the busi- ness proved unprofitable, he moved shortly after-wards to Minneapolis, where he has ever since been engaged in his trade. Always taking an active interest in the social life of his countrymen, Bennet has several times been president of the Swedish society Norden. He has been a prominent speaker at many important Scandinavian festivals and other great gatherings. He w^as the chief promoter in organizing, in 1888, Battery B of the First Battalion, which is composed mostly of Swedes; Bennet — generally known as Captain Bennet — has been commander of the battery ever since its organization. In 1874 he was married to a Canadian lady. They have grown children. Berg, Albert, secretary of State— Centre City— born 25 June, 1861, in Centre City, Minn. His parents were among the early Sw^edish settlers at Chisago Lake. He attended Carleton College, Northfield, in 1876-78; then studied at Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, for a couple of years. Berg traveled as a salesman through the Western states for four years, then taught school for three years, was elected register of deeds of Chisago county in 1886, and was re-elected two years later. He was a delegate to the Repub- lican national convention at Minneapolis in 1892, and at the state convention that year was a strong candidate for secretary of state. In 1894 he was elected secretary of state, and has since been re-elected twice. Berg is a Lutheran, quite a good singer, and is married. Bergsland, H. H., educator— Red Wing— bom 23 Jan., 1858, in Fillmore county, Minn. His father emigrated from 374 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S Telemarken, Norway, to the United States in 184-6, and his mother came from the same place a few years later. They settled in Fillmore county a couple of years before he was bom. After having received a common school educa- tion, young Bergsland entered Red Wing Seminary in 1880, and graduated from the theological department of this institution five years later ; then attended a theological school in Kristiania, Norway, for tw^o years, after which he accepted the position of theological professor in Red Wing Seminary. From 1889 to 1897 Bergsland was president of this institution, but at the latter date he again became theological professor. In 1895 he published a small pam- phlet in answ^er to the fanatical attack made upon him by Rev. O. S. Meland. In 1887 he w^as married to Anna L. Thompson, of Fillmore county, Minn. BieFmann, Adolph, state auditor— Rochester— bom 19 Nov., 1842, in Kristiania, Norway. Biermann emigrated to America at the age of nineteen and at once entered the Union army, enlisting in company I of the Twenty-fourth Wisconsin Volunteers, serving till the close of the war, and participating in the battles of Perrysville, Ky., and Mur- freesboro, Tenn. In 1866 Biermann made a visit to Nor- way, and upon his return settled at Rochester. He was elected county auditor of Olmsted county in 1874, w^hich position he held till 1880. In 1875 and 1882 he was placed in nomination by the Democratic party as secretary of state; in 1884, as representative to Congress; in 1883, as candidate for governor. He was defeated. In 1885 he was appointed collector of internal revenue for Minnesota by President Cleveland. In 1890 he was elected, on the Demo- BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 375 cratic ticket, to the office of state auditor, but after having served one term was defeated for the same position in 1894. Biermann is still a bachelor. Biorn, Ludvig- Marinus, clergyman — Zumbrota — bom 7 Sept., 1835, in Moss, Norway. His father was a minister in the state church of Norway, and some of his ancestors held high military and ecclesiastical positions in Slesvig. Biorn became a student at the University of Norway in 1855, graduating as cand. theol. in 1861. The following year he emigrated to America, being called as pastor by the congregation of the Norwegian Synod in Manitowoc county. Wis. Here Biorn met w^ith all the hardships inci- dent to pioneer life. The war, too, added to the diffi- culty ; company F of the Fifteenth Wisconsin Regiment was mostly taken from his congregation. In 1879 he removed to Goodhue county, Minn., to the congregations of Land and Minneola. Biorn was one of the leaders of the Anti- Missourians in the great predestination controversy, and w^hen, after the division of the synod, the United Church was organized out of three Norwegian Lutheran denomina- tions, Biorn became the vice-president of the nevr body. The North, in 1893, says: "Biorn has a frank, honest, prepossessing face. He is a thoroughbred gentleman, a popular preacher, an able writer, and last but not least, there is a vein of true poetry in his psychical make-up -which has found expression in a number of poems, two or three of which are gems of their kind." One of his sons is practicing law in St. Paul. BjoPgo, K„ clergyman — Red Wing— bom 2 Oct., 1847, in Voss, Bergen stift, Norway. He came to the United States 376 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. in his infancy; graduated from Luther College, Decorah, low^a, in 1870, and three years later completed his theologi- cal studies at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo.; was pastor of several churches at and around Lake Park, Becker county, Minn., for about fifteen years, and accepted a call to Red Wing in 1888. Bjorgo was elected president of the Minnesota District of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Synod in 1891, and has been one of the chief promoters in establishing the Young Ladies' Lutheran Seminary at Red Wing — the only Scandinavian institution of its kind in America. He was married to Ingeborg Lien, of Decorah, Iowa, in 1876 ; they have several children. Boekman, Mareus Olaus, clergyman and educator- Minneapolis — ^born 9 Jan., 1849, in Langesund, Kristian- sand stift, Norway. His father was receiver of customs at Ekersund, where young Bockman received his early school training, and after having completed the course at Aars and Voss' Latin school, Kristiania, he graduated with high hon- ors from the theological department of the University of Norway in 1874, w^as ordained and accepted a call from a congregation in Goodhue county, Minn., the following year, remaining there for eleven years. Rev. J. C. Jensson, in American Lutheran Biographies, says: 'When the great controversy concerning election and conversion arose in the Norwegian Synod, Bockman took part with the Anti- Missourians and became one of the leaders in opposing the Missourians. In 1886 the Anti-Miss ourian faction estab- lished a theological seminary of their own at Northfield, Minn., and Bockman was called to fill one of the chairs at this institution. From 1887-90 he was one of the editors DR. KARL BENDEKE, MIXXEAPOLIS. A. E. r.OYF.SEX, ST. PAUL. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 377 of Latberske Vidneabj'rd, the church paper of the Anti- Missourians. In 1890 Bockman became a member of the faculty of Augsburg Seminary. He is a bright scholar and one of the most eloquent Norwegian preachers in this coun- try.' Since 1893 he has served as president of the United Church Seminary. Bockman has been married twice, and has several children. Boeckmaun, Eduard, physician and surgeon — St. Paul- born 25 March, 1849, in Ostre Toten, Hamar stift, Norway. His father was an officer in the army, and later became post- master at Moss. Young Boeckmann received a carefal col- lege education ; graduated from the medical department of the University of Norway in 1874; visited Copenhagen, Utrecht, Paris, and Heidelberg, for the purpose of studying the diseases of the eye ; practiced his profession in Bergen for ten years, meanwhile visiting the United States three times and practicing medicine at shorter periods in different parts of this country. He came to America first in 1882 ; has crossed the Atlantic Ocean over twenty times ; and located permanently in St. Paul in 1886, where he has ever since resided. Boeckmann at first became noted as a specialist of the diseases of the eye, but has since engaged in every branch of medical practice and surgical operations — in all of which he has, by general consent, become skillful. He was married to Anne Sophie Dorothea Gill, of Bergen, in 1875 ; they have children. Boen, Haldor E., congressman — Fergus Falls — born 2 Jan., 1851, in Sondre Aurdal, Yalders, Norway. At the age of seventeen he left his native country and came to Mower county, Minn., but settled in Otter Tail county three years 378 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. later. Here he worked in the county auditor's office for a while, taught in the public schools for five years, and was an active agitator of the Farmers' Alliance and People's party movement. In 1880 he was county commissioner, and for a number of years acted as deputy sheriff. During the years of 1885-89 he w^as a member of the executive com- mittee of the state Alliance. He was elected, on the Repub- lican ticket, register of deeds of Otter Tail county in 1888, and re-elected on the Alliance ticket two years later. In 1892 the People's party nominated him for Congress, and he was elected by a very small majority; but w^as defeated in 1894. Boen introduced a number of radical bills while in Congress, and succeeded in getting one measure through. The Boen Law provides that criminal cases in the U. S. courts must be tried in the district where the offense was committed. Boen does not seem to possess the educational qualifications or the mental and moral make-up to properly fill the high position to which he was elected. Since 1895 he has been editor and publisher of the Fergus Falls Globe. In 1874 he w^as married to Margit G. Brekke ; they have several children. Borup, Charles William W., pioneer— St. Paul— born 10 Dec, 1806, in Copenhagen, Denmark; died in 1859. At the age of twenty-one he came to the United States, remained in New^ York for about a year, then went to Lake Superior, and, as an Indian trader, entered the service of the Amer- ican fur company, of Avhich concern he finally became the chief agent, residing at La Pointe for several years. Borup moved to St. Paul in 1849, and four years later he, in con- nection with his brother-in-law, Charles H. Oakes, organ- BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 379 ized the first bank in the territory of Minnesota. As an illustration of the banking capacity in those early days, it may be mentioned that, for lack of funds, the banking con- cern "was unable to pay a check of $130 "which a customer desired to get cashed. But Borup soon improved the bank- ing business, and became the best financier in the territory. It is claimed that his parents and ancestors "were prominent people, and that he received a careful education in Denmark, graduating as a physician, but never practiced the pro- fession. It is not kno"wn "what caused him to sacrifice his high standing and bright future in his native country. Here he endured the hardships of a Western pioneer, associating for years a great deal with the Indians; he, like many other early pioneers, married a woman who had Indian blood in her veins, by whom he had many children. One of his sons became a captain in the United States army; his daughters, w^ho are claimed to have been very handsome, were all married to men of prominence. Borup was not only the first banker in Minnesota, he was also the first consul who represented a Scandinavian country in Minnesota, and donated a lot in St. Paul to the Methodists, in 1853, on con- dition that a Scandinavian church should be built thereon, and this was the first Scandinavian religious organization in the state. His son, Theo. Borup, is a leading business man in St. Paul. Boyesen, Alf E., lawyer— St. Paul— born 21 April, 1857, in Kristiania, Norway. His father was a captain in the Norwegian army, and he is a brother to the well-known author Hjalmar Hjort Boyesen. At the age of thir- teen Boyesen emigrated to this country, attended Ur- 380 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. bana University, Urbana, Ohio, for four years; studied law a short time with his brother I. K. Boyesen in Chicago; was admitted to the bar in MinneapoKs, Minn., where he also had studied in private offices, in 1880; practiced his profession in Fargo, N. D., for seven years; moved to St. Paul in 1887; in 1890 entered into partnership with M. D. Munn and N. M. Thygeson; and formed a partnership with P. J. McLaughlin in 1897. Few law firms in St. Paul have a larger practice than the one of w^hich Boyesen is a member, and Boyesen himself had an extensive practice in North Dakota, and is now recognized as one of the leading Scandinavian attorneys in the Northwest. In 1883 he was married to Florence Knapp, a daughter of Frederick M. Knapp, of Racine, Wis. Brandt, Christian, journalist— St. Paul— bom 28 Jan., 1853, in Yestre Slidre, Valders, Norway. His ancestors came from Germany to Denmark, and moved from there to Norway at the fall of the Struense and Brandt's adminis- tration. He received a college and military education in Kristiania, was appointed second lieutenant in the army at the age of tw^enty-one, w^ent to Germany the following year to study civil engineering at the polytechnic school in Aachen, and emigrated to the United States in 1876. His intention was to engage in civil engineering, but failing to find employment, he became for two years city editor of Daglig Skandiaaven in Chicago; was assistant editor of Faedrelandet og Emigranten, La Crosse, Wis., for a couple of years; bought Red River Posten, which was published in Fargo, N. D., but sold it the following year; became editor-in-chief of Nordvesten in 1881, and BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 381 later publisher. From 1887-89 he was inspector general of the National Guard of Minnesota, with the rank of briga- dier-general. In 1890 he was appointed deputy collector of internal revenue; started the Norwegian newspaper, Heim- dal, the following year, but sold it in 1893. He was for two years assistant editor of Minneapolis Tidende, and returned in the spring of 1897 to Nordvesten, of which paper he at present is editor-in-chief. During the war with Spain Brandt organized a Scandinavian regiment, of which he was elected colonel, but it was not called into ser- vice. He was the first to advocate the election of two Scan- dinavians to state offices, which resulted in the election of Col. H. Mattson as secretary of state and A. E. Rice as lieu- tenant-governor, in 1886. In 1878 he was married to Bessie Sorenson, of Chicago; they have children. Breda, 0. J., educator — Minneapolis — ^born 29 Apr., 1853, in Horten, Norway. He received a classical educa- tion; graduated from the University of Norway; proceeded to this country in 1873; graduated from Concordia Theo- logical Seminary, of St. Louis, in 1875; accepted a call to St. Paul, but soon embraced the opportunity offered him to fill a professor's chair in Luther College. Before entering upon his new duties, however, he returned to Noway, where for two years he busied himself with philological studies, and from 1879 to 1882 did very creditable work as professor of Latin and Norwegian in Luther College. After another year's study in Norway he received a call to the professor- ship of Scandinavian languages just then established in the University of Minnesota. A leave of absence of one year was improved in further fitting himself for his new duties. 382 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE TJ. S. which he assumed in the fall of 1884. The chair of Scandi- navian languages, or "Scandinavian language," as the intelligent lawmakers had styled the study thus first raised to the dignity of a professorship in Minnesota, for some time called for but little attention, and Breda assisted regularly at teaching Latin, his ability and learning being generally acknow^ledged. In 1899 he resigned and returned to his native land. He was married in 1886 in Horten, Norway, to Emilie Braarud. They have no children. Brohough, G. 0., educator— Red Wing— bom in Eidsvold, Norway. He came to Red Wing in his early boyhood, where he attended the city public schools. At an early age he entered the State Normal School at River Falls, Wis. After graduating from this institution he taught several terms in the public schools. Not finding his thirst for knowledge satisfied, he entered the state university at Minneapolis, graduating with the class of 1889. Siace then he took a course in the law^ department of his alma mater, receiving the degree of LL. B. in 1892. During his senior year he received a prize offered by the American Institute of Civics for the best thesis on economics. For several years he has been professor at the Red Wing Seminary. Brohough was superintendent of the public schools of Red Wing for some time. His brother, Chr. 0. Brohough, came .to America in 1869, and has since been pastor of Hauge's Synod congre- gations in Red Wing, Chicago, and the Twin Cities. He has published several books, among which may be mentioned: Vaegteren, Sangbog tor Sondagsakolen, Elling Eiel- sens Lir og Virksoxnhed, Guitar Laere, etc. Brown, Fred P., secretary of state— Blue Earth City— BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 383 bom 12 Aug., 1838, in Kobbervig, Kristiansand stift, Nor- way. His grand-father was Bishop Nordahl Brun. At the age of nine Brown went to sea as a cabin boy, and for nine years led the hard and hazardous life of a sailor. In 1854 he emigrated to America, settling in Dane county. Wis. In 1862 he moved to Rochester, Minn., and located at Blue Earth City, his present home, in the year following. Brown was register of deeds of Faribault county for eighteen years. In 1890 he was elected secretary of state on the Republican ticket, and re-elected tw^o years later. He is married, and has several children. Brusletten, C. L., legislator— Kenyon— born 2 Sept., 1853, in Hallipgdal, Norway. He came to America with his parents in 1858, settling in the neighborhood of his present home. He attended the district school in winter and worked on the farm in summer. In 1879 he graduated from the Northwestern Business College at Madison, Wis., and since that time has been engaged in the mercantile busi- ness. Brusletten was postmaster at Kenyon for eight years and held many of the most important offices of his town- ship and village. The farmers' elevator at Kenyon was built largely through his efforts, and he has served as treas- urer of this and as vice-president of the Citizen's State Bank of Kenyon, since those institutions were established. He also owns a large and valuable farm in Kenyon, and has farms in other places in the Northwest. He was elected to a seat in the lower branch of the state legislature in 1896, and re-elected to the same position in 1898. His legislative record was creditable. Cappelen, F, W., engineer— Minneapolis— bom 31 Oct., 384 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE XJ. S. 1857, in Drammen, Norway. He received his early educa- tion in Fredrikstad, and came out at the head of his class. Having completed a course and graduated at a technical school in Orebro, Sweden, he continued his studies at the polytechnic institute in Dresden, Germany, and w^as the first Norw^egian w^ho distinguished himself at a final examination in that institution. In 1880 he emigrated to America ; -was appointed assistant engineer on the Northern Pacific R. R., in Montana, and bridge engineer on the same road in 1883. At the latter date he removed to Minne- apolis, and from 1886 to 1892 served as bridge engineer of the city of Minneapolis. By this time he was generally admitted to rank among the leading engineers of the North- west, and he -was appointed city engineer, which position he held for half a dozen years. The most noteworthy monu. ments to his engineering skill are the Northern Pacific railroad bridge near the state university of Minnesota and the reservoirs of the public -waterworks of Minneapolis. His wife is of German birth ; they have several sons. Carlsen, L, A. K., clergyman — Brandon — bom 6 Nov., 1842, in Trondhjem, Norway. His father was pastor in the state church of Norway. Young Carlsen w^as educated in his native city and at the University of Norway; accepted a call from a couple of Norwegian Synod congregations in Douglas and Grant counties, Minn., in 1872; was called to San Francisco, Cal., in 1877, and to Sydney, Melbourne, and other places in Australia, in 1879 ; returned to Douglas county in 1887 ; made another trip to Australia, visiting the Hawaii Islands and New Zealand, in 1890 ; and was again called to take charge of the missionary work among the I'KOF. J. s. cai;lkiin. IMIXXFAI'KLIS. H. J. IIJERTSEX, MINXi;ArOI>IS. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS m MINNESOTA. 385 Norwegians in those distant colonies, but for some time has been located at Great Falls, Montana. Carlsen is considered to be one of the greatest missionaries in the Norwegian Synod. Carlson, Johan S., educator — Minneapolis — born 8 Nov., 1857, in Frodinge, SriiUland, Sweden. He came with his parents to the United States when he was quite young, and was brought up on the farm. After having attended Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn., for a couple of years, he graduated from Augustana College, Rock Island, 111., in 1885; then studied for two years at the University of Upsala, Sweden, and completed the course for candidate of philosophy at that institution in 1887. The same year he accepted a call to Gustavus Adolphus college as assistant professor of English and mathematics; was elected professor of history and philosophy of that institu- tion the following year, which position he occupied for ten years, and in which capacity he made an excellent record. Augustana College conferred the degree of Master of Arts upon Carlson in 1889, and in 1894 he again went to Sweden and completed the course for doctor of philosophy, which degree was conferred upon him by the famous Uni- versity of Upsala in 1895, his thesis being Om FilosoBen i Aznerika. He was elected editor-in-chief of Minnesota Stats Tidning, the semi-official organ of the Swedish Lutheran Minnesota Conference, in 1898, and the next year he was called to the State University as professor of Scan- dinavian languages and literatures. Carlson is a member of the American Academy of Political and Social Science as well as of the American Statistical Association. He 386 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE V. S. was Republican presidential elector in 1892, has stumped the state for his party, is considered to be one of the best Swedish public speakers in the land, writes able editorial articles, and is a prominent member of the Swed- ish Lutheran church, having for years been one of the lead- ing lay-delegates at the annual meetings of said organiza- tion. In 1890 he w^as married to Maria M. Anderson, of Carver, Minn. They have four children. Christeusen, Ferdinand Sneedorff, vice-consul for Den- mark and banker — Rush City — bom 18 April, 1837, in Copenhagen, Denmark; died 1896. He received a college education in his native country, wrote some poems in his younger days, and participated in the Danish war with Ger- many in 1864. Christensen came to the U. S. in 1866, stopped in Chicago for two years, then moved to Rochester, Minn. Here he commenced the publication of Nordiak Folkeblad, -which was one of the first Danish-Norwegian ncAvspapers in Minnesota, and Christensen w^as the first Scandinavian in the state w^ho commenced to agitate the election of a Scandinavian state official, which resulted in the nomination and election of Col. Hans Mattson as secretary of state in 1869. Christensen became land agent for the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad company, and moved to Rush City in 1870. In 1882 he started the Bank of Rush City. He w^as assistant secretary of state from 1880-82, was appointed vice-consul for Denmark in 1883, represented his district in the state legislature in 1878, and held various local offices. Christensen, w^ho for years was the most prominent Dane in Minnesota, had, on his arrival in this country, to endure the usual hardships common to all immi- BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MANNESOTA. 387 grants, and for some time he earned his bread by blacking stoves for a hardware store in Chicago. In 1869 he was married to Zelma A. Willard, who survives him. Clausen, Glaus LauFitz, clergyman and pioneer— Austin —bom 3 Nov., 1820, on the island of Aero, Fyen stift, Den- mark; died in Paulsbo, Wash., 1892. His father, who kept a country store, intended to let his son study law. And young Clausen at the age of fifteen, after he had received a good common school education and some instruction in the German language, commenced to study law in the office of one of the officials, where he remained for three years. But the legal principles soon tired Clausen ; and, being very reli- gious, he decided to become a missionary of the Gospel. For two years he studied theology under private instruction, but, being poor, he was compelled to seek employment as a tutor. In 1841 he visited Norway, and soon decided to go to Zululand, South Africa, to preach for the natives. But the reputation of his missionary zeal had been circulated to the Norwegian settlement at Muskego, Racine county, Wis. These people felt the need of a preacher and a teacher, espe- cially were they anxious to have their young children instructed in the religion and language of their fathers. They called Clausen. He accepted. And, after having returned to Denmark and married there, he, in company with his bride, arrived at Muskego, Wis., in 1843. Shortly after his arrival he w^as examined by a couple of German Lutheran ministers, was ordained Oct. 18, and organized what is generally supposed to be the first Scandinavian Lutheran church in America, since the Swedish settlement at Delaware River in the seventeenth century. This, however. 388 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE V. S. is a mistake. For three or four years previously to Clausen's arrival, EUing Eielsen had built a log meeting house at Fox River, 111. This may be called the first Norwegian church building and church organization in the U. S., and Eielsen M^as ordained by a Lutheran minister fifteen days before Clausen. On the other hand it must be admitted that Eiel- sen -was not friendly towards any attempts to effect solid church organizations,'and seems to have ridiculed ordained clergymen both before and after his own ordination. He certainly had not the educational qualifications w^hich a Lutheran pastor is supposed to possess, and virtually remained during his -whole life an itinerant lay -preacher. In 1844 Rev. J. W. C. Dietrichson arrived at Muskego from Norway ; he w^as a disciple of Bishop Grundtvig and suc- ceeded, at least for a while, in convincing Clausen to his views. But Dietrichson's Grundtvigianism terrified Eielsen and the friends of Hauge. In 1851 A. C. Preus, H. C. Stub, and C. L. Clausen met at Rock Prairie, Wis., — Dietrichson being in Europe at the time — and organized the Norwegian Synod. Clausen was elected president of the synod.. The constitution of this organization, which it w^as claimed con- tained too much leaven of Grundvigianism, w^as revoked the following year ; Clausen objected to the change and de- sired the leaven to remain. But in later years Clausen changed his views on this subject. When Emigranten, which was one of the first Norwegian newspapers in this country, w^as started in 1851, Clausen became its editor, remaining in that position, however, only a short time, as his ill-health compelled him to go farther West. For several years after his arrival to this country, his lungs had been in BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 389 a bad condition. To restore his health he, in 1852, with- drew from the regular ministry, went to low^a, and located at St. Ansgar, Mitchell county, where soon a prosperous Norwegian settlement sprang up. For a number of years Clausen was engaged in farming and business ventures of various kinds, as well as in politics. Having regained his health and again entered the ministry, he, in June, 1861, attended the annual meeting of the Norwegian Synod, held at Rock Prairie, Wis., and upon application vs^as admitted to membership. At this 'meeting, a declaration from the ministers in regard to slavery having been called for, the following resolution, agreed to by all the ministers, Clausen included, was offered: " Although, according to the Word of God, it is not a sin per se to hold slaves ; yet slavery is per se an evil and a punishment from God, and we condemn all the abuses and sins connected with it, and, when our ministerial duties demand it, and when Christian love and wisdom require it, we will work for its abolition." This resolution on "slavery per se" (in itself) was afterwards supplemented by two other statements, both well known, to-wit: "No Christian can be a pro-slavery man," and " ' American slavery ', or slavery as constituted by American laws and customs, was per se sinful and abominable." Clausen, however, soon publicly withdrew his consent from the resolution of 1861, and declared that slavery is a sin per se, that is in every case and under all circumstances ; but, being the only one that did so, and dissenting on other important questions, he decided to leave the synod in 1868, asserting that the majority of its ministers were too narrow- minded. No other of the many Norwegian- American church 390 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. disputes has been so thoroughly debated and generally mis- understood as has the slavery question. The Norwegian Synod has never to this day receded from the position it took in 1861 ; but the majority of the Norwegian lay -people, practically all of whom were strong sympathizers with the Northern cause, have always failed to comprehend the real attitude of the synod on this topic. Consequently Clausen had the popular side of the argument, as he denounced, principally, the evils of the American slavery, while the leaders of the synod maintained and tried to prove from the New Testament that the condition of servitude is not sinful per se. In regard to the attitude of Clausen and the Nor- wegian Synod on the slavery question a great deal can be learnt by reading Clausen's book, Gjenxnale, and Historisk Frexnstilling by the synod church council. The former ■work, especially, is a master production. At the outbreak of the Civil War Clausen enlisted in the Fifteenth Wisconsin Regiment — better known as the Scandinavian Regiment — under the brave Col. H. C. Heg ; w^as appointed chaplain, but his poor health compelled him to resign in 1862. In 1870 he became one of the organizers of the Norwegian- Danish Evangelical Lutheran Conference, and was its presi- dent for the first two years, then he resigned. In 1856—57 he represented his district in the legislature of Iowa ; took a trip to Norway in 1867, being at the same time appointed by the governor of lo-wa as commissioner of the state to the exposition in Paris, France. After having resided in Iowa for nineteen years, he moved to Virginia, then to Philadelphia, where he preached for one year; accepted a call to Austin, Minn., 1878 ; spent the last few years of his BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAYIAAS IN MINNESOTA. 391 eventful life with his son at Paulsbo, Wash., where he died. He is buried at Austin. Jensson, in American Lutheran Biographies, says of Clausen: "Since his arrival at Muskego, in 1843, Rev. Clausen's name is woven into the principal events of the history of the Norwegian Lutherans of this country, down to recent years. Zealously and faith- fully he administered to the spiritual wants of the pioneers, travelling continually between the small and scattering settlements throughout the Northwest." He was married to Martha F. Rasmussen, of Langeland, Denmark, in 1842, by whom he had one son. She died in 1846 ; since he married Mrs. Birgitte I. Pedersen. One of his sons is practicing law at Austin, and is one of the leading lay-members of the United Norwegian Church. Clausen, Peter, artist — Minneapolis — born 1830, in Denmark. 'At an early age he evinced marked artistic ability, and at the age of thirteen years was apprenticed'to a firesco painter and decorator, at the same time studying drawing at Ringsted. After serving his time he went to Copenhagen, studying two years at the Royal Art Academy, receiving a diploma for excellence in ornamenta- tion, model figure drawing, and oil painting. While decor- ating the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden, he attended the Royal Academy of Arts in that city, receiving a diploma from the Antique school. He afterwards devoted several years to scene painting, finally coming to the United States in 1866. Shortly after his arrival here his services were secured to decorate the First Universalist Church in Minne- apolis, Minn., and many churches, public buildings, and private edifices in that city bear evidences of his skill. 392 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE V. S. Every summer Clausen devotes a portion of his time to studying natural scenery. Among his studies from nature the most rerparkable is the picture of St. Anthony falls, including both sides of the island, painted in 1869. His large paintings of the Yellowstone Park and the Great Northwest have placed him high in the rank of scenic artists in this country. He is an active member of Dania Society, and of some secret organizations.' ColbGFg, A. P. J., journalist— St. Paul— born 19 Aug., 1854, in Bitterna, Yestergotland, Sweden. At the age of sixteen he came -with a brother and a sister to this country; they settled in Carver county, Minn., where he for a w^hile worked as a common laborer, and later, after having entered college, taught and preached during vacations. Colberg attended Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn., for two years, and studied at Augustana College, Rock Island, Ilk, for four years. In 1886 he became associate editor and business manager of what is now called Minnesota Stats Tidning-, the oldest Swedish newspaper in Minnesota, having been established in 1877; it has always been the organ of the Swedish Lutheran Conference of Minnesota, but is owned by private individuals ; since Colberg became manager its circulation has been doubled and is now about 15,000. Colberg is a prominent member of the Swedish Lutheran church, and has held several important offices in the same. In 1886 he was married to Anna E. Nelson,, of Nicollet county, a daughter of Andrew Nelson, who is one of the wealthiest Swedish farmers in the country; they have several children. Darelius, August B., lavrjrer and legislator— Minneapolis DR. J. G. SKAUO. MINNEAPOLIS. REV. M. F. GJBRTSEN, MINNEAPOLIS. ItEV. J. C. JENSSON, AUSTIN. REV. J. J. KILDSK;. ALP.EUT lea. ITiOP. T. S. REIMESTAD, MINNEAPOLIS. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 393 — bom 3 July, 1859, in Skolvened, Yestergotland, Sweden. He came to the United States in 1873, "to acquire freedom of action, liberty of thought, and independence in life." At first he worked on farms, then clerked in stores, kept books, was interested in a grocery business for two years, graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan in 1889, and was elected to the state legislature of Minnesota in 1890. In the house of representatives he was the author of the bill which repealed the obnoxious struck' jury law, and secured the passage of the same. Darelius has resided in Minneapolis since 1876. He is a Democrat, and was nominated by his party for judge of probate in 1898, but was defeated with the rest of the ticket. He is one of the trustees and secretary of the Swedish hospital, and has a very large practice. In 1894 he was married to Tillie Anderson of Minneapolis. Eg^gen, J. Mueller, clergyman and author — Lyle — ^born 20 Apr., 1841, near Trondhjem, Norway. He clerked in Trondhjem for his uncle for some time, at the same time taking private instruction with the view of entering the University of Norway, where he, after having spent a couple of years in Tromso, attended lectures for two years. Afterwards he taught languages in Bergen for a short time, prepared himself for the stage, and appeared in a number of theatrical performances. He studied at a seminary for one year ; established a high school in Tryssil, of which he was principal for several years. In 1865 he accepted a call to take charge of a Norwegian high school in this coun- try, but after his arrival he changed his mind and entered the theological department of Augustana College, Paxton, 394 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. 111., graduating the following year. Eggen preached at Racine and vicinity, Wis., for about five years ; had charge of a congregation at Luther Valley, Wis., from 1871-82; and has ever since been pastor in Mower county, Minn. He belonged to the Scandinavian Augustana Synod, of which he was secretary for some time, until the Conference was organized in 1870, when he joined that body, which became part of the United Norwegian Lutheran Church in 1890. For nine years he w^as secretary of the Conference, served as vice-president for tvro years, and was elected president in 1886, but on account of ill health declined to accept the position. He was one of the organizers of the United Church, and became its missionary secretary, a position he had also occupied in the Conference. Eggen has written considerably for the Norwegian-American press, as well as several books. He uses a flowery language, but there is not much depth to his literary productions. In 1858 he was married to Henrietta Rossow ; they have several children. Eng'Strom, Augustus Erieson, educator— Cannon Falls — born 22 March, 1851, in Vestergotland, Sweden. His ancestors on his father's side came from Germany to Sweden at the time of Gustavus Adolphus. At the age of eighteen young Engstrom emigrated to this country; worked his own way through Carleton College, Northfield, Minn., from which institution he graduated in 1878, and of which he has been one of the trustees since 1890. Ever since his graduation he has been principal of the high school at Cannon Falls; was elected superintendent of schools of Goodhue county in 1882, and has been re-elected ever since -without opposition; was elected president of the BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 395 state association of county superintendents in 1889; was elected president of the Minnesota state teachers' reading circle in 1892, at the same time being appointed chairman of the state committee on common school exhibits at the World's Columbian Exposition. He ranks as one of the ablest school superintendent in the state. In 1880 Eng- strom was married to Mary A. Conley, of Burlington, Iowa; they have several children. Falstrom, Jacob, pioneer— Afton— bom 25 July, 1793 or 1795, in Stockholm, Sweden; died 1859. His father is said to have been a wealthy merchant, but the young man left home at the age of twelve or fourteen years and sailed with his uncle. Of the six or seven different authorities which have been consulted in regard to Falstrom, there are not two that agree. Some maintain that he lost his way in London, England, and, being unable to find his uncle's ship, took passage for North America; others again assert that his uncle was cruel to him, and that he, on that account, ran away, intending to return to Sweden, but instead w^as landed in Canada, where he soon became acquainted with the Indians, whose habits and modes of life he adopted. He seems to have arrived in Minnesota, at least, before 1819, being employed by the American fur company to trade with the Indians around Lake Superior. He spoke French and several Indian languages, married an Indian woman, by whom he had several children, some of whom now live in Washington county, Minn., and in nearly every respect lived and acted as the aborigines. In later years he became very religious, and for a long time acted as a kind of Methodist missionary among the Indians. He 396 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. took a claim in Washington county in 1837. Falstrom was unquestionably the first Scandinavian in Minnesota, but unlike his contemporary Northman, Borup, he exer- cised no influence upon the affairs of the state. The former simply degenerated into savagery, while the latter rose above his surroundings. Felland, Ole G., educator— Northfield— born 10 Oct., 1853, in Koshkonong, Dane county, Wis. His parents came from Telemarken, Norway, in 1846, and settled on the farm vsrhere he was born. Young Felland graduated from Luther College in 1874, being one of the first who received the ■ degree of B. A. of this institution. Afterwards he studied, for tw^o years, the classical and German languages at the Northwestern University, Watertown, Wis., and received the degree of A. M. of this institution in 1892; and becom- ing, interested in theology he commenced to study this branch of know^ledge at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo., completing his course there in 1879. Then he had charge of the Norwegian Lutheran churches at Kasson and Rochester, Minn., for a couple of years, and became a teacher in St. Olaf College in 1881. Felland has taught English, Norwe- gian, German, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, history, and botany. At the time of the controversy on predestination, in 1880, he sided with the Anti-Missourians and joined the United Church in 1890. In 1888 Felland visited England, France, Germany, Denmark, and Norway. He was married in 1883 to Thea Johanna Midboe, of Vernon, Minn. ; they have several children. Fjelde, Jacob, sculptor— Minneapolis — born 10 April, 1859, in Aalesund, Norway; died 1896. One of his ancestors BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 397 married, in 1750, a daughter of a French Huguenot family; his father was a wood carver, and Fjelde worked at this trade until he was eighteen years of age. He studied sculp- ture with Bergslien, in Kristiania, for about a year and a half; studied nearly three years at the Royal Academy, Copenhagen, Denmark, and spent two years in Rome, study- ing the classical masterpieces. Before emigrating to this country in 1887, he produced The Boj- and the Cats, Spring, and other figures, besides a bust of Henrik Ibsen, etc. — all of which received favorable comments of the Scandinavian and the Roman press, and of art critics. Most of his early productions are preserved in the museums of Bergen and Kristiania. Fjelde, during his residence in Minneapolis, made busts, both in marble and in bronze, of some of the best known Scandinavians and Americans in the country, and such works as his statues. The Seading Woman, in the Minneapolis Public Library, and the Gettysburg Monument — both in bronze — have gained a national reputation. Fjelde's works have received high commendation of the critics and of the public, and the Ole Bull statue, in the main park of Minneapolis, is un- doubtedly his greatest work. In 1888 he was married to Margarita Madsen, of Copenhagen, Denmark. Fliesburg, Osear Alf. , physician and poet — Minne- apolis — born 5 April, 1851, in SmMand, Sweden. His grand- father was a German who settled in Sweden in the eighteenth century; his father was an officer in the Swedish navy. Fliesburg studied a few years at a college in Kalmar; gradu- ated as a pharmacist in 1869; followed his profession for a few years in Stockholm, Gothenburg, and other places in 398 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE V. S Sweden; visited most of the European countries, as well as parts of Africa and South America; arrived in the United States in 1874; has clerked in drug stores in New York, Baltimore, Chicago, St. Louis, and in different places in Minnesota, besides having traveled through nearly every state in the Union. Fliesburg studied medicine at spare times for several years, passed his medical examination be- fore the Minnesota state medical board in 1883, and gradu- ated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Chicago, in 1885; practiced his profession in Hudson, Wis., for three years, then resided in St. Paul for several years, and settled in Minneapolis in 1894. Here he took an active part in the establishment of the Swedish hospital in 1898, and has built up a large practice. Fliesburg devotes part of his time to literary pursuits, having published several poems in Svenska Folkets Tidning, Valkjrrian, and Srea, etc., besides w^riting on medical questions for American journals. In 1893 he, in connection with Lewis P. Johnson, published in the English language Cristoforo Colon, a lengthy epic poem dealing with the discovery of America by Columbus; and in 1899 he issued Vildrosor ocb Tistlar, alarge volume of over 300 pages, which is a collection of the author's poems, much of which had previously appeared in some Sw^edish newspapers. If the critics are to be relied upon, Fliesburg is a poetical genius, whose fault in poesy is said, by some of his critics, to consist in ignoring strict poetical rules and not adhering strictly to the severe grammatical construction of the Swedish language, permitting himself more freedom than is usually allowed. Consequently, his productions have been highly praised and severely criticised. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 399 It is generally admitted, however, that his conceptions are sublime, perhaps too much so to be properly understood. In 1879 he was married to MinaBirgittaOpsahl, of Chicago; she died in 1880, and in 1889 he w^as married to Brita Sundkvist, of St. Paul. Fosmark, 0- N., clergyman — Fergus Falls — born 17 Nov., 1853, in Columbia county. Wis. His parents came from Norway to the United States in 1845. He graduated from Luther College in 1875, and completed his theological studies at Concordia Seminary three years later; and has ever since been pastor of a church belonging to the Nor- w^egian Synod in Furgus Falls, and is also president of Park Region Luther College. In 1879 Fosmark was mar- ried to Sarah Norman, of Otter Tail county, Minn. They have several children. Fosnes, C. A., lawyer and legislator — Montevideo — born 2 July, 1862, in Gloppen, Bergen stift, Norway. At the age of four he came with his parents to this country; they settled in Winona county, Minn., but moved to Fari- bault county two years later. Fosnes received a common school education, attended the state normal school at Winona for two years, and studied law in a private office in Winona. Since 1884- he has practiced his profession in Montevideo, and was the Prohibition candidate for Con- gress in 1888. He has been a member of the school board in his district, and city attorney and mayor. In 1897 and 1899 he served in the state legislature, having been elected on the Fusion ticket, although he is independent in politics. Fosnes made an excellent record as a legislator, and was especially successful in defeating several pernicious 400 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAYAINS IN THE U. S. bills. If his party had been in the majority instead of in the minority some of the highly deserving measures which he tried to pass would undoubtedly have been enacted. He is a Freemason and a member of the I. 0. 0. P., and was married to Sarah Ameson, of Montevideo, in 1883. They have children. Foss, H. A., journalist and author — Minneapolis — bom 25 Nov., 1851, in Modum, Norway. He enjoyed a common school and commercial education; came to America in 1877; w^orked on farms in MinneSota and wrote some for Nor- wegian newspapers; settled at Portland, N. D., where he was postmaster in 1885-87; published and edited Norznan- den. at Grand Porks, N. D., in 1887-92; removed to Min- neapolis in 1893; and has since spent his time in editing a weekly, A'^-e Normanden, owned partly by himself. Poss viras a Prohibitionist iu the eighties and took active part in the anti-saloon campaign in North Dakota; but for the past ten years he has been a radical Populist, his campaign editorials being choice samples of the so-called "calamity howling" of the reform press of the early nineties. In 1892 he was candidate for congress on the People's party ticket in North Dakota. Poss has written several books, some of w^hich are very popular, and five of them have been re-pub- lished in Norway. He was married to Inga 0. Pjeld in 1886; they have several children. Foss, Louis 0., legislator— Wendell— bom 1854, in Portage, Wis. His parents were Norwegians, and he re- ceived a common school education at Portage; removed to Minnesota in 1879; has been engaged in farming since that date in Grant county; was justice of the peace for o O o H Q o o p o z 2; a o A -^ ^H k wt ^^^^1 ^k ■^J 1 rlT ■ ^ Ik l^.'^^ ^ '*<^ RHHI 11^ •*_ ■t. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 401 twelve years, town clerk for ten years, and judge of probate for eight years; has been a member of the lower branch of the legislature since 1894, being elected on the Republican ticket. In th« legislature of 1899 he was looked upon as one of the most combative members of his house. He is the head of a family. Fremling, John, clergyman— Vasa— born 21 June, 1842, in Frammestad, Vestergotland, Sweden. After having received a high school education in Skara, Fremling for two years attended the Lyceum in Upsala, and had decided to become a minister of the Gospel in his native country ; but in 1870 Prof. Hasselquist, who had just returned to Sweden for the purpose of securing young men to enter the Swedish- American ministry, induced him to emigrate to the United States. Before he was ordained, however, he studied one year at Augustana College, Paxton, 111. From 1871-82 Fremling had charge of the Swedish Lutheran church in Sabylund, Wis.; was pastor in Welch, Minn., for five years, and at Fish Lake for two ; and came to Vasa in 1889. He was president of the Minnesota Conference in 1883-87 and has held the same position since 1897. When Fremling was thirty years of age he was married to Emelia A. Edholm, a sister of A. E. Edholm, of Stillwater. They have one child. Frieh, Johannes Bjereh, educator and clergyman — Hamline — ^born 15 July, 1835, in Nannestad, Romerike, Nor- way. He is the son of G. J. Frich, pastor in the state church of Norway. After having finished his Latin school course at Kristiania, he entered the University of Norway and was graduated as theol. cand. in 1861. The following year Frich 402 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. was ordained minister, and in the summer of the same year emigrated to America to take charge of twelve congrega- tions belonging to the Norwegian Synod, and located in La Crosse, Trempealeau, and Jackson counties in Wisconsin; served as minister for twenty-six years; was for a number of years secretary of the synod ; became president of the East- em District in 1876, w^hich position he held till 1888. He w^as then called as professor of theology at Luther Seminary, of which institution he is now president. In 1894-9 he was vice-president of the Norwegian Synod. Frich was married to Caroline Nilsen in 1862. They have several children. Gausta, Hertojorn N., artist— MinneapoHs— bom 1854, in Telemarken, Norw^ay. He came w^ith his parents to the U. S. in 1867 ; attended Luther College for three years; then went to Europe, and for seven years studied painting in Kristiania, Nor^vay, and Munich, Germany ; returned to America in 1882; lived in Chicago, Madison, La Crosse, and Decorah, until 1887, when he w^ent to Italy, Germany, and his native country. Gausta has resided in MinneapoHs since 1889 and has made portrait paintings of some of the best known people in the United States. Prof Breda said of him: ^'He does not know how to advertise or put himself for- ward; but he is one of the best Scandinavian artists in this country; his landscapes are beautiful, original, and natural." The Literary Northwest for January, 1893, in speaking about Minneapolis artists, refers to Gausta as follows: "He is an admirable figure painter and also strong in land- scape." Gjertsen, Henry J., lawyer— Minneapolis— born 8 Oct., 1861, near Tromso, Norway. Gjertsen came to this country BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 403 when six years of age, living witli his parents on their farm at Lake Ameha, Minn., and attending the common school during the winter months until he was fifteen. When seven- teen he requested his parents to permit him to go to college, and his father finally consented to let him go to the Red Wing Seminary, where he completed the six years' course in the collegiate department. In the last year of his college course he determined to enter the legal profession, and already began the study of law privately before leaving the seminary. He continued the study of law and was admitted to the bar at the age of twenty -three. While studying law Gjertsen was employed in a number of small cases, one of which as a test case was appealed by his opponent to the supreme court, Gjertsen thus receiving the distinction of being acknowledged attorney of record in the supreme court before he was admitted to the bar. Since his admission to practice Gjertsen has conducted a general law business in Minneapolis, where he has built up a wide-spread and lucrative practice, having also successively conducted a number of important cases before the higher courts. He has, within the last few years, with ability conducted cases against railroad companies and other corporations before the United States courts. He has also been admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court at Wash- ington. He has several times been a delegate to state conventions, served as a member of different Republican county committees, and was appointed a member of the charter commission of Minneapolis in 1897. For many years he has edited the legal departments of Skandinaren, Minneapolis Daglig Tidende, and Srenska Azneri- 404 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. kanaka Pesten. In 1897 lie published a hand book of American law in Norwegian and Swedish, which received much praise by the press and the critics. In 1899 Gov. Lind appointed him inspector general of the state militia, with the rank of brigadier general. At the age of twenty- one Gjertsen was married to Gretchen Goebel, a German lady. They have one child. Gjertsen, Melehior Falk, clergyman — Minneapolis— bom 19 Feb., 1847, in Amle, Bergen stift, Norway. Gjertsen had passed several classes in the Latin school at Bergen when he emigrated with his parents to America in 1864. Shortly after their arrival the family came w^est, and young Gjertsen found employment in Milwaukee. It was his desire to enter the commercial life, but a severe illness made him change his plans, and, according to his father's wishes, he began to study for the ministry. He entered the Augustana College and Seminary at Paxton, 111., from which institu- tion he graduated in 1868. The same year Gjertsen was ordained minister of the Gospel and took charge of the con- gregation at Leland, 111., w^here he remained for four years. He then moved to Stoughton, Wis., w^here he was pastor for nine years. He has since resided in Minneapolis, where he is minister of a church now belonging to the Norwegian Free Church. In 1870 Gjertsen was a delegate to the meeting which organized the Norwegian-Danish Conference, to w^hich organization he belonged till the estabUshment of the United Church, and in 1873 he vras sent as a delegate to the general meeting of the Norwegian missionary society held in Drammen, Norway. He published a volume of songs called Hjezalandssange. Gjertsen is a very active worker BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 405 in the field of education, of temperance, of charity, etc. He was one of the organizers of the Associated Charities of MinneapoKs, as well as of the first stable temperance society among the Norwegians in Minneapolis, the Norwe- gian Y. M. C. A., and deaconess' home. In 1889 he w^as elected member of the Minneapolis board of education, of which body he was secretary and president. Gjertsen did some excellent work while serving on the board. In 1869 he was married to Sarah Mosey; they have several children. Grinager, Mons, soldier— Minneapolis— bom 7 Oct., 1832, in Hadeland, Harmar stift, Norway; died 1889. His father was a well-to-do farmer, who gave his son a fair education. At the age of twenty-one he came to this coun- try, directly to St. Paul, but moved to Decorah the follow- ing year, where he was in the mercantile business for three years. In 1857 he took a claim in Freeborn county, Minn., and at the outbreak of the Civil War enlisted in the Fifteenth Wisconsin Regiment, better known as the Scandi- navian Regiment, in which he became captain. At the battle of Stone River he was severely wounded and had to retire from the army for a while. After the close of the war he returned to his farm; held various local offices; was revenue assessor for some time of the first district of Minne- sota, which included twenty-nine counties; 'was register of the U. S. land office in Worthington from 1874-82; settled in Minneapolis in 1886, where he was vice-president of Scandia Bank; owned also several farms in Freeborn county, and had commercial relations in Dakota. Grinager was the Republican nominee for state treasurer in 1873, defeated; 406 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THK U. S. ■was one of the presidential electors in 1888, and served as vice-president for Minnesota of the Republican national league for a few years. His son Alex Grinager is quite a noted artist. Grindeland, Andrew, lawyer and state senator— War- ren — ^born 20 Nov., 1856, in Winnesheik county, Iowa. His parents were from Voss, Norway. He received an academic education in Decorah, Iowa; taught in the public schools of Iowa and in Dodge county, Minn., for a while; graduated from the law^ department of the University of low^a in 1882, and has ever since practiced his profession in Warren. Here he has been a member of the city, council, judge of the probate court, chairman of the school board, and has held various other offices; was one of the founders of the Grand Forks College; assisted in organizing the State Bank of Warren, of v(rhich he is one of the directors. Grindeland has taken an active part in every political campaign ever since Knute Nelson ran for Congress; he is a Republican and a member of the Norwegian Synod. For four years he was a member of the State Normal school board, and was elected to the state senate in 1898, being one of the most active men of the session in 1899. In 1882 he was married to Ingrid Frode, of Winnesheik county, Io"wa; they have sev- eral children. Gponberger, Robert, humorist and writer— Forest Lake — bom 2 Oct., 1840, in Kalmar, Sweden. He received a col- lege education in his native city. In 1869 he emigrated to the U. S.; lived in Wisconsin for three years; then moved to St. Paul, and remained there until 1877, when he settled at Forest Lake. Gronberger is a Democrat and has been asses- BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 407 sor of the town for twenty years. He is not married, and seems to stick to his bachelorship with a certain degree of stubbornness; no wonder he claims to have had "plenty of adversities, but of successes, none, so far." It is not, how- ever, as a politician or as an unsuccessful lover that Gron- berger has become noted, but as a humorous writer. Every- one who knows anything about the Swedish-American literature, knows also iVfFBei/— that is Gronberger. For under this nom de plume he has for many years contributed a large number of correspondences and humorous sketches to Minnesota Stats Tidning, Sv^enska Amerikanaren, Svenska Folkets Tidning; and other Swedish papers. "Be- sides, he is the author of three Swedish books, Svenskarne i St. Croixdalen, Minn., and Minnesotas Historia and Kalle Frojdelin — the latter is a novel, written in a natural and agreeable vein of humor. Gronberger has devoted much time to the study of Swedish-American history. Sj^ens- karne i St. Croixdalen, Minnesota, is the best and most correct history of the Swedes in that part of the country that has yet been published. In it he describes the first Swe- dish settlement in Minnesota with more exactness than any other author. Guttersen, G„ legislator — Lake Crystal — born 13 May, 1859, in Grover, Winona county, Minn. His father came from Telemarken; his mother from Stavanger, Norway. Guttersen received a common school education, and com- pleted a course at the Mankato normal school in 1884. He taught school about four years; was engaged in farming until 1895; and after that date was manager of a corpora- tion, running a store and creamery at Butternut. Guttersen 408 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE V. S. has held a number of minor positions of trust in his locahty, including that of postmaster. In 1889 he was elected engrossing clerk of the house of representatives of the state legislature, and in 1892 and 1894 was elected to a seat in the same body. In 1896 he declined the nomination for the same .position, but was again elected in 1898, receiving a phenomenally large majority and being the only man in his county who served three terms in the state legislature. Guttersen is a Republican and a member of the United Church. He was married to Alma Pettersen, of Butternut, in 1889; they have children. " Halgren, C. G., state legislator — Watertown — bom 1840, in Ulricehamn, Vestergotland, Sweden. He received a common school education in his native country; emigrated to the United States at the age of fourteen; settled with his parents at Fulton, 111., where he served a four years' appren- ticeship at the printer's trade; and came to Carver county, Minn., in 1858. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted as a private in company B of Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war; was post- master from 1877-85 in Watertown, w^here he also has a drug store; was elected to the lower branch of the state legislature in 1880, 1882, and 1888. Halgren is a Repub- lican, is married, and has a son practicing medicine at Watertown. HalvorsoD, John, clergyman — Minneapolis — born 4 Dec, 1861, in Stavanger, Norway. He came with his parents to the United States at the age of nine; graduated from Luther College at the age of nineteen; studied one year at the Ger- man Northwestern University, Watertown, Wis., and gra- PKOF. D. JIA(iXrS. XdU'l'HFIKLIl. C. A. FOSNES, MOXTEVniF.O. A. GRINDELAND, WARREX, PROF. O. LOKEXS(iAAl:ri, MAniSOX. K. i:. THOIII'SOX, rUESTON. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 409 duated trom this institution in 1881; then studied theology both at Concordia Seminary and Luther Seminary, and was ordained in 1884. He served as assistant pastor at May- ville, N. D., for a couple of years; then had charge ^of the church at Norway Lake, Minn., for four years, and accepted the call of the Zion Church, Minneapolis, in 1890. Halvor- son belongs to the Norwegian Synod, but is an ardent advocate of the use of the English language, and believes in the future of the Lutheran church in this country only when it retains our fathers' faith and uses our children's language. He was English lecturer at Luther Seminary from 1890 to 1894. During his missionary work, both in Dakota and at Norway Lake, he quite frequently preached in English, being also a contributor to several English theological periodicals, as well as Norwegian. In 1889 he was married to Bertha Glesne, of Norway Lake, who was the first child of Euro- pean parents bom in the settlement. They have several children. Halvorson, Kittel, congressman — Belgrade — born 15 Dec. , 1846, in Hjertdal, Telemarken, Norway. He came with his parents to the U. S. when he was an infant of only two years of age; they settled in Wisconsin, where young Halvor- son attended the common schools. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in company C, First Wisconsin Heavy Artillery, and served until the close of the war; then settled on a homestead in Stearns county, Minn., where he has been engaged in farming, stock raising, and dealing in agricultural implements. Halvorson was elected to the United States Congress in 1890 by the Farmers' Alliance and the Prohi- bitionists, but was by no means successful as a lawmaker. 410 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. He frankly acknowledged his incapacity by the following utterance just before election: "I do not think I am the proper man to send to Congress; but if you elect me anyway, I assure you that I shall do my best." He is a Lutheran, takes interest in the temperance movement, has a family, and represented his district in the state legislature in 1887. Hanson, Oesten, clergyman — Aspelund — bom 8 July, 1836, in Norway; died 4 Aug. 1898. At the age of fifteen he emigrated with his parents to this country; they settled in Wisconsin, but moved to Goodhue county, Minn., in 1856. Here young Hanson was ordained in 1861, and served the same congregation until his death. In 1875-6 he was president of Hauge's Synod, was its vice-president for about twenty years, was president of the board of regents of Red Wing Seminary for several years, and was again elected president of the synod in 1887. His son, M. G. Hanson, was born 11 July, 1853; graduated from Red Wing Seminary in 1884; had charge of congregations in St. Paul for eight years; was located at Grand Forks, N. D., for six years; became principal of Red Wing Seminary in 1898; and was elected president of Hauge's Synod the same year, and re- elected in 1899. He is married and has children. Hilleboe, H. S., educator— Benson— bom 28 Oct., 1858, in Roche-a-Cree, Adams county. Wis. His father and grand parents came from Norway to the United States in 1853. Young Hilleboe w^orked on the farm and attended the dis- trict school till the age of sixteen; then taught some in the public schools. In the fall of 1875 he entered Luther Col- lege, from which he was graduated in 1881. In 1886 he received the degree of master of arts from that institution. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 411 During his college days and after his graduation he taught in the public schools and occasionally in the parochial schools. In 1884 he began to teach in Willmar Seminary, and during the years 1886—99 he was eminently successful as principal of that institution. At the latter date he was appointed superintendent of the public schools of Benson. Hilleboe is one of the most aggressive Prohibitionists in the state, and was nominated for governor by his party in 1894. He was married in 1887 to Antonilla Thykesen, of Calmar, Iowa. Hobe, E, H., Swedish-Norwegian vice-consul — St. Paul — bom 27 Feb., 1860, in Risor, Norway. While yet a boy, Hobe took up his residence with his uncle at Tvedestrand, where he received a good school training, and having com- pleted his studies here he was employed in a ship brokerage house in the city of Arendal. Already in his early years Hobe gave evidence of a marked business ability, so that at the age of seventeen he was employed as head clerk in one of the large wholesale and retail establishments in that city. In 1879 he went to Copenhagen, Denmark, where he studied for some time at the noted Gruner's business college, and upon his return to Norway became bookkeeper for a large w^holesale house in Kristiania. Having finished the required military duties, Hobe emigrated to America in 1883, coming directly to St. Paul, Minn., where he began his career as clerk in the business department of the paper Nordv^esten. His ability, however, was soon noticed, and after a short time Hobe became associate editor. In this capacity he served for about two years, when he opened up business as dealer and broker in real estate. In 1887 Hobe made a trip 412 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. . to Europe, visiting, among other places, Copenhagen, Den- mark, where he was married to Johanna Mueller. Upon his return to America, Sahlgaard, then Swedish-Norwegian vice- consul in St. Paul, and the owner of an extensive business, invited Hobe to become his partner. Hobe accepted, and shortly before Sahlgaard's death bought out the latter's in- terest in the business. Under his management it has since grow^n to be one of the largest land dealing firms in St. Paul. In 1893 Hobe was appointed Sahlgaard's successor as Swedish-Norwegian vice-consul, in w^hich capacity he has done some excellent work, and ranks today as one of the leading Scandinavian business men in the Northw^est. Hoegh, Knut, physician and surgeon — Minneapolis — bom 15 April, 1844, in Kaafjord, Tromso sift, Norway. After being graduated from the Latin school of Trondhjem, Hoegh entered the University of Norway, and graduated from the medical department in 1869. Shortly after his graduation he ehiigrated to America, coming to La Crosse, Wis., where he followed his profession till 1889, when he moved to Minneapolis. While in La Crosse Hoegh built, in 1871, a private hospital to facilitate the treatment of the many patients from far and near who sought his profes- sional aid. In 1880 he went to New York City to pursue some special studies in his profession, and in 1887 he went to England and Germany, where he made a special study of surgery. Hoegh has been a member of many medical asso- ciations, and of the Minnesota board of health, being appointed to the latter position by Gov. Nelson. He was also a member of the health commission of the state of Wis- consin, and a member of the board of inspectors of the BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 413 insane asylum of the same state. Hoegh "was married in 1870 to Anna Dorthea Moen; they have children. Holt, Andrew, lawyer— Minneapolis— bom 20 May,1855, in East Union, Carver county, Minn. His parents -were among the early Swedish settlers; they came to this country in 1853. He received a Swedish education at Gustavus Adolphus College; graduated from the University of Minne- sota in 1880, being the first Scandinavian who completed a course at this institution. He studied law in Glencoe, and commenced to practice in Minneapolis in 1882, being shortly after admitted as a member of the firm Ueland & Holt. He is one of the organizers of St. John's English Lutheran Church; is an advocate of temperance, but affiliates with the Republican party. In the summer of 1894 Knute Nelson appointed him judge of the municipal court of Minneapolis, and in the fall of that year he was elected to the same posi- tion. In 1885 Holt was married to Hilda C. Turnquist, and they have children. Husher, Ferdinand A., journalist and state legislator — Minneapolis — ^born 16 June, 1825, in Yiborg, Denmark; died 1895. His father was for a number of years collector of customs, and afterwards an actor. While very young Husher removed to Norway, entering the university there, and graduating in 1845. From 1851-64 he held various positions, and for the five years following was assistant pastor at Nissedal,but emigrated to America in 1869, going to La Crosse, Wis., where he became assistant editor of Fa.edrela.ndet og EtnigTSinten. From 1873-75 Husher became editor and part owner of Budstikken, Minne- apolis; was register of the U. S. land office at La Crosse 414 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAYIANS IN THE XJ. S. from 1878-83; became managing editor, and later also pro- prietor of the first-named paper, with w^hich he removed to Minneapolis in 1886. In 1888 Husher was elected member of the state legislature of Minnesota, but resigned when, in 1890, he w^as appointed U. S. consul at St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. From 1879-84 Husher was a member of the Republican state central committee in Wisconsin, and in 1884 was presidential elector at large for the same state. After his return from Canada, in 1894, he went to Grand Forks, N. D., to assume editorial charge oi Normatiden. Jackson, Andrew, clergyman— Rush Point— born 11 Feb., 1828, in Valla, Bohus Ian, Sweden. He studied in a college for six or seven years, and taught in private families; became a sailor; emigrated to this country in 1852; worked in saw mills on Hudson River for five years; and took a claim in Kandiyohi county, Minn., in 1858. After having studied in Chicago for a couple of years he was ordained in 1861, and took charge of Swedish Lutheran congregations in Kandiyohi county until 1862, when he together with the settlers w^as driven aw^ay from their homes by the Indians. Jackson taught the first public school in Meeker county, and when a Swedish school, which later became Gustavus Adolphus College, was opened at Carver in 1863, be became principal of that institution, a position he retained until the school was moved to St. Peter in 1876. For twenty-five years he had charge of churches in Carver county, moved to St. Paul in 1890, and has since been pastor at Rush Point. Jackson was married in 1863, his wife died in 1875, and in 1877 he was married the second time. His son J. A. Jackson was bom 17 July, 1868, in Carver county, Minn.; graduated BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAYIAAS IN MINNESOTA. 415 fron Gustavus Adolplius College in 1891 and from the law department of the state university in 1893; and since the latter date has been practicing law in St. Paul, having for years been the only Swedish attorney in that city. In 1898 Jackson was elected to the state legislature, and worked hard and faithfully, especially as chairman ol the committee on public buildings, and as a result of his labor the new capitol will, undoubtedly, be completed in 1903 instead of in 1910. He is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church and a Republican. Jacobson, Jacob F., state legislator— Madison— born 13 Jan., 1849, in Hjelmfland, Kristiansand stift, Norway. At the age of seven he came with his parents to this country; they settled in Fayette county, Iowa, where young Jacob- son worked on his father's farm until 1871, when he moved to Lac qui Parle county, Minn., and commenced to deal in agricultural implements, and he claimed in 1892 to do an annual business of $75,000. But he failed a couple of years later, and it is said that he settled up his troubles in a sort of a private way; some of his creditors receiving ten cents on the dollar, and others about fifty cents on the dollar. From 1873-79 he was county auditor, has served in the lower branch of the state legislature since 1889, -was a dele- gate to the Republican national convention at Minneapolis in 1892, and has held several local offices. He is a member of Hauge's Synod, and takes a very active part in the social, financial, and political affairs of the community and of the state, being an ardent temperance advocate and a Republi- can, who often addresses public meetings in the interest of his party. But his oratorical qualifications consist mostly 416 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. in his strong lungs. Botli in his conversation and in his speeches he yells to the top of his voice. He seldom knows when silence would be w^isdom. These peculiarities of Jacobson have had a great deal to do with his success in public life, for it has been asserted that many people in Lac qui Parle county vote for him simply because he is such a good advertisement for the county, being alw^ays, of course, referred to in the legislature as "the gentleman from Lac qui Parle." Such mention of a new community has a tend- ency to raise the value of real estate. Yet he must be a man of ability, since he has been the recognized leader in the leg- islature for some years. Many of the measures he has advocated have been wise, and his tactics are shrewd. The St. Paul Dispatch cartooned him in 1899 as "the red dragon of Lac qui Parle;" and it cannot be denied that on account of his rudeness and brutal treatment of other people's opinions and honesty, he is "feared rather than trusted." Jacobson was married in 1873, and his wife died in 1879; married again in 1883, and became a widower four years later; married the third time in 1889. He has had children by all his wives. Jaeger, Luth, journalist — Minneapolis — bom 4 Aug., 1851, near Arendal, Norway. He received a classical educa- tion; was admitted to the University of Norway in 1870, but after having studied for one year at that institution, he emigrated to this country at the age of twenty; clerked in Madison and La Crosse, Wis., from 1871-76; was connected ^th a Norwegian weekly paper, Norden, in Chicago, one year; became editor of Badstikken, Minneapolis, Minn., in 1879, a position which he held for about eight years; and E. H. HOBE, ST. I'ADL. SOREN LISTOE, ST. PAUL. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 417 the next four years he was deputy collector of internal revenue. Jaeger was in the real estate business in Minne- apolis for a short time and lived in New Mexico during part of one year. In 1886 the Democratic party nominated him for secretary of state, but with the rest of the ticket he was defeated. In 1890 he was elected a member of the board of education, in which work he took great interest and rend- ered valuable services. He was one of the founders of The North in 1889, remaining in editorial charge of the paper until its discontinuance in 1894. The North was a weekly journal published in the English language and devoted to the interests of the Scandinavians as citizens of the United States. As such it became the repository for much valuable information, w^hile ably and forcibly preaching the need of a more rigid and intense Americanization of the foreign-born than the latter themselves usually think desirable. Jaeger is a clear and forcible writer, uninfluenced by any political, religious, or national prejudices. He unquestionably ranks among the very best Scandinavian- American writers. His opinions on the leading questions of the day, as published in The North, were extensively quoted by the Scandinavian- American press. By the native Americans' and foreign- Americans, not Scandinavians, The North was considered the representative organ of Scandinavian-American opin- ions. To the leading journalists in Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Kristiania, Jaeger's name is very famiUar. He was for several years an officer in the Security Savings and Loan Association, his connection with this now defunct corpora- tion being severed under circumstances alike creditable to him as an official and man. In 1897 Jaeger was appointed 418 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. receiver of tlie Scandia Bank of Minneapolis and is also engaged in the real estate, loaning, and insurance business. In 1883 he was married to Nanny Mattson, only daughter of the Avell-knowTi Col. Hans Mattson, a lady who takes great interest in educational affairs and charitable institu- tions. They have three boys. Janson, Kristofer N., clergyman and author — Minne- apolis — ^bom 5 May, 1841, in Bergen, Norway. His father w^as a business man and American consul at Bergen; his mother was a daughter of Bishop Neumann, who w^as bishop of Bergen stift. After having completed the course at the Latin school of his native city, Janson entered the University of Norway, and graduated from this institution, ■with the highest honor, as a theological candidate. During his university career, as virell as afterwards, he -was the leader of a movement, having in view the re-placing of the Danish-Norwegian language and literature which was forced upon the Norwegian people at their connection with Denmark in the fourteenth century. He devoted himself to private teaching, and w^as one of the promoters in founding people's high schools in Gudbrandsdalen and other places, for the purpose of raising the intellectual level of the peas- ants. He wrote extensively, both poetry and novels, and it is generally considered that he produced his best literary w^orks during his younger days. In 1882 he accepted a call to become minister of a liberal society in Minneapolis, and organized Unitarian churches among his countrymen in Minneapolis, in Brown and Otter Tail counties, Minne- sota, and at Hudson, Wis. Janson took active part in all movements in the nature of social reforms and intellectual BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 419 improTements. After his emigration to this country he returned to Europe and visited Italy, Prance, Germany, Holland, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, and the Scandinavian countries. It is generally acknowledged that Han og Ho and Den Bergtekne art the best of his numerous literary productions. The latter has been translated into English under the title The Spellbound Fiddler. His experiences as a minister in the Northwest have been described in Piaeriens Saga. In 1868 Janson was married to Drude Krog, a daughter of a Lutheran minister; they had seven children, and two of their sons are practicing physicians. Mrs. Janson not only assisted her husband in his literary endeavors, but also produced original literary works of her own, for example: En Saloon-Keepers Datter, etc. With all his brilliancy, however, Janson did not seem to be well- balanced. He became a Spiritualist, returned to Noway in 1894, was divorced, and married a medium. Jensson, Jens Christian, clergyman and author — Aus- tin — bom 25 March, 1859, in Sandnes, Kristiansand stift, Norway. He came to America in 1862 with his parents, who first settled in Neenah, Wis. Later they moved to Fill- more county, Minn. Having availed himself of the educa- tional facilities offered by the common and high schools of that neighborhood, he attended for two years the theo- logical school conducted by the Norwegian Augustana Synod near Decorah, Iowa. In 1876 he entered the acad- emy, then located at Marshall Wis., where he remained until 1880. His theological course he completed at the Philadelphia Lutheran Theological Seminary in 1882. Since his ordination to the ministry in 1880, he has also 420 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. done some work in connection with the post-graduate course of the Chicago Lutheran Seminary. Jensson has served Norwegian Lutheran churches in the following places: At Wiota, Iowa, a few months; at Leland, 111., from 1882 to 1885; in Milwaukee, Wis., from 1885 to 1890; and at Clinton, Wis., from 1885 to 1899, settling at his present place in the latter year. From 1886 to 1890 he served as secretary of the Norwegian Augustana Synod; and since 1894 as secretary of the United Church. In 1890 Jensson published American i.uthernn Biographies. This is a bulky volume of 900 pages, and is, perhaps, the largest original literary \^ork published in English by a Scandinavian-American. As a work of reference it is very valuable, throwing much light upon the church history of the different Lutheran denominations in this country, including, of course, the Scandinavian organizations. In 1896 he collected and edited ^'^itufund!^ Hanridbog. This v^rork enumerates and describes all the diiferent missionary, charitable, and educational institutions, etc., which were controlled or owned by members of the United Church, or which were in any vv^ay directly or indirectly connected with that organization. He was married in 1879 to Rosa Andrina Thompson, of Marshall, Wis. They have children. Jensvold, John, lawyer— Duluth— born 25 March, 1857, in Albany, Wis. His parents were among the first Nor- wegians in this country, coming here as children. Brought up on a farm he received his education in the public schools; at the State Normal school, Winona; in Luther College, Decorah; and in the law department of the State University of Iowa, from which he graduated in 1880. He practiced BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAYIANS IN MINNESOTA. 421 his profession in Iowa until 1888, and since at Duluth, where he ranks as one of the leading lawyers, and occupies a prominent position in political and social circles. He was married in 1888 to Lena Darrah, of Dubuque, Iowa. Johnsert, Thomas, clergyman — Norseland — born 27 April, 1837, in Valders, Norway. He is the youngest of nine children, and lost his parents at an early age. At the age of fourteen he came with three of his brothers to the United States, and for some years was engaged in farming, then entered Concordia College, St. Louis, Mo., and grad- uated from the theological department of this institution in 1863. Since he has been located at his present place in Nicollet county, as pastor of Norw^egian Synod congrega- tions. For several years Johnsen had charge of a large missionary field in Minnesota, including Blue Earth, Fari- bault, Brown, Watonwan, Jackson, Carver, McLeod, Ren- ville, Meeker, Kandiyohi, Steams, Pope, Douglas, Chippewa, Yellowr Medicine counties. Some of his charges were about 300 miles apart, and could be visited only once or twice a year. He has done more, perhaps, than anjy other man to build up Norwegian Synod congregations in the state, and was one of the most prominent Norwegian Lutheran pioneer clergymen in the Northwest. In 1863 he married Maren E. C. Sahlgaard. She died in 1898, leaving three children. Johnson, C. J., lumber manufacturer — Minneapolis — bom 12 Sept., 1849, in Hofmantorp, SmMand, Sweden. He received a common school education; came to America in 1869, stopping for a short time at Vasa, Minn.; proceeded to Stillwater, where he worked in a saw mill; removed to 422 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. Minneapolis in 1870, where lie worked in saw mills and lum- ber yards and clerked in a store; completed a course in the high school and attended the state university; was engaged in the retail lumber business, in company w^ith C. A. Smith, at Evansville and other places, living at that place in 1879- 84; and at the latter date he and Smith started a wholesale and manufacturing lumber business in Minneapolis. John- son withdrew from active business in 1899, and the same year he and his family visited Sweden and other European countries. He is a Republican, a member of the Sw^edish- Lutheran church, an excellent mechanic, and a great reader, having one of the largest libraries of any Scandinavians in the Northwest. Johnson w^as married to Mary S. Craft, of Vestergotland, Sweden, in 1882. They have three sons. Johnson, Gustavus, musician — Minneapolis — bom 2 Nov., 1856, in Hull, England. His father was a Swede, his mother an English lady. Johnson was only a child w^hen the family moved to Stockholm, Sw^eden; here he studied rausic under the direction of A. Lindstrom, G. Mankell, Con- rad Nordquist, and Prof. Winje. He left the "Venice of the North" in 1875, and, after a brief stay in the East, came West, appearing in concerts in all the leading cities in Illi- nois, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota. Since 1880 Johnson has resided in Minneapolis, is recognized as one of the lead- ing pianists in the Northwest, and in the many concerts in w^hich he performs he alw^ays receives the most flattering comments. As a teacher Johnson ranks among the fore- most, his instruction being sought by students from all over the Northwest. In 1898 he founded a piano school, and next year he established the Johnson School of Music, BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 423 Oratory and Dramatic Art, an institution -which has a high reputation. He is also highly spoken of as a composer. In 1882 he was married to Caroline F. Winslow, an American lady, of Royalton, Vt. They have one child. Johnson, Marcus, state senator — Atwater — born 14 July, 1849, in the northern part of Helsingland, Sweden. When an infant of only two years of age he came with his parents to the United States; they settled at Waupaca, Wis., but moved to Kandiyohi county, Minn., five years later, where Johnson has resided ever since. In 1880 he was a delegate to the Republican national convention which met in Chicago and nominated Garfield for president, represented his district in the state legislature in 1883, and served in the state sen- ate during the sessions of 1887-89. In 1890 President Har- rison appointed him collector of internal revenues for Min- nesota. He is interested in elevators, flouring mills, and other large enterprises in different parts of the state. John- son is not married. Johnson, Tosten, pioneer and state senator — Black Hammer — ^bom 21 July, 1834, in Valders, Norway. At the age of tw^elve he learned the blacksmith's trade; came to this country in 1851; resided for one year in Dane county. Wis.; then settled in Houston county, Minn., where he has ever since been engaged in farming. The first Norwegian settle- ments in the state seem to have been started in Houston and Fillmore counties in 1852 and 1853, and Johnson and his brother are the first Norwegian settlers in Minnesota that have yet been recorded. He was drafted into the army in 1864, and says that "being discharged at the close of the war without any wounds" is the chief success he has had in 424 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAYIANS IN THE U. S. life; represented his district in the state legislature during the sessions of 1869, 1871, and 1873; was elected state senator in 1886 and re-elected two years later; and has held various local offices, having been county commissioner for four years and railway postal clerk 1880-85. Johnson is one of the leading and most influential Scandinavians in Houston county. He is a Republican and was married in 1861. Johnston, L. A., clergyman — St. Paul — bom 12 Aug., 1855, in Sugar Grove, Pa. His parents were natives of Hesleby, SmMand, Sweden, and came to this country in 1846, being among the earliest Swedish arrivals in the nine- teenth century. They first settled at Buffalo, but removed to Sugar Grove two years later. Young Johnston received a common school education; studied music about four years under a private instructor; attended the high school at Sugar Grove for three years; and continued his studies at Augustana College, graduating from the college department in 1879, and from the theological department in 1881. From 1881 to 1886 he was pastor of a Swedish Augustana congregation in Des Moines, Iowa. While located there he w^as office editor of Betbania, a religious bi-monthly, and vice-president of the Iowa Conference for one year. His work at Des Moines was successful, and his congregation erected a $20,000 church building during his stay there. Johnston next removed to Rockford, 111., where he served the First Lutheran Church, the largest congregation of Augus- tana Synod, until 1894, and since that year he has been pastor of the First Swedish Lutheran Church of St. Paul. He was vice-president of the Illinois Conference for three years, and n 1894 was elected president of the same body; was a mem- Ui:V. ('. J. I'I'.TIII, IIINXICAI'OLIS. PROP. JI. 1). BOCKMAX, .MINNEAPOLIS. 1\ r l\l \\ISIN REV. L. A. JOFIXSl'U.N. S'l'. I'.U I, KEV. E. XOUELirS, VASA. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 425 ber of the board of directors of the Augustana Hospital in Chicago for three terms; has been a member of the board of directors of the Augustana Book Concern ever since the synod took charge of it; has been a member of the board of directors of Augustana College since 1893, and chairman of the same for two years; was a member of the board of direc- tors of Gustavus Adolphus College for three years, and chairman of the same for 3 years; and has been a member of the board of directors of the Bethesda Hospital for three years, and chairman for the same length of time. Johnston has often lectured on social, economic, and historical topics, vrithin as well as outside the Augustana Synod; and he pre- pares his sermons w^ith great care. He was married to Anna S. Lindgren, of Rock Island, 111., in 1881; they have several children. Kildahl, J. N., clergyman and educator — Northfield — bom 4 Jan., 1857, near Trondhjem, Norway. His father being a school teacher, young Kildahl received a careful Christian training; came with his parents to Goodhue county, Minn., in 1866; was a regular attendant at common and parochial schools; attended Luther College, graduating in 1879; and closed his studies at Luther Seminary, Madison, Wis., in 1882, by passing his theological examinations. He was at once ordained, and served congregations in Goodhue county from 1882 to 1889, excepting one year (1885-86), when he occupied a chair of theology in the Red Wing Semi- nary. In 1889 he accepted a call from the Bethlehem church in Chicago, which he served during the next ten years. For some years he was secretary of the United Church. In the fall of 1899 he entered upon his duties as president of 426 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. St. Olaf College, Northfield. Rev. J. C. Jensson, in his American Lutheran Biographies, says: "Kildahl's ser- mons combine the instructive, the rhetorical, the logical, and the emotional in fair proportions. His genial, generous spirit, his facility at adapting himself to persons of every character and condition, and his disposition to identify himself with them in all their joys, and sorrows, and inter- ests, give him an influence over them which few^ pastors possess." Kildahl for years has been a leading mind in the United Church, and even in the most heated controversies friend and foe alike w^ould agree that his fair-mindedness is more than ordinary. He w^as married to Bertha Soine in 1882; they have children. Rildsigf, Jens Jensen, clergyman— Albert Lea— bom 30 Jan., 1856, in Brejning, near Ringkobing, Denmark. He received a military education at Viborg, having taken the corporal and sergeant examinations; bought his father's farm and worked it for a couple of years; emigrated in 1881, coming directly to Chicago, 111., where he had a market garden, but lost all his property by a flood in 1885; and entered Chicago Theological Seminary, completing his studies in 1889. He associated himself with the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Association in America, becoming one of the leading men in that organization. After his ordina- tion in 1889 he organized a church at Racine, Wis., and was elected visitor to the northern district in 1891, and the same year accepted a call to Minneapolis, Minn. He has served as a member of the board of trustees of Trinity Seminary, Blair, Neb., as well as treasurer of Kirke Bladet. He returned to his old congregation in Racine in 1895; but the BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAYLA.NS IN MINNESOTA. 427 next year he consented to take charge of the Danish emigrant mission work in New York and Brooklyn, besides serving some congregations in the vicinity, and accepted a call to his present place in 1898. Through the union of the Danish Lutheran churches, Kildsig became a member of the United Danish Lutheran Church in 1896, being the same year appointed district president of the eastern district of the latter organization. Kildsig was married in 1887 to Ane Marie Kristine Mose, a daughter of a well-to-do farmer in Denmark, w^here he had gone for the purpose of celebrating his marriage. Kittelson, Charles, state treasurer — Montevideo — bom 1837, in Sigdal, Kristiania stift, Norway. He came to this country at the age of thirteen; resided for seven years in Wisconsin; then moved to- Albert Lea, Minn., where he resided for several years, and was county treasurer of Free- bom county for six terms. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in the Tenth Minnesota Infantry, was suc- cessively promoted to second lieutenant, first lieutenant, and captain of company E of his regiment. In 1872 he was presidential elector; served as state treasuer in 1880-87; was for a few years connected with a couple of banks in St. Paul; moved to Minneapolis in 1890, where he was presi- dent of Columbia National Bank until it failed about seven years later; and has since together with a son been operat- ing a flour mill in Montevideo. Kittelson seems to have been out of place as a public servant. His bookkeeping as treasurer of Freeborn county could not be disentangled by experts. Ignorance rather than dishonesty appears to have been his main fault. He is a Republican. 428 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAYIANS IN THE U. S. Knatvold, T. V., legislator and banker— Albert Lea — bom 2 Oct., 1853, in Norway. He came to this country in 1862 with his parents, settling in Freeborn county, Minn.; received a common school and high school educa- tion; and in 1877 engaged in the hardware business at Albert Lea. Since 1893 he has been engaged in the banking business. Knatvold served as alderman of the city of Albert Lea for several years, and was elected mayor in 1893, and re-elected in 1894. In 1890 he was nominated for state senator by the Republicans, but was defeated by the combined forces of the other parties. In 1896 he was elected to that position by a majority of almost one thous- and, and re-elected in 1898. Knatvold is a Republican, and belongs to the Norwegian Synod. He is married. Lagerstrom, R., musician— St. Peter— born 12 June, 1861, in Spring Garden, Minn. His parents came from Sweden to the U. S. in the early fifties. He commenced to study music when only four years old; continued his studies at Northfield, and completed his musical education at the Royal Conservatory of Music, Stockholm, Sweden, w^here he, after three years' attendance, graduated in 1888. Since he has had charge of the musical department of Gustavus Adolphus College. In 1890 he received the degree of master of music of Alfred University, Alfred Center, N. Y., and two years later the degree of doctor of music was con- ferred upon him by the Grand Conservatory of Music, New York. Both degrees were bestow^ed upon him on the merits of his compositions. He composed the excellent Cantata, rendered in 1883, at the great celebration of the three hundredth anniversary of the adoption of the Upsala decree. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 429 lyagerstrom was married to Mary Carlson, of East Union, Minn., in 1888. Langum, Samuel, state legislator— Preston— bom 18 Aug., 1857, in Fillmore county, Minn. His parents were Norwegians. He attended an academy in Wisconsin, the high school of Decorah, Iowa, and Augsburg Seminary, Minneapolis. After having completed his education he returned to Fillmore county, where he taught school for a while; was deputy register of deeds for four years; was elected sheriff in 1881; was warden of the penitentiary at Stillwater for some time; became editor and proprietor of a local newspaper in Preston; was elected to the state legis- lature in 1892; has been secretary of the state senate for some years. Langum was married to Emma C. McCoUum in 1878; they have children. LiljegFen, N, M., clergyman — Minneapolis — bom 9 Dec, 1846, in Vemmerlof, Sk&ne, Sweden. His parents w^ere farmers, but young Liljegren received a college education in Gothenburg; joined the Methodist chUrch at the age of twenty-two; preached and delivered temperance speeches in different parts of the kingdom until he emigrated in 1886; had charge of a church in Chicago for three years, then moved to Marinette, Wis.; came to Minneapolis in 1890; and later on settled at Aurora, 111. Liljegren has written some books, contributes regularly to newspapers, is an ardent temperance man and a good speaker. In 1876 he was married to Sofie Witting of Gothenburg. They have children. Lind, Alfred, physician and surgeon — Minneapolis — bom 11 March, 1862, in Tr&fvad, Yestergotland, Sweden. 430 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAYAINS IN THE V. S. His parents -were fanners. He came to America in 1880, and his life since that date has been chiefly that of the indomitable student, as may be seen by a glance at the fol- lowing record: In 1887 he received the degree of A. B. at Augustana College; that of B. S. in the University of Minne- sota in 1889; graduated from the medical department of the same institution in 1891; practiced medicine for two years at Lake Park, Minn.; studied one year at the University of Berlin, Germany, and received the doctor's degree of this institution in 1894; practiced for two years in Minneapolis; studied a few months in New York; completed a one year's course in Gymnastiska Centralinstitutet, Stockholm, Sweden, graduating in 1897; practiced for some time in Minneapolis; and graduated as candidate of medicine from the University of Upsala, Sweden, in 1898; and as physician and surgeon from Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, in 1899. Probably no other Scandinavian-American physi- cian can point to such a record as the above. But Lind has not only obtained a thorough theoretical medical educa- tion, but has also been very successful in his practice, and undoubtedly ranks as one of the leading Swedish physicians in this country. For the third time he began to practice his profession in MinneapoUs in 1899. He is a member of the Augustana Synod, and affiliates with the RepubHcan party. In 1892 heviras married to Hannah Johnson, of Axtell, Neb.; they have a couple of children. Llnd, John, governor — Uew Ulm — bom 25 March, 1854, in KUnna, SmMand, Sweden. At the age of fourteen Lind came to America, settling in Goodhue county, Minn., where he was obliged from the outset to aid his parents in sup- BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 431 porting the family. In the fall of 1868, having been in this country only a few months, he was so unfortunate as to lose his left arm in handling a gun, or rather on account of the stupidity of a surgeon who appears to have made an unnecessary amputation. But with untiring energy and preseverance Lind was still able to make his way with one arm, and at the same time to attend school, so that in 1870 he obtained a teacher's certificate. In 1873 he moved to Sibley county, Minn., and came to New Ulm the year following. From 1875—76 he attended the Univer- sity of Minnesota. Lind had for some time cherished the idea of entering the legal profession, and with this object in view^ he devoted himself to the study of law in private, partly by himself and partly in an attorney's office in New Ulm. In 1876 he was admitted to the bar, and opened a law office of his own the year following, when he was also elected superintendent of schools for Brown county, a posi- tion he held for two years. In 1881 Lind was appointed receiver in the U. S. land office at Tracy, a position he held till 1885. These duties, however, did not prevent him from continuing in his legal profession, in which his eminent talents soon made him distinguished. But not only did Lind become noted as one of the ablest lawyers in his part of the state, but his great ability in public life, and his excellent qualities as a man soon convinced the people of the state of Minnesota of his eminent fitness for representing their com- monwealth in Congress. Consequently, in 1886, he was elected congressman for the second district, and so well did he discharge his duties that he was elected for a second term by an overwhelming majority, while nearly all the other 432 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. candidates on the Republican ticket -were defeated, a fact which illustrates Lind's popularity. While in Congress, Lind introduced and succeeded in passing a great number of important measures, such as, a bill by which all foreign books not published in .England are admitted to the United States free of duty, and an amendment to a bill by which foreigners who serve on United States men-of-war may become citizens, as well as if they were on land. He also secured the location and erection of an Indian school at Pipestone City, a United States court house at Mankato, and the passage of a law^ dividing the state into six districts for holding United States court, instead of one. The two first mentioned measures are very important to the adopted citizens, and Lind deserves great credit for having procured the passage of such wise laws, which have directly greatly benefited the Scandinavian-Americans. He declined a third nomination, and intended to devote his whole time to his personal affairs. But when the silver issue became the pre- dominent feature of the presidential campaign in 1896, he sided ^th the Silverites, and the Fusion forces nominated him for governor. Lind refused to accept the nomination. But after having been besieged for about two weeks by a large number of honest Silverites and some unscrupulous demogogues, he consented to accommodate them. During a campaign of much bitterness, he was severely criticized by most of his former Republican friends, and mistrusted by many of his new allies^ But in spite of this he received about fifty thousand votes more than his party colleagues, and came within three thousand votes of being elected, and many believed that he actually beat his opponent, whose JOHN LIND, NEW ULM. L. A. ROSING, CAKNON FALLS. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAYIAAS IN MINNESOTA. 433 party had controlled the politics of the state for more than a third of a century. Lind's success was remarkable, con- sidering that the majority of the leading men of his own nationality, especially the Swedish Lutheran clergymen, bitterly opposed him. He probably did not receive over twenty-five per cent of the Swedish votes in the state, as most of them are ardent Republicans. He received by far more Norwegian votes than Swedish, even in Norwegian Republican counties, as compared with Swedish Republican counties. Consequently, the result of the election was due more to Lind's popularity and his opponent's weakness than to any other cause or causes. The congressional records show that Lind virtually made the same speeches during the campaign on the silver question, as he had done in Congress a few years before when he was considered a loyal Republican. Yet his standpoint on this issue has made an epoch in the political history of the state of Minnesota. Lind was quarter master in the army during the Spanish War in 1898, and w^as elected governor the same year, running about 60,000 ahead of his ticket, thus becoming the first Swedish-bom governor in the United States, as well as being the only man of that nationality who ever served in Congress. In 1898 the Swedes in general, and the Lutheran clergy in particular, did not oppose him with the same fierceness as in 1896. Yet it is very doubtful if he received a majority of the Swedish votes in the state. All people admit that Lind made an excellent record in Congress. It is not time yet to express an opinion in regard to his executive abiUty. He has a difficult position to fill, being opposed by a hostile legislature, and surrounded by a hungry crowd of 434 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. office seekers, and some of his appointments have been severely criticized even by bis own party. Lind is a good Icelandic scholar, speaks English without a foreign accent, and is an able orator. He was married in 1879 to Alice Shepard. They have three children. Lindholm, A. T., writer and poet — Stillwater — born 9 May, 1835, in Gothenburg, Sweden. He received a college and commercial education in his native city; emigrated to the U. S. in 1854; was book keeper in Galva, 111., for two years; then moved to Mankato, Minn., where he w^as cash- ier of the First National Bank for fifteen years, besides being deputy [collector of internal revenue. In 1871 Lind- holm, in company with Col. H. Mattson and H. Sahlgaard, went into the banking and exchange business in St. Paul, but seven years later he moved to Stillwater, where he has resided ever since, being employed as book beeper for differ- ent business houses. Both in 1878 and in 1890 he was the Democratic nominee for secretary of state, but w^ith the rest of his ticket was defeated. Lindholm is prominent as a literary man, and especially noted as a skillful translator from the Scandinavian languages into English. Among other things he has translated Tegner's Svea and Skng till Solen, Runeberg's Sveaborg and several of his Fanrik Stkls SAgner, Geijer's Vikingen, and many of Isben's poems. He has also made a successful attempt as a dra- matic author in the English language, in which his lengthy drama, Demosthenes, is written. In 1888 he was elected honorary member of the Nordiska Litera.tur-Sa.llskapet of Stockholm, Sweden, an honor w^hich only a few^ Swedish- Americans besides Lindholm enjoy. He has been a member BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 435 of the board of education of Stillwater, and was married to Anna Olson, of Mankato, Minn., in 1862. They have children. Listoe, Soren, journalist — St. Paul— bom 27 April, 1846, in Copenhagen, Denmark. His grandfather was a prominent officer in the Danish army. Listoe received a good education through private instruction; came to this country in 1866 to join his father, who had previously emi- grated; was connected with Danish-Norw^egian newspapers in Wisconsin for a couple of years; went to Minneapolis, and was associate editor of Nordisk Folkeblad until 1871; then became mail agent, and settled in Breckenridge. In 1874 he w^as elected to the state legislature, being the first Dane in the state who served in this body. In 1875 he w^as appointed register of the U. S. land office at Alex- andria, a position w^hich he held for eight yesrs. For several years Listoe lived on his farm near Breckenridge; became editor-in-chief of Nordvesten, St. Paul, in 1887; was appointed U. S. consul at Dusseldorf, Germany, in 1892; but after having remained abroad for one year he returned to Minnesota, and again took charge of Nord- vesten. He was appointed major on the governor's staff in 1886, and has since served as aid-de-camp to all subse- quent governors, having in the meantime been promoted to the rank of colonel. Listoe has for years been considered to be one of the most prominent Danes in the state, and was appointed by President McKinley U. S. consul at Rotter- dam, Holland, in 1897. In 1872 he was married to Hannah Johnson; they have several children. Lobeek, Engebret E., temperance lecturer — Farwell — 436 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. bom 11 Oct., 1864., in Tryssil, Hamar stift, Norway. He emigrated to America in 1867, and spent his boyhood and early manhood on his father's farm near Holmes City, Minn.; "dug on the farm in the day, and read literature in the night"; and, yielding to a yearning for a better education than the common schools could afford, studied successively at Augsburg Seminary, Wraaman's Academy, the State University of Minnesota, all at Minneapolis, and Willmar Seminary. Some years ago he began to lecture on temper- ance, and so successful did he prove in this line of w^ork that at present he is one of the most popular Scandinavian tem- perance lecturers in America. His chief points of strength are his evident devotion to the cause which he advocates; his self-forgetting, contagious enthusiasm; his fluency of speech; his tremendous voice; and last, but not least, his magnificent physique. Lobeck frequently contributes both prose and poetry to Norwegian papers, chiefly Reform and Ungdotnmexis Ven. In 1894 he published a small collec- tion of poems, Forglemtnigei, the first edition of which was exhausted in a few months, and five years later issued Billeder fra. D'ddens Dal, a temperance and prohibition argument cast in the form of a novel. He is a member of the Swedish Augustana Synod, a "prohibitionist from head to foot," and w^as president of the Wisconsin Total Absti- nence Association in 1896. In 1896 he was married to Martha Nordby, a graduate of the Fargo high school, in North Dakota. They have children. Lokensgaard, 0., clergyman and educator — Madison — born 23 Nov., 1854, in Aal, Kristiania stift, Norway. At the age of three he came with his parents to the United BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 437 States; they settled in Rice county, Minn.; but four years later moved to Dakota, remaining there, however, only one year; since 1862 they have resided in Nicollet county, Minn. Lokensgaard graduated from Luther College, Decorah, low^a, in 1878, and completed his studies at Luther Semi- nary three years later. Then had charge of a church at Granite Falls, Minn., until 1892, when he became principal of the normal school at Madison, which position he has filled with great credit ever since. Lokensgaard is the most influential Norwegian advocate of total abstinence in the Minnesota valley. In 1881 he was married to Ellen Kravik, of Dane county, Wis.; she died in 1892. In 1894 he was married to Anna Romtvedt, of Cottonwood county, Minn. He has several children. Lomen, G. J., lawyer and state legislator — St. Paul — bom 28 Jan., 1854, near Decorah, Iowa. His parents came from Valders, Norway, in 1850, and settled on a farm in Iowa. Young Lomen attended Luther College for six years, and graduated from the law department of the University of Iowa in 1875; then moved to Caledonia, Houston county, Minn., where he practiced his profession, was clerk of court for eight years, and held various local trusts. In 1885 he located in St. Paul; represented his ward in the state legis- lature in 1891; was the Republican candidate for municipal judge in 1890, and, with the rest of the ticket, was defeated. Lomen has conducted several important professional cases, and is by general consent considered to be one of the leading lawyers in St. Paul. He is a member of the Norwegian Synod, and was married to Julia E. M. Joys, of Manistee, Mich., in 1878; they have several children. 438 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. Lund, E, G., educator — Minneapolis — bom 10 Aug., 1852, in Arendal, Norway. Lund came -witli his parents to Springfield, 111., in 1853; there they remained four years; then moved to St. Paul, returning to Springfield, ho-wever, in 1862. In 1871 he entered the college at Springfield, and after having studied there two years went to Thiel College, Greenville, Pa., from which institution he graduated in 1877. He then began the study of theology at the General Council Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, graduating in 1881. Lund w^as then ordained for the ministry, and accepted a call to four congregations in Westmoreland county, Pa. In 1883 he accepted a call to the Norwegian- English Lutheran church at Milwaukee, Wis., belonging to the Norwegian Augustana Synod. Tw^o years later he was called to an English Lutheran church at Greensburg, Pa., where he remained for six years. In 1888 he was called to the presi- dency of Thiel College, but declined. In 1891 the home mis- sion committee of the General Council extended a six months' call to Lund as home missionary at Tacoma, Washington. In 1891 he accepted a call to become English professor of theology at the theological seminary of the United Church, Lund is considered to be one of the foremost men in the United Church, and the degree of doctor of divinity was conferred upon him in 1899 by Wittenberg College, Spring- field, 111., one of the leading English Lutheran institutions in the country. He is said to be the only Norwegian-Ameri- can Lutheran -who has ever received such degree. In 1891 he was married to Anna Hippee, an American lady of Greenville, Pa. They have one daughter. Lundeen, John August, officer in the U. S. army— BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINATIANS IN MINNESOTA. 439 St. Peter— bom 6 March, 1848, in Hvetlanda, SmMand, Sweden. At the age of five he came with his parents to the U. S.; they settled in Minnesota. Young Lundeen attended the Swedish school in Carver for about a year; studied at Augustana College, Paxton, 111., in 1865-66, and graduated from the United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., in 1873, being the fifth in his class. Since his graduation he has served with his regiment, the Fourth United States Artillery, in various garrisons; for example, in San Fran- cisco, Oregon, Alaska, Virginia, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Boston, Minnesota, Georgia, and Baltimore. From 1876— 79 he was professor of military science and tactics, as well as teacher of mathematics and the Swedish language, in the University of Minnesota. From 1887—92 he was assistant professor of mathematics in the United States Military Academy at West Point. It must be remembered that the mathematical instruction in that institution is considered to be the most thorough of any schools in the world, and Lundeen's appointment as instructor in this branch of knowledge was a high recognition of his ability. Besides Lundeen there are only three Scandinavian-bom (all Swedes) ■who have graduated from West Point. He w^as promoted captain of artillery in 1898 and assigned to the Seventh Artillery, which was then organized at Fort Slocum, N. Y., and commanded Fort Greble, R. I. — a fort that com- mands the western entrance to Narragansett Bay — during the Spanish-American War. Lundeen is, of course, in appearance, speech, and sentiments, a thorough American, yet he is proud of his Swedish birth and his Scandinavian ancestry, and takes pains to let his nationality be known. 440 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. In 1879 he was married to Mary Cutler Johnson, of Minne- apolis, Minn. They have two daughters. Lundholm, Erik Mauritz, physician and surgeon — St. Paul — ^bom 20 June, 1858, in Venjan, Dalame, Sweden. After having completed his college education at Falun, he entered the medical department of the University of Upsala in 1881, remaining there five years; and then continued his studies at the Karolinska Institutet located in Stockholm, from w^hich he graduated in 1890. It must be remembered that the laws of Sweden require the medical students to take their first examination at one of the universities of Upsala or Lund, the second and third examinations may be taken either at one of the universities or at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm; besides, the students must do certain hospital work, and their last hospital work must be done in Stockholm. And the students, to save expense and time, generally complete the first five or six years of their medical studies at one of the universities, and the last four at the Karolinska Institutet. Lundholm also followed this custom. For three summers he served as assistant physician at the springs of Satra, Vestmanland, and in Djursatra, Vester- gotland; then visited the United States in 1888, passed his examination in St. Paul before the state medical board of Minnesota, and returned to Sweden to complete his studies. Since 1891 he has successfully practiced in St. Paul, besides being connected with Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul, having had charge for some years of the gynecalogical and surgical department of this institution, and is recognized as one of the ablest surgeons in the Northwest. Lundholm was married to Anna Olson, of Gestrikland, in 1890. They have children. r. T. MEGAARDBN, MINNEArOI.IR. G. F. SDNWALL, MIXXEAI'OLIS. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAYIANS IN MINNESOTA. 441 Lunnow, Magnus, journalist — Minneapolis — born 25 Sept., 1854, in Broby, Ski,ne, Sweden. Lunnow received a college education in Kristianstad, served for some time as private tutor, and emigrated to America in 1874, coming to Canada, where he supported himself as* a common laborer, later as a shipping clerk. In 1878 he accepted a position on the editorial staff of Svenska Tribanen, and became managing editor of Minnesota Stats Tidning- two years later. After some time Lunnow became editor and part proprietor of Sp-ens&a Folkets Tidning, in- Minneapolis, with w^hich paper he is still connected. Si^enska Folkets Tidning; which may be regarded as a continuation of Minnesota Stats Tidning, and as the exponent of the progressive and liberal ideas once represented by the latter, has had a marked success, which is largely due to Lunnow's able service. Lunnow is unmarried. Magnus, Daniel, educator — Northfield — born 1851, in Vermland, Sweden. At the age of nineteen he emigrated to this country; graduated from the classical department of Oberlin College, Ohio, in 1881, and from the theological de- partment of that institution three years later; then studied one year in Sweden and Germany, and attended the Univer- sity of Upsala, Sweden, in 1891-92. Since 1885 he has been professor in Carleton College, Northfield, being one of the most successful Swedish educators in the state, and through his efforts many young Scandinavians have been induced to attend Carleton College. Magnus is unmarried. Mattson, Hans, pioneer and soldier — Minneapolis — ^bom 23 Dec, 1832, in Onnestad, Skane, Sweden; died 5 March, 1893. The North, at the time of his death, gave the fol- 442 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. lowing biography of him: "He received a good education in Kristianstad; served a year and a half in the Swedish army as cadet of the artillery. Emigrated in the spring of 1851, arriving at Boston June 29. Suffered the hardships and disappointments incident to ignorance of the English language, and inability to perform hard manual labor. Went West, to Illinois, in 1852, settling the next year in Minnesota, which henceforth remained his home. Was mar- ried in 1855 at Vasa, Goodhue county, Minn., to Cherstin Peterson, w^ho, with five children, survives him. Quit farm- ing and went into mercantile business, but was caught in the crisis of 1857. Read law at Red Wing, and was ad- mitted to the bar, but soon gave up practice to become county auditor of Goodhue county. Commenced to take active part in politics as a Republican. During the summer of 1861, organized a company of young Goodhue county Swedes and Norw^egians, -with w^hom, in the fall, he reported at Fort Snelling; w^as elected its captain, and went South with the Third Regiment in Nov, Was promoted to major the following year; w^as on his w^ay back after having been home sick on furlough, w^hen the regiment surrendered at Murfreesboro. Was made a lieutenant colonel after the surrender of Vicksburg, and, in April, 1863, was promoted to colonel, remaining in command of the regiment until Sept. 16, 1865, when it was mustered out at Fort Snelhng, Minn. Assisted in establishing Svenaka Amerikanaren in Chicago. Was, in 1867, appointed secretary of the Min- nesota board of emigration. Returned on his first visit to Sweden in 1868. Was in 1869 elected secretary of state for Minnesota, but left before the expiration of his term with BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 443 his family for Sweden, as general agent in northern Europe for the Northern Pacific R. R. Co. Returned to the United States early in 1876. Was elected a presidential elector the same year. Helped to establish Srenska Tribunen, of Chicago, having previously commenced the pubhcation of Minnesota Stats Tidning, at Minneapolis, with which latter he remained identified until 1881. On July 2, 1881, was appointed consul general to India. Filled this important position with great credit for two years, when he returned home and tendered his resignation. Was appointed man- ager of a land grant company in New Mexico and Colorado. In 1886 was elected secretary of state for Min- nesota, and re-elected in 1888, serving two terms. In 1887 he organized the Security Savings and Loan Association, of Minneapolis, whose president he was at the time of his death. Two years later he formed a company for the pub- lication of The North. Was one of the principal promoters, in 1888, of the 250th anniversary celebration of the landing of the first Swedish settlers on the Delaware, and collected the addresses delivered on this occasion in a small Souvenir. In 1891 wrote and published a volume of recollections, which in the Swedish version is known as Minnen, while the English edition is entitled The Story of an Emigrant. Mattson's knowledge was confined to no particular class of people. Swedish-Americans naturally looked up to him as a leader, for he possessed in an eminent degree many of the requirements of leadership." Valkyrian for August, 1897, says of Mattson: "His character shows us, in general fea- tures, the product of the two factors, Swedish birth and education combined with a long and active life under the 444 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAYIANS IN THE U. S. protection of the American flag. Very few Swedish-Ameri- cans have led such a romantic life as his. It w^as rich in sudden changes and new departures; and behind the out- lines of this life lay an interesting world which at first sight looks less important, but w^hich in fact is more instruc- tive to him who desires to study it in the light of the spirit of the times in which he most vigorously appeared as the Swedish pioneer in America." Megaarden, Philip Tollef, sheriff— Minneapolis— bom 2 Oct., 1864, in Alamakee county, Iowa. His parents were bom in Norway, and his father served three years in the Fourth Iowa Cavalry during .the Civil War. Young Megaarden attended public schools in Dickinson county, Iowa, and in Minneapolis, and he has resided in that city since 1877. In 1878 he entered Augsburg Seminary, but the death of his father compelled him to discontinue his college education and enter the everyday battle of life in order to support a number of little brothers and sisters. At first he performed manual labor, but later on he suc- cessively held the positions of clerk in a fiiel office, book- keeper, and court officer. Meanwhile he continued his studies as best he could, and often did he pore over his books into the small hours of night. In the course of time he managed to take a course in a business college, and in 1892 completed a three years' course in the law department of the State University, receiving the degree of LL. B. Megaarden was admitted to the bar the same year; com- pleted a post-graduate course in his alma mater the next year, receiving the degree of LL. M.; practiced law for some time; served as chief deputy sheriff of Hennepin county in BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDrNAYIA.NS IN MINNESOTA. 445 1895-96; resumed the practice of law; but on Jan. 1, 1899, entered upon his duties as sheriff of Hennepin county. As deputy sheriff Megaarden made an excellent record, and demonstrated his ability to manage public affairs. Hence- forth it was generally admitted that he was one of the leading Scandinavian public men in the city of Minneapolis. He is a rock-ribbed Republican, and belongs to more than a dozen different political clubs and secret organizations, of which may be mentioned the K. of P., the I. O. 0. P., the Freemasons, the Elks, the Viking League, the Modem Woodmen, the Red Men, the Modem Samaritans, and Sonner af Norge. He is also secretary of the interstate sheriffs' association. Megaarden was married to Angeline Erickson, of Lake Crystal, Minn., in 1897. Mohn, Thorbjorn N., educator— Northfield— bom 15 July, 1844, in Saude, Nedre Telemarken, Norway. At the age of nine he came with his parents to this country; they settled in Columbia county. Wis., but moved to Dodge county, Minn., in 1860. Young Mohn attended the public schools; worked on his father's farm for some time; gradu- ated from Luther College in 1870; and completed his theo- logical studies at Concordia Theological Seminary three years later. After having been ordained by the president of the Norwegian Synod, he was pastor of congregations in Chicago and St. Paul, and from 1875 to 1899 was president of St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn. But as soon as the school became the property of the United Church in 1899, he was dispensed with as president, but retained as a teacher. Mohn is considered to be an educator, but was not successful as manager of the school, and the attendance 446 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAYIANS IN THE U. S. was steadily diminisliing during tlie last decade of his administration. Rev. J. C. Jensson, in American Luth- eran Biographies, says: 'Mohn has labored faithfally to build up a good school, and was for several years chairman of the ministerial conference of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Synod for the district of Minnesota, and in 1888 he, together w^ith many others, severed his connection -with the synod, and effected the organization known as Anti- Missourians, which in 1890 joined in forming the United Norw^egian Lutheran Church.' In 1875 he was married to Anna Elizabeth Ringstad, of Decorah, Iowa; they have several children. Muus, Bernt Julius, clergyman— Norway— born 15 Mar., 1832, in Snaasen, Trondhjem stift, Norway. His father kept a country store; his mother was a daughter of the rector of the parish, Jens Rynning, in whose home Muus was brought up, as his mother died w^hen he was an infant. At the age of seventeen he graduated from the Latin school in Trondhjem; then entered the University of Norway, not knowing exactly whether he should prepare for the ministry or become a civil engineer; but his father's entreaties pre- vailed, and in 1854 he received his degree as candidate of theology. After having been engaged in teaching, both as tutor for children and as teacher in a couple of schools in Kristiania for five years, Muus in 1859 accepted a call from a Norwegian Lutheran church in Holden, Goodhue county, Minn. Rev. J. C. Jensson, in American Lutheran Bio- graphies, says: "The church government kindly allowed him to be ordained without taking the usual minister's oath, which he could not take without conscientious BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MANNESOTA. 447 scruples." Having been received as a member of the Nor- vregian Synod, he commenced his ministerial duties in Good- hue and Rice counties. Muus held meetings in twenty-eight preaching stations scattered throughout Minnesota and the western part of "Wisconsin. Most of these stations could be visited only twice a year. In later years, however, he received assistance. When the Minnesota District of the synod was organized in 1876, Muus w^as elected its presi- dent, a position he held for nine years, and was the chief promoter in founding St. Olaf College. Muus had had con- siderable experience in newspaper work when he came to America, and has written numerous articles for the Norwe- gian as well as for the Norwegian- American press, besides being the author of a few smaller religious books. He served the same congregation — which is now part of the United Church — ever since his arrival in this country up to 1899, when he returned to Norway. During the predistina- tion controversy he sided with the Anti-Missourians, being for years one of the fiercest opponents of some of the prin- ciples advocated by the Norwegian Synod, from which organization he never w^ithdrew, until he was expelled in 1898. He attempted reformation, not revolution. He held a unique position, being both conservative and radical. Yet it seems that his standpoint was more logical than that of his brethren who withdrew from the synod. Rev. John Halvorson says: "Muus was a leading spirit, a powerfiil character, an organizer; but unyielding and harsh in dealing with human frailties." He was married just before leaving Norway, but his family life was not happy. His wife sued him for cruelty and harsh treatment, in 1880, which resulted 448 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS Hi THE U. S in a separation; and although the people at large considered Muus the suflfering party, yet he lost much of his influence. Myran, Ole H., state senator — Ada — bom 18 Jan., 1853, in Nore, Numedal, Norway. He received a common school education at his birthplace and in this country; came from Norway with his parents in 1868, stopping one year in IlUnois, and settling in Goodhue county, Minn., the follow^- ing year. He w^orked on farms around Zumbrota and clerked in that town for years; was engaged in farming on his own account in Lincoln county; and settled at Ada in 1881. Here he kept a hotel for three years, and since the middle of the eighties he has been engaged in the mercantile business. In 1898 he was elected to the senate and served as chairman of the drainage committee. He is a Republican and a member of the Order of Odd Fellow^s and of the Knights of Pythias. Myran has been married twice, and at present is a w^idower. He has several children. Nelson, Andrew, state senator — Litchfield — bom 15 Dec, 1829, in Fronnenge, Halland, Sweden. After having received a common school education he emigrated to the U. S. in 1856, and spent the next two years in Galesburg, 111., work- ing as a common laborer; came to Minnesota in 1858; stayed near Willmar for five years, working on his claim, but the Indians drove him to St. Paul in 1862. The next year he w^ent to Washington county and engaged in farm- ing, staying there about five years; came to Meeker county in 1869, and bought a large farm. In 1871 he engaged in general merchandising in Litchfield, continuing the business until 1876; since then he has been in the banking business most of the time. He was president of Meeker County KNUTE NELSON, ALEXANDRIA. LUTH JAEGER, MINNEAPOLIS. L. O. THORPE, WILLMAR. REV. F. O. NILSSON, HOUSTON. VICTOR NILSSON, MINNEAPOLIS. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 449 Bank for a while, has since held the same position in the Bank of Litchfield, and owns considerable property. Nelson represented his district in the state legislature in 1874, and in the state senate in 1875-6; has been county commissioner and member of the city council, and has held various local offices. He is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church, of which he has been a trustee for several years; belongs to the RepubHcan party; was married to Ellen Johnson in 1868. Nelson, Andrew, legislator— Norseland— bom 12 July, 1837, near Kristianstad, Sweden. In 1855 he came with his parents to this country. They settled in Nicollet county, Minn., w^here Nelson now owns and cultivates several large fairms, and is considered to be one of the wealthiest Swedish farmers in Minnesota. Rev. E. Norelius in his history says that Nelson has taken great interest in the Swedish Luth- eran church, and been a constant financial contributor to Gustavus Adolphus College. He represented his district in the legislature in the seventies. In 1863 he was married to Carolina Pehrson; they have several children. Nelson, Knute, United States senator — Alexandria — bom 2 Feb., 1843, in Voss, near Bergen, Norway. His parents and their ancestors for generations back belonged to the yeomanry of the country. At the age of three years he lost his father, and a little more than three years later he came with his mother to the U. S., arriving at Chicago in July, 1849. The cholera then raged in the city, in most instances with fatal effect. Nelson was stricken with the dread disease, but was among the few fortunate ones who survived the plague. In 1850 he moved with his mother to Walworth county. Wis., and from there to Dane county, 450 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE V. S. in the same state, in 1853. After having, through consider- able obstacles, obtained a fair common school education, he entered Albion Academy as a student in 1858, and pursued his studies there till 1861, when he, w^ith a score of school- mates, enUsted in the 4th Wisconsin Regiment. He remained in the service as private and non-commissioned ofl&cer till 1864, when he returned and resumed his studies at the academy, graduating in 1865. He participated with his regiment in the capture of New Orleans, the first siege of Vicksburg, the battles of Baton Rouge and Camp Bisland, and the siege of Port Hudson. In the great charge of this siege, on the 14th of June, 1863, he was wounded and cap- tured, and remained a prisoner until the place surrendered on the 9th of July. In 1865 he became a law student in the office of Senator Wm. F. Vilas, Madison, Wis. He was admitted to the bar of the circuit court for Dane county in 1867, and immediately entered on the practice of his profes- sion. That year he was elected member of the assembly for the then second district of Dane county, his home, and w^as re-elected in 1868. In 1871 he moved to Alexandria, Doug- las county, Minn., vsrhere he has ever since been engaged in farming and practicing law. As a lawyer he has had an extensive practice in that part of the state. In 1872-74 he was county attorney for Douglas county, and in 1875-78 he was state senator in the thirty-ninth legislative district, composed of five counties. In the senate he was instru- mental in securing the legislation under w^hich the unfinished lines of the St. Paul & Pacific Railway were completed. In 1880 he was presidential elector on the Garfield and Arthur ticket. In the fall of 1882, in a campaign of unparalleled heat BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 451 and bitterness, he was elected member of Congress for the fifth district of Minnesota, by a plurality of 4,500 votes. He was re-elected in 1884 by a plurality of 12,500 votes, and in 1886 he was re-elected by an almost unanimous vote. While in Congress he was a member of the committee on Indian affairs, and was especially instrumental in secur- ing the passage of a law for the opening of the Red Lake and other Indian reservations in Minnesota, and for civiliz- ing the Indians, and allotting lands to them in severalty for farming purposes. In Congress he was an ardent tariff reformer not altogether in harmony with his party, even going so far as to vote for the Mills bill. This subjected him to some criticism among the politicians, but the great mass of the people were with him and approved of his independ- ent course. He was a member of the board of regents of the state university from 1882 until 1893, and has taken a deep interest in the welfare and growth of that institution. In 1892 he w^as unanimously nominated, by acclamation, can- didate for governor, of the Republican party, and was elected in November following, by a plurality of 14,620 votes. Nelson made an excellent record as governor, and was again unanimously re-nominated in 1894 and re-elected by a plurality of 60,000 votes. But in January the following year he w^as elected U. S. senator by the legislature for a term of six years, thus becoming the first Scandinavian who has been chosen to represent his new country in the capacity of senator, governor, and congressman; and Nelson has filled all the positions mentioned with great credit to himself and has been an honor to the state of Minnesota. It may be fair, however, to mention that his election to the U. S. senate did 452 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. not seem to be popular with a large majority of the people. They -wanted him to be their governor, they voted for him as such, and did not desire a substitute to occupy his chair. Nelson's popularity suflFered severely, yet the state did not lose anything, for as senator he has worked hard and con- scientiously. He is married and has grown children. Nelson, Peter, state senator — Red Wing — born 14 Apr., 1843, in Skatelof, SmMand, Sweden. He received a common school education in his native country; emigrated to the U. S. at the age of twenty-three; lived in Rockford, 111., a short time, then moved to Mississippi, where for a few years he was engaged in Oxford as a building contractor and hardware merchant. Since 1873 he has been in the hard- ware business in Red Wing. Nelson is one of the few Swedes w^ho have joined the Democratic party, of which he is a lead- ing member, and was the party's nominee for secretary of state in 1892, but with the rest of the state ticket w^as defeated. He was a member of the Democratic central com- mittee for several years. In 1887 he was state senator and secured, among other things, the passage of a bill which provided for the removal of the State Reform School from St. Paul to Red Wing. Nelson married Olivia Olson in 1871. They have grown children. Neumann, C. F., writer and sign painter — St. Paul- bom 17 Jan., 1850, in Jonkoping, Sweden. His father was a musical director, a German by birth, who traveled through the Scandinavian countries, but resided otherwise in Den- raark, of which country young Neumann's mother was a native. Neumann attended a Latin school in Copenhagen for four years; became a sailor at the age of fourteen and BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 453 followed this life for three years, visiting both the Arctic and the Tropical regions and most of the European countries; landed in Philadelphia at the age of seventeen, and, having no money, he walked to Chicago, which took him seven weeks. After having worked as a common laborer for a short time he learnt the painting business; started a shop of his own in Chicago, in 1871; located in Minneapolis, in 1880, and here followed his trade for eight years; then moved his business to St. Paul. He was one of the chief men in promoting the building of DaniaHall in Minneapolis. Neumann has contributed quite extensively to the American daily papers in St. Paul and Minneapolis, as well as to the Danish-Norwegian press. He has been married three times, and he had children by all his wives. Nilsson, F. 0., clergyman and pioneer — Houston — bom 28 July, 1809, in Varo, Halland, Sweden; died 1881. His mother died when he was seven years of age, and his father, who owned a small farm, was a confirmed drunkard and had to be put under guardianship. Consequently, young Nilsson enjoyed few or no educational advantages, and at the early age of fourteen commenced to earn his own living by learning the shoemaker's trade, and for four years followed his master from house to house assisting him in making shoes. At the age of eighteen he became a sailor, and visited, among other places, also New York, where he deserted his vessel in 1832. A couple of years later a Metho- dist revivalist converted him, but he continued the life of a sailor until his thirtieth year. It does not appear that Nilsson was dissipated before his conversion, but on the contrary was during his youth rather religiously inclined. 454 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE V. S. which culminated in an intense fear of damnation. In the fall of 1839 he visited his relatives in Sweden. He did not return to America as he had intended, but began to urge peo- ple to repent of their sins, w^andering on foot from house to house, from village to village. In 1842 the Seamen's Friend Society in New^ York appointed him missionary for the sailors in Gothenburg, with $100 salary a year. When he was married, in 1844 or 1845, his v\rages were raised to $175 a year, on w^hich he supported himself and family for a number of years. At times he also visited the surrounding country as well as Norway. Nilsson remained a member of the Lutheran state church up to 1845, although he was arrested a couple of times for breaking the conventicle law. At this time a Swedish-American sailor and Baptist, Capt. G. W. Schroeder, visited Gothenburg and became acquainted with Nilsson. Through Schroeder's influence he began to study the question of infant baptism, and was soon con- vinced that it was all wrong. As a consequence he went to Hamburg, Germany, in 1847, in order to be immersed by Rev. J. G. Oncken. On his return to Sweden he commenced with great discretion to preach the new doctrine. During the night of Sept. 21, 1848, Nilsson's wife and four other persons, most of whom appear to have been his relatives, w^ere immersed, and the first Swedish Baptist church in the world was at the sarae time organized in Landa village, Halland. A. P. Forster had been sent from Hamburg to perform the ceremonies. Nilsson was ordained in Hamburg the next spring, when the Baptists in his native land num- bered thirty-five persons. Religious toleration was not a virtue or a fashion in Sweden at that time. Nilsson was, in BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 455 1850, mobbed, arrested, and condemned to be banished from the kingdom by Gota hofra.tt, in Jonkoping, simply because he had tried to spread the doctrines of the Baptists in his native land. He appeared in person before King Oscar I., and asked him to commute the sentence; then wrote to him to the same effect, at the same time suggesting that it was the duty of the Lutheran clergymen to try to re- convert dissenters to Lutheranism, which had not been pro- perly done in Nilsson's case; and at last appealed to the mercy of the monarch. But nothing availed. He left Sweden July 4, 1851, probably being the last person who had to be a fugitive from that kingdom for the sake of reli- gion. His banishment created a stir in the civilized world, and for a while Sweden was considered to be a land of intolerance and bigotry. The public opinion of the world — that great power before which monarchs and mobs tremble — had undoubtedly a great deal to do in swinging Sweden, at about this time, into line with the most progressive lands in regard to religious liberty. Yet some of the Swedish Lutheran clergymen, who generally have been blamed for all the religious shortcomings in their country, had for years before advocated the utmost religious freedom. Before Nilsson left Sweden he selected leaders for his four small congregations; then visited Copenhagen, Hamburg, London, and Norway. On his return from the latter country he stopped at Gothenburg to take his wife with him, and con- ducted a few meetings in secret, but the police sent him to Denmark. After having remained in Copenhagen a couple of years, he emigrated to America in 1853; preached for some time in Burlington, Iowa; bought land and settled 456 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. near Houston, Minn., in 1855; and during five years organized seven Swedish Baptist congregations in Minne- sota. He was sent, in 1860, by an American Baptist con- gregation in New York as a missionary to Sweden. On his return lie was pardoned by King Carl XV., and soon located in Gothenburg, where for seven years he had charge of the small Baptist congregation in that city. When about sixty years of age, Nilsson returned to America, partly, it seems, because other Baptist clergymen excelled him in learning and ability; but principally because he had by reading some of Theodore Parker's w^orks commenced to doubt the truth of parts of the Bible. Yet for a few years afterwards he vpas pastor of the Swedish Baptist church at Houston; but his religious doubts were discovered, and most of his former friends deserted him. It has been asserted that he became a rank infidel; this has been denied by the Baptists, w^ho, however, admit that he could not be called an orthodox Christian during the last days of his eventful life, and one of their historians. Rev. A. G. Hall, says that the seed of infidel- ity had undoubtedly remained in Nilsson's soul ever since his youth as the result of having read Thomas Paine's writings. Nilsson's boldness and combativeness made up for what he lacked in education and talent. He converted many. The Baptists maintain that Nilsson was an honest enthusiast who sacrificed much for his religion; the Luth- erans and Methodists w^ho came in contact with him in the Northwest claim that he was a coarse and unscrupulous adventurer who shrank from no means to accomplish his purpose. Both opinions are probably correct, as he appears to have lacked the proper balance-wheel, and flung from I'I{0[-. S\'i:.X OFTEUAL. MIXXEAI'O J,IS. rUdF. GEOItC WYKltLlKl'l', MINNEArOLIS. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 457 one extreme to another, partly because his nature craved excitement. Nilsson, Victor, author and critic— Minneapolis — ^born 10 Mar., 1867, in Ostra Torp, Skline, Sweden. His father owned this estate on the southermost point of southwest- em Sweden, where Victor was born, but the family resided in Gothenburg from 1870 to 1885. Young Nilsson received a careful college education in the latter city, where his father was a prosperous merchant. The whole family came to America in 1885. He was connected with the edi- torial staffs of various Swedish papers in the Twin Cities up to 1891, when he was appointed librarian of the East Side Branch of the Minneapolis Public Library. For a number of years he attended lectures in the University of Minne- sota, making a thorough study of Romance and Teutonic philology, with Old Norse history, language, and literature as a specialty. In 1897 this institution conferred the degree of doctor of philosophy upon him. His thesis on the occa- sion was a scientific treatise on Havatnal in the older Edda, and has been recognized by scholars on both sides of the Atlantic. Nilsson has always been an enthusiastic admirer of Northern culture, especially of all pertaining to literature, art, and music; and on these subjects has con- tributed many critical articles to the Swedish-American and Anglo-American journals and magazines. He possesses a fine literary judgment; and as a critic probably outranks all other Scandinavian-Americans. His book Fbrenta Staternas Presidenter has been well spoken of; and his history of Sweden, a large volume of nearly 500 pages and published in the English language in 1899, contains a com- 458 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. plete history of the Swedish people from the earliest period down to the present time, and the presentation of recent events is especially masterly and critical. He has written a number of short stories, and delivered several lectures in different parts of the country. He was secretary of the executive committee of five for the great Scandinavian singing festival in Minneapolis in 1891. Nilsson has been presi- dent of the Orpheus Singing Society; financialsecretary of the United Scandinavian Singers of America, and of the Amer- ican Union of Sw^edish Singers; and w^as the official speaker during the concert tour to Sweden, in 1897, of Swedish- American singers, and at the same time visited several other European countries. He is not married. His sister Emma Nilsson has a high reputation as a singer, having for years studied in Berlin, Germany, where she made a successful debut in grand opera in 1884. His younger sister, Mrs. Bertha Nilsson Best, has made quite a reputation as an opera singer. Noreiius, E., clergyman and author — Vasa — bom 26 Oct., 1833, in Hassela, Helsingland, Sweden. His parents were pious farmers, w^ho, like most of the Swedish people of the same class in those days, did not believe in any higher education than was necessary for confirmation; but young Noreiius succeeded in persuading them to permit him to attend a college in Hudiksvall for a couple of years. He was religiously inclined from his early childhood, and was an enthusiastic believer in the pietism advocated by Rev. F. G. Hedberg, the noted Finnish divine. Without any spe- cific reason or any certain plans for the future, he, at the age of seventeen, emigrated to this country, spending eleven BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 459 weeks on the ocean. After having landed in New York he proceeded to Chicago, where he met the well-known Swed- ish pioneer Rev. G. Unonius, who advised him to go to the Episcopal seminary, at Nashota, Wis., and there prepare to enter the Episcopalian ministry. But Norelius was too much of a Lutheran to even dream of any such thing. He concluded, in his perplexity as to what to do and where to go, to seek the advice of the j)ioneer of the Swedish-Amer- ican Lutheran ministers, Prof. L. P. Esbjorn, with whom he was not personally acquainted; but he knew that Esbjorn had come to America the year before and settled at Andover, Henry county. 111. Believing that Esbjorn was the right person to give the best advice, Norelius set out from Chicago to hunt him up, going by canal a hundred miles to La Salle, and footing the rest of the road for some sixty miles to Andover. Here he found Esbjorn living among his countrymen in a primitive way, in great poverty and sickness; but he received Norehus kindly, and advised him to enter Capital University, Columbus, Ohio, where support had been offered to a poor Swedish student who w^ould prepare for the Lutheran ministry. The famous Jenny Lind had also given $1,500 to the school in order that a Swedish professorship might be established there. Esbjorn Accompanied Norelius to this institution in the spring of 1851, w^here the latter spent about five years. For defray- ing the expenses of the journey from Illinois to Ohio, and for some clothing. Dr. Passavant, of Pittsburg, Pa., sent Norelius tw^enty-two dollars. His vacations were spent in various w^ays: for example, working on farms, chopping wood, selling books, teaching, and preaching. During his 460 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. last Yacation he preaclied and taught school at Chisago Lake, Minn.; previously to this he had done the same thing in Chicago. In 1855 the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Northern Illinois licensed him to preach for the Swedes in several places in Tippecanoe county, Ind.; but these people had recently arrived frora the old country, and -were too poor to buy the expensive land in the Eastern states, there- fore no permanent Swedish settlement in this part of the country w^as to be expected. Norelius and another gentle- man were delegated to go to Minnesota in search of a suit- able place for a settlement; they came to Vasa, Goodhue county, Minn., in 1855 — where Col. H. Mattson and his party had already a couple of years before commenced a prosperous Swedish settlement — and Norelius at once organ- ized churches in Red Wing and Vasa, of which he became pastor the following year, w^hen he w^as ordained. He had to suffer all the inconveniences and trials of a pioneer life; many settlements were founded and churches organized; he had to spend his time more as a traveling missionary than as a settled pastor. In 1858 he w^as elected county auditor of Goodhue county, but at the same time received an offer to become editor of Heznlandet, in Chicago, which he accepted, resigned his pastoral duties, and proceeded to Chicago. In 1859 Norelius, on account of ill health, moved to Attica, Ind., and he took charge of the Swed- ish Lutheran church there, but the following year accepted a call as a traveling missionary in Minnesota. During this time he passed through many thrilling events, experienced many perils and self-denials, visited — on foot or on horse- back — every nook and corner where any Swedes had settled. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 461 preached and organized churches in many places. He has undoubtedly sacrificed more in order to elevate his country- men in Minnesota, and has benefited them more than any other Swede. His salary amounted to about $400 a year, out of which he had to pay all his traveling expenses, and at the end of the year he might have saved souls, but nothing of his salary remained. In 1861 he moved from St. Paul, where his family had resided for a year, to Good hue county, and took charge of his old congregations in Red Wing and at Vasa. Ever since his ministerial labor has been chiefly confined to Goodhue county, although he has done some missionary work on the Pacific Coast and in various other parts of the country. His health has been dehcate during the greater part of his ministry. Besides his regular work in the ministry, he founded an orphanage at Vasa in 1865, and conducted it himself for eleven years. In 1862 he commenced a private school in Red Wing, which has grown up to be Gustavus Adolphus College, in St. Peter. Norelius was in 1874 elected president of the Augustana Synod, serving in that capacity for seven years, and w^as elected to the same position in 1899. (Most of the above facts in this biography have been collected from Axnerican Lutheran Biographies, by Rev. J. C. Jensson). At Red Wing, in 1857, he commenced to publish Minnesota Posten, the first Swedish newspaper in Minnesota; the venture was too early, and proved to be a financial failure, and after one year's starveling existence, the paper was united with Hemlandet in Chicago, of which Norelius, as before stated, became editor. It may be of interest to note that the first six numbers of Minnesota Posten con- 462 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. tained the following notice: "Because ready cash in these times is scarce, the editor will, for the subscription for the paper, take farm and other products, w^hich will be valued at market prices," and the last number announces that "the paper must cease, because many subscribers failed to send in their subscriptions." In 1872 he started Lutersk Kyrkotidning, which was merged into Augustana the following year. Norelius and P. Sjoblom commenced to publish Erangelisk Lutersk Tidskrift in 1877, but changed the name to Skaffaren the following year. He has also contributed extensively, especially on religious and historical subjects, to many Swedish-American journals. In 1889 he w^as called to the editorial chair of Augustana, the official paper of the Augustana Synod, published at Rock Island, 111., but his ill health compelled him to resign the following year. He has for a number of years been editor of Korsbaneret, which is an annual published by the Augustana Synod. Norelius is the author of the following books: Salems Sknger (1859), Handbok for Son- dagsskolan (1865), Ev. Laterska Augustana Sjynoden i Nord Amerika ocb dess Mission (1870), and Be Svenska Luterska Forsamlingarnas och Svenskarnes Historia i Amerika (1890). Only the first volume of the last mentioned work, which deals with the Swedes in Amer- ica from the earliest emigration of the nineteenth century to 1860, has yet appeared. His history is intensely Lutheran, somewhat partial, poorly classified, and not indexed. The author relates his experiences and the experi- ences of others very minutely, without much attempt to condense the whole to a scientific historical treaty. The BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 463 facts on the whole are fairly correct, except in regard to the first Swedish settlement in Minnesota, w^hich was not stated in 1851, as he asserts, but in 1850, when Oscar Roos and two other Swedes made the first settlement at Marine, Washington county, which is substantiated both by Roos himself and in a little excellent pamphlet, Srenskarne i St. Czoijc-dalen, Minnesota (1879), by Robert Gron- berger.* Norelius's description of the natural appearance of the country in the early days is excellent, but in many respects his earlier and smaller history is superior to his later and larger book. All his writings contain a great deal of wit, humor, and imagination. Col. H. Mattson, in his admirable book, Minnen (1890), refers to Norelius in the following manner: "In the beginning of the month of September, 1855, Rev. E. Norelius visited the settlement (Vasa), and organized a Lutheran church. Thirty-five years have elapsed since that time, and many of those who belonged to the first church at Vasa now rest in mother earth close by the present stately church edifice which still belongs to the same congregation and is situated only a short distance from the place where the latter was organ- * In regard to this sentence, which was also in the first edition of this volume, Nore- lius remarks: "It depends upon what you mean by the word 'settlement.' If it can be called a settlement where two or three single men, bachelors, make a claim without making such claim a constant habitation, then of course I do not dispute the priority of the Marine colony. But if by a settlement is meant a permanent habitation, espe- cially by one or more families, then the Swedish colony at Marine is not older than the one at Chisago Lake." As I understand it, a settlement may be permanent or tempo- rary, and may be composed of families, bachelors, or old maids. The early arrival in this state of Oscar Roos and bis companions has been mentioned in a few places in this volume simply because it was deemed to be of considerable historical importance, and not as a reflection upon Norelius for having failed to refer to those pioneers. The con- stant reference to this omission on my part is a mistake which can hardly be avoided in a cyclopedic work like this, and I prefer the repetition of important histerical facts to the omission of those facts.— Bditob. 464 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAYAINS IN THE U. S. ized. Rev. Norelius himself lives only a few hundred yards from the church building. Thirty-five years have changed the then cheerful, hopeful young man into a veteran, crowned with honor, and full of wisdom and experience. His beneficent influence on the Swedes of Goodhue county and of the w^hole Northwest will make his name dear to coming generations of our people." Norelius visited his native land in 1868 for the purpose of improving his health, but returned in a worse condition. In 1855 he was married to Inga C. Peterson, of West Point, Ind., by whom he has had four sons and one daughter. Oftedal, Sven, educator — Minneapolis— bom 22 March, 1844, in Stavanger, Norway. He graduated from the Latin school of his native city in 1862; completed his theological studies at the University of Norway in 1871, having also devoted much of his time to the study of ancient and modem languages, literature, and philosophy; studied one year in Paris, France; traveled through several of the European countries; and accepted a call as theological professor at Augsburg Seminary, Minneapolis, in 1873, where he has since remained. The great success of the seminary is largely due to Oftedal's energy and perseverance. In 1878 he was elected a member of the board of education, a position he held for ten years, being president of that body for four years; and in 1886, when the Minneapolis Public Library was established, he was elected by the legislature as one of the chartered members of that library, and has been chair- man of the library committee ever since. In these two capa- cities he has been able to do more than any other person to have the Scandinavians in the city recognized by the public I'l!. C. J. RTXGNELL, MINNEAPOLIS. O. H. JIYUAX. ADA. I'. A. ItlCIO, WILr,MAU. PR. G. r. SA\rii;i:i;c;. ST. PAir,. J, SHALEEN, LINDSTROM. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 465 at large. He was the originator of the present high school system in Minneapohs and the branch system of the Minne- apoUs Public Library. Oftedal has taken an active part in temperance and church work, being one of the organizers oft the first stable Norwegian temperance society in Minne- apolis, and was for years one of the leading men in the Nor- wegian-Danish Conference. Oftedal occupies a unique posi- tion in the history of the Norwegian Lutheran churches in America. Most of the leaders in those churches have at one time or another been engaged in controversies bristling with harsh words. But he alone has time again been in the midst of the fiercest of these battles. Indeed, he has spent years in a perfect calm; but again and again the storm has gathered around that man as around no other Norwegian- American. At some future date he may possibly be taken as the ablest and grandest expounder of that remarkable hatred of conventional restraint which characterized the Norsemen of his time. Even at close range it is not very difficult to see that Oftedal could have spent a life of ease and unruffled honor if he had chosen to devote his magni- ficent mental gifts to the upbuilding of the existing institu- tions of the majorities, instead of repeatedly siding with apparently hopeless minorities. His is surely a mind that rebels against power as such; but it aims rather at the destruction of w^hat is conceived as baneful influences than at self-aggrandizement; bitter as it may be at times, it is, after all, more altrustic than egotistic. Oftedal cannot be properly judged until some time after his life-work is com- pleted. He is married, and has grown children. Olson, C. 0. Alexius, lawyer and legislator — Minne- 466 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. apolis— born 5 April, 1872, in Long, Yestergotland, Sweden. At the age of two years he emigrated with his mother to America, coming directly to Minneapolis, where later he attended the public schools, graduating from the North Side High School in 1891; employed his out-of-school hours as carrier on the daily papers, and as clerk in stores and offices; graduated from the academic department of the University of Minnesota in 1895, from the law department in 1896, and in 1897 received the degree of LL.M. from the same institution; was admitted to the bar by the Minnesota supreme court in June, 1896, and has since been engaged in the general practice of law; at the University was actively interested in student affairs, serving successively as class president, editor of The Ariel (the students' paper), and as cadet major of the University Battalion; is a member of the general college fraternity Zeta Psi, and of Delta Chi (Law); in 1892 traveled in Europe, visiting Germany, Den- mark, Sweden, Norway, and England; during the summer of 1893 was employed at the Chicago World's Fair; is presi- dent of the Minneapolis High School Alumni Association, and secretary of the John Ericsson Memorial Association; in religion a Lutheran; in politics a Republican; at the gen- eral election in 1898 was elected to the office of representa- tive in the Minnesota state legislature. Olson, Seaver Elbert, merchant — Minneapolis — born 1846, in Ringsaker, near Hamar, Norway. His boyhood was spent partly in assisting his father in his profession as carpenter, partly at school. From early childhood he showed himself to possess singular abilities. Already at the age of ten he became a teacher and conducted his own little BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 467 scliool. Olson came with his parents to this country in 1858, and they settled on a farm near La Crosse, Wis. He attended Beloit College, Wis., for one year; commenced business for himself in Rushford, Minn., in 1867, but the entire stock was destroyed by fire in less than a month after he started. He rebuilt the store and for about three years had a good trade; then entered into partnership with his former employer in La Crosse, Wis.; but three years later the firm was dissolved, and Olson continued in the business until 1878, when he came to Minneapolis, Minn. Here he united himself with N. B. Harwood. They failed in 1880, and Olson was again made penniless, with nothing but an unimpeachable credit and an excellent record as a business man. He next went into partnership with Ingram. This firm was afterwards changed to S. E. Olson & Com- pany, now being one of the largest dry goods establish- ments in the West, and perhaps the greatest Scandinavian store in the United States, doing an annual business of about $2,000,000. Olson is a stockholder of several banks, is also connected with many other large enterprises, and has a family. Ustrom, 0. N., banker and grain dealer— Minneapolis- born 29 July, 1850, in Aby, near Kristianstad, Sweden; died 1893. He emigrated to America in 1867, staid the first year at Afton, Minn., then went to St. Peter. Being a builder and contractor, he erected here, among other build- ings, Gustavus Adolphus College. Ostrom moved to Minne- apolis in 1877, and two years later he engaged in the gener- al merchandise and wheat business at Evansville; this large wheat trade compelled him subsequently to build twenty- 468 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS m THE U. S. five elevators along the Great Northern R. R. In 1882 Ostrom became one of the stockholders and directors of the First National Bank of Alexandria; the following year he estabHshed the Bank of Evansville, of which he assumed the management as cashier.. Ostrom returned to Minneapolis in 1887, and, in company with other prominent Swedes, or- ganized the Swedish American Bank, with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars. In 1889 he organized the Inter- State Grain company — a half million dollars' concern. Ostrom was president and manager of the Inter-State Grain company, and president of the Swedish American Bank. At the age of twenty he was married to Helena Elg; they have grown children. Ostlund, 0. W., educator— Minneapolis— bom 27 Sept., 1857, in Attica, Ind. His parents were among the earliest Swedish immigrants in this country; they came from Oster- gotland. Young Ostlund graduated from Augustana Col- lege in 1879, and eight years later his alma mater conferred the degree of master of arts upon him. He studied natural sciences for two years at the University of Minnesota; has been entomologist of the natural history survey of Minne- sota since 1884, having published numerous reports on his specialty, and contributes occasionally to some of the lead- ing magazines on scientific subjects. Since 1890 he has been assistant professor of zoology at the State University; was entomologist of the State Horticultural Society from 1887-90; is a member of the Davenport Academy of Sciences, and of the Minneapolis Academy of Science. Ostlund is an active member of the English Lutheran church, having been one of its trustees for several years. He is unmarried. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 469 Pederson, Knud, legislator— _Under wood — born 1844, in Norway. He came to this state in 1868, and has been engaged in farming in Otter Tail county. He served as town supervisor, treasurer, and assessor for six years, and as county commissioner for thirteen years. Since 1896 he has been a member of the house of representatives of the state' legislature. Pederson owes the position last mentioned to the Populist party. He is a widower. PeteFsen, Ole P., clergyman and pioneer — Minneapolis —bom 28 April, 1822, in Fredrikstad, Norway. He became an orphan at the age of six, was brought up by a well-to-do family, was a sailor for a few years, and emigrated to this country in 1843. He was converted to Methodism by the well-known Swedish pioneer and missionary, 0. G. Hed- strom, in 1846; returned to his native land three years later, and w^as the first who introduced the faith of Methodism in Norway; came back to America in 1850, and the next year commenced to preach among his countrymen in Winne- sheik county, low^a. With the exception of C. B. Willerup, a Dane, Petersen w^as the first Methodist minister among the Norwegian pioneers in this country. He often had to travel on foot during the hot summers and cold winters through the Western states, suffering all the hardships incidental to frontier life. In 1850 he was married in Nor- way to Anne Amundsen. They had two children, and for some years past he has been living with one of them in the East. Petersen, W. M. H., clergyman and educator — St. Paul —born 26 Nov., 1854, in Ringerike, Norway; died 1899. He came to this country in 1862, settling with his widowed 470 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. mother in Rochester, Minn.; stayed for sometime at Pointed Creek, Iowa; completed courses at Luther College and at Concordia Seminary, graduating from these institutions in 1875 and 1878, respectively. During the remainder of his life he served a Norwegian Synod congregation in St. Paul. Having a strong memory and being an untiring student, he gradually accumulated a great amount of w^ell-digested and carefully systematized knowledge. He w^as a great specia- list. In order to make proper use of this valuable treasure he was appointed, in 1894, to a chair of theology in Luther Seminary. But his health began to fail, and in 1898 he made a trip to Europe in hopes of gaining strength. Peter- sen prepared his sermons with great care, and some of them have been preserved in the collection printed by the synod. He wrote considerably for the oiiicial paper of the synod, and his most noted effort as an author treats of the inspira- tion of the Bible. He was married to Anna K. Soraas, of Dodge county, Minn., in 1880; they had six children. Peterson, Andrew P , state legislator— Cokato— bom 7 Sept., 1851, in Sweden. At the age of nine he came with his parents to this country; they settled in Carver county, Minn., where young Peterson received a good common school education. He was in the mercantile business in Cokato for a few years, and has since 1880 been the proprietor of a drug store. Peterson has held various local offices, been county commissioner of Wright county, and represented his district in the state legislature in 1877. In 1878 he was married to Anna S. Anderson, of Minneapolis. They have _ children. Peterson, Frank, clergyman— Minneapolis — born 19 BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAYIANS IN MANNESOTA. 471 Nov., 1847, in Stockseryd, Ostergotland, Sweden. At the age of four he came with his parents to this country; they settled in Rock Island, 111., and moved to Lansing, Iowa, in 1855, where young Peterson received a good common school education. In 1863, while not yet sixteen years old, he en- listed in the Ninth Iowa Cavalry, which was almost con- stantly engaged in fighting the Texas Rangers and Quan- treU's Band in Missouri, Texas, and Arkansas. So depleted were the ranks of his regiment, that but few remained after the war to return home. After the war he studied one year at a university in Chicago; took a trip to Sweden, in order to improve his health, where he spent a year; taught in the public schools in Iowa and Minnesota for several years; and intended to study law, when he finally concluded to enter the ministry, and accepted a call of the Swedish Baptist church in Worthington, Minn., in 1875. After having re- mained there for a w^hile, he took charge of a congregation in Chicago; came to Minneapolis in 1881, and for eleven years served the First Swedish Baptist church, which had a great prosperity during his ministry. In 1890 he accepted the appointment as district secretary of the American Bap- tist Missionary Union, which is one of the strongest mis- sionary societies among Protestants, either in America or on the continent, employing 2,500 workers, scattered throughout twenty nations of the world. This society expends over a million dollars annually. Peterson was a successful teacher, is an able speaker both in Swedish and English, and has collected a great deal of material for a his- tory of the Swedish Baptist church. In 1878 he was married to Emma C- Johnson, of Chicago. 472 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. Peterson, James A., lawyer — Minneapolis — bom 18 Jan., 1859, in Dodge county. Wis. His parents were Nor- wegians. He graduated from the literary department of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis., in 1884, and three years later from the law school of the same institution, having made his own way through college by teaching school. Since he completed his education he has been prac- ticing his profession in Minneapolis, being recognized as one of the leading Scandinavian attorneys in the state of Min- nesota. In 1893 Peterson was appointed assistant county attorney, and in 1897 and 1898 he served as county attorney. While occupying this position he became a terror to evil-doers; and the ability with which he prosecuted some public officers belonging to his own political party is claimed to have had something to do w^ith his failure to receive the renomination for a second term which had, become tradi- tional in that party with regard to certain county officers. Peterson is a Republican. In 1889 Marie Emily Dahle, of Dane county, Wis., who is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, and was a classmate of Peterson, became his wife. They have children. Peterson, John, collector of customs— St. Peter— bom 6 July, 1841, in Kil, Vermland, Sweden. His parents were farmers, who gave their son a good common school educa- tion, and at the age of seventeen he commenced to work in a large factory. Later on he held the position of shipping clerk; was engaged in building at Stockholm and Sundsvall for some time and in constructing railroad stations and bridges during a couple of years; and in 1867-9 was located near Karlstad as superintendent of the construction of REV. FRANK PETERSON, MINNEAPOLIS. REV. E. A. SKOGSBERGH, MINNEAPOLIS. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 473 gOYemment railroad bridges. In 1869 he emigrated to America, coming directly to St. Peter, and after having worked as a common laborer for a short time, he began, in company with others, operations as a railroad contractor, and for eighteeen years the firm of which he was a member carried on a large business throughout the Northwest. Since he has followed the same occupation on his own responsibility, and has also been interested in bank- ing and farming. Peterson has taken an active part in public affairs. He has been a member of the city council of St. Peter, serving as its president for a couple of years; was a member of the congressional committee of his district for several years; has been a delegate to numerous Republican conventions; w^as elected to the state senate in 1894; and in 1897 President McKinley appointed him collector of customs. He has also been a member of the board of trustees of the State Hospital for the Insane, having been appointed by Gov. Merriam and Gov. Nelson, and was a member of the board of directors and treasurer of Gus- tavus Adolphus College for several years. Peterson is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church; and was mar- ried in 1873 to Fredrika Elisabeth Lundberg. They have several children. Peterson, J. W., state senator— Vasa— bom 30 Mar., 1838, in SmMand, Sweden. At the age of eighteen he came with his parents to this country; they settled in Chisago county, Minn., where young Peterson worked on the family homestead until 1862, when he enlisted in company I of Sixth Minnesota Volunteers. He served against the Indians in Minnesota and Dakota; was promoted to the 4-74. HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. rank of sergeant; honorably discharged in 1865, and has ever since farmed at Vasa. Peterson was in the state senate during the sessions of 1873-74, in the lower branch of the legislature in 1885, and again in the senate in 1891- 93; besides, he has held several local offices. The general opinion is that he is one of the most influential Scandina- vian legislators of Minnesota. Peterson is a Republican and a Lutheran, and was married in 1868 to Carrie John- son, who is twelve years his junior. Pettersen, Wilhelm MauFitz, educator and poet— Min- neapolis — bom 17 Dec, 1860, in Mandal, Kristiansand stift, Norway. His father was a sea captain of German extraction, his mother belonged to the old Norwegian farmer stock. After having graduated from Mandal's xniddelskole, he, at the age of fifteen, went to sea; passed a first mate's examination; sailed as second mate, both on Norwegian and American vessels; and came to Minneapolis in 1882. Two years after his arrival he graduated from Augsburg Seminary, Minneapolis; afterwards studied Greek and English literature for a couple of terms at the Uni- versity of Minnesota; and was appointed professor of history and mathematics of his alma mater in 1889. Pettersen is a poet of considerable repute, having inherited a poetical taste and ability from his mother, who wrote verses occasionally; a volume of his collected Nor- wegian poems w^as published in 1891; and a drama, En Nj' Sl'Agt, appeared in 1895. It is generally admitted that Pettersen has written some excellent poetical productions. He has also considerable experience as a journalist, but his prose writings lack clearness and generalization. He is a BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 475 member of the Norwegian Lutheran Free Church, is a Democrat, has delivered campaign speeches throughout the state, and has a family. Petri, Carl J., clergyman — Minneapolis — ^bom 16 June, 1855, in Rockford, 111. His parents came from SmMand, Sweden, to this country in 1852. They settled in Chicago, 111., but moved to Rockford two years later, where they have resided ever since. Petri received his early education in the parochial and public schools in Rockford. In 1871 he entered Augustana College, Paxton, 111., from w^hich insti- tution he was graduated in 1877, being therefore a member of the first class sent out from this institution, and has since received the degree of A. M. of his alma mater. He took special interest in languages and history, in which subjects he had the best standing in the college. Petri pur- sued the study of the English language with a view to become an educator in this branch, and when he came to Minneapolis in 1878, the board of directors of Augustana College advised him to continue his study of English with a view to teach it in that institution. He studied English and Anglo-Saxon at the University of Minnesota for one year; then went to Philadelphia, where he took charge of a Swedish Lutheran congregation; and attended for one year the University of Pennsylvania, taking a special course in history and English, also attending Dr. Krauth's lectures on philosophy. In 1880 he consented to be ordained. He remained in Philadelphia until 1884, when he became pro- fessor of history at Gustavus Adolphus College, in which capacity he made an excellent record. In 1888 Petri accepted a call as pastor of the largest Swedish Lutheran 476 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAYIANS IN THE U. S. congregation in Minneapolis, where he has since resided. He was the originator and one of the chief leaders in the arrangement for the great celebration, ia Minneapolis, in 1888, of the 250th anniversary of the landing of the Swedes in America in the 17th century. In 1893 he was one of the chief organizers of the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Upsala Decree, being also the first one who translated said decree into Enghsh. Petri has been vice-president of the Minnesota Conference of the Swedish Augustana Synod for several years, and a member of the board of directors of Gustavus Adolphus College. In 1881 he, with others, started the Augustana Observer, the first English church paper among the Swedes in America. He has also been editor of an English Sunday-school paper belonging to the church. He was a member of the advisory council of the religious congress at the World's Fair in Chicago, in 1893; is a member of the Institute of Civics, and took a very active part in starting the Swedish hospital in Minneapolis, in 1898. Petri is a good speaker in both Swedish and English, and as an organizer and manager of church and social affairs, there are few of the miaisters within the Augustana Synod that equal him. He was married in 1880 to Christine Andersson, of Dalame, Sweden; the w^edding ceremony being performed in the historical Old Swedes' Church, Philadelphia, Pa. They have several children. Petri, Gustave A., lawyer— Minneapolis— bom 21 Sept., 1863, in Rockford, 111. His parents came from Smiland, Sweden, to Chicago in 1852, and moved to Rockford two years later, where they have resided ever since. He is a BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 477 brother to Rev. C. J. Petri. He studied at Gustavus Adol- phus College, St. Peter, Mian., for a few years; then entered the University of Minnesota, Minneapohs, graduating from the classical department of this institution in 1890, with the degree of A. B., and from the law department three years later, with the degree of LL. B. The year of 1891 he spent on the Pacific Coast, studying law most of the time at Seattle, Wash., in the office of Judge Green, ex-chief justice of the state of Washington. After having completed his legal education, he has successfully practiced his pro- fession in Minneapolis, having won several important cases in the supreme court of the state. Petri is a member of the Swedish Lutheran Church, having taken active part in church and Sunday-school work. Although not a pro- fessional politician, he has always taken an active interest in politics, having always affiliated with the Republican party. In 1894 he was married to Ida M. Peterson, of Grove City, Minn., who had formerly attended Gustavus Adolphus College for several years, and studied music at the Royal Conservatory in Stockholm, Sweden, for two years; they have children. Railson, Andrew, state senator— Norway Lake— bom 16 Aug., 1833, in Sigdal, Kristiania stift, Norway. He emi- grated to this country at the age of seventeen; worked in the pineries and at other common labor in Green county, Wis. for about five years; visited his native country, and on his return located in Stillwater, Minn., working in the saw mills for a couple of years; then took a claim in Kandiyohi county, being one of the earliest settlers in this part of the country. At the time of the terrible Sioux 478 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. Indian outbreak, in 1862, Andrew and his brother Even were among the bravest defenders of life and property; but nevertheless they were driven away from their homes by the fierce Redskins, and did not return until 1865. He has been county treasurer of Kandiyohi county for five years; was receiver of the U. S. land office at Redwood Falls from 1884^87; represented his district in the state legislature in 1871; served in the state senate during the sessions of 1872- 73, and has held various local offices. Andrew Railson, Jonas Lindall of Chisago county, and Ole Peterson of Pope county w^ere the first Scandinavians who -were elected state senators in Minnesota; but many other Northmen, how^- ever, had served in the lower branch of the legislature ever since the state constitution w^as adopted, in 1857. Railson was again elected to the state legislature in 1892. In 1860 he was married to Bertha Johnson. They have children. Rast, Gustaf, clergyman — Red Wing — born 13 July, 1857, in Fristad, Yestergotland, Sweden. He emigrated to the U. S. in 1873, after having received a common school education in Sweden; attended the literary department of Augustana College for four years; and graduated from the theological department of this institution in 1884. For nearly three years he had charge of the Swedish Lutheran church at Stockholm, Wis., and has since 1887 been pastor in Red Wing. He has been secretary, vice-president, and treasurer of the Minnesota Conference of the Augustana Synod; served six years on the board of directors of Gus- tavus Adolphus College, and has held the offices of secretary and president of said board; has during the biggest part of his ministry served in the executive committee of the con- BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 479 ference, and always taken an active part in the educational and missionary work of his church. In 1884 he w^as mar- ried to Hann a Anderson, of Princeton, 111. They have several children. Beimestad, Theodor S., educator — Minneapolis — bom 28 Apr., 1858, at Jaderen, Norway. He received a high school education in his native land; emigrated with his par- ents to this country in 1872, coming directly to Iowa, where he attended the graded school at Ackley; continued his studies at Augsburg Seminary, Minneapolis, graduating, in 1880, from the college department, and in 1883 from the theological department; was pastor of churches in Dane and Green counties. Wis., for two years; and in 1885 settled down to his life-work, accepting a position as professor at his alma mater, his chief subjects being the history of Nor- wegian and Danish literature and Latin. Reimestad has for years taken great interest in temperance work, having lectured very extensively on total abstinence and prohibition in the Northwest as well as written considerably on the same subjects. He is also one of the most widely known Scandinavian tenor singers in America, and is instructor in vocal music at the seminary. He was the originator and organizer of the Norwegian Lutheran Singers' Union, being its first president and later on its director-in-chief. He has published Kampznelodier, a.collection of temperance songs and, in company w^ith Rev. M. F. Gjertsen, Sangbogen, a huge collection of religious songs, including some of Reime- stad's best efforts as composer and writer of songs. In 1888 he organized the Augsburg Quartette, which devoted four seasons to the cause of total abstinence and prohibi- 480 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE TJ. S. tion, traveling through several northwestern states; for years was president, and in 1895 secretary, of the Minnesota Total Abstinence Association; and. has been president of the Total Abstinence Congress since it was organized. In 1888 the Prohibitionists nominated him for lieutenant-governor. Reimestad has made two noted trips to Norway. In 1895 he w^ent there upon invitation and gave a series of success- ful temperance concerts in the cities; and in 1898 he, in com- pany with Rev. Gjertsen, spent most of the summer in sing- ing and preaching to large audiences in all the large cities and most of the principal towns. Rice, Albert E., lieutenant-governor — Willmar — born 1847, in Vinje, Kristiansand stift, Norway. He received a common school education in his native country, emigrated to the U. S. in 1860, and settled in "Wisconsin. At the out- break of the Civil War he enlisted in the famous Fifteenth Wisconsin Regiment of Volunteers, better known as the Scandinavian Regiment; was w^ounded in his left hand at the battle of New Hope Church; settled in Minneapolis after the war; but moved to Willmar in 1870, to engage in gen- eral merchandise; and has later also become interested in banking. Rice represented a Minneapolis district in the state legislature in 1870, served in the state senate during the sessions of 1874-75 and 1878-85, and was lieutenant- governor from 1887—91. Rice was a delegate to the con- vention in Philadelphia, which nominated Grant for presi- dent in 1872, and was appointed a member of the board of regents of the University of Minnesota in 1897. His long and honorable legislative career has largely been devoted to measures opposing railroad and elevator monopolies, for A. E. UlCli, VVILLMAK. PROP. J. B. FRICH, HAMLIXE. REV. T. JOHNSBN, NORSELAND. PROF. H. G. STUB, HAMLINB. PROF. J. YLVISAKEE, ROBBINSDALE. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 481 the protection of the fanners against the ravages of the grasshoppers, and for the taxation of telegraph and tele- phone companies. As a parliamentarian, Rice has few, if any, equals in the state. He is a Republican. Rice is mar- ried to a Swedish lady, who possesses considerable literary ability. Their son, Cushman A. Rice, was bom in Willmar March 15, 1878. He graduated from Willmar high school at the age of sixteen; entered the State University one year later; enlisted as first lieutenant in company D of Fifteenth Minnesota Volunteers at the outbreak of the Spanish War in 1898; was mustered out with his regiment in the spring of 1899; and shortly after President McKinley appointed him first lieutenant, assigning him to the Thirty-fourth U. S. Infantry. Since he has been promoted captain of com- pany M, of the above mentioned regiment, and served in the Philippine Islands since the fall of 1899. Rice is probably the only Scandinavian-American who ever held the high rank of captaincy at the early age of twenty-one. Kingnell, Carl John, physician and surgeon — Minne- apolis — ^born 3 June, 1864, in Yissefjerda, SmMand, Sweden. After having attended school for five years, he, at the age of eighteen, emigrated to this country; attended Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn., for three years, and graduated from the medical department of the University of Minnesota in 1891; has also been studying at the principal hospitals in Europe. Ringnell has gained the confidence of the people and has a very large practice; has been appointed attending physician at the Free Dispensary, which is a part of the University of Minnesota, and the Nurses' Training School; is a member of the Minnesota Medical Society, and 32 482 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S, of the American Medical Association. In 1896 he took a post graduate course at Tulane University, New Orleans, La., and has traveled extensively in Mexico and Central America. In 1891 he was married to Carrie Morris Wilkins, of New York City, she being a grand niece of Gov. Morris, w^ho was one of the signers of the Declaration of Indepen- dence. They have one daughter. Roos, Oscar, pioneer and county official — Taylor's Falls — ^bom 1827, in Skara, Sweden; died 1896. He crossed the Atlantic ocean in 1850, being therefore one of the earliest Swedish emigrants in this country. He lived the first sum- mer at Rock Island, 111. In October, 1850, he, together with two other Swedes, and upon the advice of the well- known Rev. Unonius, moved to Minnesota and took a claim where Marine, Washington county, is now located. This was the first Scandinavian settlement in the state. After having resided at Marine and worked in the pineries for ten years, Roos in 1860 moved to Taylor's Falls. He was register of deeds of Chisago county from 1860-70, receiver of the U. S. land office from 1870-75, and county treasurer from 1875-83. He has always taken an active part in public affairs and been deeply interested in every- thing pertaining to the welfare of Chisago count j, in which he was the first Scandinavian who held an office, as well as the first Scandinavian settler. Roos was married to Hanna Swanstrom in 1870. Rosing*, August G., secretary of the Minnesota Scandina- vian Relief Association of Red Wing — Red Wing — bom 1 Sept. , 1822, in Ljungby, Yestergotland, Sweden. He received a good education in his native land, was bookkeeper in a gov- BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 483 emment ofl&ce in Stockholm from 1844-48, then followed the same profession in Sk^ne, until he emigrated to America in 1868. He came directly to Goodhue county, Minn., wherehe rented a farm, and farmed until he accepted his present posi- tion in 1888. He has been county commissioner for several years, and has held various local offices. Rosing was mar- ried in 1851. He has children. Rosing', L. A., chairman of the state central committee of the Democratic party — Cannon Falls— bom 29 Aug., 1861, in Malmo, Sweden. He is the son of A. G. Rosing, in Red Wing; came with his mother to this country in 1869; received a common school education in Goodhue county; worked on his father's farm until the age of twenty; then clerked in stores in Cannon Falls; and since 1888 has been conducting a shoe store of his own in that city. In the campaign of 1890 he began to take an activepart in politics, and in the course of the next ten years he distinguished him- self as a very able organizer, holding different positions in the Democratic organization; among which may be men- tioned that of member of the congressional committee in 1892, candidate for state senator in 1894, and chairman of the state central committee since 1896. He conducted the campaigns of 1896 and 1898 with great ability, and it was largely through his masterly management that the Fusion forces succeeded in electing John Lind as governor in 1898, the first anti-Republican governor in the state of Minnesota for forty years. Gov. Lind appointed him his private secre- tary in 1899. Rosing was married to May B. Season, an American lady, in 1886. They have children. Sandberg, G. P., dentist— St. Paul— bom 17 Feb., 1861, 484 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE V. S. at Saltkalla, Vestergotland, Sweden. At the age of twelve he came to this country, directly to St. Paul, Minn., to join his father, who had emigrated before. He received a common school education in his native country, studied dentistry in a private office in St, Paul, and has since 1885 successfully practiced his profession in that city. For years he has been the only Swedish dentist in St. Paul. In 1899 he formed a partnership with. Dr. L. R. Hoelzle. They employ several assistant dentists. Sandberg belongs to ten different secret societies, and has taken the highest degree in Freemasonry. He was married in 1888 to Margarete E. Moran, an Ameri- can lady. They have children. Sandbergr, J. H., botanist and physician — Minneapolis — ^bom 24 July, 1846, in Broby, Sk&ne, Sweden. He received a college education in Lund, and studied pharmacy in his native land; came to this country in 1868; lived in Michigan for a while; located in Minneapolis in 1887. Sandberg studied medicine in this country, but he is better known as a botanist than as a physician, having for a few years been employed by the United States as botanical collector on the Pacific Coast. He already ranks among the leading botanists of the country. Sandberg has discovered several new plants, to w^hich he, according to a universal custom among scientists, has given his name. He is married, and has a married daughter. Saugstad, ChFistian, clergyman— Crookston— born 13 June, 1838, in Ringsakier, Kristiania stift, Norway; died 1897. In 1850 his father emigrated to the United States and settled in Vernon county. Wis.; the following year the mother and her two younger children crossed the Atlantic BIOGRAPHIKS OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 485 to join her husband, leaving young Saugstad, his two brothers, and one sister in their native land to take care of themselves, but if possible to follow their parents. After having lived in Kristiania for three years, he secured an opportunity to work his way across the ocean; landed at the age of sixteen in Quebec, Canada, and followed the rest of the passengers to Milwaukee, Wis., where he, on account of being short of funds, was left alone on the pier among strangers, with only ten cents in his pocket. But after having worked for three months in Milwaukee he was able to start on his journey towards his parents, and his mother died three days after his arrival. By working on farms in the summers and in the pineries during the winters, he soon bought a farm of his own; but finally entered Augsburg Seminary, Marshall, Wis., and was ordained in 1872. Saugstad commenced his first pastoral work in Douglas and adjoining counties, Minnesota, having charge of a large field, and resided at Holmes City for eight years; then moved to Polk county, and settled in Crookston in 1886. Until the union of the difiierent Norwegian churches he belonged to the Norwegian-Danish Conference, of which he was vice-president from 1886-90. In the early nineties he established a Norwegian colony in Bella Coola, B. C, where he died. In 1893 he published a brief history of Augsburg Seminary. He was married twice, and had eleven children. Searle,0IafO., emigration agent and banker — Minneapolis — ^bom 23 June, 1859, in Fredrikshald, Norway. He came to America in 1881. In the fall of the same year he began work in the emigration department of the St. Paul, Minne- apolis and Manitoba Railway, remaining there till 1883, 486 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAYIANS IN THE U. S. ■when together with A. E. Johnson he opened business as emigration agent. This firm, known as A. E. Johnson and Company, is now doing a very extensive business in the sale of passage tickets for the various steamship companies, and also in the sale of lands. The firm has offices in New York City, Boston, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Duluth, Tacoma, and Seattle. Searle is also one of the directors of the Scandina- vian American Bank in Tacoma, and vice-president of the Scandinavian American Bank in Seattle; owns considerable farm lands in central Minnesota and other real property in Western cities, notably at Little Falls, Minn. Ever since the partnership w^as formed, he has been the manager of the Northwestern headquarters of the firm's business, and has taken an active part in public and financial matters, espe- cially those in which the Scandinavians have been interested. He located in Minneapolis in 1898, but in the summer lives at Lake Minnetonka, where he owns a fine house and 125 acres of land on Big Island, being one of the finest places on the lake. Searle was married in 1887 to Dagmar John- son. They have one child. Sbaleen, John, state senator — Lindstrom — bom 15 Nov., 1835, near Vexio, Sweden. He received a common school education in his native country, and has since been an extensive reader. His parents and the whole family emi- grated to the ¥. S. when he was twenty years of age; they settled at Chisago Lake, Minn., where both John Shaken and his brother Peter — who died in 1898, and was one of the leading men in that part of the country — worked on the family homestead until the outbreak of the Civil War, when John Shaken enlisted in company I of the Sixth BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 487 Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. For some time lie served against tlie Indians on the western frontier of Min- nesota; then was on duty in the South, fighting against the Confederates at Spanish Fort and at Fort Blakeley in Alabama. At the end of the war he returned to his farm; was sheriff of Chisago county from 1870-76; represented his district in the state senate during 1878-86;and has been judge of probate since 1888. He is an independent Republi- can and a Lutheran, and one of the first Swedish settlers in the state of Minnesota, having passed through the usual hard- ships incidental to pioneer life. He is considered to have been one of the most influential Scandinavian legislators in the state; public economy has been his hobby. He was married to Annie S. Stendahl in 1869; they have several children, all of whom have received a liberal education. Sjoblom, P., clergyman— Fergus Falls — born 17 Mar., 1834, in Snostorp, HaUand, Sweden. He came to this country in 1866; was ordained the same year; had charge of a Swedish Lutheran congregation in Indiana for a couple of years; settled in Red Wing, Minn., in 1869; and moved to Fergus Falls in 1886. Since 1895 he has been located at Wakefield, Neb. Sjoblom has been vice-president and secre- tary of the Augustana Synod, and served on various legal and constitutional committees. He has been the parlia- mentarian of the synod, and one of the most influ- ential among the Swedish-American Lutheran ministers, and has for years been associate editor of Skaffaren. He was married in 1855, and has children. Skaro, J. G., physician and surgeon — Minneapolis — born 10 Jan., 1859, in St. Peter, Minn. He is the son of 488 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. Captain A. K. Skaro, who was born in Hallingdal, Norway, 4 June, 1829, came to the United States in 1846, and was killed at Nashville, Tenn., in 1865. Captain Skaro served in the United States army as a private at Fort Snelling from 1847-52, then settled at St. Peter, and enlisted in the Union army in 1862, being one of the few Scandinavians from Minnesota who rose to a higher position in the army dur- ing the Civil War. Young Skaro received a high school education in his native city, graduated from a medical col- lege in Keokuk, Iowa, in 1880, studied medicine also in Louisville, Ky., inl884-85, and attended the Post Graduate Medical College, New York City, in 1890. Skaro has prac- ticed his profession in Minneapolis since 1880, having been exceptionally successful, especially in handling difficult female diseases. Indeed, in this line of practice he has few equals or superiors in the Northwest. Two of his brothers are also practicing medicine in Minneapolis. In 1890 he was married to Olive Stewart, of Nova Scotia. Skogsbergh, Erik August, clergyman— Minneapolis — bom 30 June, 1850, at Elgi, Vermland, Sweden. His father w^as a nail manufacturer, his mother a farmer's daughter. Young Skogsbergh attended the public schools until twelve years of age; studied three years at a college at Arvika; took charge of his father's affairs and did a large business in Norway and Sweden; became interested in a religious movement; attended for a while a missionary school in Kristinehamn, with the intention to prepare to go as a missionary to Africa; entered a missionary school in Sm&land; and studied privately for four years at Jonkoping, with the purpose of entering the theological department in O O. SKARLE, MINNEAPOLIS. A. B. DARELIUS, MINNIOAPOLIS < '. <>■ A. OLSON, MINNEAFOLIS. J. A. PETEKSON. lirXNEAPOI.IS;. 'luu Lb G, A. PETRI. MINNEAPOLIS. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 489 the University of Upsala; but instead accepted a call to Chicago, at the age of twenty-six. Skogsbergh traveled as a missionary throughout Vermland, SmUland, and Vester- ^otland, preaching often in the open air to large crowds. In Sweden he was still a member of the Lutheran church, and his work was a kind of mission inside of the state ■church. Since, however, this movement has been separated from the Lutheran church both in this country and in Sweden. The organization of which he is a member is called the Swedish Mission Covenant of America, and its church government resembles that of the Congregational, ists; but the mode of w^orship is more like that of the Methodists. Skogsbergh remained in Chicago for seven years, built a large church with a seating capacity of 1,500, preached in several other places, and conducted revival meetings among his countrymen throughout the Western states. Since 1884 he has resided in Minneapolis, and erected the Swedish Tabernacle, which has a seating -capacity of 3,000, and is the largest church building in Min- neapolis. The membership is about 400, yet the audi- torium is often crowded with people. For a number of years he has also been editor of a Swedish newspaper in Minne- apolis. In 1879 he was married to Tillie S. Peterson of Chicago. They have several children. Skordalsvold, John J., journalist — Minneapolis — born 29 Oct., 1853, in Meraker, Trondhjem stift, Norway. He came with his parents to this country in 1869, directly to Goodhue county, Minn., but the family moved to Todd county the following year. Young Skordalsvold cleared his father's farm; graduated from the literary department 490 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. of Augsburg Seminary in 1881, and from the University of Minnesota seven years later; then studied over a year at the University of BerHn, Germany, making his own way through school; taught some in Augsburg Seminary; was editor of Folkebladet in 1883; is known as an active and earnest temperance worker, and lost considerable money a few years ago in connection with the Scandinavian coffee house which he organized in Minneapolis; has served for many years as secretary of the Minnesota Total Abstinence Asssociation and as superintendent of the educational de- partment of the Total Abstinence Congress; and has made greater sacrifices for the cause of temperance than any other Norwegian bom person in the state. For some ten years he was connected, both as principal and as teacher, w^ith the public evening schools of the city, and has for several years been a contributor to many Norwegian- Amer- ican and English newspapers and magazines. He is a mem- ber of the Unitarian church, and a Prohibitionist. Skor- dalsvold was married to Anne Romundstad in 1890. She is one of the few women who vmte for the Norwegian- American press. Skordalsvold has children. Smith, Charles A., lumber manufacturer— Minneapolis — bom 11 Dec, 1852, in Boxholm, Ostergotland, Sweden. He came with his father, who was a soldier in the Swedish army for a third of a century, to the United States at the age of fifteen, and settled in Minneapolis, Minn. He received a common school education, both in Sweden and here, then attended the University of Minnesota for one year, being one of the first Swedes who attended that institution. He received his business training in ex-Gov. J. S. Pillsbury's BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 491 hardware store in Minneapolis, where he worked for five years; then, in company with his former employer, built an elevator at Herman, Minn., remaining there until 1884, when he returned to Minneapolis. Smith has since been extensively engaged in the manufacturing of lumber; besides, he owns lumber yards in several places in North Dakota; and is one of the directors of the Swedish-American National Bank in Minneapolis. "Smith is the coming man among the Swedes," said a prominent business man during the National Republican convention at Minneapolis in 1892. But it is doubtful whether Smith has any political aspirations. He is a business man, and as such not many Scandinavian- Americans in the country are his equals. Smith is a Republican, and was one of the presidential electors of his party in 1896; but his extensive business interests prevent him from taking an active part in politics, except as counsellor, and as such he is undoubtedly one of the most influential Swedes in the state. His active co-ope- ration in nearly every movement calculated to benefit his countrymen or the public at large has made Smith's name honored and respected far beyond the limits of his home city. But the noiseless assistance which he has bestowed upon poor people and young men endeavoring to start in life, has, perhaps, even been greater than his public gener- osity. Smith's great popularity and success may be due to his liberality, economy, good judgment, keen understand- ing of human nature, or to that unknown something often called luck. In all probability Smith does not know him- self. Mankind generally calls such men well balanced. Smith deserves that distinction. He is a prominent member 492 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. of the English Lutheran church, and has been treasurer of the English Evangelical Lutheran Synod of the Northwest for several years. Johanna Anderson, a daughter of Olof Ander- son, a riksdagstnan from Sweden, and one of the early settlers in Carver county, became Smith's wife in 1878. They have several children. Soderstrom, Alfred, newspaper manager — Minneapolis — ^bom 1848, in Stockholm, Sweden. After having received a good education in his native city, he, at the age of twenty- one, emigrated to this country; resided in Chicago for two years; then moved to Minneapolis, Minn., where for some time he w^as a teacher in Barnard Business College. Later he associated himself with Col. Mattson as general man- ager of Minnesota Stats Tidning; but when this paper w^as sold to a syndicate composed of Swedish Lutherans, Soderstrom retired and became the chief promoter in organizing a stock company which commenced to publish Svenaka Folkets Tidning in 1881, and of which he was business manager up to 1899. Since he has been preparing a Swedish history of Minneapolis, which he should be able to make very thorough and complete, as he has resided in that city for nearly thirty years, and has participated in all the leading events pertaining to the Scandinavians in that place. He was nominated for county treasurer of Henne- pin county in 1892, and was the only Republican candidate in the county that was defeated; the general opinion was that he had been knifed by the political bosses. He is married. Sohlberg, Olof, physician and surgeon— St Paul— bom 6 July, 1859, in Ostersund, Sweden. After receiving a col- BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAYIANS IN MINNESOTA. 493 lege training in his native country, SoWberg emigrated to America with his parents in 1879; spent one year at Gus- tavus Adolphus College, and then entered Minnesota Col- lege Hospital (now the medical department of the state university) at Minneapolis; graduated from this institution after three years of study, receiving first prizes for the best examinations in pathology, medical and surgical dentistry, and clinical medicine. Sohlberg was the first foreign-bom that graduated as a medical doctor in Minnesota. Since 1884 he has successfully practiced his profession in St. Paul. During the years of 1890-91 Sohlberg traveled abroad for study and observation of treatment in the European hospitals, making surgery and diseases of women his special study. He is a member of Ramsey County Medical Society and of Minnesota State and American medical associations. He is also member of the medical and surgical staff of Bethesda Hospital. He is a member of the board of directors of Gustavus. Adolphus College, and takes an active part in church and public affairs. Sohlberg was married in 1886 to Helvina A. Wold. They have children. Solem, A., joumaUst— Fergus Falls— born 27 April, 1850, near Trondhjem, Norway. He graduated from Klabo seminary, near Trondhjem, in 1870. After five years spent in teaching school in the northern part of Norway, he attended the polytechnic school in Trondhjem three years. Solem came directly from Norway to Otter Tail county in 1879, and there commenced life as a carpenter. He soon learned the type-setting business and worked on both Nor- wegian and English papers. In 1884 he bought the Ferg us Falls Ugeblad, of which he is still editor and proprietor. 494 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. Solem was an exponent of the principles of the People's party, but he did not endorse the methods of some of the leaders of the party. On the whole, his paper will gener- ally be found on the side of fair play and justice whether it brings pecuniary returns or not. He is a member of the United Church. He was married to Marith Ronning in 1880. Sorensen, Sigvart, journalist— MinneapoHs— bom 18 Nov., 1849, in Kristiania, Norway. Attended a Latin school at Kristiania from 1861-66, then emigrated to this country with his parents. Stayed in Chicago from 1866-68; in Madison, Wis., from 1868-70; and in La Crosse, Wis., from 1870-89, when he again removed to Chicago, where he stayed until 1891. Sorensen was elected city assessor of La Crosse for seven terms; has been connected with some newspaper or other since 1873; was for some time one of the editors of Norsk Maanedsskrift, published by Soren- sen and Luth Jaeger; was editor oi Norden, Chicago, from 1890-91; came to Minneapolis in 1891, becoming editor of Badstikken, now^ Minneapolis Tidende. Sorensen is an able and careful writer, and in 1899 wrote a history of Norway in the English language, containing about 500 pages. He was married in 1873 to Hanna Husher, a daughter of F. A. Husher. They have two children. Stark, L. J., state legislator— Harris— bom 29 July, 1826, in Lidkoping, Yestergotland, Sweden. He came to this country in 1850, settling at Galesburg, 111., where he remained about a year and a half; then moved to Chisago Lake, Minn. During the Civil War he was clerk in the quartermaster department in St. Paul. In 1864 Stark was BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 495 elected to the state legislature, and re-elected ten years later, being, therefore, the first Swede who served in that capacity in Minnesota, though several Norwegians had preceded him. He had been engrossing clerk in the house of representatives before his election to this body. Stark has held many local trusts in his county, is interested in mer- chandising and farming, is a Lutheran in religion, and belongs to the Republican party. He has been married twice, and has grown children by both wives. Steenerson, Halvor, lawyer and state senator — Crook- ston— bom 30 June, 1852, in Pleasant Spring, Dane county. Wis. His parents came from Norway in 1850, moved to Houston county, Minn., in 1853, and were therefore among the very earliest Norwegian settlers in Minnesota. Young Steenerson attended the high school at Rushford, Minn., worked on his father's farm, taught school for several years, and graduated from Union College of Law in Chicago, in 1878. For two years he practiced his profession in Lanes- boro, Fillmore county, moved to Crookston in 1880, and has for years been considered as one of the ablest attorneys in the state, making criminal cases his specialty. He insti- tuted, conducted, and won, on behalf of the farmers and grain shippers, the noted Steenerson grain case, which attracted national attention and resulted in state control and regulation of railroad charges on grain shipments. He was elected county attorney of Polk county in 1880, serving two years, and represented his district in the state senate during the sessions of 1883-85. During his legislative career he took special interest in securing the establishment of rail- road warehouses and the regulation of the same. He is a 496 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. Republican, was his party's delegate to the national conven- tion in Chicago, in 1884, which nominated Blaine for the presidency, and also to the convention at which Harrison was nominated four years later. Steenerson has been city attorney, and a meraber of the city council and board of education; is vice-president of Scandia American Bank of Crookston, member of the I. 0. 0. F., and a Lutheran. In 1878 he w^as married to Mary Christopherson; they have two children. Stoekenstrom, Herman, journalist— St. Paul— born 13 Mar., 1853, in Stjernsund, Dalarne, Sweden. His ancestors belonged to a noble family of Sweden, and he has inherited a great deal of property. He received a college education in Falun, afterwards attended Stockholm's gymnasium and Schartau's commercial coUege, in Stockholm. In 1874 he went as a sailor to Philadelphia; studied for a couple of years at Augustana College, where he also taught, both in the college and privately; was editor of Skandia in Moline, 111., for about one year; and came to St. Paul, Minn., in 1877. For two years Stoekenstrom attended the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, then accepted a position as editor of Skaffaren; but when this paper and the Minne- sota Stats Tidning: were consolidated in 1882, he became both e ditor and manager, a position which he exchanged in 1884 for another of the same kind as the northwestern editor of Hetnlandet, which position he held for eleven years. He has taken a gr eat deal of interest in politics; has been a delegate to several state and county conventions; was a strong candidate for the office of secretary of state in 1886, but retired in favor of his personal friend, Col. Matt- C. A. SMITH, MINNEAPOLIS. HERMAN STOCKENSTROM, ST. PAUL. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAYIANS IN MINNESOTA. 497 son, by -whom he was twice appointed assistant secretary of state; and was twice appointed by Brown to the same position. During more than a decade Stockenstrom worked faithftilly for the Repubhcan party as a campaign speaker; but in recent years he has not devoted much time to poHtical questions. Ernst Skarstedt, in his admirable book, S p'ensk-Ata erikan ska Poe ter, says : ' 'Stockenstrom is an excellent orator and declaimer, and a poet of more than ordinary talent." As a newspaper correspondent he has contributed many articles to several of the leading Swedish- American papers, and is as familiar with the English lan- guage as with his native tongue. Since 1895 he has been a member of the editorial staff of Svenska Amerikanska Posten in Minneapolis. His poem, Det N_ya Modersmklet, is an excellent illustration of how the Swedish language, as used in this country, becomes mixed with English words supplied with Swedish endings. Stockenstrom is a member of the English Lutheran church, is one of the most popular Swedes in Minnesota, and was married in 1881 to Anna Maria Nelson, of St. Paul, Minn. Stub, Hans Gerhard, educator---Hamline— born 23 Feb., 1849, in Muskego, Racine county. Wis. His parents are Norwegians, his father being the well-known Rev. H. A. Stub, pastor in the Norwegian Lutheran Synod. In 1866 he graduated from Luther College, Decorah, Iowa; in 1869 he graduated with distinction from Concordia College, Fort Wayne, Ind., and in 1872 from the Concordia Theological Seminary at St. Louis. He was ordained a minister the same year and accepted a call from a Norwegian Synod con- gregation in Minneapolis, Minn., serving this congregation 498 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. till 1878, when he became professor of theology in Luther Seminary, Madison, Wis. Of this institution Stub was president from 1879-88, when he resigned from the presi- dency on account of ill health, but for many years retained the professorship; then w^as clergyman in Decorah for a few years, and returned to Luther Seminary in 1899. The North says: "The entire Norwegian Lutheran Synod in this country recognizes Prof. Stub as its ablest and most erudite scholar in his special branch of study. His learning is of a high order, and in addition he is a man of the high- est personal attainments." He has been married twice, and his second wife is the noted musician Valborg Hovind Stub, editor of Songs froxa the North. Sverdrup, Georg, educator— Minneapolis— born 16 Dec, 1848, in Balestrand, Bergen stift, Norway. He received a careful training at home, graduated with the highest honors from the classical department of a Latin school inKristiania at the age of seventeen, and completed his theological course at the University of Norway in 1871. He had made a special study of the Oriental languages during his school career, and after his graduation he spent considerable time in Paris, France, for the purpose of farther investigating his specialty. For years the Norwegian Lutheran church in this country had suffered from many severe storms, bitter dis- putes had prevailed and rent the church asunder. At last, in 1870, the Norwegian-Danish Conference was organized — an event which forms an epoch in the history of the Nor- wegian churches in America. The Conference, of which the well-known Rev. C. L. Clausen was the first president, began at once the erection of Augsburg Seminary in Minneapolis, BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 499 Minn. When it was completed, Sverdrup received a call to become professor of theology. He accepted, and arrived at his destination and entered upon his new duties in 1874; tw^o years later Prof. A. Weenaas resigned from his position as theological instructor and president of the institution. Sverdrup succeeded him in the presidency, and under his able management Augsburg Seminary has in about twenty- five years become one of the foremost Scandinavian educa- tional institutions in America. When the Conference, in 1890, was merged into the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America, Sverdrup was again chosen president of Augsburg Seminary. When the United Church withdrew its support from Augsburg Seminary in 1893, Sverdrup remained at the head of the institution during the years of bitter struggle in which the United Church in vain tried to obtain possession of the school. When finally the matter w^as amicably settled in 1898 by a division of the property of the seminary between the United Church and the Augs- burg Seminary corporation, this important settlement was due in part to the pronounced stand taken by Sverdrup against lawsuits in connection with the affairs of the church. Rev. J. C. Jensson in American Lutheran Bio- graphies says: "He is a nephew of ex-minister Johan Sverdrup, for many years premier of Norway, and his father was a noted minister in the state church and a member of the Storthing of his native country. Born of illustrious parentage, endowed with rare mental qualities, thoroughly educated, and having inherited no small degree of the family characteristics which have made the name so prominent, Sverdrup possesses in an eminent degree the conditions for 500 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. being a leader among the Norwegian Lutherans in this country." Sverdrup has been married twice: in 1874 to Katharine E. Heiberg, who died thirteen years later, and in 1890 to Elsie S. Heiberg, a younger sister of his first wife. He has had children by both wives. Swainson, John, pioneer — St. Paul — bom 1816, in Stockholm, Sweden; died 1890. He graduated from the University of Upsala; emigrated to the U. S. in 1848; settled in 1854 at Chisago Lake, Minn., w^here he farmed for a w^hile, then moved to St. Paul. At the outbreak of the Civil War he was appointed quarter-master, with major's rank; and was stationed at St. Louis, Mo., remaining there until the war ended. From 1871-76 he was employed as gener- al land agent for the Great Northern R. R., residing in St. Paul; farmed for a couple of years at Hallock, Minn.; returned to St. Paul, where he was engaged in the real estate business until he was accidentally killed by a street car. The general opinion is that Swainson left a mysterious his- tory behind him in Sweden; yet he was the leader of several farmers who emigrated at the same time as he did. This open way of leaving his native country -would hardly have been possible if he had been a criminal. But whatever might have been his career in Europe, here he became widely and most favorably known, especially among the Swedes. He was a friend to the poor people, and his wealth was often invested, with little or no security, for the benefit of needy Swedes. He quite frequently was the orator at festi- vals, and contributed extensively to the best Swedish and English periodicals, but many of his so-called literary pro- ductions were plagiarized. BIOGRAPHIES OP SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 501 Sward, P. J., clergyman — St. Paul— born 1 April, 1845, in Styra, Ostergotland, Sweden. At the age of twenty-three he graduated from Johannelund mission institute in Stock- holm. This school has special royal privileges, and gradu- ates from there may, after being examined, be ordained as ministers of the foreign missions and seamen's missions in foreign ports. He served one year as assistant minister in Ostergotland; went to Constantinople, Turkey, in 1869, as chaplain of the Swedish-Norwegian legation and missionary for the Scandinavian seamen; remained there four years, visited Egypt and Palestine, and for sometime was chaplain of the German embassy; came from Turkey to New York to take charge of the Scandinavian seamen's mission, and while there organized the first Swedish Lutheran church in Brooklyn, in 1874; went to Baltimore in 1877 to organize a Scandinavian seamen's mission; but on account of ill health accepted, the following year, a call to Vasa, Minn., where he remained for eight years, then moved to St. Paul. Sward was president of the Minnesota Conference for two years and vice-president for six years; w^as theological professor in Augustana College, Rock Island, 111., during the school year of 1888—89, but not desiring to leave his work in St. Paul unfinished, he resigned; was elected vice-president of the Augustana Synod in 1889; and served as president of the synod from 1891 to 1899. The Augustana College and Theological Seminary conferred the degree of doctor of divinity on Sward in 1894, and the same year he was creat- ed commander of the order of the North Star, second class, by King Oscar. II. of Sweden. For several years he was one of the editors of Skaffaren; served a congregation in 502 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAYAINS IN THE U. S. Omalia, Neb., from 1894 to 1899; and at the latter date entered the service of the state church of his native land. Svirard ranks high as a pulpit orator. Some of his ser- mons, especially those delivered at gatherings of clergymen and theological students, were masterpieces. His mild, somewhat humorous, temper, his conscientious attention to the duties imposed upon him, his great know^ledge of the world, his clear understanding of human nature, made him an exceptionally able president in a free church. The whole bearing of the man was democratic, and it is claimed that he returned to Sweden principally because a position there offered more time for contemplation and rest and a safer livelihood in old age than it is possible to secure here. Sward himself said that he returned partly because he desired to leave the direction of the Swedish- American Lutheran church in younger and abler hands, which shows the modesty of the man. He was married to Selma Maria Thermaenius, of Sodermanland, Sweden, in 1872. They have six children. Swenson, John, state legislator and banker — Canby— bom 1842, in Norway. He came to Minnesota in 1872, and has since been engaged in merchandising, milling, and banking. He ow^ns several banks in the w^estem part of the state; and is very liberal with his wealth, having in a quiet way assisted a host of needy people. He is married, and represented his district in the state legislature in 1883. Swenson, Lars, state senator — Minneapolis — ^bom 10 July, 1842, in Hallingdal, Norway. His great grandfather was a Scotchman. When fifteen years of age Swenson came with his parents to the United States; they settled in Nic- ollet county, Minn., where he worked on the farm and BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 503 attended school. He studied for some time at Luther Col- lege, and at the breaking out of the Civil War enlisted in the Second Regiment of Minnesota Volunteers. He was wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of Chicamauga. After the war he returned to Nicollet county, where he was clerk of court for four years. Swenson came to Minne- apolis in 1879. He was treasurer of Augsburg Seminary for thirteen years, and has ever since 1879 been manager of the Augsburg Publishing House, and treasurer of the United Church since 1890. He was elected alderman in 1884, and served in the state senate in 1887-89. Swenson is a Repub- lican and a widower. Swenson, L. S., educator and U. S. minister to Denmark — Albert Lea — ^bom 12 June, 1865, in New Sweden, Nicollet county, Minn. His grandfather and father were natives of Hallingdal, Norway; both emigrated to the United States and settled in Nicollet county, Minn., in 1857. His father represented his district in the state legislature in 1887. Young Swenson entered St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., at the age of fourteen; graduated from Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, in 1886; then studied for some time at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. When Luther Acad- emy, in Albert Lea, was opened in 1888, Swenson accepted the call as its principal, in which capacity he served until 1897. Ever since he located in Albert Lea, Swenson has taken an active part in politics. In some way or another he succeeded in being regularly sent as a delegate to county, congressional, and state conventions; stumped the state in favor of Knute Nelson as governor in 1892; was appointed a member of the board of regents of the State University in 504- HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. 1895; and the next year was a delegate to the Republican convention at St. Louis, which nominated Wm. McKinley for president. Through the efforts of Knute Nelson more than on account of any diplomatic experience on the part of Swenson, he received the appointment as minister to Den- mark in 1897. In 1887 he was married to Ingeborg Ode- gaard. They have tw^o daughters. Sunwall, G. F., grain merchant— Minneapolis— born 11 April, 1852, in Oppeby, Ostergotland, Sweden. He received a college education in his native country, graduating from the elenientarra.rovS.rk at Eksjo in 1867. Two years later he emigrated to America, coming directly to Carver county, Minn., and clerked in stores in Carver village for three years. Then started in business for himself at Wal- nut Grove in 1873, which village he also founded at the same time. After having remained in the general mercan- tile business at that place for a couple of years, he com- menced to buy grain at different points along the Omaha R. R., which occupation he followed for about five years. In 1880 he returned to Carver, w^here he remained until 1885, engaged in the grain business. At the latter date Sunwall settled in Minneapolis, where he organized the Central Elevator Company, a quarter million dollars' con- cern,' of which he was manager for about ten years; then sold out his interest in said company, and started a large grain commission business in his own name in 1895. Sun- w^all is the only Swede in Minneapolis doing a grain com- mission business, and is one of the leading business men of that nationality in the Northwest. In 1877 he was mar- ried to Annie E. Kelly. UKV. r, J. SWARD, ST. PADL. PROF. M. WAHLSTEOM, ST. PETEE. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 505 Tharaldsen, Iver, clergyman — Madison — bom 10 Nov., 1847, near Stenkjar, Trondhjem stift, Norway. He received a common school education; attended an agricultural col- lege for a couple of terms; and went to the Lofoten Islands, where two clergymen gave him private instruction for a period of two years. In 1870 he emigrated to America, and the next few years were devoted to studies as follows: at Marshall, Wis., for one year; at the University of Wis- consin for one year; at the University of Minnesota and Augsburg Seininary for two years; and he completed a theological course at the latter institution in 1874. During the next seven years he served a number of congregations in Otter Tail county, Minn., besides organizing several new churches in the northwestern part of Minnesota. While laboring in this part of the country he at one time had charge of sixteen congregations, covering a district more than one hundred and fifty miles in length, w^hich had to be covered either driving or on horseback. In 1881 he removed to Grand Forks, N. D., where he remained three years. Also here he worked as a missionary among the new settlers on the prairies in the surrounding country in Minnesota and Dakota, and organized a number of new congregations. His health being impaired by overwork, he sought a less laborious field of action, and in 1884 located at Chippewa Falls, Wis., where he resided about fourteen years, having since resided at his present home. From 1886 to 1890 Tharaldsen was secretary of the Conference, and for some time served as secretary of the board of missions of said association. Since 1890 he and his congregations have belonged to the United Church. In the first part of 1896 506 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. he traveled extensively in the Rocky Mountain districts, Colorado and Utah, to recuperate after a long and severe siege of sickness of the preceding year. He -was married in 1876 to Caroline A. Engerud, of Racine, Wis., a sister of the wife of Prof. Peter Hendrickson; they have five children, and their oldest daughter and oldest son are graduates of the Chippewa Falls high school. Thompson, R. E., state senator and lawyer — Preston — bom 7 Mar., 1857, in Fillmore county, Minn. His parents were Norwegians. He was educated in the common schools of Newburg, Minn.; in the Institute of Decorah, Decorah, Iowa; and in the State Normal School, Winona, Minn. After having taught school for some time, he commenced to study law; was admitted to the bar in 1881; served as deputy clerk of court for some time; represented his district in the state legislature during the sessions of 1883-85; and was in the state senate from 1895 to 1901, being one of the ablest and most influential members of that body. Thompson is a hard w^orker; very independent, and as a consequence does not always foUow^ the party whip of the Republican bosses; and has a large legal practice. In 1884 he was married to Anna Thompson; they have two children. Thorpe, Lars O., banker and state senator— Willmar— bom 24 Dec, 1846, in Ostenso, Hardanger, Norway. He came alone to the United States when not quite seventeen years old, having been a sailor a couple of years before. He worked on a farm during the summer, and attended school for a v\rhile during the winter at Jefferson Prairie, Wis.; went to Winona, Minn., in 1865, where for a couple of years he worked on farms and taught school. In 1867 BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 507 he visited his native land, bringing his sister and brother ■with him on his return; was a railroad contractor and printer in different places for a few years, but settled perma- nentlyin Kandiyohi county,Minn.,inl871, where he assisted in publishing a paper in Kandiyohi village ; and in the fall of that year moved to a farm located seven miles north of Willmar. For four years he worked on his farm, encounter- ing many struggles and vicissitudes common to frontier life. In the fall of 1875 he was elected register of deeds, which position he filled for six years. His official duties requiring him to stay much of the time in the city, he found it neces- sary to move from his farm and settle in Willmar, where he has ever since resided. In 1881 he accepted his present position as cashier of Kandiyohi County Bank. Thorpe is a Republican, was a presidential elector for his party in 1884, has been a member of the school board of Willmar for several years, is president of Willmar Seminary, has been president of the city council, represented his district in the state senate in 1895-7, and has held nearly every local office. He is a member of the Norwegian Synod, and is a temperance man, being one of the most active workers in the religious, social reform, political, and financial move- ments of the city and county, and takes more than ordi- nary interest in the affairs of the state. In 1870 he was married to Martha Quale. They have several children. Thorson, A., pioneer and county official — Norseland — bom 13 Feb., 1823, in Va, near Kristianstad, Sweden. He clerked for eleven years in Kristianstad and Solvesborg; emigrated in 1847, in company with a couple of other young men, to this country, via France; it took them over 508 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. four montlis to reach Charleston, S. C, where the vessel, on account of being damaged, -had to anchor, instead of at New York. He happened to have a letter of introduction to a Swedish merchant who had emigrated to the U. S. in his younger days, and w^as now an old man; but this mer- chant had relatives who had settled in America in the eighteenth century, which goes to show that Swedish emi- grants have in very early days crossed the Atlantic. In a short time Thorson and his companions started for New Orleans; here they ran short of money and food; but he soon secured a place as waiter in a hotel. In 1848 Thorson went to California, via Panama, working for his passage; at that time there were only a few houses in San Fran- cisco, and not a single one in Sacramento. After having dug gold for about three years and saved about $2,000, he returned to Sw^eden, via Nicaragua, Jamaica, Cuba, and New York. He farmed for two years in the vicinity of his birthplace; returned to, America in 1855, being the leader of thirty emigrants w^ho accompanied him to the New World, among others his wife's parents and other relatives. Thor- son and his party examined different places, but soon set- tled at Scandian Grove, Nicollet county, Minn., where they were the first Swedish settlers, though a few Norwegians had preceded them. Here he has farmed ever since, was register of deeds for four years, held various local offices, and has passed through many hardships incidental to pioneer life. In Sweden, in 1852, he married Anna Nelson; they have several children. Thygeson, N. M,, lawyer— St. Paul— born 11 Sept., 1862, in Martell, Pierce county. Wis. His parents came from the BIOGRAPHIES OP SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 509 northern part of Norway in the early forties. He grad- uated from a normal school at River Falls, Wis., 1882, and from the scientific, metallurgical engineering, and modem classical courses, of the University of Wisconsin in 1885, completing his legal studies at the same institution a couple of years later. In 1888 Thygeson located in St. Paul, and is now considered to be one of the ablest Scandi- navian lawyers in the Northwest. In 1891 he was married to Sylvie G. Thompson of St. Louis, Mo. They have children. TFandberg, P. C, clergyman— Minneapolis— born 18 Aug. , 1832, in Bomholm, Denmark; died 1896. In his boyhood he attended school at his birthplace and at Ronne, and during the years 1846-51 pursued a course in the Latin school at Ronne, finally graduating with the highest honors. He con- tinued his studies in Copenhagen and was graduated from the theological department of the university in 1858. Soren Kirkegaard, the philosopher and denunciator of "official Christianity," made a deep and lasting impression upon the mind of Trandberg, and the conversion which he experienced in 1858 made him wage w^ar against the easy-going life of the church people in his country. He was ordained for the ministry the same year, and began to serve congregations at Tjele and Vinge, Jylland; but he felt hampered by the rules and regulations of officialdom, and in 1860 he resigned his charge and returned to Bomholm, where he spent eighteen years in the most intense religious work. Indeed, the stir that he made among the people of Bornholm in the early sixties made him famous throughout the Scandinavian coun- tries. In 1863 he formally withdrew from the state church 510 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. and organized an independent congregation. This, however, was gradually torn to pieces by fierce internal contentions, and in 1878 he left his native island with a sad heart. He spent the next three years as itinerant preacher in Jylland, and emigrated to America in 1882. Though a Lutheran, but holding very liberal views, he w^as appointed theological professor at the Chicago Theological Seminary (Congrega- tional) in 1885, but as he failed to bring any material addi- tions to the Congregational church he was dismissed from that institution in 1890. An attempt made by him to estab- lish an independent theological seminary did not prove a success, and it was abandoned in 1893. During the nineties Trandberg published Hyrderosten, a religious periodical, and preached occasionally until his death. He spent the last two-and-half years of his life in Minneapolis. Trand- berg was married in 1863. A bust has been raised to his memory at his birthplace, and in 1899 the Danish Lutheran church people in America w^ere raising money for another monument in his honor. Turnblad, Magnus, journalist— Minneapolis — bom 28 Jan., 1858, in Yislanda, SmMand, Sweden. He came to this country with his parents in 1868 and settled in Vasa, Good- hue county, Minn., where he attended school for some time. He afterwards sought the more advanced educational insti- tutions of Red Wing and St. Paul, always distinguishing himself as an excellent scholar. After completing his school work Turnblad established himself as a grocery merchant at Red Wing, continuing in business for ten years, w^hen more ambitious plans induced him to move to Minneapolis. He again engaged in the grocery business in that city for some BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 511 years, and also identified himself with the Swedish weekly paper, Svenska Amerikan&ka Postetj,oi which he became editor in 1889. This paper has, under the able management of his brother, S. J. Turnblad, met with an almost pheno- menal success, having now the largest circulation of any Swedish paper in the country, although it is considerably younger than most of its colleagues, having been establish- ed in 1885. This astonishing success is largely due to the skill and ability with which Magnus Turnblad is editing the paper. For years he has taken an active part in temper- ance work. He has been married three times, his first wife leaving one daughter. Turnblad, Swan J., newspaper publisher — Minneapolis — bom 7 Oct., 1860, in Yislanda, SmMand, Sweden. At the age of nine he came with his parents directly from his native land to Yasa, Goodhue county, Minn. Here he attended the common schools and Lindholm's high school for several years, taught school for a couple of terms, and worked on his father's farm. When nineteen years of age he moved to Minneapolis, where he worked as typesetter on Minnesota Stats Tidning and Svenska Folketa Tidning for a few years. In 1887 he became manager of Svenska Ameri- kanska JPosten, which at that time had only 1,400 sub- scribers and was financially in a bad condition; but under Tumblad's able management it has today, 1900, a circula- tion of 40,000, having had, undoubtedly, taking into con- sideration the time, the greatest success of any Swedish paper in America, as well as being the largest in size. It is independent in politics, and advocates temperance princi- ples. Turnblad has for years taken an active part in tem- 512 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. perance work, having assisted in organizing several Scan- dinavian temperance societies in Minneapolis and through- oiit the state. For a couple of terms he was secretary of the grand lodge of I. 0. G. T., and also organized lodges in connection with this society in different parts of Minnesota. He was the chief promoter in organizing, in about 1880, the first Scandinavian temperance society in Minneapolis, which as an open and independent organization was the means of accomplishing a great deal of good. Already in his early age Tumblad showed that he possessed singular abilities. He learned to set type by himself, and published an arithme- tic, all set by himself, when he was only 14!-16 years of age. In 1883 he invented a secret letter writing machine, which he patented, and which has been largely sold all over the country. In 1892 he became interested in The North, of which he was manager for a short time, and was also man- ager for Hemznet a couple of years. Turnblad is a member of the American Presbyterian church, and has taken the highest degrees in Freemasonry. He and his family made extensive European trips in 1895, 1897, and 1899. In the latter year Gov. John Lind appointed him a member of the board of managers of the State Reformatory at St. Cloud. At the age of twenty-two he w^as married to Christine Nel- son, of Worthington, Minn. They have one daughter. Ueland, A., lawyer— Minneapolis— bom 21 Feb., 1853, at Heskestad, Stavanger amt, Norway. His father was Ole Gabriel Ueland, who was a member of the Norwegian Stor- thing from 1833 till his death in 1870, and the recognized leader of the liberal party in Norwegian politics. In 1871 young Ueland emigrated to this country, coming directly to S. J. TrUNBLAn. 1IIX\I:AP(iLIS. C. J. JOHNSON, MINNEAPOLIS. I'KOF. G. JOHNSON, MINNEArOLlS. DR. .\. LIXD, MINNEAI'OLIS. J. I'ETERSOX, ST. I'ETER. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAYIANS IN MINNESOTA. 513 Minneapolis, where for the following three years he worked hard at manual labor in the summer, and attended private school during the winter. He then began the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1877. In 1881 he was elected judge of the probate court, and has a very large law practice. Ueland was married to Clara Hampson in 1885. They have half a dozen children. Valder, Hans, state legislator and pioneer— Newburg— bom 18 Oct., 1813, in Stavanger amt, Norway. His father was an ofl&cer in the army. Young Valder received a good common school education in his native country, and taught for a while in the public schools. At the age of twenty-four he came to the U. S.; the journey from Stavanger to New York on a sailing vessel took three months; resided in La Salle county, 111., for seventeen years; and for some time lived among the American Baptists at Indian Creek, 111., accepting the religious views of his associates in 1842. He was licensed to preach, and in a couple of years about twenty Norwegians in La Salle and Kendall counties were immersed, constituting a kind of society without being regularly organized. Valder was ordained in 1844, being undoubtedly the first Norwegian Baptist preacher in the United States, and for some time received a salary of $50 a year from the American Baptists and $13 from his country- men. He worked at manual labor part of the time, and was soon compelled to quit preaching altogether in order to support his family. He organized a small , party of emi- grants who settled in 1853, at Newburg, Minn. — this being one of the first Norwegian settlements in the state — where he has ever since been engaged in farming and hotel keeping. 514 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. Valder is not only one of the earliest settlers in tlie state of Minnesota, but is also one of the first Scandinavian emi- grants who came to America in the nineteenth century. He has held a great raany local public trusts, and represented his district in the lower branch of the state legislature in 1871. Valder is a life-long Republican; he voted for William H. Harrison as president of the U. S. in 1840 and for his grandson, Ben. Harrison, fifty-two years later. He has been married three times, namely, in 1835, 1845, and 1861; has had sixteen children; and in 1892 had over one hundred and fifty descendants, who resided in six different states of the Union. One of his sons is conducting a business college at Decorah, Iowa. WaerneF, Ninian, poet and journalist — Minneapolis — born 12 Dec, 1856, in Norrkoping, Sweden. He received a college education in his native city, entered the University of Upsala in 1877, and passed his examination in philosophy three years later, but remained in the institution until 1883; then went to Berlin, Germany, to study esthetics, music, and the fine arts, remaining, however, only a short time. In 1884 Waerner emigrated to the United States; accepted a position in one of the orchestras in Chicago; afterwards became connected wth newspapers, being on the editorial staff of Karre and Kariren; and was for one year editor- in-chief of Svenska. Aznerikanaren. He left Chicago in 1889 in order to take charge of Svenska Korresponden- ten in Denver, Col.; was from 1891 to 1894 editor of Fri- akytten , an illustrated humorous j ournal published in Minne- apolis, Minn.; then became connected with Svenska Ameri- kanska Posten; and settled in Motala, Sweden, in 1895. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 515 Ernst Skarstedt says that Waerner has a large stock of ideas and a remarkable ability to express his thoughts in a poetic form; that he is one of the most praductive of all Swedish-American poets; that all his poems are original, well written, and, like his prose writings, vary from the gravest to the most comical; that he is a gifted humorist who can write long editorial articles in a serio-comic way on the most insignificant subjects. Most of the Swedish- American critics will agree with Skarstedt in placing "Waer- ner in the front rank as a poet and humorist. He has issued three small pamphlets, but most of his numerous produc- tions have been published in some Swedish-American news- paper. One of his poems was rewarded by the Swedish Academy in 1894, and Waerner is the only Swedish-Ameri- can poet, with the exception of Magnus Elmblad, who has been recognized by that body. He is married and has chil- dren. WahlstFom, M., educator — St. Peter — born 28 Nov., 1851, in Gammalstorp, near Karlshamn, Sweden. When an infant of only three years of age, he came with his parents to this country; they lived in Chicago for a couple of years, and in other parts of Illinois until 1861, when they com- menced to farm in Carver county, Minn. Young Wahlstrom received his elementary training at St. Ansgar's Academy— a Swedish school in Carver county, which later became Gus- tavus Adolphus College; graduated from the literary depart- ment of Augustana College in 1877, and from the theo- logical department two years later. In 1886 his alma mater conferred upon him the degree of master of arts, and some years later that of doctor of philosophy. After his gradua- 516 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. tion he traveled for one year as missionary among the Indians, through Colorado, Nevr Mexico, and Indian Terri- tory; but his health failed, and Indian missionary work proved to be impracticable, as far as the conversion of the natives to Lutheranism or any other Christian religion was concerned. In 1880 he accepted a call as professor at Gus- tavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn., and the following year he became the president of this institution, which under his able management has prospered beyond expecta- tion, having an average attendance of nearly 300 students, and employing sixteen instructors. Wahlstrom is a remark- ably clear and forcible speaker, and was married in 1879. Werner, Nils 0., lawyer and banker— Minneapolis — bom 19 Jan., 1848, in Fjelkestad, Ski,ne, Sweden. Werner was graduated from a college in Kristianstad, in 1868, and, lacking the necessary means for pursuing his studies at the universities, he emigrated to America, where his parents had already gone some time previously. He came directly to Princeton, 111., where his parents had settled. Here Werner remained for two years, studying law in private offices. In 1870 he moved to Red Wing, Minn., and was admitted to the bar the year following. Werner was elected judge of probate in 1874, remaining in office for ten years; was a member of the city council, and also member of the board of education in Red Wing. From 1886-88 he was member of the Republican state central committee. In 1888 Werner became cashier of the Swedish American Bank in Minne- apolis, which had been organized shortly before by leading Swedes in the state, and was elected its president in 1894. The great success with which this important financial BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN MINNESOTA. 517 undertaking has met is due in no small degree to Werner's able service. Werner is a Republican, and a member of the English Lutheran Church. He was married in 1872 to Eva Charlotte Anderson. They have children, and one of their sons is practicing law in Minneapolis. Wldstrand, Frans Herman, socialist— Litchfield— bom 1824, in Stockholm, Sweden; died 1891. He received a careful education at the University of Upsala; was employed in the governmental department in Stockholm for a while; but his radical ideas soon made it impossible for him to retain such a position, especially as he began to publish an anarchical paper. In 1855 he emigrated to this country; resided for quite a long time in Minneapolis, Minn., and vicinity, then started a social community in Wright county. In this settlement all property was common, all should V7ork alike; no liquor, tobacco, meat, or women were allowed in the community, which was intended to be a heaven on earth, and in a certain sense it became a para- dise, for no one worked. Such a gathering of idealists and idlers — not to say idiots — had soon to disband. A Yankee succeeded in securing the deed for all the property; Wid- strand lost everything, and moved to Litchfield in 1880. Here he endeavored to avenge himself upon mankind by pub- lishing Rothuggaren — a paper which made war upon re- ligion, government, and the human race. He was one of the most eccentric Swedes in America, and possessed many noble qualities, but was so unpractical that he seemed insane. Ylvisaker, John, educator— Robbinsdale— born 24 April, 1845, in Sogndal, Bergen stift, Norway. After being con- firmed Ylvisaker entered a teachers' seminary, and after 518 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. graduating served as teacher in the public schools of Nor- way for a period of three years, studying during that time Old Norse, German, and English, with priTate tutors. In 1871 he emigrated to America, entering Luther College, from which institution he graduated three years later. In 1874 Ylvisaker began the study of theology at Concordia Seminary, and three years later became pastor of the Nor- wegian Synod congregation at Zumbrota, Minn., where he remained till 1879. He was now called as professor of theology of Luther Seminary, and for the sake of further preparing himself for his duties as professor Ylvisaker, in 188i, made a trip to Europe, studying theology at the University of Norway, the University of Denmark, and the University of Leipzig, Germany, having received a stipend from the Norwegian Synod, to which he belongs. He has been secretary of the faculty since 1882, and vice-president of the institution since 1896. Ylvisaker is considered to be one of the ablest Norwegian-American theologians. He was married in 1877. Ytterboe, Halvor T,, educator— Northfield— bom 25 Nov., 1857, near Calmar, Iowa. His parents came from Telemarken, Norway, in 1852. He worked on his father's farm until seventeen years of age; graduated from Luther College in 1881; studied for one year at the University of Iowa; became teacher in St. Olaf College in 1882, and for a number of years devoted his whole time as its financial sec- retary; and it is claimed that the institution would have been financially crippled but for his success in securing vol- untary subscriptions. He was married to Elise Amalia Kittilsby, of Calmar, la., in 1886. They have children. HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS AND SUCCESSFUL SCANDINAVIANS IN THE United States, VOLUME 11. Compiled and Edited BY 0. N. NELSON. The Nationality of Criminal and Insane Persons in the United States. — BY — O. K. P»tE>I^430:iM. I. Criminals. A higli authority on mental and moral depraTity has said that there are three classes of criminals : "First, those ■who are driven to crime by want or adversity ;"■ secondly, those who have in their natures a taint of crime which may be corrected by favorable circumstances ; and, thirdly, those of radically bad organization." But as the present article is intended to deal principally with culprits as represented by the various nationalities in this country, it would be out of place to extensively discuss whether men become criminals by predestination or by their own choice. Tet, since each nationality and race has certain characteristics of virtue and vice — due, perhaps, mainly to climate, heredity, religious belief, and educational training — a careful examination of the proportionate number of convicts by nationalities, may serve as a key to arrive at the causes which lead people to commit offenses against the law. Such a test can more properly be made in this country because our population, as a whole, is undoubtedly more cosmopolitan than that of any 2 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. other part of the world. Each of the many and numerous foreign elements is, at least in the census reports, placed on an equal footing, and may justly be compared ■with each other as to their respective virtues and vices. But the differ- ent governments of Europe pursue so many different meth- ods in collecting and computing statistics, that a reliable comparison can not be made in regard to the amount of crimes committed by the people of each country. Deeds ■which one nation considers and punishes as a crime are no offense whatsoever in another country. But while a comparison of the foreigners in our land is perfectly proper, a comparison of them with the native-bom Americans is not exactly fair. In the first place, the latter have become fully assimilated with the climate and other physical, as w^ell as intellectual and spiritual, conditions; and as a consequence they have had a much better chance to improve their moral and mental capacity than the foreign- born population. Secondly, nearly all the foreign-born are adults, while the native-bom include, besides their own children, also the children of the foreign-born parents. This fact becomes very important when it is remembered that most crimes are committed by gro-wn persons. As a conse- quence, the comparison between the proportionate number of foreign-bprn and of native-bom criminals, as given in most of the following statistical figures, does not give the real relation, because the bases of computation are not alike. But it has been impossible to remedy the defect. Yet H. H. Hart, secretary of the state board of corrections and charities of Minnesota, has proved conclusively that the foreign-bom people, as a whole, have, proportionately. THE NATIONALITY OF CRIMINALS. 3 less prisoners than the native-born; and those native per- sons having foreign-born parents have the worst record of all classes of people. His able article dealing with this sub- ject was published in the American Journal of Sociology in November, 1896. In 1880 there were, according to the United States census, 58,609 "prisoners" in the country. In other words, one person in every 856 of the total population was a crim- inal; one in 1,309, of the native white; one in 949, of the native-bom ; one in 523, of the foreign-bom ; and one in 396, of the colored. Ten years later the total number of culprits had increased to 82,329 ; but the proportion of the various elements mentioned above was about the same as in 1880, although a slight deterioration of all of them was notice- able. In 1880 the Chinese-born had one prisoner for every 190 inhabitants ; the Irish, one for 350 ; the Scotch, one for 411 ; the French, one for 433 ; the English, one for 456 ; the Cana- dians, one for 590 ; the Germans, one for 949 ; and the Scan- dinavians, one for 1,539. The census for 1890, dealingwith "prisoners," is peculiar, specifying only the nativity of the parents of the culprits, without stating, for example, how many of our criminals were born in Ireland, Germany, and other foreign countries. While this method offers a comparison of the descendants of the various nationalities in the second generation, it is impossible to compare the immigrants themselves with their offspring. If this omission had not occurred, it would undoubtedly have been possible somewhat to estimate the effect which our conditions have exerted upon our moral 4 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. development; then an approximation could have been secured, with more exactness than now, whether the present conditions here are less favorable to moral elevation than, for example, in Germany and the Scandinavian countries. At the same time it is surely not accidental that the Scandi- navians have, in nearly every instance, the best record in regard to Crimes of any nationalities, and that the Germans make such a fine showing ; but must be largely due to the excellent compulsory educational and religious training which is prevalent in their countries. In 1890 there were 8,085,019 white persons bom in the United States of foreign-bom parents. Of this number, 12,601 were prisoners, giving a proportion of one prisoner to every 641 persons. This is a very bad showing as com- pared with the standing of the native whites of native parentage, w^ho had a proportion of one to 1,638. But the record of those natives whose parents were born in Ireland is still worse, the number of prisoners of this class being 7,935 out of a total population of 2,164,397, giving the shockingly large proportion of one criminal to every 273 persons. There are reasons for believing that the second generation of the Irish in this country has a worse record than the first. Nearly two-thirds of all the native-born prisoners having white foreign parents were of Irish descent. In the case of the natives of Scotch and English parentage, the proportion was one to 559, and one to 816, respectively. Natives of Canadian parentage had a proportion of one to 999, and the natives of German parentage had a slightly better record than the natives of native white parentage. Of the eight classes treated of in this paragraph, the second THE NATIONALITY OF CRIMINALS. 5 generation of Scandinavian-Americans stands very far above all the rest, the proportion being one to 7,566. As a matter of fairness, however, it must be observed that the majority of the latter — as well as some of the other classes — are too young to commit crimes, because the Northern emigration is of comparatively recent date. It is another illustration of the great defectiveness of this department of the census for 1890, which was in charge of Rev. F. H. Wines. In the United States census reports for 1880 and 1890, all grades of prisoners were enumerated, whether confined in the penitentiaries, county jails, or any other places; but in this article only those nationalities which had a population of over 100,000 have been referred to. In treating of the four following states, however, only the penitentiary culprits have been dealt with, except in the case of Iowa; and all nationalities having a population of about 25,000 in 1890 have been compared. In 1890 the total Scandinavian-born population in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin was 516,723, or more than one-half of the whole number in the United States. The Irish in these states numbered 223,168, and the Germans, 842,402. A thorough test of the criminal standing of the foreign representatives in the four states mentioned will undoubtedly reduce the element of mere chance to a minimum, especially when the investigation covers a period of ten or fifteen years. Illinois. In the fall of 1880 there was, according to the penitentiary reports, one convict in the two peniten- tiaries of Illinois for every 1,774 inhabitants in the state. The record of the native-born population was a little better, and that of the foreign-born a little worse than the total. 6 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. Those born in Canada have by far the worst sho-wing, the proportion of convicts to the whole number being one to 479. The standing of the Irish-bom is slightly inferior to that of the total foreign-bom. The German-bom stand above the rest, the proportion being one to 3,368 ; and the Scandinavian-bom come close to them, the proportion being one to 3,115. A calculation based on the number of convicts "on hand " in the fall of 1892, shows great changes in the course of twelve years. In most cases a decided improvement is noticeable in regard to the foreigners. The showing of the total foreign-born is now three and a half per cent, better than that of the native-bom. The proportion of total and native criminals are about the same as in 1880. The Ger- man-born, however, show a striking deterioration, the proportion being one to 2,333, while the Scandinavian-born now stand far above all the rest, with a proportion of one to 4,158. The showing of the Canadian-bom is five times, and that of the Irish and English-bom, three times as bad as the standing of the Scandinavians. lowA. Every person convicted of a crime of some kind figures in the official records of the state. Hence, the criminal statistics of Iowa, unlike the insanity records, are tolerably complete ; and they put the Scandinavian-bom inhabitants of the state in an exceedingly favorable light. The reports of the two penitentiaries in Iowa do not, however, like the Illinois reports, mention the nativity of prisoners " on hand" at a certain time ; but only refer to the number of culprits "admitted" during biennial periods. The following result was obtained by dividing the population of 1885 and 1895 THE NATIONALITY OF CRIMINALS. 7 by the annual average of the number of convicts received during the biennial periods of 1884-5 and 1894-5. By this method any accidentally large or small proportion of prison- ers "sent up " for one specific year is practically avoided. There was one convict sent to one of the state peniten- tiaries for every 5,106 inhabitants in the state in 1885, and one for every 3,000 in 1895. The Irish-born population has the most unenviable record, the proportion of the number of Irish-born convicted to the whole number of Irish-born inhabitants being one to 4,050 in 1885, and one to 541 in 1895. The Germans make a fair showing, the proportion for 1885 and 1895 being one to 8,304, and one to 1,883 respectively. The Scandinavian-born population had by far the most splendid record at the lattei' date, the proportion of the number of convictions to the whole number of inhabi- tants of Scandinavian birth being one to 7,720 in 1885, and one to 4,200 in 1895. These figures, however, being only based on the reports of the penitentiaries, can be sup- plemented by the reports of the secretary of state relating to convictions of criminals, which reports are absolutely complete inasmuch as they give the whole number of convic- tions of all ofifenses against the law in every county of the state for each* year. In Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin no such reports are published. Those of Iowa have one fault, namely, that although the nativity of the culprits is recorded, no general summing up of the various nation- ahties has been made, consequently it is almost impossible to compare them w^ith each other. According to these reports of the secretary of state the following result has been obtained : In 1880 one out of every 743 foreign-born 8 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAYIANS IN THE U. S. persons was convicted of some crime; in 1885, one out of every 709 ; and in 1890, one out of every 1,223. As to the American-born inhabitants, the record was not half so ugly, the proportion being one to 2,015, one to 2,224, and one to 2,500, for the years 1880, 1885, and 1890, respectively. But the proportion of the whole number of Scandinavian- bom persons convicted of crimes to the total Scandinavian- bom population for the same years was only one to 5,756, 2,807, and 3,312. Minnesota. The numerical strength of the Scandi- navian element is greater in Minnesota than in any other state in the Union. Thus, the United States census of 1890 shows that the whole number of Scandinavian-born persons in Minnesota that year was 215,215. This fact alone gives great weight to the statistical data bearing on them in said state, the factor of mere chance being reduced to a mini- mum. Moreover, the reports of the penitentiary of Minne- sota are more complete and thorough than those of similar institutions in the neighboring states. Hence, the following criminal statistics, as well as the deductions made therefrom, ought to be of exceptional significance. In 1882 the Cana- dian-born had one convict in "confinement" in the peniten- tiary to every 1,743 inhabitants in the state.' The Germans and Irish had a proportion of one to 2,148, and one to 2,358, in the order given. In the case of the foreign- born population, the native, and the total of all, the proportion w^as one to 2,731, one to 2,835, and one to 2,798, respectively. But the Scandinavian-bom had a pro- portion of one to 4,145. In other words, the standing of the latter was more than 46 per cent, better than that THE NATIONALITY OF CRIMINALS. » of their closest rival, namely, the native population. A computation made on the ntimber of convicts in "confine- ment" in 1894 and on the state census of 1895 shows some very marked changes during a period of about fourteen years. In the case of the Irish-born, there was a deteri- oration of 64 per cent. The Canadian-born, the foreign- born, and the grand total had a far brighter record than before. The native population had a proportion of one to 3,146, and the Germans one to 4,054. The latter is the best record, excepting that of the Scandinavian-born, which had a proportion of one to 6,075. Wisconsin. The criminal statistics of Wisconsin afford a double basis for computing the proportionate representa- tion of the different nationalities in the state penitentiary. For fourteen years past, from 1882-96, the nativity of all convicts "received" has been specified, and in 1882 the nativ- ity of the whole number of convicts confined was recorded. By proceeding in the same manner and by the same method in regard to Wisconsin as was done in regard to low^a, using the penitentiary biennial report for 1881-2 of the for- mer state as the basis for computation, the result obtained is as follows : One out of every 3,021 inhabitants of the Canadian-bom was annually convicted of some penitentiary offense; one of 5,539, of the English; one of 5,986, of the Irish; one of 7,584, of the native Americans; one of 9,453, of the Germans; and one of 9,469, of the Scandinavians. The native born Americans, the total foreign-bom, and the w^hole population have nearly the same standing. Exactly ten years later, one in 1,442 of the Canadian-bom received a sentence for some crime ; one in 5,551, of the Irish; one in 10 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE V. S. 6,346, of the native Americans ; one in 7,876, of the English ; one in 10,499, of the Scandinavians ; and one in 10,605, of the Germans. Canada, it should be noticed, not only retains her position, but her standing is more than twice as ugly as ten years before, and Ireland shows only one-fourth as large a proportion of convicts as Canada. The native-born Ameri- cans, the foreign-bom, and the total population show^ a gen- eral deterioration of nearly 13 per cent, in the course of len years. The Scandinavian and the German-born, which were far ahead of all the rest in 1880-82, have made a further advance of over 11 per cent., and the mutual position of the two is changed in favor of the latter. It must be observed, however, that the figures just given do not afford a key to the actual representation of the differ- ent nationalities at the penitentiary, because the mere con- viction of a person does not show^ the gravity of the crime, nor the length of the term. Hence, other facts are sub- mitted, showing the proportion of convicts confined at the penitentiary at a certain time to the total number of inhab- itants. In 1882 there was confined in the Wisconsin peni- tentiary one convict to every 3,780 persons. One out of 3,296 of the total foreign-bom population was a prisoner, and one out of 4,045 of the native Americans. Canada had one culprit for every 1,284 inhabitants in the state; Ireland, one for 2,328 ; England, one for 2,492 ; the German Empire, one for 4,388; and the Scandinavian countries, one for 6,026. These figures throw a new and most important light on the criminality of the different nationalities. The Canadians retain their position, clearly proving themselves to be the most vicious class of citizens in the state, the record THE NATIONALITY OF INSANE PERSONS. LI of the second worst class, the Irish, being much brighter. There is one surprising difference between these and the other figures, namely, the distance between the Scandinavians and the Germans. In the former figures the t-wo nationalities in question were far ahead of all the rest. They still retain their former vantage ground. But while the Germans have one convict to every 4,388 inhabitants, the Scandinavian- born have one to 6,026. In other words, the record of the latter is over 37 per cent, better than that of the former. If this signifies anything at all it proves that the average length of term served by Scandinavian-born convicts is between 30 and 40 per cent, shorter than that served by the German-bom, which, again, points to a corresponding differ- ence in the gravity of the crimes committed, in favor of the former. II. Insane Persons. Several causes conspire to produce the real, or apparent, frequency of mental aberration among the foreign-bom element in this country. In the first place, there are undoubt- edly general causes which operate among all the foreigners, and give them, perhaps, a much higher percentage of insanity than the native-born Americans. Upon the whole, emigra- tion is, probably, impelled more by fear than by hope; more by fear of the evils of the Old World than by hope of happi- ness in the New World. So many tender associations must be sacrificed, so many ties of kinship and friendship must be Severed. The average emigrant leaves the old sod with a heart more or less wounded. To emigrate to a foreign land is a good deal like tearing up a plant by the roots and trans- 12 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THK U. S. planting it into another locality; but with this difFertnce, plants are removed in accordance with certain scientific and systematic methods, while people exchange countries in the most irregular fashion. Taking into consideration the com- plete change of cHmate, the new social conditions, and the severe struggle for existence, which all new-comers have to submit to, together with the general causes which produce insanity, it is no wonder that a large number of the immi- grants mentally succumb. At the same time it is doubt- fill whether the foreigners in this country have a much greater, if any, percentage of insanity than the natives. Nearly all the foreign-bom are adults, while the native-born include, besides their own children, also the children of the foreign-born parents. This fact becomes very important when it is remembered that in most cases only mature persons become insane. As a consequence, the comparison between the proportionate number of lunatic foreigners and insane natives, as given in most of the following statistical figures, does not give the real relation, because the bases of computation are not alike. Besides, the native-born popu- lation, as a whole, has achieved material independence to a greater extent than the foreigners, and, as a consequence, the former are in a much better position than the latter to take care of their insane relatives, especially the less dangerous ones. In general, the only available figures on insanity are those obtained from the various state hospitals for insane ; but the wealthy Americans do not send their lunatic kin- dred to a state institution, but to a private asylum, from which it is difficult to secure any reliable statistical reports relating to the nativity of the patients. THE NATIONALITY OF INSANE PERSONS. 13 According to the United States census for 1860, the Irish- born had one insane and idiotic person to every 464 inhab- itants in the country ; the French, one to 600 ; the Ameri- cans, one to 700; the EngHsh, one to 715; the Germans, one to 859 ; the Scandinavians, one to 896 ; and the Canadians, one to 957. Ten years later all the nationalities above mentioned had deteriorated from 25 to 40 per cent., except the Canadians and Americans who had slightly improved. In 1870 the Scotch and English had virtually the same record. The census reports of 1860 and 1870 enumerate the nativity of the insane and idiotic persons, and since no such enumeration has been available; but in this article only those nationalities which had a population of over 100,000 at the latter date have been referred to. In treating the four following states, however, all the nationalities having a population of about 25,000 in 1890 have been compared. Illinois. The insanity statistics of Illinois must neces- sarily be defective, because the yearly published Proceedings of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, and the reports from the Cook county insane asylum in those vol- umes, present the appearance of having been prepared and edited by the idiots themselves. By a great amount of original research, however, some of the worst gaps were filled; and the following deductions are tolerably reliable, being based on the official reports of the four state institu- tions, and on personal investigation of the diary of Cook county insane asylum. The average number of German- bom patients annually admitted to the insane asylums in Illinois for the two years ending in the summer of 1892 was 14 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. nearly 285, while, according to the United States census for 1890, the total German population of the state was 338,382. Thus, out of every 1,189 German-bom inhab- itants, one was committed to an insane asylum during one year. As to the Scandinavian population, the proportion was one to 769. But the Irish-bom present a still worse showing, the proportion in that case being one to 660. Using the same data as above, but leaving out entirely the returns from the insane asylum of Cook county, the foUow^- ing proportion was obtained : For the native-bom Ameri- cans, one to 3,242 ; the whole population, one to 2,236 ; the British- Americans, one to 1,796 ; the Germans, one to 1,659; the English, one to 1,453 ; the total foreign population, one to 1,431 ; the Scandinavians, one to 1,102 ; and the Irish, one to 965. Iowa. Insanity evidently is on the increase in Iowa. In 1880-81 there was one patient annually admitted to the hospitals for every 3,056 inhabitants in the state; and in 1892-93, one for every 2,012. The record of the foreign- born population is much worse than that of the state, as a whole. Thus, in 1880-81 there was one German patient annually committed for every 1,358 Germans in the state; and in 1892-93, one for every 1,552. The proportion of British-born patients to the British population for the same years was one to 1,216 and 1,084, respectively. The record of the Scandinavians for 1880-81 was one patient annually received at the state hospitals for insane for every 2,092 inhabitants born in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden; but the number of patients increased so fast that the proportion was one to 1,048 in 1892-93. Thus the proportionate THE NATIONALITY OF INSANE PERSONS. 15 number of ScandinaTian patients was exactly doubled in twelve years, while the proportionate increase for the whole state w^as only a little over one-third. As a matter of fact, the insanity records of Iowa are very incomplete, and the above statistics by no means give the whole truth as to the proportionate prevalence of insanity among the different nationalities. In 1885, for instance, there were 1,238 patients in the hospitals. But, according to the state census of that year, there were 1,720 insane and idiotic persons outside of the hospitals. Since the nativity of the latter is not given, the reports of the hospitals may even convey a wrong impression as to the proportionate representation of the different nationalities, and this undoubtedly is the case in regard to the Scandinavians. In 1885 the combined pop- ulation of the five counties containing the largest number of Scandinavians of all the counties in the state was about 98,000; but the number of insane and idiotic persons kept in those counties was only sixty-one, or one for every 1,606 inhabitants. On the other hand, the combined population of five other counties containing altogether only a few hun- dred Scandinavians was about 82,000, while the number of insane and idiotic persons kept in these counties was eighty- five, or one for every 965 inhabitants. This indicates that the Scandinavian-bom inhabitants of Iowa send a larger proportion of their insane to the state hospitals than soms other nationalities do. Minnesota. The insane asylum reports of Minnesota for the years 1880-82 and 1892-94 seem to prove that insanity is increasing in that state. So general is the downward movement that every nationality represented by at least 16 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE V. S. 25,000 persons in the state was carried along with it during that period. Thus, in the case of the natives, which have by- far the best record, the proportion of the number of persons annually admitted to the insane asylums in the state for the years 1 880-82 was one to every 4,008 inhabitants ; but in the course of the next twelve years the proportion was one to 3,016, or an increase of nearly 25 per cent. Making similar computations for the different groups of foreigners, using the United States census for 1880 and the state census for 1895 as the bases in estimating the population, it appears that the Canadians have deteriorated about 44 per cent, during twelve years, having in 1892-94 one insane annually committed to the state institutions for every 1,188 persons. At the latter date the Germans sent, on a yearly average, one lunatic to the insane asylums for every 1,262 German-born inhabitants ; the Scandinavians, one for every 953; the total foreign-born, one for every 937; and the Irish, one for every 544. In other w^ords, the Germans, Scandinavians, total foreign-bom, and Irish, made, during twelve years, a slide downwards of ten, twenty-four, thirty, and forty per cent., respectively. Wisconsin. The Irish-born in Wisconsin have the worst record as to insanity, an average of one person out of every 1,061 inhabitants of that nationality having been annually admitted to the insane asylums of the state during the years 1881 and 1882. The Scandinavians, however, have the second poorest showing, or one to 1,411; England and Germany follow at no great distance, with one to 1,555 and one to 1,624, respectively, and Canada has one lunatic to every 2,233 inhabitants. The total foreign-bom population CRIMES AND INSANITY. — CONCLUSIONS. 17 in the state had one insane patient to every 1,615 sane persons, and the native Americans, one to 4,233. Ten years later the Irish, the Canadians, and the native-born had deter- iorated about thirty-five per cent.; the Scandinavians and Germans had a five or ten per cent, -worse sho^wing in 1892 than in 1882, but a better record than the total foreign element. The English were the only people who improved during the decade. III. Conclusions. The final result of all the investigations may, with more or less accuracy, be summed up in the following table. The number of prisoners, as enumerated in the United States census reports for 1880 and 1890, together with the number of convicts in confinement in the penitentiaries of Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin at the end of a certain year, in the neighborhood of the time when the census w^as compiled, have been taken as the basis of the computation — it being impossible to reduce the reports of low^a to harmonize with the statistics of the other three states. The reports of the insane asylums of Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin mention only the nationalities of those received each year, without referring to the number of lunatics on hand at a specific time; consequently, it is the annual admittance to the insane hospitals of these states that has been tabulated. In :880 or '82, 1 oat of 2,302 Persons was a criminal ; in 1890 or '94, 1 out of 1,999. Iq 1880 or '82, 1 out of 2,413 Americans was a criminal ; in 1890 or '94, 1 out of 2,013. In 1880 or '82, i out of 2,035 Foreigners was a criminal; in 1890 or '94, 1 out of 1,887. In 1880 or '82, 1 out of 1,024 Canadians was a criminal ; in 1890 or '94, 1 out of 1,080. In 1880 or '82, 1 out of 1,338 English was a criminaljin 1890 or '94, 1 out of 1,103. In 1880 or '82, 1 out of 1,600 Irish was a criminal ; in 1890 or '94, 1 out of 860. In 1880 or '82, 1 out of 2,713 Germans was a criminal ; in 1890 or '94, 1 out of 2,715. In 1880 or '82, 1 out of 3,706 Scandinavians was a criminal ,• ia 1890 or '94, 1 out of 5,933. 18 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. In 1881 or '82, 1 out of 2,718 Persons became insane ; in 1892 or '94, 1 out of 1,719. In 1881 or '82, 1 ont of 4,120 Americans became insane ; in 1892 or '94, 1 out of 3,009. In 18S1 or '82, 1 out of 1,480 Foreigners became insane ; in 1892 or '94, 1 out of 1,144. In 1881 or '82, 1 out of 2,174 Canadians became insane ; in 1892 or '94, 1 out of 1,325. In 1881 or '82, 1 out of 1,278 English became insane ; in 1892 or '94, 1 ont of 1,378. In 1881 or '82, 1 out of 1,061 Irish became insane ; in 1892 or '94, 1 out of 769. In 1881 or '82, 1 out of 1,461 Germans became insane ; in 1892 or '94, 1 out of 1,439. In 1881 or '82, 1 out of 1,588 ScandinaTiana became insane ; in 1892 or '94, 1 out of 819. It will be observed that in regard to crimes the Scandi- navians had not only the best record in 1880, but that they improved nearly fifty per cent, in ten or fifteen years, while, virtually, all the other nationalities deteriorated. It is commendable in the Northmen, to say the least, that they can morally become better in this country, where, according to such high authority as Andrew D. White, more crimes, proportionately, are committed every year than in any other Christian land. As has already been pointed out, the excellent compulsory educational system of the Scandi- navian countries, and the conservative and systematic religious training which every child receives there, have, probably, been the main forces that have moulded and assisted in developing stronger moral characters than can, perhaps, be done in this country under the present condi- tions. It must also be admitted, however, that the Northern emigrants, on the average, are mentally and morally supe- rior to those who remain at home. In the United States there is free trade in religion ; school children sometimes flog the teacher, and in a school in Michigan it was once discov- ered that thirteen youngsters carried pistols in their pockets; the family relations are loose, the husband often being the willing slave of his wife, who, in turn, obeys her oflfspring and permits the baby to assume the dictatorship of the CRIMES AND INSANITY — CONCLUSIONS. 19 household ; and the frequency of cyclones and floods seem to indicate that even nature itself is more out of joint than in any other portion of the civilized world. In such a land, it is to be expected that the morality, as well as the general characteristics of the people, will be different from the results obtained in other countries where conditions are almost the reverse. The constant lack of order and system in many of the essential aiFairs of the family, church, and state must have a greatly demoralizing effect, especially upon the grow- ing generation. The large proportion of criminals in this country is probably one of the prices that has to be paid for the blessings of freedom; and, applied in a different sense from that in which it was originally uttered, the exclama- tion of the French heroine might with justice be repeated: "Oh liberty ! what crimes are committed in thy name ! ' ' That the Scandinavians in the Western continent have been able to rise above all other nationalities in regard to crimes, not only points toward the superiority of the religious and educational training of their native lands as the main cause, but it is a high endorsement of the work of those men who, through parochial schools, colleges, and churches, have endeavored to perpetuate the virtues, the characteristics, and the religious beliefs of their ancestors. The apparently great moral improvement of the Scandinavians during the past decade may be due, partly, to the betterment in recent years of the common schools in their own countries, and the more intense Christian earnestness which has penetrated the state churches, and consequently a moral improvement of recent immigrants; partly, to the fact that the character- making elements on this side of the water have been better 20 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. able to take care of new-comers than formerly ; and , partly, to poor criminal statistics,which, however, are quite reliable, and far superior to those dealing with insanity. From 1860 to 1880 the Scandinavians, in regard to insanity, had almost the best record of any foreigners in the United States. Since, with the exception of the Irish, they, apparently, have had the worst; and their downward march towards lunacy has even been a little more rapid than their upward march towards moral perfection, being in the former case a deterioration of nearly fifty per cent, in about ten years. Science has not yet been able to decide whether it is the most brilliant or the most stupid who become insane. But it is often asserted that the gulf between the lunatic and the genius is not great. Maudsley, however, says, "Most instances lie between these extremes of strong and weak mental organizations." Yet, Lombroso maintains that the brilliant Jewish people pay a heavy penalty for their brilliancy by becoming insane in greater proportion than any other race upon the face of the earth, although, it is claimed, they have an excellent record in regard to crimes. It is difficult to assign any predominating cause, or causes, for the appalling increase, real or apparent, of mental derangement among the Scandinavians in America, and \nore difficult still to discover a check, or remedy, for the evil, which may be their "fate or fault." Probably the earnestness and depth of their character, coupled with a strong imaginative and poetical nature, unfits many of the immigrants for enduring the intense pressure of constantly recurring and often fanatical religious controversies, social upheavals and political excitement, disappointment in love CRIMES AND INSANITY — CONCLUSIONS. 21 and financial failures. A hypocrite or a mentally strong character can, for example, study the various religious systems of the world without danger and with some profit to himself. But a very earnest, uneducated person of aver- age mental capacities is likely to become a lunatic before the process is over. Perhaps a majority of Scandinavians in America take a more serious interest in spiritual matters than the majority of other people; and some persons have, out of ignorance, taken advantage of this earnestness, and incited them beyond their strength. This assumption is strengthened, at least to a certain extent, by an appeal to statistics ; for it appears that the Danish- Americans, who seldom become excited about religious affairs, are less subject to insanity than the Swedes and the Norwegians. No doubt, the indulgence in strong drinks or sexual abuses, either of the victim himself or of his ancestors, has been the means of landing many Scandinavians in the insane asylums. Yet, it cannot be proved, nor disproved, that they are worse in these respects than other nationalities. But the real point at issue, however, is not the great prevalence of madness among the Northmen ; for, as has been observed, until recent years they were better off in this respect than other people. But the question of the questions is, what are the reasons for their alarming downward rush, real or apparent, in the last decade? They practice the virtue of temperance in all things just as much today as they did ten years ago, if not more. Have the religious contentions become more intense than formerly ? As has already been pointed out, however, the insane statistics are very unsatisfactory. There is no law to compel persons to send their lunatic relatives to an 22 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. asylum, as in the case of criminals. It cannot be determined whether the Scandinavians formerly kept a larger proportion of their insane at home than what is done today; and many lunatics bom in this country of Scandinavian parents may be reported as belonging to the first generation. Probably the recent immigrants have been of such high nervous temperament that their fine fibers have been unable to properly endure the strain of the new conditions in America, and, in their eager desire to become wealthy and wise, they, like the Jews, have had to pay the price. The United States censns reports of 1890 on insanity and feeble-mindedness did not appear until this article had been electrotyped, in 1897. In regard to the different nationalities in this country, only the birthplaces of the mothers of the lunatics were recorded, and from these meager data the following deductions were made : 1 person in 208 of Irish birth or extraction was insane or feeble-minded, 1 in 222 of Hungarian, 1 in 352 of French, 1 in 381 of Scandinavian, 1 in 396 of German, 1 in 420 of Bohemian, 1 in 450 of English- Welsh, 1 in 465 of Scotch, 1 in 625 of Italian, and 1 in 666 of Canadian. One out of every 701 of the native-bom white was insane in 1890, and one out of every 256 of the foreign bom ; but the former had one feeble-minded to every 602 sound-minded, and the latter one to every 1,004. As has been said elsewhere in this article, a reliable com- parison cannot be made between the natives and the foreigners ; yet some of the ablest American statisticians and educators maintain that the native born have, proportionately, more criminals than the foreign-bom; and according to deductions made from the United States census of 1890, the native born white had one insane or feeble-minded to every 326 sane persons, which seems to indicate that the Americans have at least as large a proportion of idiots as any other class of people. Historical Review of Lutlier College. — BY — Like the Puritans of New England, the early Norwegian immigrants made it one of their first cares to establish schools for the education of their children. Placed amid new influences in a new country, they felt the importance of cling- ing to those of their heritages which they held most dear — to their Lutheran faith always, to their language as long as might be. The Norwegians did not then, and do not now, deny the great usefulness, within their province, of the public schools ; but they have always felt that there is an impor- tant educational work which these schools, because of their necessary limitations, cannot perform. This is the education of the religious element in man. To supply a higher educa- tion based on Christian principles, especially with a view to fitting young men for the study of theology, was the object for which Luther College was founded and for which it exists to-day. It was in 1861 that the Synod of the Norwegian Evan- gelical Lutheran Church of America — commonly called the Norwegian Synod — resolved to build a college. Since 1858 the theological students of the synod had attended the col- 23 24 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. lege and seminary of the Missouri Synod in St. Louis, Mo.; but when the Civil War broke out, the Norwegian Lutherans, whose number was steadily growing, thought it wiser to erect a college in their own midst. The new school was to be located at Decorah, Iowa, but for the first year accommo- dations were secured in the Halfway Creek parsonage, a short distance from La Crosse, "Wis. The beginnings of the school were necessarily small. Unpretentious as they are, such beginnings have at least the advantage of revealing better the stages of growth, and these it is always interesting to witness. Two teachers and a total enrolment of sixteen are matters of record for the school year 1861-62. Yet the work went forward, and that local attachment and that devotion to a common object which are sources of strength to any institution were born. After a year's narrow-spaced but open-hearted family life in this country parsonage, the school was removed to Decorah. But as work on the college building had not yet begun, the school was under the neces- sity of taking up temporary quarters in the busiiless portion of the city. On June 30, 1864, the corner stone of the new building was laid, and on October 14, 1865, it was dedicated, amid rejoicing and thanksgiving shared in by several thou- sand people. This day has been celebrated by the students as dedication day ever since.* The building was erected on an elevation on the left bank *Tho building cost $75,000; the addition made in 1874, $23,000; the rebuilding, after the fire, $56,000 ; and various other structures, for example, residences for some of the professors, and the gymnasium, not far from C16,000, making a total expenditure for building purposes of about $170,000. The yearly expenses for operating the institution may be roughly estimated at $20,000, which would amount to $300,000 in the thirty odd years of its existence. Nearly all these sums have been raised by voluntary con- tributions, only four legacies having been received, which altogether do not amount to $10,000. The value of aU the college property is about $120,000.— Editoe. HISTORY OF LUTHER COLLEGE. 25 of the picturesque Upper Iowa river, so as to command an unusually pleasant view of hill and dale.of city and country. Though architecturally plain, the structure presented a noble appearance, was quite large, and, for those times, well equipped. As the number of students increased, it was found necessary to build an addition to it, which had been provided for in the original plans. This addition, usually called the south w^ing, was completed in 1874, making the entire build- ing 170 X 52, with accommodations lor about one hundred and fifty students. In addition to the main building, several smaller ones have, frcrm time to time, been built or adapted for college purposes. Among these is the gymnasium, a spacious frame structure built in 1885-86, the money for the purpose having been collected mostly by the students. On May 19, 1889, the main building was destroyed by fire. The library and most of the other movable objects of value were saved ; yet the loss was a heavy one. The pecu- niary loss was, however, more than made up for by the active sympathy and love for the institution which the mis- fortune called forth or made manifest. Those who in the trying pioneer days had helped to raise the building again united their efforts, seconded by the younger generation of men who had experienced the benefits conferred by the school, and the result was the completion, in 1890, of a new edifice, reared indeed on the old foundation, but far more conven- ient, commodious, and handsome. The friends of the college had again occasion to rejoice and feel thankful. Amid a large concourse of people from far and near, the reconstructed college building was dedicated on the twenty-fifth anniver- isary of the first dedication. 26 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. Before the work of rebuilding at Decorah was entered upon, there had been some discussion as to the advisability of moving the college to some larger city and one located more centrally with reference to the school's constituency ; but after various locations had been considered, particularly one in the vicinity of St. Paul, Minn., it was decided to raise the walls where they fell and where fond memories clustered about the ruins. Luther College owes its origin mainly to a strong religious conviction. The existence of this conviction explains how it was possible for a comparatively small body of pioneers, during years burdened with the hardships of war, to erect a building that, according to the then prevailing values, cost $75,000. It should also be noted that the early Norwegian settlers were unaccustomed to the making of voluntary con- tributions for church purposes, and that their means as a rule were small. Even now, much as they have at heart the welfare of schools and churches, they are somew^hat chary of making bequests or gifts of a larger nature. But under wise leadership their collective yearly contributions have been by no means inconsiderable. As leaders in the work of founding and supporting Luther College are to be mentioned Rev. Laur. Larsen, Rev. V. Koren, Rev. H. A. Preus, Rev. J. A. Ottesen. Others might be added to the number, but it is fitting that the names of these older men should stand out in relief. Of those who have given legacies to the school the late Mr. Halvor Gjerjord, of Stoughton, Wis., deserves special mention inasmuch as his was the first and, so far, the largest bequest the college has received. The name of a woman must also be recorded here — one who sought always to pro- HISTORY OF LUTHER COLLEGE. 27 mote the comfort and the happiness of the students and ■who freely bestowed, especially upon the needy and deserving among them, her love and labor with such a tact and in such ways as are characteristic of a noble woman. This was Mrs. Diderikke Brandt. She died in 1885. Being modelled after the Latin schools or gymnasia of northern Europe, Luther College has from the outset been essentially a classical institution. Through all changes made in the course of years this characteristic has been preserved inviolate. Yet mathematics and the sciences have perhaps received as much recognition as could have been expected in a college having, in the wider sense of the term, only one course of study. During the last ten years these subjects have gradually come to fill a larger place in the curriculum, especially in the preparatory department. Prior to 1881 the regular course covered six years, with no sharp line of division between collegiate and preparatory work. Since then the preparatory course has embraced three years, and has come to be treated more as a course of study by itself The tendency in recent years has been toward a reduction of the number of recitations per week and toward the concen- tration of the student's energies on fewer studies at a time. Such economy will no doubt, if the student is directed aright, be found to be vpise. One way of directing him that is now^ more employed than formerly is that of pointing out supple- mentary reading. In olden times a college library was but too commonly a storehouse for a limited number of poorly arra,nged books, to which references were rarely made. Now as a rule the school library is coming to be less of a mere repository and more of a students' workshop. At present 28 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. the Luther College library contains between 7000 and 8000 volumes besides pamphlets and periodicals. Its growth has been most rapid during the last ten years. In the matter of museum the college has been poorly equipped ; but promising efforts to build up one are now being made. The work done at the school now has naturally a wider range than formerly. It is curious to notice, for instance, how restricted was the reading done in Greek and in Eng- lish literature some twenty years ago. In Greek were read portions of Xenophon, of Homer, and of the New Testa- ment ; in English a series of readers were used, followed by Shakespeare. In some other subjects there was a corres- ponding lack of comprehensiveness and variety, a result of the then existing conditions. If one were to compare the quality of the work done now with that of the past, he would also notice progress. Methods have changed somewhat, bub the pervading spirit remains the same, lor faithfulness and thoroughness have ever been insisted upon. Superfine polish and glittering commonplaces have not been held in much esteem. Matter has been placed above manner. If finish and form have at any time been insufl&ciently attended to, the fault lay, no doubt, often in the clay that came to the potter's hand. In keeping with its primary purpose, Luther College devotes considerable attention to Norwegian language and literature. For the church work within the synod has so far been conducted mostly in that language. But there are also good literary reasons for emphasizing this subject. In consequence of its doing so, the college has always had two mediums of instruction, and the student, so far as possible. HISTORY OF LUTHER COLLEGE. 29 two mother tongues. This state of things may have made his acquisition of each language somewhat slower than otherwise, but it has also, without doubt, broadened his knowledge of language and extended his acquaintance with literature. In the early days of the school the Norwegian language occupied the more important place both in the class-room and outside. But as the Americanizing tendency grew stronger among our people, the college endeavored to adapt itself to this changing condition. English is now used more than Norwegian as a medium of instruction ; it is also the predominant language of the literary societies, and shares equal honors with Norwegian in the students' peri- odical. The following figures give some indication of the change that has taken place during fifteen years : In 1879, 123 of the weekly hours of instruction were given in Nor- wegian and 61 in English ; in the fall term of 1894, 90 in Norwegian and 106 in English — the relation having changed in favor of the latter from one-third to somewhat more than one-half. Besides an extended course in Norwegian language and literature Luther College offers, or requires, short courses in certain other subjects that are seldom found on the programmes of American colleges. These subjects are Hebrew, Old Norse, and Scandinavian History. During the thirty odd years of its activity the college has, in all, had twenty-three professors, besides a number of instructors. Most of its early teachers had received their education in Norway; in later years the college has obtained its teachers largely from its own graduates or from those of other schools of this country. Four of those who have been professors at the college are now dead. The name of each 30 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAYIANS IN THE U. S. of these is intimately associated -with some phase of the school's history. Knut E. Bergh is fondly remembered by the early graduates for his ability as a teacher and his geniality as a man. Jacob D. Jacobsen was a man of broad and exact scholarship. Conscientious, judicial-minded, mod- est, weak in body but strong in faith, he endeared himself to all with whom he came in contact, and left a memory that the college will not let die. Cornelius Narvesen and Ole Ramstad, the latter the successor of the former, devoted themselves to the task of giving the sciences a larger place in the course of study. Both faithful workers, the one was known moreforhis retiring modesty, the other for his energy. The faculty of Luther College consists now of eight regular members, with sometimes one or two teachers serv- ing temporarily. The president is Rev. Laur. Larsen, who has been connected with the school in this capacity since its foundation. He is yet a vigorous man, of threescore and odd years, and has in his day performed a great amount of work, educational, administrative, pastoral, and editorial. His administrative duties may have been somewhat light- ened by the establishment, some years ago, of the princi- palship of the preparatory department; but the general supervision continues, of his own choice, to rest with him. In his relations with the students he has always emphasized the duty of punctuality and of Christian conduct, and has in an eminent degree won their respect. In him the college has had a faithful andcompetent administrator of its affairs. While conservative, he has yet been ready to introduce such changes as seemed not inconsistent with the original aim of the school, and as seemed to have the approval of time. HISTORY OF LUTHER COLLEGE. 31 An important element of strength in the president's policy has been the confidence reposed in him by the clergy and the laity of the Norwegian Synod. It is this confidence in the school's administration, combined with the people's love for an institution which they themselves have built and whose character they have learnt to appreciate, that has made Luther College what it is, and that has ever con- stituted its chief endowment. Other than this it has a fund of only some eight thousand dollars, the income of most of which is distributed to deserving students who are fitting themselves for the ministry. The college is, therefore, sup- ported mainly by voluntary contributions. This direct de- pendence of the college on the sympathy and support of the people within the synod, who also control its larger policy through the votes of their church delegates, gives it a strongly representative character. While the school would not on any consideration willingly lose this friendly support, it recognizes the importance of larger permanent funds for certain purposes. As a tree is judged by its fruit, so the character of an institution of learning is, after all, best tested by inquiring into the quality of the men whom it sends forth. And first a word or two about the youths whom it seeks to develop into men. The large majority of Luther College students have come from farm homes of the Northwest, from which they have brought with them habits of industry, of straight- forwardness, of economy. All have, previous to their com- ing, been instructed in the principles of Christianity in the parochial schools, and nearly all have had the benefit of some common school instruction. In recent years oome : 32 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. have come from the academies organised within the synod. On entering, they had usually made up their minds to work, or if there were those who had not, most of these soon felt constrained to do so. Time was when some of the classes had as many as thirty-four recitations per week. Yet the class-room work, especially in the languages, has been fully on a par with that done in other colleges of the same grade. The class-room attitude of the student seems, how- ever, to have differed from that of his American fellow in being less demonstrative, less inquisitive, less easy and self- assertive. That the greater reserve of the former is not due to a lack of interest is proved by general results. The difference, so far as there is one, may in part be due to early training. Moreover, the Norwegian student, like the people from which he springs, has an even tenor, and is but little given to mere intellectual display. While not often con- spicuously brilliant, he has large capacity for work, is energetic and thorough-going, and impresses one by his reserve pow^er and his pronounced sanity. These qualities have gained him a fair reputation wherever he has become known. Student life at Luther College has, in the main, differed but little from that of other institutions where a healthy moral sentiment is inculcated and where the hardship of w^ork is seasonably relieved by the tonic of recreation. Although a large number of the students enter the school with the idea of becoming ministers of the Gospel, they have quite generally been free from the fault of taking themselves too seriously. Their religious nature, while broadening and deepening, has flowed on more as an under-current. Their HISTORY OF LUTHER COLLEGE. 33 fresh contact with iife in its serener aspects has contributed to make them good-natured and happy, and has tended to prevent a lop-sided development. While there have been few, if any, of such noisy demonstrations as might disturb the outside world, other forms of diversion and wayward- ness have not been wanting. There have been musical entertainments and un-musical rattlings down the stairs, city parties and smokers' feasts, carping at teachers and per- secution of "preps," publication of pointless jokes and immolation of tedious text-books. Some of these practices have been of rare occurrence, and now several of them are no longer in vogue. None of the so-called fraternities have existed at this college, nor is the atmosphere favorable to them. In sport, especially in baseball, the students have won a fair name among neighboring colleges. But sports have not been a hobby with them. They yet practice, to a limited extent, the old-fashioned method of unbending their minds by bending their backs in the doing of minor services, t In perhaps no enterprise outside the routine work have the students made so much progress as in music, and that often without a regular teacher. The college brass band and the orchestra have each above a score of members, and in addition to these there is generally a choir or a glee club. For the pecuniary support of these organizations, as well as for certain other objects, the students have contributed from time to time. Friends in the city of Decorah and else- where have sometimes lent a helping hand. fPor an enteptaining and vivid description of Lather College life — at least, the less serious side of it— see Prof. P. O. Stromme's book, Hvorledes Halvor blev Brest- — Editob. 34 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. The number of students enrolled has recently been about one hundred and eighty a year. In a few cases the number has exceeded two hundred, notably in years immediately following upon large building improvements. In the eighties the attendance, owing chiefly to a doctrinal con- troversy within the synod, dwindled down until, in 1887, it was only 118 — the smallest number in nineteen years. Since then an opposite tendency has generally prevailed. For a better understanding of the figures respecting attendance, it should be noted that the school is not co-educational. The territory from which the college has drawn its students naturally corresponds somewhat to the distribu- tion of the Norwegian population. As might be expected, the newerstates, though sending a number of students, have as yet furnished but few graduates. The states or countries in which the students of the last thirteen years had their homes during their senior year are as follows: Iowa, 50 ; Minnesota, 49 ; Wisconsin, 24 ; Illinois, 7 ; North Dakota, 3 ; Nebraska, 3 ; Michigan, 1 ; Natal, South Africa, 3. It had once been the intention to add a theological department to the college, but this idea was for various reasons abandoned. A normal department, however, was early organized. A^"terthe normal course had been extended to three years and a professor had been added specially for its benefit, this department continued to form a part of the college until 1886. As it had never flourished in the measure hoped for, it was discontinued, with a view to the establishment of a separate normal school. Such a school was founded in Sioux Falls, S. D., in 1889. Nevertheless, the normal department in Decorah had sent out a fair HISTORY OF LUTHER COLLEGE. 35 number of teachers, some of them competent to take charge both of parochial and of common schools. Luther College has, almost since its foundation, offered the same terms to its students no matter what vocation they finally had in view. That some students, on certain conditions, have received pecuniary aid is a matter apart. Nor has the college exacted from its graduates any promise — though it has always given them the advice — to study theology, holding it wiser to leave them free to decide according to the self-knowledge and the sense of duty which their studies, it is hoped, have helped them to attain. But whatever occupations they have chosen, the Luther College graduates bear with them, in mind and manner, the impress of the institution that sheltered them so long. Their number is now not far from three hundred. More than one- half of these have entered or are preparing to enter the Lutheran ministry, a considerable proportion are engaged as professors and instructors, some are practicing medicine or law, others are devoted to journalism, a few have entered the field of state or local politics, and two have been appointed to government service abroad. Some of the graduates have continued their studies at Eastern univer- sities, eight of whom have at this writing (1806) received the degree of doctor of philosophy. From a small preparatory school Luther College has grown to be, and gained the reputation of being, a high grade college. A large institution with many parallel courses of study it has not become, nor is it necessary that it should. The school has its limitations; within these, however, it might reach out yet farther. As it is, the college 36 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. takes rank as the oldest and most influential institution of higher learning among the Norwegians of America. At this writing Luther College graduates are teaching in more than twenty advanced schools, including five colleges and two universities. In some of these schools the majority of the teachers consists of its graduates, and in the case of ten academies or normal schools the principalship is held by a Decorah alumnus. The influence of the college in educa- tional matters has widened with the years. .\.s for the future, the college will, no doubt, adapt itself to its requirements as it has sought to conform to those o f the past. If people of Norwegian descent remain true to the faith and the traditions of their fathers, this college will have a place to fill even when the language of the fathers shall have ceased to be a practical study in this country. As long as race distinctions exist here, one of its duties will be to stand as an exponent of w^hat is best in Norse life and liter- ature. In this way the school, w^hile serving the cause of the church, will also contribute its mite towards the forming of a worthy national character. HISTORY OF LUTHER COLLEGE. 37 TABLE I. Showinc} the Numbbh of Students and Graduates of Luther COIXEGE FROM 1861 TO 1896, AND ENUMERATING THE RBSULAR Teachers and Indicating their Length of Service. Yeae. Students. Gkadtiates. Peofessoes and Insteuotoes. Lbnoth of Sbbvioe. 1861 16 32 50 58 81 83 73 106 122 147 147 159 190 229 217 181 189 173 159 165 146 137 166 143 131 133 118 136 145 206 213 188 183 1S7 200 191 1861- 1862 F. A. Schmidt 1861-72 1863 1863-77 1864 1865-78 1865 1867-76 1866 8 1869-74 1867 1875-95 186S 3 4 5 6 3 7 6 6 7 9 14 19 13 18 11 15 11 12 17 1872-81 1869 A. Seippel 1873-74 1870 1873-84 1871 1874-75 1872 A. K. Teisberg 1874-75 1873 Th. Bothno. 1875-82 1874 1876-78 1876 A. A. Veblen 1877-81 1876 A.A.Sander 1878-79 1877 H. G. Roalkvam 1878-86 1878 0. J. Breda 1879-82 1879 1881-83, 1884- 1380 1881-82 1881 1881-82 1882 1882-87 1883 Chr. Naeseth 1^2- 1884 1883-85 1885 1883-88 1886 1884-86,1887-89 1887 J. Tin&ralstad 1886-87 1888 12 9 9 9 11 12 11 12 13 J. G. Halland 1887-89 1889 1888-90, 1895- 1890 1889-92 1891 1892 1893 H.W.Sheol Andrew Estrem H. I. G. Kroe. 1889- 1889-90 1890-96 1894 W. Sihler 1890- 1895 1892- 1896 J. A. Nesa 1893-94 1894- 1896- Total.. 292 Social Characteristics of tlie Danes ^VI«itID A History of Tlieir Societies. — BY — (revised by C. NEUMANN.) If reliable conclusions concerning the intellectual activity and moral condition of a people can be deduced from the quantity of their literary productions, the number of their church organizations, and the standard of their educational institutions, then the Danes in America present a marked contrast to their more numerous kinsmen, the Swedes and Norwegians. The two latter nationalities in this country can with truthful pride point to a respectable, although not a very critical, literature, both in prose and poetry, both in their own languages and in English. Not far from two hundred persons of Swedish or Norwegian extraction have written some original theological, historical, poetical, scien- tifical, or literary work, some of which possess considerable merit, and a few of which are recognized authorities on their 39 40 HISTORY OF THK SCANDINAVIANS IN" THE U. S. specialty. On the other hand, only a limited number of Danish-Americans have brought any nevir learning into the "world ; and a full collection of all their books and pamphlets cotdd, undoubtedly, easily be placed on a single shelf of an ordinary book-case, while the literary achievements of each of the other two classes of people would be from eight to ten times as bulky. In other words, the Danish- Americans, in proportion to their numbers, have produced only one- third as much literary matter as their kindred folks. But the difference is mainly in quantity, not in quality. In the latter respect all the three Scandinavian-American nation- alities are about on an equal footing. But the difference between the Danes and the other two nations of the North, manifested in the religious and educa- tional aspects, is even greater than in the result of literary achievements. Over one-third of all the Scandinavians in the United States are members of some church, and about three-fourths are regular church-goers. But only in the neighborhood of 20,000 Danes were members of purely Danish Protestant congregations in 1897, and even adding 10,000 more who may reasonably be supposed to have religiously associated themselves with some other nation- alities, yet scarcely more than one Dane out of twelve would be a chuich member, estimating the total number of Danes and their descendants in America at 350,000. In 1895 the educational institutions of the Swedish Augustana Synod alone w^ere valued at nearly half a million dollars, and the yearly " current expenses " for operating them amounted to over two hundred thousand dollars ; and it is claimed that the contributions of the Norwegian Synod people for school DANISH CHARACTERISTICS AND SOCIETIES. 41 purposes have often exceeded three dollars per communicant in one year. But John H. Bille, in A History of the Danes in America, says: "During no consecutive five years up to 1894 had the Danes succeeded in raising as much as fifty cents per communicant for educational purposes." With probably one exception, none of their few schools rank with a first class American academy ; while the Swedes and Nor- wegians own half a dozen colleges of recognized standing, where the majority of their cultured people have been trained. The short-comings of the Danish-Americans in literature, and the two inseparable institutions, church and school, are not, howcYer, due to any mental or moral inferiority, but to circumstances and to the fact that they have turned their energies in other directions, especially towards organizing and maintaining secular societies. They have, propor- tionately, just as many men as the Swedes and Norwegians who are capable of producing a novel, an epic poem, a his- torical compilation, a thesis on predestination, or an essay on the reformation of the universe. But there are not enoughDanes in thecountry willingto patronize, financially, such undertakings ; consequently, few of them are attempted and less realized. The small number of immigrants, how- ever, is no sufficient reason for the diminutive church organizations and institutions of learning, because other nationalities have been more successful in these respects under less favorable conditions. Considering the smallness of their country, the Danes have excelled most nations in the grandeur and richness of their literature and art. But they seldom seem to have distinguished themselves as leaders of 42 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. men, either military or otherwise. Nor have they been specially noted for a pietistic bent of mind ; yet, they are far from being professed infidels, and are not extremists, either in their virtues or in their vices. It is also to a great extent the absence of enthusiastic and aggressive religious leaders, and the moderate as well as modem views concerning celestial existence, which have prevented the building up of great or numerous Danish churches and schools on the West- em continent. One of the leading characteristics of the Swedish- Ameri- can people appears to be their quiet but whole-souled appli- cation to the building-up of the noblest institutions in society, while the Norwegians are probably in their true element when engaged in excited debates concerning the wel- fare of church or state. But the majority of the Danes in America seem to enjoy most the cheerful social intercourse and the good fellowship of each other's company, especially when they can revive the grand memories of their native land. Their conviviality and patriotism, coupled with the pecuniary advantages which organized union brings in case of need, have been the mainspring in successfully founding, promoting, and maintaining Danish societies in every part of the Union, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, w^herever Danes are to be found. Even the unification of the dilBferent Scandinavian singing societies a few years ago was eifected by a Dane, and shattered to pieces by the jealousies of the Swedes and Norwegians. This pronounced social aptitude may be due, partly, to the density of population in their native land, which draws the people into close relation with each other^ DANISH CHARACTERISTICS AND SOCIETIES. 43 both socially and financially ; partly, to their dispersion in small numbers in a foreign country among a numerous population of various nationalities ; and, partly, to other causes. Besides, a large proportion of the Danes bom in Slesvig left the old sod on account of the oppression of the Germans, ■while nearly all of the Swedish and Norwegian emigrants have departed because they desired a wider and freer scope for action or adventure. At any rate the tw^o latterpeopleshavefailedtoeifectanykindof patriotic secular organization for the purpose of studying their native lan- guages and perpetuating the memories of their ancestors, except of a local nature. On the other hand, the success of the Danes in this respect has been almost phenomenal, and in spite of the fact that no particular individual seems to have taken any special lead in the matter. It is true that not all the Danes are enthusiasts in regard to their nationality, for the writer of this article has met exceptional Danes who denied having been born in that kingdom, and yet were unableto construct and pronouncethe denial in clear English. But the rank and file persist in using their own language, notwithstanding that they may be able to speak English better than the listener, who at times is unable to perfectly comprehend all the Danish idioms. And no one can become a member of a Danish secular society who does not, at least, "feel as though he were a Dane." It must not be assumed, however, that the Danes, on account of their ardent desire to cherish the memories of their native land, are hostile or dangerous to the free institutions of America. No nation upon the face of the earth, possessing such high degree of intelligence, has been so submissive to the powers that be, 44 HISTORY OF THE SCANDDIAVIANS IX THE U. S. SO adverse to revolutions, so opposed to anarchy, as they have been during their whole history from the fable-mixed antiquity down to the present time. While they, like the Germans, have fearlessly combated against the establish- ment of a Puritanic Sabbath and Prohibition, and sneered at the idea that it is wicked to see a great drama, yet in the course of time this defiance of American extremes will have a conservative and steadying influence upon our changeable institutions. I. The Danish Brotherhood in America. In 1881 the Danish societies at Omaha, Neb.; Davenport, Iowa; and Neenah and Racine, Wis., united. Some of these societies had been organized a few years before, and all were exclusively composed of veterans who had participated in the two Danish wars of 1848 and 1864. But in 1882 the constitution of the organization w^as radically changed, and henceforth a man's military experience played no part in his eligibihty as a member ; the present name of the society, the Danish Brotherhood in America, being also adopted at that time. At the beginning of the year 1897 about one hun- dred lodges, scattered through the different parts of the Union, belonged to the brotherhood, having a total member- ship of nearly five thousand. Besides, there are also some forty sisterhood societies, which may be considered as annex lodges. The latter are organized on a plan similar to that of some American secret organizations. According to the constitution, the object of the brotherhood is to unite the Danes in America in one great fraternal association, to cher- ish the memories of Denmark, and to aid each other. In DANISH CHARACTERISTICS AND SOCIETIES. 45 order to accomplish these purposes, the memoers of the vari- ous lodges meet regularly, generally once a week, and most lodges maintain a reading room and a library; some even possess a hall or a building of their own, which frequently is open for the use of the members both on week-days and Sundays. The organization holds a general meeting every third year. From 1882 to 1897 the brotherhood has paid out, as life insurance to the relatives of deceased members, about $150,000, in sums of five hundred or one thousand dollars in each case, and during that time not far from $175,000 has been distributed as sick benefit contributions. All Danes or persons of Danish descent who can speak the Danish language, and are not under tw^enty-one or above fifty years of age, are eUgible to membership ; provided they are upright men and have never been convicted of any felo- nious offense. All proceedings at the meetings must be con- ducted in the Danish language, and no political or religious discussion is permitted. Like most similar organizations, the brotherhood has its president, secretary, treasurer, etc., who manage the different departments assigned to them. This is by far the strongest and most influential secular organization among the Danes in America, and its growth has been remarkable, especially during the last six years II. The United Danish Societies in America. In 1876 a society called Dania was organized at Racine, Wis., with a membership of about fifteen. Today this organization numbers in the neighborhood of five himdred ; owns a building valued at $10,000 ; and has a library of nearly a thousand volumes. Persons of Danish birth or 46 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. descent who are con-versant with the language are eligible. After the organization of the Racine society, a number of similar societies sprang up in different parts of the country, often having the same name, and nearly always w^orking for the same ends ; and one society in Chicago with that name had been organized as early as 1862. In 1883 or 1884 an effort was made to unite them, which resulted in the union of four societies in Wisconsin. Since then about twenty-five more have joined, and altogether they have not far from 3,500 members, being represented in several states. Each society is incorporated, but not the organization as a whole Nearly all the societies own a hall or a building, possess a library, and meet once a week for business transactions and social enjoyment. Dances and parties are also held now and then. The representatives of the different societies assemble every third year, and through a system of traveling-cards members are afforded the same privileges in all the different societies. The societies are not secret, and religious and political discussions are prohibited. The life insurance in connection with the general organization is optional with the members, each policy drawing about $1,000. Consid- erable sums have also been paid out to sick and disabled members. There are also about sixteen Danish societies on the Pacific Coast united into one organization, similar to the United Societies. III. Association op Danish People of America. This organization dates its birth from the year 1887, and is chiefly the result of the efforts of Rev. P. L. Grundtvig. Its principal aims are to perpetuate the spiritual inheritance DANISH CHARACTERISTICS AND SOCIETIES. 47 of Denmark, and to preserve the language of tliat kingdom, without neglecting the duties of American citizens. Their rules read: "Men and women, who feel as if they were Danes, and arenothostile to the Christian church, can become members on equal terms." At the very beginning they actively commenced to organize local societies, to found libraries, to establish settlements, and to embark in various other enterprises. Bille, in his history, rightly or wrongly, says: "There has also been a general attempt on the part of this society to support the highschools, parochial schools, and churches ; but the efforts along these lines have not pro- duced any noticeable results, except in the case of the churches ; and here it was far from accomplishing what was intended, for this society and its methods of working imme- diately aroused a storm of opposition from the ministers of Inner Mission proclivities. They claimed it was merely a scheme on the part of the Grundtvigians to create a party ia every congregation in favor of their ideas, and thus to drive out all the ministers who did not agree with them." At sev- eral annual meetings of the Danish Lutheran Church the dis- cussion of the subject was earnest, in some cases even bitter; and in 1891, for the sake of peace, it was agreed that the founder should use his influence in disbanding the society. But neither peace nor disbandment was obtained. Besides those four large organizations enumerated above, there are several other independent Danish societies which are not connected with those diflferent groups mentioned. Consequently, it is, perhaps, a fair estimate to assume that some fifteen or tw^enty thousand Danes in America belong to some society whose chief aim, apparently, is to perpetuate 48 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. and cherisli the language and memories of the fatherland. Taking into consideration that most of the members are men over t\7enty-one years of age, and that many of these men have families who are more or less interested in and influenced by the social atmoshphere of their husbands and fathers, it becomes clear to every unbiased observer that the Danish societies in America are powerful and influential institutions. Historical Review of tlie United Danisli Evan- gelical Lutheran Church in America. — BY— As has been pointed out elsewhere in this volume in an article on the Danish societies, the Danes are not, as a whole, ardent devotionalists. Not far from one person out of three of the total population of this country belongs to some religious concern, but only one out of twelve of the Danish- Americans is a church member. Taking the United States census of 1890 as the basis of population, including both the immigrants themselves and their children, and the different parochial reports for the same year, the result arrived at is as follows: About one person out of fifteen of all the Danes in America is a member of some Lutheran con- gregation; while this applies to one out of five of the Swedes ; and to one out of three and a half of the Norwe- gians. The powerful Swedish Augustana Synod controlled, in 1892, about $4,000,000 worth of property, averaging in the neighborhood of forty dollars per communicant ; all the Norwegian Lutherans, $5,000,000, averaging thirty dollars 49 50 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. per communicant; and all the Danish Lutherans, $200,000, averaging twenty dollars per communicant. The deficiency of the Danes in this respect is, without question, chiefly due to the indifference of the people in regard to the super- natural, and the lack of aggressive pastors to direct them. Excepting Rev. C. L. Clausen, whose life-work was almost wholly devoted to the Norwegians, there have not been any successful leaders among the Danish-American Lutheran clergy. They have had both learned and devout pastors. But none has combined those rare qualities of piety and adroitness, of conservatism and firmness , which distinguished a Hasselquist and a Preus, and enabled them to manage wisely, and to act boldly. It is to be hoped that the right man, or men, will soon be found who can join all the Danish Lutherans into a close and true Christian alliance, under w^hosc w^ings a large number of the Danish-American people can feel at home. The Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church Association in America was originally a very small part of the Norwegian- Danish Evangelical Lutheran Conference, at whose theo- logical seminary, Augsburg, about ten young Danes had been trained and ordained for the ministry. The annual report of the association for 1891, from which most of the facts contained in this paragraph were collected, says : " In a labor where 'Jew and Greek' are of our Lord placed on an equal footing, it certainly could not be His intention that there should be any high wall between Norwegians and Danes." This seems to be a very reasonable assumption, especially when both nationalities used the same language. And yet, probably for equally good reasons, the conference HISTORY OF THE UNITED DANISH CHURCH. 51 in 1875 appointed a committee to communicate with the leading church-men in Denmark concerning the missionary- work among the Danes in America, which movement culmi- nated in the withdrawal, with the consent of the conference, of six Danish pastors in 1884. At first the idea of joining the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was discussed. But nothing was accomplished, owing to the prevailing tendency of Grundtvigianism in the latter body. Consequently a new organization was eifected 11—14 Sep- tember, 1884; and three more clergymen united with the other six, each one serving about two hundred souls, making the whole organization at its beginning about fifteen hun- dred in number. But the Danes seem to have retained their share of that pietism, real or apparent, and that active aggressiveness which always distinguished the conference; but kept little or nothing of that combativeness for which the conference was noted from and including the day of its birth, even haunting as a ghost the United Norv^egian Church. When the association was merged into the United Danish Church in 1896, there were forty clergymen who served nearly sixty congregations, the whole body num- bering over 6,000 souls. Notmuch morethan two-thirds of the above mentioned congregations, however, had formally joined the organization. They owned Trinity Seminary, at Blair, Neb. The building had cost $7,000, and the seminary was in operation from the fall of 1886 to the time of the union. The last year about fifty students of both sexes attended, and several of the pastors have received their theological training there. At the same place a publishing house was maintained, and Kirkebladet and a couple of 52 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. other papers, issued. Contributions for various mission pur- poses were quite liberal, considering the smallness of the association. The first volume of this work contains an historical article on the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in Amer- ica, written by Rev. Adam Dan, which article is generally- considered to be a fair and impartial account of that body. On page 170 he says: " Today there are two factions among us, the followers of Bishop Grundtvig, and the so-called Mis- sion People; both are recognized by the Church of Denmark as belonging to the Lutheran church, and they are about equal in strength." Ever since the pioneers of the Scandina- vian church-work set their feet upon American soil, this important religious controversy among the Danish-Norwe- gian Lutherans, known as Grundtvigianism, has been going on. It was, however, crushed in its infancy in the Norwegian xSynod. But nearly ever since the organization of the Danish Lutheran Church in this country, in 1872, the subject has called forth many vigorous articles in the newspapers, and animated discussion at the annual meetings ; and, finally, in 1894, it rent that organization in twain, and the same year oneparty organized the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in North America. But this schism probably does not end the era of strife and agitation, of patched-up peace and renewed bitterness, which the influence of the famous Danish bishop and poet, N. F. S. Grundtvig, has exerted upon the Scandinavian-American Lutherans. Perhaps, after all, his- tory is only biographies of great men ? As far as the Danes in this country are concerned, however, the culmination point appears to have been reached in 1893, when about one- HISTORY OF THE UOTTED DANISH CHURCH. 53 half of the clergymen joined themselves together into a mis- sionary association, within the Danish Lutheran Church, for the purpose of purging the latter body of its Grundtvigian- ism. The struggle has, apparently, been carried on chiefly on account of conflicting views regarding theological dogmas. But the manner and method of conducting their schools, the aim and practices of the Association of the Danish People, as well as other matters of more or less importance, have also been dragged into the contest; thus supplying the clergymen with excellent themes for discussion, as well as furnishing some spiritual food for the languid laymen, who have been rather lookers-on than participants in the controversy. As the parties in these disputes have been partly right and partly wrong, so the result will probably be both good and bad. It is difficult to say in a few words what Grundtvigian- ism really is. Bishop Grundtvig himself insisted upon a more liberal interpretation of the Bible and greater freedom in regard to religious worship, than was generally permitted in the Lutheran state church of Denmark. He fought against rationalism and the vices of the age, yet he could hardly be called a pietist as that term is generally understood. He considered a good Christian life, baptism, communion, and the Apostolic Creed to be the very life and marrow of Chris- tianity, rather than the Bible. There is, probably, some difierence between Bishop Grundtvig's teachings and prac- tices, and the tendency of Grundtvigianism, with its conse- quences, in this country. Besides, the conditions in Denmark and America are very different, so that no comparison can properly be drawn. That which may promote the moral and religious development in a certain country and a certain age, 54 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. may be a hindrance to this very blessing under other condi- tions; and this is exactly the standpoint which the opponents of the Grundtvigians take. The Anti-Grundtvigians in America charge the -followers of Grundtvig in this country with teaching the possibility of conversion of the soul after death, and with rejecting the infallibility of the Bible; and these views were virtually endorsed by the Grundtvigian majority of the clergymen of the Danish Lutheran Church at two of their annual meetings, one of which was held at Cedar Falls, Iowa, in 1 886, and the other at Manistee, Mich. , in 1890. The practical tendencies of the two parties in this country may be briefly summed up as follows : Most of the Grundtvigian pastors have honestly believed, if they do not all believe it now, that the only means by which the virtues and characteristics of their people could be instilled into the souls and minds of the coming generations, was the retention, with little or no modification, of the religion, language, social customs, and educational institutions of Denmark upon American soil. To carry out this principle, some of them have made great sacrifices , socially as well as financially. It is a principle for Avhich a large proportion of the very best element of all the foreigners in the United States have at some time or other fought, and lost. Besides, they considered it their duty to direct the thoughts and actions of the people in the w^idest sense, and endeavor to guide their flocks, not only in spiritual matters, but in regard to literature, drama, art, business, and social intercourse. Most of the Anti-Grundtvigian clergy- men, on the other hand, have been equally earnest in retaining whatever was noble in the Danish character, HISTORY OF THE UNITED DANISH CHURCH. 55 especially the religious feelings. But, according to their opinion, piety was the chief aim in life ; and, for the purpose of gaining and retaining the largest possible number of devout Christians, they have been advocating the gradual Americanization of all their institutions and been unwilling to identify themselves with anything outside of their pro- fessional duties. According to Bille's history of the Danes in America, Prof P.S.Yig — who, together with Rev.P. L.C.Han- sen, has been the principal exponent and leader of the Anti- Grundtvigian sentiments — wrote a few years ago : ' ' Even if the Danish language is lost to our posterity, they might still retain all that is good and true in the Danish character ; for just as a man can take his material inheritanceinto a foreign country, so he can take his spiritual inhei'itance into a foreign tongue. We older people must remember that we can hardly imagine ourselves in our children's places. They have a fatherland which is not ours. In a measure it is impossible for them to be Danes ; for they lack the Danish environments, and in a measure the Danish tongue must always be a foreign tongue to them. To keep the children bom in this country from coming in contact with its language and life is a viola- tion of nature which will at last revenge itself." The first of October, 1896, the representatives of the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church Association in America, and the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in North America, met in Minneapolis, Minn., and formed the United Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. According to their report of that year, the new organization comprised over seventy pastors and missionaries, seventy-five congre- gations in actual union, and in addition about fifty not 56 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. formally united with the new body, but served by its clergy- men. Assuming that the 125 congregations had on an average 100 souls each, which was the exact proportion of the Danish Association at the time of the union, then the whole United Church would number 12,500 members; and all the persons in direct or indirect connection with that body would certainly not exceed 15,000. But as yet the organization is rather loose, several of the congregations served by Anti-Grundtvigian pastors having taken no formal step to separate themselves from the old alliance. It was agreed at the first meeting that Trinity Seminary, Blair, Neb., should be the theological school of the church; the two papers, Kirkebladet and Missionsbladet, were con- solidated into Dansk L,utbersk Kirkeblad; and a temporary arrangement was made for the management of Elk Horn College. The church sustains an Indian mission in Indian Territory, and a seamen's mission in New York. Historical Review of tlie Moravian Cliurcli Its Scandinavian-American Worli. — BY — The Unitas Fratrum was founded in Bohemia, in 1457, by followers of the Bohemian reformer and martyr, John Hus. It spread to Moravia, Prussia, and Poland, and flour- ished greatly in spite of frequent persecutions. In the first quarter of the seventeenth century it was overthrown, in its original seats, by the so-called Bohemian anti-reformation. Only a "hidden seed" remained. In Poland and Prussia, and eventually in Hungary, it continued to exist until the first quarter of the eighteenth century, when the few parishes that still bore its name were gradually absorbed by other churches. About the same time thesecret remnant in Mora- via was revived, and descendants of the ancient brethren began to emigrate to Saxony where they found an asylum on the estate of Count Zinzendorf, and built a town known as Hermhut. They introduced the discipline of their fathers and the ancient episcopate, which had been carefully pre- served in the Polish branch. As these refugees came firom 8^ 57 58 HISTORY OF THK SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. Moravia the church at the present time is commonly known as the Moravian Church, but its real name is the Unity of the Brethren. The church endorses the Augsburg Confession, and has a total membership in Europe and America of about 36,000, •while in heathen lands no less than 96,000 souls are being ministered to by Moravian missionaries. The first American colony of the brethren was founded at Savannah, Ga., in 1735, whence a remnant of it w^as transferred, in 1740, to Bethlehem and Nazareth in Pennsyl- vania. The Moravian Church, since the renewal in 1722, has devoted its main energies to the evangelization of heathen nations. It w^as while the noble Count Zinzendorf attended the coronation of Christian the sixth of Denmark, in 1731, • that he heard from the lips of a negro servant in Copen- hagen the pitiful tale of his nation's wretched and degraded condition as slaves in the Danish West India Islands. On the same occasion the pious count also learned of the self- denying but hitherto unsuccessful labors of Rev. Hans Egede in Greenland. Within two years the Moravian Church at Hermhut, consisting of only six hundred members, had sent forth missionaries both to St. Thomas, W. I., and to Green- land. These were the two first foreign missionary enter- prises of the Moravian Church. Since that time, more than a century and a half ago, it has sent hundreds of mission- aries into heathen lands. Not a few of its faithful and successful laborers have been Scandinavians. First and fore- most must be mentioned Jens Haven, a Dane, ivho first served as a Moravian missionary in Greenland, and then HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIAN MORAVIANS. 59 labored for many years in a similar capacity in Labrador. The first attempt to evangelize Labrador had, humanly speaking, failed. The devoted missionary, John Christian Ehrhardt, was murdered by the native Eskimoes. The second attempt was made by Jens Haven in 1764. Upon his first landing the natives desired him to follow them to an island half an hour distant. Considering the fate of Ehr- hardt, Haven might well have refused to accompany them. He says, however: " I confidently turned to the Lord in prayer, and as soon as we arrived there, all set up a shout, ' Our friend is come !' " For a number of years Jens Haven labored in Labrador with great self-denial and success. When nearly blind, and sixty-six years of age, he was brought back to Europe where he spent the last six years of his life. Another faithful and devoted Scandinavian mission- ary was Hans Torgersen, a Norwegian, who emigrated with his parents to the United States in 1854, settling in Door county. Wis., a few years later. He served a .number of years on the Indian mission in Moravian town, Canada. Thence he was called as one of the pioneer Moravian mis- sionaries to Alaska. Only a few weeks was he permitted to do service here. One day while sailing in the little mission- boat, he fell overboard and w^as drowned. The first Scandinavian Moravian church in America was organized in the year 1849, in Milwaukee, Wis., and num- bered fifteen communicant members. These persons had become acquainted with the Moravian brethren in Norway and Denmark through what is known as the Diaspora. It has, namely, for upwards of a century been customary for the Moravian Church to send forth evangelists for the pur- 60 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. pose of calling to repentance and living faith some of the many who are nominal members of the state churches in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The converts were not received into the membership of the Moravian Church, but remained in their respective state churches, and were called the Diaspora brethren. A few of these formed the nucleus of the first Scandinavian Moravian church in America. In 1850 the little congregation, under the leadership of Rev. A. M. Iversen, of the mission-school in Stavanger, Norway, and Otto Tank,* also a Norwegian, and formerly a mis- sionary, left Milwaukee, and eventually established colonies and congregations in Fort Howard, Sturgeon Bay, and Ephraim, Wis., which places are still the principal strong- holds of the Scandinavian Moravians in the United States. A new edition of the Scandinavian Moravian hymn-book was prepared in 1894, and for some years past a monthly paper called Det Glade Budskab has been published. There are at present in the United States one Swedish, one Nor- wegian, and four Danish Moravian ministers in active service, who have in their pastoral care upwards of 1,500 souls of whom about 700 are communicant members. ^According to the fanatical Autobiography of A, Cederholm, later a Swedish Methodist clergyman, this Tank was an old nobleman from Fredrikshald, who started to bnild a town, on the Herrnhut plan, at Green Bay, and to erect a theological seminary there. Cederhohn, one Bane, and three other young men attended the school which, however, in a short time was discontinued. — Editoe. According to "Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography," O. C. Krogstrupp, a Danish Lutheran clergyman, became a Moravian in 174S ; emigrated to America in 1753 ; served Moravian congregations at Philadelphia and other places in the East until his death in 1785 ; and was a powerful and eloquent preacher.— Editoe. Historial Review of the Scandinavians in Iowa. — BY — 'The traveler, in wending his way across the fair state of Iowa, with its evidences of civilization upon every hand ; its magnificent churches, with spires pointing heavenward ; its school houses upon almost every hill ; its palatial residences, evincing wealth and refinement, can scarcely realize that half a century ago this "beautiful land " was the home only of the red man, who roamed over the fertile prairies, hunting in the woods and fishing in the streams. The change seems too great to be real. Yet these magnificent churches, nu- merous school houses, palatial residences, extensive railroads, and countless telegraph and telephone wires, have nearly all been located or placed on Iowa soil within the space of the last fifty years.' Numerous agencies of human activity have been employed to bring about this great, almost miraculous change. The mind of man has been taxed to its utmost by bold speculation, undreamt-of inventions, and daring achieve- ments. The industry, energy, and perseverance of the hands fit 62 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. of men have almost made a garden out of the wilderness. To accomplish these wonderful results in such a short space of time, the Scandinavians have, during the w^hole history of Iowa, been powerful agents, not only in assisting in developing the natural resources of the state, but also in promoting its intellectual and religious welfare. The numerous well cultivated farms, owned and tilled by North- men, largely contribute to the material wealth of the state. About forty Danish, two hundred and fifty Norwegian, and one hundred and fifty Swedish churches of various denomi- nations testify to their spiritual and moral activity: A large number of these churches maintain parochial schools, and all of them employ Sunday-school teachers. Besides, there are half a dozen Scandinavian schools of a higher grade in the state of Iowa. I. Pioneers and Settlements. The first permanent settlement of whites in Iowa was established at Dubuque as early as 1788. But emigration westward must not have been very rapid in those days, and there were scarcely 25,000 persons, within what is now^ the boundary lines of the state, fifty years later. There were in all probability some scattering Scandinavians in Iowa at the very beginning of this century, although no person can be mentioned with certainty until the year 1837, and no per- manent settlement of Northmen occurred until eight years later. But as the increase, for the last forty years, of the population of each of the Scandinavian nationalities in every county in the state can be found in the tables published at the end of this article, it has been deemed unnecessary to HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIANS IN IOWA. 63 endeavor to describe all tlie settlements separately, as a gen- eral resultcan be obtained by examining said tables. Besides, it would have been impossible to give the correct data con- cerning the origin even of half the Scandinavian colonies ; therefore, only a few of those settlements which were estab- lished before 1856 will be mentioned. Danish. In 1837 N. C. Boye arrived and settled in Mus- catine covmtj — his biography is in this volume. But as there were, according to the United States census, only nineteen Danes in low^a in 1850, no important Danish settlement could have been made until after that year. In 1852 the well-known Rev. C. L. Clausen became the leader of several Norwegians, who settled in Mitchell county— Clausen's biography can be found in the first volume. According to the state census of 1856, there were only one hundred and seventy-tw^o Danes in the whole state at that time, and four- teen years later about three thousand. Since, however, a large ntmiber have arrived, and in 1857 there were in the neighbor- hood of 40,000 Danish-born or having Danish parents with- in the state. There were also several thousand Danes, especially in the counties along the Mississippi river, who were bom in Slesvig, and as a consequence some of them were probably classified as Germans in the census reports. Norwegian. There were undoubtedly Norwegians in the southeastern part of the state, near Keokuk, probably as early as 1840; but the various authorities do not agree regarding the particulars, except that the settlement was not permanent. Reiersen, in his Veiviser for Norske Emi- granter, published in 1844, claims that the colony consisted of thirty or forty families, several of whom were Mormons ; 64 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. that the land was rich, but covered with dense woods ; and that the settlers Tvotild, perhaps, be unable to pay for their claims. The probability is that the whole colony was simply a gathering of adventurers of the Kleng Peerson type, and he is said to have been the founder of the settlement. But there w^ere Norwegians in the northeastern counties as early as 1848, at least, but no permanent settlement was estab- lished tmtil 1850, w^hen two caravans of Norwegian imi- grants, consisting of about a dozen persons, came from Racine and Dane counties. Wis., and founded a colony in Winneshiek county. Other pioneers soon followed, and Win- neshiek county has always been, and is, one of the most important Norwegian strongholds in the United States, where about half of the total population are of Norwegian birth or extraction. A small settlement was founded in 1851, near McGregor, Clayton county; and, of course, the counties farther west w^ere not settled until afew years later; for example, the first Norwegians in Story county did not arrive there until 1855, although today that nationality is very numerous in that part of the state. The most interest- ing account of the establishment of a settlement is that given in regard to Rev. Clausen's colony. Clausen had vis- ited lovi^a in 1851, and the next year, in the spring, he and about twenty families, besides several unmarried men, left Rock county, Wis. In order to avoid confusion in marching such a large number in one body, the crowd was divided into two sections. Clausen himself and family, being the only persons who rode in a carriage, led in advance. The caravan consisted of numerous children and w^omen in wagons, men on foot, and two or three htmdred cattle — all obeying the HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIANS IN IOWA. 65 command of the leader. Most of these immigrants settled at St. Ansgar, Mitchell comity, and later some of them in turn became leaders in establishing settlements in counties farther west. According to the United States census of 1850, there were only 361 Norwegians in the whole state at that time ; six years later they numbered nearly 3,000. In 1870 about 17,500 Norwegian-bom persons resided in Iowa, and twenty years later 10,000 more had settled within its boundary lines. There were about 75,000 Norwegians of the first and second generations in 1897. Swedish. Iowa has the honor and distinction of being the first state in the Union where a permanent Swedish set- tlement of any importance was founded in the nineteenth century. This occurred at New Sweden, Jefferson county, in 1845. This is also the first prominent Scandinavian colony established in the state — ^but for full particulars con- cerning the foundation of this interesting settlement, see Peter Cassel's biography in this volume. Burlington seems to have been the place through which nearly all the first Swedish pioneers of Iowa passed, and, as a consequence, several resided here at an early date. Norelius claims that about two hundred Swedes lived in and around Burlington in 1850, and Col. F. Brydolf located there in 1846— his biography is in this volume. At Swede Point, Boone county, a settlement was effected in 1846, and the next year some pioneers located at Munterville, Wapello county, while Rev. John Linn has the honor of being the father of the first w^hite child that wai born in Webster county, which hap- pened Jan. 8, 1851— an interesting account of pioneer life can be obtained by reading John Linn's biography in this ^ 66 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. volume. Some Swedes settled in the northeastern part of the state, near McGregor and Lansing, in the early fifties. According to the United States census there were 231 Swedish-bom persons in Iowa in 1850, twenty years later they numbered nearly 11,000, and in 1897 about 75,000 of the first and second generations resided in the state. Causes of Immigration to Iowa. It is impossible to determine the causes which have been operative in directing the northern immigration to Iowa. But the chief reason has been, undoubtedly, the same as that which directed the move- ment toward the northwest. Such w^ell-known pioneers as Peter Cassel, Rev. C. L. Clausen, Prof. L. P. Esbj6m,Rev. V. U. Koren, and Dr. T. N. Hasselquist have done a great deal in directing the Scandinavian immigration towards the state. But the honor and credit of settling the state with a good class of people, does not belong exclusively to one, or a few, but to hundreds and thousands of Scandinavian im- migrants who induced their relatives and friends to join them. It might also be noticed in this connection that a large portion of the early Norwegian settlers in Iowa had previously resided in Wisconsin, w^hile many of the Swedish pioneers had arrived from Illinois. II. The Civil War. During the Civil War over seventy-five thousand men from low^a served as soldiers in the Union army, some out- side of the state regiments, and about two-thirds of that number entered the service before the year 1862 ended, all being volunteers up to the last of 1864, when a few^ were drafted into the arm3^ According to the reports of the HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIANS IN IOWA. 67 adjutant-general of Iowa for the years 1861-66, not less than twenty Danes, one hundred seventy-eight Swedes, and four hundred twenty -five Norwegians — in all 623 Scandina- vians — fought against the Confederates. But as many names of all nationalities are omitted in these reports, not to men- tion the difficulty of correctly counting all the names in such publications, it is fair to estimate that 1,000 Scandinavians from Iowa enlisted under the Stars and Stripes. In 1860 Iowa had a population of 675,000. One-ninth of the total population of the state enlisted under the Union flag, and the same proportion, at least, of the Scandinavians in Iowa fought for their adopted country ; while every sixth North- man in Minnesota and Wisconsin served in the army during the war, although only about one-eighth of the total num- ber of persons in the latter states participated in the struggle. Unlike their kinsmen in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota, the Scandinavians in Iowa seem to have had no leader to organize them or spur them to action. Not one of the many Norwegians became widely known as an officer; a few were promoted to minor commands of but little import- ance. The Swedes, on the other hand, had such men as Lieut. C. E. Landstrum, of Des Moines, who after the fierce battle of Shiloh and other engagements received special mention of his superiors for excellent conduct. Col. F. Brydolf also distinguished himself— his biography is in this volume. But these two men had, during their service, little or nothing to do with their countrymen. About fifty Norwegians, mostly from Winneshiek county, enlisted in the Twelfth Iowa In* fantry the latter part of 1861, constituting half of Company G ; twenty-five of them fell in the battle of Shiloh the 6th 68 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. and 7th of April, 1862, and most of the remaining enHsted afterwards in other regiments. Not less than sixty-five Nor- wegians from the northeastern counties of low^a joined the famous Fifteenth Wisconsin, or Scandinavian, Regiment, in 1861-62 ; and about half of Company K of that regiment w^ere from Iowa ; while a Dane from that state, Rev. Clausen, w^as chaplain of the regiment. Perhaps half of the Norwe- gian soldiers in Iowa came from Winneshiek county, and nearly all from the northeastern part of the state ; but the Swedes seem to have hailed from diiferent localities. In this connection it might not be amiss to mention that only four Scandinavian-bom — all Swedes — have ever, up to 1893, grad- uated from the United States military academy at West Point, and two of these w^ere appointed from Iowa. III. Political Influence. The present state of low^a is a small portion of that immense stretch of land which was ceded by France to the United States in 1803, for a consideration of $11,250,000, and out of which a large number of states have since been carved. In 1838 the territory of Iowa was organized, and the state organization dates from 1846. At the latter date there w^ere perhaps one hundred persons of Scandinavian birth in the state, mostly Swedes. In the course of fifty years this handftil has increased, until at present nearly one- tenth of the population of Iowa is of Scandinavian birth or parentage. But, unlike their kinsmen in some other states, they have never held their proportion of the higher offices in the gift of the voters of the state. It would be rash to assume any one particular reason for this defective represen- HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIANS IN IOWA. 69 tation in politics among a race which unquestionably has an inborn knack for practical politics. It seems, however, that the political apathy of the Northmen of Iowa is largely due to a peculiar lack of able and aggressive leaders. But, on the other hand, the office holders have generally been above the average in point of character and ability, and therefore have been a credit to their countrymen. The first Scandinavian who occupied a seat in the legislature was Rev. C. I/. Clausen, a Dane, who represented his district in 1856-57. For the next four years no Scandinavian was elected to the legislature. Since 1876 there has always been one or more Scandinavian-Americans in the legislature. In other words, the Scandinavian-bom inhabitants of Iowa have been represented by one or more of their own country- men in 15 out of the 20 general assemblies which have been elected since the election of Clausen in 1855. During 1892-96 four of the members were of Scandinavian birth or parent- age, this being the largest number of that category occupy- ing seats simultaneously. Of the whole number of Scandi- navians elected members of the legislature, two were Danes, five Swedes, and about a dozen either Norwegians or the sons of Norwegians. Only four Northmen were senators, viz : M, N.Johnson,01eN. 01eson,G.S.Gilbertson,andC. J.A. Erickson. The first mentioned has since for j^ears represented North Dakota in the United States Congress. No Scandinavian has ever been elected to any state office by a popular vote. But in 18S8 the legislature elected Otto Nelson as state binder. Lars S. Reque was appointed United States consul to Hol- land by President Cleveland in 1893. Ole O. Roe has served as deputy state auditor since 1892. A glance at the names 70 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. of the county officers will soon convince any one that the Scandinavians have been verypoorly represented, Worth and Winneshiek being the only counties vchere the number of Scandinavian office-holders has somewhat corresponded to the Scandinavian population. IV. Occupation. Of course, most of Iowa's Scandinavians have been, and are, common laborers, servants, and farmers. Yet today there is not a single learned profession in which they cannot be found, and in some they have distinguished themselves and become famous. Three of the best and most widely cir- culated Scandinavian newspapers in the country are pub- lished in Iowa, and at least half a dozen well-known authors and literary men of Northern extraction reside in the state. V. Statistics. In 1850 one out of every 310 persons in Iowa was a Scandinavian by birth ; twenty years later, one out of 38 ; and in 1890, one out of 26. This, however, includes only those people bom in the North, while a much larger per cent, have Scandinavian parents, and as a consequence can not only speak the language of their ancestors, but can feel as Northmen. For example, according to the United States census for 1890, there were 25,240 persons in Iowa born in Denmark, or having Danish parents, this being the largest number of Danes in any one state; 59,822 Norwegians; and 52,171 Swedes— in all 137,233 Scandinavians. But the census reports are far from being correct ; they or&it many persons of all nationalities, and frequently confound foreign- HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIANS IN IOWA. 71 ers with native-born ; but, as a general thing, the reports fall below and not above the real number. And, without doubt, the nearest approach to the truth in regard to the number of Danes, Norwegians, Swedes, and their children in this country, can be had by multiplying the Scandinavian-born by 2Vi. The number of Scandinavian-born persons in each state and territory, from 1850 to 1890, can be found on pages 256-60 in the first volume ; and in each county in the state of Iowa from 1856 to 1895, in the following statistical tables : Therefore, by multiplying the numbers found in these tables by 2%, a fair estimate can be obtained of the total Scandinavian population of the first and second generations of any state, territory, or county. According to this calcu- lation, there were about 190,000 Scandinavians in Iowa in 1897; that is, nearly one out of everyten persons in the state was a Northman by birth or parentage. It might, in this connection, not be out of place to remark, that although the Norwegian-bom in Iowa in 1890 numbered over 3,000 less than the Swedes ; yet the former nationality, the same year, exceeded the latter by 7,500, when both the first and second generations are taken into consideration. 72 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. TABLE II. Showing the Number of Scandinavians Bohn in the Scan- dinavian Countries, and the Total Population in Each County of Iowa. STATE CENSUS OP 1856. U. S. CENSUS OF 1870. STATE CENSUS OF 1896. Counties. i a i !5 CO i a < n 1" i !5 i n 663 1,019 7,709 9,075 283 6,247 B,538 3,618 3,188 6,125 1 ■••■7 2 ■346 217 16 4 1 2 20 6 1 77 7 16 4 19 S 19 39 195 5 4 ■■"i 3 65 1 2 14 9 2,180 4 4 396 37 1,230 15 14 194 15 51 189 142 14 197 99 333 9 32 1,327 564 187 177 11 5 23 1,039 60 61 285 512 80 172 14 21 7 26 596 30 83 39 429 140 114 ""is 3,982 4,614 17,868 16,456 1,212 22,454 21,706 14,584 12,528 17,034 1,585 9,951 1,602 2,451 5,461 19,731 4,722 1,967 10,180 8,735 1,523 27,771 35,357 2,530 12,019 16,565 12,018 17,432 27,266 1,389 38,969 1,392 16,973 10,768 4,738 11,174 4,627 6,399 7,061 6,055 999 13,684 8,931 21,463 6,282 2,596 226 16,644 B8 24 14 36 1,252 57 805 94 18 174 541 143 130 31 334 167 201 89 34 6 399 6 1,015 102 14 7 11 4 204 63 56 287 44 8 420 37 30 327 30 293 368 100 213 10 66 305 44 19 25 83 1,094 4 18 323 31 101 4 12 606 12 76 10 72 36 399 88 227 6 137 689 260 26 22 1 17 8 12 184 25 610 470 68 167 4 3 16 3 1,643 257 406 32 3 254 1,149 90 85 53 34 146 398 44 73 40 2,461 23 43 1,019 23 434 57 126 26 172 643 14 8 236 143 509 511 118 14 20 126 2,019 34 97 119 19 43 92 92 52 20 52 594 272 59 118 469 23 36 363 16 16,504 12,934 17,981 25,383 12,838 24,244 26,941 27,039 15,403 20,539 15,029 16,966 16,788 19,493 20,926 19,008 18,302 16,664 15,69« 11,515 11,277 26,570 43,398 20,069 21,023 16,016 16,639 18,103 37,629 8,023 60,177 7,619 24,794 17,114 13,679 17,176 16,299 13,418 17,958 18,614 11,141 20,576 23 091 Allamakee 6 505 84 10 3 19 2 ■■"9 70 4 15 Black Hawk Butler 2 2 2,141 119 261 815 9,481 632 Cedar 1 24 2,651 3,978 Clarke Clay Clayton 274 14 13 24 664 13,441 235 3,991 11,528 6,269 8,099 20,198 Davis 1 ? 2 227 Decatur 1 Delaware 39 8 26 25,871 Emmel Fayette 1 8,357 2,441 780 3,368 1,089 435 2,149 5 6 2 5 3 82 64 28 17 11 17 7 33 1 3 30 Floyd Franklin Fremont 1 Guthrie 1 1 9 38 4,033 1,900 15,395 444 Henry IC 18,278 13,221 11,431 11,425 18,964 Ida Iowa 10 4,873 HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIANS IN IOWA. TABLE II.— Continued 73 STATE CENSUS OF 1856. U. 3. CENSUS OP 1870. STATE CENSUS OF 1895. Counties. S < 1 CO i ^1 i 1 "1 i i 1 i CO ^1 17 ..... 7 "294 4 1 2 14,077 7,490 13,305 14,457 9,835 10,646 397 27,273 14,702 9,568 4,4D8 19 34 8 16 3 3 1 41 13 10 10 2 4 4 7 57 11 52 8 14 3 11 24 53 872 22 11 6 75 1,226 23 43 164 85 19 135 8 279 58 956 253 92 275 27 13 22,619 22,116 17,839 24,898 19,731 19,434 3,351 37,210 31,080 12,877 10,388 221 13,884 22.508 24,436 17,576 8.718 9 582 3,654 12,724 5,934 21,688 715 166 57 12 16 21 2 230 46 193 3 7 40 14 5 1 172 19 136 384 3 16 48 69 39 8 358 146 189 260 1,959 13 2 121 157 1,499 54 350 73 1 6 1 10 5 1 22 203 110 29 646 HI 178 3 19 1 4 37 3 246 60 88 2 "■449 1 80 "m 10 845 546 3 38 5 216 35 16 475 37 202 547 92 87 2 51 25 182 106 1,989 87 9 8 ""9 6 1,056 2,317 3,094 1,333 1,943 797 26 220 598 30 61 29 757 520 229 54 401 96 37 411 47 386 165 131 250 448 1,653 27 183 43 1,182 127 212 681 2,170 463 93 14 640 342 48 102 117 24 48 321 48 1,050 22 11 38 2,253 276 67 1,766 134 101 23,471 25,891 16,405 23,563 20,088 23,732 18,345 39.528 7 Keokuk Xjee 10 1 68 6 19 2 9 3 49,905 12,786 13,545 11,684 1 1 5,508 13,050 14,160 4,460 3,102 1,901 459 6,860 872 12,569 16,597 32,496 23,191 27,320 15,187 14,431 16,005 44 Marshall Mills. 1 4 15 188 1 9 Mitchell 18 15,790 17,119 25,339 15,609 7,377 22,026 12,109 21,991 12,442 72,888 46,042 18,524 14,065 18,868 45,869 17,798 21,406 19,930 22,966 17,347 17,043 16,829 33,293 18,506 3 1 3 O'Brien. Page . 1 1,964 ■"iB 156 51 47 70 759 276 163 4 3 129 16 1,160 57 7 123 41 498 18 14 11 1,353 624 5,511 352 886 35 9,975 1,336 2,199 1.446 27,857 16,893 15,581 6,691 1,411 38,599 2,540 676 11,651 16,131 6,989 5,986 17,672 22,346 17,980 18,952 11,287 10,484 1,562 23,570 6,172 2,892 2,392 Palo Alto 20 44 328 9 "154 192 Pelk 10 1 9 2 9,417 3,498 446C 1,472 251 21,521 456 Scott 7 5 2 17 Shelbv Story 107 2 3 .... 2,868 3,520 2,079 806 15,921 13,246 7,500 11,113 4,183 3,088 194 24 ""9 ""l 1 2 4 9 1 13 20 8 25 Tama Taylor 1 20 70 1 16,155 26,945 10,707 22,748 46,202 10,285 Webster. 2 70 Winneshiek. 1 1,451 11 7,606 950 Worth Wright , .... 427 16,024 Total 172 2,782 1,116 517,875 2,827 28.a')0' 1,194,020 Il7.043 27,428 31,085 2,058,069 Historical Review of the Scandinavian Scliools in Iowa. — BY — J-. J. ^vsiOFt.i:>j!>^i^^'VOi^i:>. In proportion to its numerical strength, the Scandi- navian element of Iowa has established a large number of institutions of learning. The most of these institutions have been started by devout Lutheran church members, not for the sake of making money, but in order to lead the rising generation to better and nobler lives. As a consequence, the schools are pervaded by a Christian spirit. The Scandi- navian languages are gradually yielding to the English. This process, indeed, is so rapid, that the first catalogue of Jewell Lutheran College, for instance, does not indicate by a single sentence whether a single Scandinavian word is ever to be used in the classes. The same catalogue does say, however, that the college will be "fully American in all its spirit and in all its methods," and this statement, somewhat modified, may be applied to the most of them. The good men and w^omen who built those schools intended to do what little they could towards educating their sons and 75 76 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. daughters to become better citizens than the average native American of our day. That is the main reason why they paid out their hard-earned dollars and cents for the estab- lishment of colleges and academies in a country v^rhich already is fairly dotted with similar institutions. It takes time before the results of the work carried on at these schools can be fully realized ; but even now it may be stated without fear of contradiction that the fair state of Iowa can boast of no better class of citizens or Christians than those who have attended the colleges estabHshed by the Northmen and their descendants. Danish. Elk Horn College, at Elk Horn, is the oldest and largest Danish institution of learning in America. It w^as established in 1878 by Rev. O. S. Kirkeberg, who trans- ferred the property to the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 1880. At first the school was a pattern of the Danish high schools, one characteristic of which is that the boys attend in winter, and the girls in summer. In 1887 the building -was destroyed by fire, but was immedi- ately rebuilt on a much larger scale. At this time the whole plan of the school was made much more practical, w^hich change at once doubled the attendance. In 1890 Rev. K. Anker bought the institution and extended the change com- menced three years before, and the attendance now^ reached one hundred. In 1894 the Danish Lutheran Church in North America bought it, and in 1896 it came tmder the control of the United Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The school offers six distinct courses of study. There are nine professors and instructors, and the total annual enroll- ment is about one hundred and fifty. The value of the SCANDINAVIAN SCHOOLS IN IOWA. 77 property connected with the school is about $6,000. The catalogue for 1895 says : " This is a sectarian school, and it maintains a strict moral discipline among its students. It is our proud boast that a code of stringent rules is found unnecessary in governing the student body. A high moral culture is secured by a proper management. A pleasing unanimity of action pervades the entire atmosphere, and Christian love and obedience do for the school what severe rules never accomplish." The University of the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church, at Des Moines, was opened in 1896. The building is famished with up-to-date improvements, and the property is worth $20,000. Three professors have charge of the work, and the attendance is between 30 and 40. Norwegian. St. Ansgar Seminary and Institute, at St. Ansgar, was established in 1878 by a number of people belonging to the Norwegian-Danish Lutheran Conference, the moving spirit of the enterprise being Rev. Johan Olsen. H. S. Houg was the first principal of the seminary, and is still one of its professors. The school has had its ups and downs ; but at present the work carried on there is not only more thorough, but also more extensive and systematic than before. It offers five distinct courses of study, and employs half a dozen instructors. The annual enrollment is firom 75 to 90, and the number of students graduated during the history of the school is about 60. The aim of the school is "to pay particular attention to the training of teachers. To young people, therefore, who have not made up their mind as to their future vocation, but desire a general educa- tion, this school offers greater advantages than a common 78 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE V. S. high school or an academy, as it gives the student an opportunity of learning all the studies taught in such schools, and, in addition to this, prepares him, if he chooses, for the teacher's profession." The property is valued at $13,000. The theological seminary of the defiinct Norwegian Lutheran Augustana Synod was opened at the parsonage of the Springfield congregation, in Winneshiek county, ia the fall of 1874, the attendance for the first year being seven. In 1876 the seminary was removed to Marshall, Wis.; but in 1881 w^as again removed, this time to Beloit, Iowa, where it remained until 1890. At the latter date it w^as discon- tinued, as a result of the Norwegian Augustana Synod being merged into the United Church. David Lysnes was the president of the seminary during its w^hole existence, and as such he educated about a score of young men for the ministry. Bode Lutheran Academy, at Bode, dates firom the fall of the year 1886, when a class was started in a small common school house. It w^as " an outgrowth of the recog- nition of the importance of preserving the rising generation for the Lutheran church, and of giving the young men and w^omen a sound, solid, and liberal education," Rev. 0. A. Sauer, Capt. T. A. Rossing, and other members of the Norwe- gian Synod congregation of the place being the principal promoters of the undertaking. In 1887 the school secured a building of its own, valued at $4,000. Valder Business and Normal School, at Decorah, was founded by C. H. Valder in 1888. In spite of a brisk compe- tition on the part of older rivals, this school has enjoyed a most healthy and vigorous growth, its enrollment being SCANDINAVIAN SCHOOLS IN IOWA. 79 about 500. This is practically an American school in every sense of the term, but its founder and forty per cent, of its students are Norwegians. In 1896 G. A. Oliver bought a one-half interest of the school. The work of the institution is carried on in rented quarters. Jewell Lutheran College, at Jewell, was opened in the fall of 1894 in a splendidly appointed building, erected at a cost of about $25,000 by Norwegian Lutheran church members w^ho live in the neighborhood. This college at once entered upon its career w^ith half a dozen instructors and an equal number of courses, boldly asserting in its first cata- logue that it w^ill " present such studies and devote to them such amount of time and attention as are required for admission to such institutions as Harvard or Yale Univer- sities." The enrollment is about 125. Humboldt College, at Humboldt, became the property of J. P. Peterson and A. L. Ronell in the summer of 1895, and since the fall of that year it has been in operation as a "prac- tical school for practical people." Over a dozen distinct courses are taught, and a large number of instructors are employed. The attendance is about 300, and the value of the property of the college is $40,000. The Scandinavian Quakers, or Friends, for several years past have been operating the Friends' Boarding School, near Dunbar, with an average attendance of 40 to 50 pupils. Two teachers and a matron are employed. Thevalue of the school building is $3,500. There is also a boarding school near Centerdale, where children of Scandinavian-Quaker parentage attend. Swedish. In the fall of 1873 C. Anderson, a Swedish 80 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. preacher, but a Dane by birth, opened up a theological semi- nary at Keokuk. The establishment of the school had pre- viously been authorized by the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Mission Synod; but a part of this body withdrew and organized the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Ansgarii Synod in 1874, and henceforth said school belonged to the latter organization. The seminary w^as removed to KnoxviUe, HI., in 1875. It was instrumental in preparing about half a dozen young men for the ministry while it remained at Keokuk. The Iowa Conference of the Swedish Augustana Synod some fifteen years ago took steps to establish " a high school for girls" at Swede Point (now Madrid). In 1883 it was decided to open the school to both sexes ; but as the neces- sary means were not forthcoming, the undertaking was abandoned in 1887. At the close of the eighties, Rev. A. J. OstUn, of the Augustana Synod, started an academy at Stanton. The w^ork performed was of a high grade, and at one time the attendance was large ; but the school was in operation only two or three years. Other Institutions. Although the higher educational institutions sustained and operated by Scandinavian-Ameri- cans in Iowa at present have an aggregate enrollment of 1,400, the attendance of that class of students at the other institutions of the same grade doesnotseetnto be materially affected thereby. Indeed, it has been observed that local Scandinavian schools have aroused such an active interest in educational matters as to positively increase the attendance at other schools. The attendance of students of Scandina- SCANDINAVIAN SCHOOLS IN IOWA. 81 vian birth or parentage, for instance, at the State University, is from 30 to 40, or three per cent, of the total attendance. Prof. A. A. Yeblen deserves credit for the efforts he has made to induce his young countrymen to attend the state university, at Iowa City. In regard to the standing of this class of students, A. A. Veblen says: "Our Scandinavians have had many representatives here who have won high dis- tinction, and they have so far carried away honors altogether out of proportion to their numbers. In fact, I can not now recall a single case of a Scandinavian doing very poorly." Historical Review of tlie Scandinavian Qurclies in Iowa. — BY — O. N. NELSON and J. J. SKORDALSVOLD. The religious activity of the Scandiaavian-bom lowans ever since they began to settle in the state about fifty years ago has been almost phenomenal. In the course of that period an even dozen of distinctly Scandinavian synods or associations have gained a foothold in the state, the number of local congregations representing each of these ranging from eight to more than one hundred. The Lutheran churches are by far the strongest; but there is also a respectable sprinkling of Baptists and Methodists. The total number of congregations is about 450, and the aggre- gate number of communicant members, 45,000. A little figuring will bring out the full meaning of these numbers. The total membership, including the children of the com- municants, must be at least 75,000, while the w^hole number of inhabitants of Scandinavian birth or immediate descent may be put at nearly 200,000. Thus it will be seen that 83 84 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THK U. S. practically forty out of every one hundred Northmen in Io"wa are church members. But several thousand Scandi- navians belong to churches -wholly outside of the twelve organizations mentioned below, and all of these, combined with people who are not church members, but nevertheless attend this or that favorite church fully as regularly as many actual members do, swell the number of church-going Scan- dinavians in Iowa to a grand total of about 150,000, or three-fourths of the whole number of inhabitants. • The United Church. Since the United Norwegian Luth- eran Church of America does not by any kind of organi- zation recognize the boundary lines of Iowa, there is no sufficient reason for devoting a separate article to that church. But its strength in that state entitles it to more than passing consideration. Although its organization dates only from 1890, the elements out of which it was formed may easily be traced a long series of years back of that date. The Norwegian Lutheran Synod was organized at Kosh- konong. Wis., in 1853, seven ministers and forty congre- gations uniting in forming the new body. Northern Iowa soon became the great stronghold of the synod, and the rival organizations made but slight inroads into its ranks until the Anti-Missourian Brotherhood withdrew during the eighties. When the United Church was organized, twelve Anti-Missourian ministers and forty churches served by them in Iowa, were, with some exceptions, incorporated into this body. The other organizations which w^ere merged into the United Church in 1890 were the Norwegian-Danish Augus- tana Synod, and the Norwegian-Danish Evangelical Luth- eran Conference, both of which dated their organization SCANDINAVIAN CHURCHES IN IOWA. 85 from the year 1870. During the first year of its existence, the former consisted of ten ministers and about twice that number of congregations in the whole United States. Originally, the conference was not much stronger, having only four ministers and ten congregations in the state ; but it contained a number of energetic men who were bound to succeed, and twenty years later, when they joined the United Church, the conference had forty-one churches and twelve ministers, and the Augustana Synod had two churches and four ministers in Iowa. At the time of the union the Augustana Synod had a theological seminary at Beloit, and the St. Ansgar Seminary was owned and controlled by members of the conference. The United States census of 1890 puts the value of the church property held by those congregations in Iowa which participated in the formation of the United Church, at $220,100. During the years 1890-96 the contingent of the United Church in Iowa increased as follows: The number of congregations from seventy-two to eighty-two, and the number of ministers from twenty-seven to thirty-eight. According to the United States statistics, the number of " communicants or members ' ' was 14,891 in 1890, which figures are too ambiguous to mean anything. But the parochial reports for 1896 seem to indicate that the total membership, including the baptized children, was a little over 15,000, and if the twenty-five congregations are added which do not belong to the organi- zation, but are served by its pastors, the total number of persons in Iowa in sympathy with the United Church will be in the neighborhood of 20,000. This calculation includes the Friends of Augsburg, or Minority, who have not been 86 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE V. S. deducted from the members given in the official reports, although they have practically left the church. Hauge's Synod. Elling Eielsen visited Keokuk in the early forties. Thus the father of the present Hauge's Evan- gelical Lutheran Synod in America seems to have been the first Scandinavian clergyman who put his foot upon Iowa soil. Afterwards, however, the immediate followers of Eiel- sen did not effect any religious organization in the state until 1854, when a church w^as started at Stavanger, Fayette county. There are only four churches in Hauge's Synod which are older than this one. The statistics of the synod show that about twenty congregations in Iowa w^ere connected with the organization in 1896, and nearly all of them have church buildings of their own. The total mem- bership at that date, including the children, was 4,000 ; and the value of the property held by those congregations now totals $35,000. Hauge's Synod received its present name inl875. Shortly afterwards Elling Eielsen and a few others withdrew, retaining the old constitution and the old name of the organization. This organization at present is repre- sented in Iowa by two ministers who are serving congrega- tions at Clear Lake and Forest City. Danish Lutherans. No Danish Lutheran church was organized in the United States in the nineteenth century before the year 1868. Three years later Rev. C. L. Clausen organized one at Cedar Falls, Iowa, and the next year a few ministers and laymen met at Neenah, Wis., and established the Church Mission Society, which in 1874 received the name of the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. This body in the course of time has become the strongest Danish SCANDIXAVIAN CHUKCHES IN IOWA. 87 church organization in the country. In Iowa it was repre- sented by some thirty congregations with about 2,500 members. They had about a score of church buildings, and the value of the property belonging to them aggregates $30,000. But this organization was rent in twain in 1894, and one faction united with the Danish Lutheran Associa- tion in 1896, forming the United Danish Evangelical Luth- eran Church in America. In 1884 lay delegates from six churches, and six Danish ministers belonging to the Norwegian-Danish Evangelical Lutheran Conference, withdrew from this body, and organ- ized the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church Association in America, this step also being favorably looked upon by the former body. The latter organization did not grow very fast, its representation in Iowa at the time of the formation of the United Danish Church being nine congregations, which had an aggregate membership of almost 1,000. The value of the property held by these churches was about $5,000. Methodists. A Swedish Methodist church was organ- ized by Jonas Hedstrom at New Sweden, Jefferson county, in 1850 — for a full account of the religious contention prevail- ing at that place in the middle of this century, see the biography of M. F. Hokanson, in this volume. Since that date the growth of Swedish Methodism in Iowa has been steady. One of the most earnest workers for a period of thirty-five years was John Linn, whose biography may be found in this volume. In 1874 the Iowa district was estab- lished, and five years later the Burlington district. The latter includes Iowa, Missouri, and a part of Illinois. There were 88 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. a score of congregations in Iowa in 1896. They had about fifteen church buildings, and the total number of communi* cant members was 800. The church property was valued at $36,000. O. P. Petersen, the Nestor of the Norwegian Methodists in America, preached in Winneshiek county as early as 1851, and the next year three men and four women at Washington Prairie, in the same county, united in forming the first Norwegian Methodist congregation in the state — Petersen's biography is given in the first volume of this work. The following statistics show the strength of the Norwegian Methodists in Iowa at the close of the year 1896 : Fifteen congregations with 500 communicant members ; 10 church buildings and several parsonages, valued at $17,000. Baptists. A Swedish Baptist church was started at Village Creek, Allamakee county, in 1853, by P. 0. Nilson, whose biography is given in the first volume of this work. Three years later another church was organized at Swede Bend, Webster county, and in 1896 the number of churches had increased to about 20, which constitute the Iowa con- ference. The number of communicant members was about 1,000. The property held by the conference was valued at $30,000. In 1896 there were a dozen of Norwegian-Danish Baptist congregations in Iowa, which had 800 communi. cant members. Swedish Mission. Previous to 1868 no Swedish Mission church was organized in this country. That year one was started at Swede Bend, Webster county. The first pastor of this church was C. A. Bjork, who for years has been the president of the Swedish Evangelical Mission Covenant SCANDINAVIAN CHURCHES IN IOWA. 89 which was organized in 1885. The Swedish Covenant is represented in low^a by 30 congregations. About one-half of the congregations submitted reports at the annual meet- ing of the covenant in 1895. The following statistics were obtained by doubling the figures given by the ten congrega- tions which sent in reports : Members of all ages, 1,800 ; number of church buildings, 16 ; value of property held by the churches, $41,500. As will be seen from the way these figures were obtained, they are only approximately correct. The Swedish Free Mission is the name generally given to a large number of congregations which originally co-operated with those churches which formed the Swedish Evangelical Mission Covenant in 1885. The Swedish Free Mission is represented in Iowa by a dozen of congregations whose membership is about 800, QtJAKKRS. There are some six or seven hundred Scandi- navian Friends, or Quakers, mostly Norwegians, in Iowa. They have no congregations of their own, but are connected with purely American churches in the different localities. In some cases, however, they have been in the habit of using their mother tongue at religious gatherings. Historical Review of tlie Iowa Conference of tlie Augustana Synod. — BY — As the name indicates, this conference is a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod of North America, better known as the Swedish Augustana Synod. Originally it embraced only the state of Iowa, but in 1891 the state of Missouri, with the exception of Kansas City, was added. The conference was at first a part of the Mississippi Conference, and this body met, for the first time in Iowa, * at New Sweden, in 1853, when Dr. T. N. Hasselquist presided. In 1868 the Mississippi Conference was divided into the Eastern and Western Mississippi conferences. Tiie former later assumed the name Illinois , and the latter adopted the name of Iowa in 1870. The first meeting was held at Swede Bend, now Strat- ford, February 18-21, 1869. At the organization the con- ference consisted of eleven congregations and six pastors. Of these six, the Revs. H. Olson, B. M. Halland, and C. J. Malm- *For a more complete discussion of the first Swedish Lutheran organization in Iowa, see Bev. M. F. Hokanssn's biography in this volume.— Ediiob. 91 92 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. berg were present. A Norwegian pastor, O. Sheldahl, was also in attendance. The lay delegates were three. Olson w^as elected president, and Halland, secretary and treasurer. At first the officers were elected at every semi-annual meet- ing, but since 1870 the term of office has been one year. At all the meetings from the first the hoi^e mission work has been the most important subject under consideration. But it w^as not only discussed at the meetings, for during the first years almost every pastor of necessity became an itinerant preacher. The ministers were few, while the field was large and growing. That our veteran clergy did not have an easy time of it, we learn from the reports delivered at the meetings. The means of communication were very poor, and often a minister had to walk many miles in order to keep his appointments. He w^as not always treated with courtesy when he did arrive. This is not to be wondered at. Many of the settlers were from the rural districts of Sweden and, therefore, not very refined. The freedom en- joyed in this country for many meant only a license to display their course and selfish tastes. Other denomina- tions proselyted among our countrymen, and encouraged the suspicion and the rude manners displayed toward our ministers. The so-called Mission Friends, the followers of Waldenstrom, were also at that time springing into exist- ence, so that many members of our congregations and former sympathizers with our work wavered in their alle- giance, if they did not wholly side with the new movement.! tThis movement, ■which be^an in the state in 1868, does not, however, appear to have been very popnlar among the Swedes in Iowa in later years ; because in 1897 the Swedish Mission Covenant and the Swedish Free Mission, together, did not have more than 2,400 members, including the children, in the whole state; while, on the other hand,th6 Swedish Lutherans amounted to nearly seven times that number. — Editob. IOWA CONFERENCE OF AUGUSTANA SYNOD. 93 Under such circumstances the most indispensable qualities of a minister were patience and perseverance. But the work had its bright sides. Many were hungering for the word of God, preached in accordance with the faith of their fathers. Such received the visiting pastor with open arms, and let him freely share all that their hospitality could provide. Surely many survivors of the earliest settlers recall with joy to this very day the first time they had the opportunity of hearing a Swedish Lutheran sermon in their new home. Though none of our ministers at this time can be said to be over-paid, yet there has been a marked increase of salary since the early days of the conference. At least one pastor, a man with a family, had only $150.00 a year ; not because he did not need more, nor that the congregation did not wish to pay more, but because the members were too poor to raise a larger salary. The example given may have been an extreme case, yet the salary of the better paid pastors were in proportion. But as the material prosperity increased the ministers were made sharers thereof. Our pioneer ministers were strict confessional Lutherans, and therefore laid a solid foundation for succeeding genera- tions to build upon. The first theological question under discussion at any meeting of the conference was this: In what respect does the Lutheran Church difier from other denominations? Afterwards at several meetings the arti- cles of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession were discussed; and, as a general introduction, the importance of having a confession of faith was considered. One thing that cannot escape notice, when studying the minutes of the first meetings, is the brotherly spirit that 94 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. prevailed. The conference was a family. At the annual meetings every pastor gave an oral report of his work and of the spiritual condition of his flock. When the congrega- tion was vacant, the lay delegation reported upon its con- dition and needs. As the conference grew in size, the w^ork at the meetings of necessity became more systematize^ ; for example, since 1873 the president annually delivers a writ- ten report to the conference, and the pastoral reports to the same body have been written. Five years later it w^as decided that the pastoral reports should be sent to the pres- ident and consulted by him in preparing his report. At first, besides the regular annual business gatherings of the conference, mission meetings were held once a year, w^hich were solely for the spiritual edification of the minis- ters and the congregations. In 1870 it was decided that such meetings were to be held quarterly. On account of the great distance and the cost of traveling, as well as the desire to give every congregation an opportunity to hold such a meeting each year, the conference decided in 1871 to divide itself into two mission districts, the Northern and the Southern. The Southern district com- prised, "the congregations and settlements along the B. & M. R. R."; and the Northern district, "the congregations and settlements situated north and northwest of Des Moines as far as Sioux City." These districts were to as- semble once every month in the different congregations. In 1874 the Southern district was divided into two, and nine years later the Northern district was also divided. The dif- ference of time between these divisions would tend to show that the conference grew more rapidly in southern Iowa. IOWA CONFERENCE OF AUGUSTANA SYNOD. 95 This fact was undoubtedly owing to the large Swedish set- tlement at and south of Stanton. Besides, the northern counties of the state have, in general, been settled later than the southern. In 1887 the districts received their present names — Burlington, Stanton, Des Moines, and Sioux City. The last mentioned was in 1896 divided into two, Sioux City and Algona. The regulations for the districts are very simple. Their officers are a president, a secretary, and a treasurer. The conference had no constitution until 1877 when one, modeled after that of the Minnesota Conference, was adopted. The previous constitutional committee reported inability to perform their duty, because the question of the division of the Augustana Synod into district synods was then agi- tated. The constitution of 1877 was in force ten years, when a new one, prepared by Rev. Forsander, was adopted. This was in turn superseded by the constitution adopted in 1895, of which Rev. M. P. Oden is the chief author. The seal of the conference was adopted in 1880. The following year articles of incorporation for the separate congregations were accepted, and each congregation must be incorporated before it can be admitted into the conference. Theconference was incorporated in 1896. The conference owns and controls one charitable institu- tion. The Orphans' Home, located a little south of Stanton. The erection of such a home was first proposed at Des Moines in 1870. Rev. Halland made the motion, and he, with Rev. H. Olson, was made a committee to locate the home. They reported the following year that 160 acres of land had been purchased near Stanton. Since, 80 acres have 96 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. been added, and in 1894 the farm was valued at $13,200. In 1880 the conference chose the site for the Orphans' Home building, and a house was erected there, which w^as dedicated Oct. 31st, 1881. This house has since been considerably enlarged. In January, 1882, five children were received, and in 1897 there w^ere thirty-seven. Children of any nationality and any creed are received, but preference is given to Sw^edish children who are residents w^ithin the conference. The chil- dren receive a good school education in English andSvsredish, and also receive religious instruction. When a child reaches the age of 18 it is dismissed from the home. In 1888 Rev. J. Jesperson and A. P. Soderquist were appointed to prepare a constitution and by-laws for a pro- posed insurance association to be formed under the auspices of the conference. As a result the Swedish Lutheran Mutual Fire Insurance Association of Burlington, Iowa, was organized, which is now doing business in almost every state in the Union. In February, 1895, 467 policies were in force, representing a value of $657,050. Only the property of churches and of pastors of the Augustana Synod is insured. During the four years ending 1885, the conference either owned or controlled the Betbania, a religious journal pub- lished monthly. The statistics for 1880, about ten years after the organization of the conference, show the following: 44 congregations; 28 churches; 15 parsonages; 17 pastors; 4,849 communicants ; 9,032 members; 34 Sunday schools; 17 parochial schools ; contributions to purposes outside of congregations, $4,633 ; regular expenses for local congrega- IOWA CONFEREXCE OF AUGUSTANA STNOD. 97 tiohs, $25,283. The value of the church property was not given until 1885, when it amounted to $166,375, excluding the Orphans' Home. Statistics for 1896 are: Congregations, 71 ; churches, 64 ; parsonages, 38 ; commun'cants, 9,850 ; members, 15,985 ; Sunday schools, 63 ; parochial schools, 43 ; value ofchurch property, $356,155; debts, $47,785; contri- butions for other than local congregational purposes, $10,522 ; regular expenses of local congregations, $57,500. The following clergymen have been presidents of the conference in the order mentioned : H. Olson, C. P. Rydholm, M. C. Ranseen, B. M. Halland, O.J. Siljestrom, C. A. Hemborg, J. E. Erlandcr, and M. P. Oden. Historical Review of the Iowa District of tlie Norwegian Synod. The Synod of the Norwegian ETangdical Lutheran Church of America, commonly called the Norwegian Synod, though not formally organized before February, 1853, may be said to have begun its work in Iowa in 1851. In the sum- mer of that year Rev. C. L. Clausen, one of the original founders of the Norwegian Synod, visited some of the Nor- wegian settlements in northeastern Iowa and preached there, being the first Lutheran minister to preach a sermon in the Norse language on low^asoU.* The following year he organ- ized a church at St. Ansgar, which joined the synod later. In the fall of 1851 Rev. Nils Brandt visited the settlements in northeastern Iowa, and again in 1852 and 1853. But the real pioneer minister of the Norwegian Synod in Iowa, and the father of the Iowa District, is Rev. Yilhelm Koren, now the venerable president of the synod. In March, 1853, Koren, then a yotmg man of twenty-six, accepted a call from " set- * As stated in the article, Historical Beview of tlie Scandinavian Churches in Iowa, Elling Eielsen visited Iowa in the early forties. — ^Editos. 99 100 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. tiers in Wirmesheik, Allamakee, Fayette, and Clayton coun- ties," and entered upon Ms duties in tlie autumn of that year. For four years he was the only regularly educated Norwegian Lutheran minister west of the Mississippi, and for twelve or fifteen years he was a traveling missionary rather than a settled pastor. Keren's pioneer work in Iowa and Min- nesota deserves far more than the passing mention that can be given here. It is a heart-stirring stoiy, not only of heroic endeavor and endurance and cheerful sacrifices, but also of unswerving fidelity to truth and principle. It is one of the brightest pages of the long history of the Norwegian Synod. In 1857 F. C. Claussen, the second resident minister of the synod w^est of the Mississippi, was installed over the churches in Houston and Fillmore counties, Minnesota, and relieved Koren of his missionary duties in southeastern Min- nesota and the northeastern part of Winnesheik county in Iowa. The ensuing year Rev. B. J. Muus took charge of the churches in Goodhue and Rice counties and the adjacent mission field in Minnesota. Rev. O. J. Hjort came to Iowa in 1862, and Rev. T. A. Torgerson in 1865, and at the organization of the Iowa District, in 1876, the number of clergymen within its limits was no less than forty. As related in Vol. I. of this work, page 187, it was found expedient in 1876 — ^the Norwegian Synod having by this time spread over ten or twelve diiFerent states and terri- tories — to divide the synod into three districts. The districts formed were named the Eastern, the Iowa, and the Min- nesota. By the synodical act of 1876 the Iowa District was made to comprise all the churches and pastors in the state of Iowa, the southern tier of counties in Minnesota, and the IOWA DISTRICT OF NORWEGIAN SYNOD. 101 soutliem part of Dakota; and in addition the few scattering clmrches in Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas. It was also agreed that the Iowa District should attend to the mission work to be done on the Pacific Coast. The Iowa District was organized at Decorah, June 22, 1876. The first officers elected were Rev. Y. Koren, president ; Rev. T. A. Torgerson, secretary; and Rev. O. H. Smeby, treasurer. Koren served as president until 1894, when he was succeeded by Tor- gerson. The statistics of the district at the time of organization were as follows : Churches, 155 ; pastoral charges, 35 ; pas- tors, 40; communicants, 19,420; number of souls, 36,659. In 1896, twenty years later, the statistics were as follows: Churches, 141; pastoral charges, 47; pastors, 60; com- municants, 16,157; number of souls, 27,854. The small increase in the number of pastors and pastorates, and the material decrease in the number of churches and total mem- bership, may seem, surprising. It is not, however, ow^ing to any lack of aggressive spirit and activity on the part of pastors and people. It is partly due to the formation of a fourth district, but principally to the withdrawal from the synod of the Anti-Missourians some years ago. In 1893 all the churches on the Pacific Coast were detached from the Iowa and Mimiesota districts and organized into the Pacific District, which now numbers sixteen pastors with their charges. In 1887 Prof. F. A. Schmidt, the leader of the Anti-Missouri an faction, carried his followers out of the Nor- wegian Synod and subsequently into the United Norwegian Lutheran Church. About one-fifth of the pastors and churches of the Iowa District were among the seceders. 102 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAYIRNS IN THE U. S. Since its formation the Iowa District has held annual meetings in connection with the meetings of the joint synod every third year, and separately the intervening years. At all meetings, both of the joint synod and of the various dis- tricts, it is customary to devote all the morning sessions to the consideration of some important scriptural truth or principle tc be held and confessed ; some christian duty to be discharged; or some sin or evil to be avoided and combated. Among the matters thus discussed at the annual meetings of the Iowa District are the following: Sanctification ; Schisms in the Church ; Christian Liberty ; Election ; the New Birth ; the Spiritual Impotency of the Natural Man ; the Scriptures our only safe Rule of Faith and Life; the Right Use of the Law; Modern Assaults upon the Bible; Parochial Schools; Overcoming the World by Faith; the Second Advent of Christ. In accordance with the settled policy of the Norwegian Synod, the Iowa District as such has no institutions of education or charity. In the Swedish Augustana Synod it is the custom to incorporate separately the many confer- ences into which the synod is divided, and the conferences as such acquire property, establish and maintain colleges, academics, orphans' homes, hospitals, etc. Such is not the policy of the Norwegian Synod. The districts are not incor- porated, and all institutions of learning and charity, except such as may be established by merely local associations, are owned, controlled, and supported by the whole synod. The result of adopting and following this policy is that sectional interests and feelings are not created to the detriment of the synod as a whole, and its institutions and interests. The IOWA DISTRICT OF NORWEGLa.N SYNOD. 103 only work which, under the synodical constitution, is entrusted to the districts as such, is the home mission work. Each district has its own board of home missions and home mission fund, and attends to the work to be done within its own bounds. For the work carried on under the supervision of its board of home missions, the Iowa District has col- lected and expended, from 1877 to 1895, the sum of $34,399. The district now supports missions at Waco and Dallas, Texas; St. Louis, Mo.; Omaha, Lincoln, and Hemingford, Neb.; Council Bluffs, Iowa; Lead City, S. D.; Denver, Col.; and other places too numerous to mention. Within the limits of the Iowa District are located Luther College and the Lutheran Publishing House, both at Decorah, Iowa; the Lutheran Normal School and the Sioux Falls Hos- pital, both at Sioux Falls, S. D.; and Luther Academy, at Albert Lea, Minn. The hospital and the academy are owned and controlled by local corporations composed of members of the Norwegian Synod. The college, the publishing house, and the normal school are the property of the synod. Else- where in this volume is found a history of Luther College. The Lutheran Publishing House is well equipped, and its last annual report was as follows : Assets, $56,530 ; liabilities, $237 ; net profit, $6,072. Luther Academy is provided with a fine and commodious building, beautifully located, and enjoys excellent patronage. The Normal School, which educates common-school and parochial school teachers, has two substantial and well appointed buildings, and is well patronized. At Bode, Iowa, an association of pastors and people of the Norwegian Synod conducted for a number of years an academy. 104 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAYIANS IN THE U. S. To the various funds of the Norwegian Synod the Iowa District has contributed, from 1877 to 1895, the sum of $213,882. If to this sum be added the $34,399 given for home mission work, and also large amounts given by the people of the Iowa District to different educational institu- tions, and the Church Extension Fund, the sum total must be in the vicinity of $300,000 — surely a large sum consider- ing the size of the district, and also the fact that nearly the whole amount has come out of the hard earnings of farmers, mechanics, and day laborers. In 1890 the district contrib- uted for home missions and synodical purposes the sum of $30,024, or about two dollars per communicant. Historical Review of tlie Scandinayians in Wisconsin. — BY— It is claimed that Jean Nicolet was sent in 1634 by the governor of New France to explore the northwest, and he landed on Wisconsin soil near the mouth of Fox river. " Clothed in silken robes he advanced into the village of the Winnebagoes, discharging pistols held in each hand. He was received with welcome. A great feast was then held, 120 beavers being eaten." He undoubtedly was the first white man who visited the state of Wisconsin. For the next two hundred years various explorers, traders, trap- pers, hunters, and missionaries traversed the state; and towards the close of this period the lead-miners w^ere prob- ably the most numerous of all classes. But few permanent settlements could have been made during that time, because in 1836, when the census was taken, there were not quite 12,000 persons within the boundary lines. Since, however, the material, intellectual, and spiritual development has been very rapid, in all of which the Scandinavians, espe- 105 106 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. ically the Norwegians, have taken an active and honored part. I. Pioneers and Settlements. There were, perhaps, some Scandinavians scattered through portions of Wisconsin at the very beginning of this century, although no person can be mentioned with cer- tainty until about 1819, and no settlement of Northmen was founded until twenty-four years later. It is to be regretted that no state census has enumerated the various nationalities in the different counties of Wisconsin, as some other states have done. If such enumeration had been made, the increase of the Scandinavians in each county would have furnished an excellent clue to the history of the settlements. It is no credit to the numerous public and literary men in Wisconsin of Norwegian and German extrac- tion, who justly claim to have exercised a great influence upon the affairs of the state, that the state censuses are among the w^orst in the country, as far as the different nationalities are concerned. As it is utterly impossible to give the full facts concerning all the Scandinavian settle- ments, or even one-half of them, only a few of the earliest will be mentioned. At the end of this article, however, the population of each county has been enumerated, which may be of some value in tracing the migratory movements. Up to 1890 Sweden-Norway was, in the United States census regarding this matter, considered as one country; but as there were not quite 3,000 Swedes in the whole state in 1870 against 40,000 Norwegians, it may safely be assumed that in most counties the great majority of the two nation- HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 107 alities belonged to the latter. Hardly any Swedes resided in tlie southern part of the state, the very stronghold of the Norwegians, and those few may be said to have become Norwegianized. Danish. C. W. W. Borup — his biography can be found in the first volume — undoubtedly was in Wisconsin before 1830, and some other Danes appear to have settled within the borders of the state, especially in the southeastern part, a few years later. But as there were only 146 Danes in Wisconsin in 1850, according to the United States census, not many Danish settlements could have existed at that time, and ten years later only 1,150 persons of that nation- ality resided in the state. Since 1870, however, their num- ber has materially increased, and in 1897 there were in the neighborhood of 35,000 Danish-bom or having Danish parents within the state. With the exception of Iowa, there were more Danes of the first and second generations in Wis- consin than in any other state in the Union. Norwegian. In 1838 Ole K. Nattestad — his biography is in this volume — ^bought land and settled at Clinton, Rock county, being, as far as is known, the first Norwegian who set his foot on Wisconsin soil, and for a whole year he saw none of his countrymen and few other people, as there were only about half a dozen in the vicinity. It is, however, reasonable to assume that some Norwegian adventurers, trappers, traders, hunters, or lead-miners had before that time visited the state ; in fact, it is very strange if they did not, considering that the Swedes and Danes had done so years before, and the names of many pioneers who were in the state before 1838 indicate a Scandinavian origin. In 108 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. 1839 Nattestad's brother, Ansten, returned from a trip to Norway, and brought with him several persons from Nume- dal, most of whom settled near Clinton. Since, many other Norwegians from Telemarken and Hardanger have joined them. One of the most interesting and humorous stories of the whole Scandinavian emigration is connected with the first Norwegians who came directly from their native land to Wisconsin. In 1837 three peasants with their families emi- grated from Tinn, Telemarken, and settled at Fox River, La Salle county, 111. At that time the attachment to birth- place must have been very great among some of the com- mon people in Norw^ay, because the three poor farmers were considered, on account of their emigrating, to be confirmed idiots. But a couple of years later about forty more persons from that vicinity had been smitten -with the same disease, and were anxious to leave their own country, which act had been considered a crime before that time. This is a forcible illustration of the great reflex influence which the thoughts of the New World have exercised upon the thoughts of the Old World, being the main blessing which America has bestowed upon Europe as a small return for the untold wealth, both material and intellectual, which the former has received from the latter. The movement from Telemarken in 1839 was effected, partly, through the influence of private letters written by immigrants in this country, partly, by Ansten Nattestad's return to Numedal; but mostly, per- haps, on account of the appearance of Ole Rynning's book, SandfArdig Beretning otn Amerika, published in 1838, which work was extensively read, and greatly influenced the HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 109 w^hole Norwegian emigration, especially as the author gave a glowing and vivid description of the advantages of America. To improve their economic conditions was un- doubtedly the mainspring which induced the majority of the peasants to leave their native land in 1839 ; yet, there was considerable of romance in the affair. Nattestad was looked upon with as much curiosity as if he had returned from a trip to the moon, and persons traveled over 150 English miles in order to get a chance to speak to him about America. Nattestad and his party sailed from Drammen directly to New York, while the people from Telemarken embarked at Skien the 17th of May,* 1839, and pro- ceeded to Gothenburg, Sweden, where they met another group of |about twenty emigrants from the vicinity of Sta- vanger. Both parties joined and tookpassage on an Ameri- can vessel loaded with iron, paying about $50.00 a person as fare between Gothenburg and Boston, reaching the latter place after a nine weeks' voyage. After having gone to New York, they went by canal boats, drawn by horses, to Buffalo, and from thence to Milwaukee on a vessel loaded with gun- pow^der, and so poor that the passengers were in much greater danger of going down to the bottom of one of the lakes than of being blown up into the air by the explosion of the cargo. They reached Milwaukee seventeen weeks after having left Norway, and some excitement was created, *Most authorities assert that the first Norwegian-Aznerican emi{:rants, the Sloop-folks, sailed from Stavanger on the 4th of July, 1825. It seems rather strange that the departure of these two noted emigration parties should have occurred on the two great national holidays of the United States and Norway. The incident might, accidentally or purposely, have happened; but probably the apparent agreement of dates is to be found in the human desire to try to harmonize their past actions, no matter how insignificant, with more important events. 110 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. on account of their strange speech and dress, at the former place, which did not h?Te a single beer-brewery until two years later. As far as is know^n, they were the first Norwe- gians seen or heard in this part of the country, and the first German immigrants arrived the same year. Their intention was to proceed to Chicago, and Irom thence to the Fox River settlement ; but the good people in Milwaukee did not relish the idea of permitting a neighboring state to receive the benefit of the labor of such able-bodied men. But a few years later the Know-Nothing element of the wealthy Amer- icans secured the passage of a bill through the legislature by which the locality where the Telemarken folks had settled was organized into the town of Norway, in order that the Norsemen should be compelled to take care of their own paupers, as it was feared that a large portion of the people would be a burden to any community. The future, how- ever, proved that the mountaineers of the North could drain marshes more satisfactorily and create better farms than their American neighbors. The Norwegians were advised to remain in Wisconsin by a venerable looking man — a person found all over the United States, present on every occasion, and always known by the name of An Old Settler. This infallible light produced all the syllogisms of logic, and gave the most minute description of the miserable climate in the state of Illinois in contrast to the paradisiacal state of Wis- consin, in order to convince the descendants of the Vikings of the advantages of the latter state. To clinch his argu- ments he presented to the confiding Norwegian peasants two persons, one strong, healthy, and robust ; the other the very shadow of death, a walking skeleton, a mere excuse for HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. Ill a man. 'There,' said the old settler, pointing to the fat man, 'you see a man from Wisconsin, the other is from Illinois.' The Norwegians saw, believed, remained. The story may not be true ; but it is undoubtedly a fair illustra- tion of the confiding simplicity of a large portion of the Scandinavian immigrants, and the vulgar jocularity prac- ticed in nearly every new^ American community. The moun- taineers of Telemarken, having little knowledge of the world, could not possibly dream that professional liars existed, who practiced their craft, with pleasure, as one of the finer arts. An interpreter, a Dane, had been with the emigrants from Gothenburg, but he was drowned at Milwaukee, and after- wards the party had to make themselves understood the best they could by signs. The city council, thinking that the Norwegians were better fitted for fishing and hunting than for anything else, secured a guide for them who took them to Lake Muskego, Waukesha county, about fourteen miles from Milwaukee. The summer heat having dried the marshy land, it appeared beautiful, with plenty of grass and timber. Excepting a couple of persons, all the sixty Norwegians settled here. Government land was bought at $1.25 per acre, each man securing forty acres. But the land was unfit for farming, the very purpose for which it was bought ; besides, the swamps produced fever and ague, and finally, in 1849-50, cholera swept off a large proportion of the population. Most of the remaining people removed a little farther south to the more prosperous settlements of Norway, Waterford, Raymond, and Yorkville, all in Racine county, which had a combined Norse population of about 600 in 1844. 112 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. The large Koshkonong settlement in Dane county may be said to have been founded by Norwegians who had tried their luck in other parts of the country, but failed, or at least desired to change location. Few, if any, of the first pioneers in Dane county came there directly from Norway. Thesettie- ment was not begun, perhaps, before 1840, although Norse- men had visited that part of the state the year before. It is undoubtedly the most widely known Norwegian colony in America. This is due, partly, to its large size and numerous population, partly, to the fact that a very large number of prominent Norwegian-Americans, both of the first and second generations, hail from that vicinity, and have made their names honored throughout the land, and even in Eu- rope. Rev. Adolph Bredesen claims that there were about seven or eight hundred Norwegians in the colony in 1844; and about 3,000 Norsemen in the state at that time, bunched in twelve or fourteen settlements. According to the emigra- tion reports of Norw^ay, only about 1,300 Norwegians had exchanged their native hills for the American w^ildemess during the twenty years from 1820-40, and at the latter date there were, perhaps, not more than a couple of hundred Norsemen in the state of Wisconsin. But ten years later in the neighborhood of nine thotisand, or about two-thirds of the total Norwegian population in the whole country, resided in the state. Out of the 44,000 Norwegians in the United States in 1860, nearly one-half lived in Wisconsin, and during the next ten years their number almost doubled. They were undoubtedly represented in every county in 1870, as the statistical tables at the end of this article seem to indicate. In 1897 not far from 175,000 persons of Nor- HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 113 "wegian birth or parentage resided in the state of Wisconsin, or about one-fourth of the total Norse population in the United States. It should be stated that although over a dozen different authorities have been consulted in regard to the Norwegian settlements in Wisconsin, yet Billed-Magazin, edited by Prof. Svein Nilsson, has chiefly been relied on; and all later works which refer to that subject have failed to add any important historical matter. But, properly speaking, his- tory should not merely register facts and chronicle dates, but, also describe the social life of the period dealt with. The editor of this work must admit, somewhat with a blush, that in most cases it has not been done ; partly, on account of inability, and partly, because this series of volumes is an historical cyclopedia, intended for reference rather than for ordinary reading. But a vivid and brilliant narrative of the trials and triumphs of the Norse pioneers in this country can be had by reading the first part of Prof. P. O. Stromme's book, Hvorledes Halvor blev Prest. Rev. Adolph Bredesen, in a lecture delivered in 1894, gives a brief and excellent sum- mary of the condition of the Wisconsin Norwegians half a century before that time. He says: "Wisconsin, now so populous and wealthy, was, in those early days, still a territory, and almost an unbroken wilderness, the happy hunting-ground of the red men. There was not a mile of railway within her borders, and even passable wagon roads were few and far between. Horses were scarce. I am told that the seven or eight hundred Norwegians on the Kosh- konong prairies had one horse between them, and that a poor one. 'Buck and Bright' and a kubberulle, or other 114 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. primitive wagon, were about the only means of transpor- tation, and Milwaukee, or Chicago, was the nearest market. "Our Norwegian pioneers were poor, but they were not paupers. They had not come here to beg and steal, nor to sponge on their neighbors. It was not their ambition to be organ-grinders, peanut-venders, or rag-pickers. They had come to make, in the sweat of their brow, an honest living, and they were amply able to do so. They possessed stout hearts, willing hands, and robust health, and nearly all had learned at least the rudiments of some useful trade. And the women, our mothers and grand-mothers — God bless them ! — were worthy consorts of the men who laid low the giants of the forest, and made the wilderness rqoice and blossom as the rose. They girded their loins with strength. They were able to stand almost any amount of privation and toil. They were not afraid of a mouse. They were in blissful ignorance of the fact that they had nerves. They knew nothing of 'that tired feeling,' and did not need the services of the dentist every other week. They did not have soft, velvety hands, as some of us, who were bad boys, have reason to know ; but, for all that, they had tender, motherly hearts. They could not paint on china, or pound out ' The Mocking-bird' on the piano, but they could spin and knit and weave. The dear souls could not drive a nail any better than their grand-daughters can, butthey could drive — a yoke of oxen, and handle the pitchfork and the rake almost as well as the broom and the mop. Our mothers and grand- mothers did not ruin our digestion with mince-pie and chicken-salad, but gave us wholesome and toothsome £at- brod and xnylsa and brim and prim and bresta, the kind e^ HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 115 food on which a hundred generations of Norway seamen and mountaineers have been raised. "Our Norwegian pioneers were ignorant of the language, the laws, and the institutions, of their adopted country, and in this respect were, indeed, heavily handicapped. The German immigrant found compatriots everywhere, and, at least in all the larger cities, German newspapers, German officials, German lawyers, doctors, and business-men. The Norwegian had not a single newspaper, and, outside of a few struggling frontier settlements, there was practically not a soul with w^hom he could communicate. But, though our pioneers were ignorant of the English language, they were not illiterates. They had books, and. could read them, and by and by astonished natives were forced to confess, ' them 'ere Norwegians are almost as white as we are, and they kin read, too, they kin.' If in those early Norwegian settle- ments books were few, a family Bible and some of Luther's writings were rarely wanting, even in the humblest homes. If the people were not versed in some of the branches now taught in almost every common school, they were well grounded in the Catechism, the Forklaring, and the Bible History, as all their good and bright grand-children are , to-day. " The homes of our pioneers of fifty years ago were log cabins, shanties, and dug-outs. Men and women alike were dressed in blue drilling, or in coarse homespun, brought over from the old country in those large, bright-painted chests. In 1844, I am told, not a w^oman on the Koshkonong prairies was the proud possessor of a hat. Some of the good wives and daughters of those days sported home-made 116 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. sun-bonnets, but tbe majority contented themselTes witli the old country kerchief. Carpets, kerosene-lamps, coal-stoves, or sewing-machines, reapers, threshing-machines, top-bug- gies, and Stoughton wagons, were things not dreamed of." Swedish. Undoubtedly Jacob Falstrom— his biography is in the first volume — was in Wisconsin before 1819, being the first Scandinavian in the state. When Gustaf Unonius came to Milwaukee in 1841, he met Captain 0. G. Lange there, who had been in America several years before, and who later became extensively known as the originator of the idea and the advocator of the celebration of the Swedishfore- fathers day. It is almost certain that there were Swedish settlers who tilled the soil of Wisconsin before Unonius arrived, and he mentions many of his countrymen who had traversed a large portion of the New World, before 1840, almost as thoroughly as the Wandering Jew is said to have done in the Old World. Unonius may be said to have given the first impetus to the regular Swedish emigration in the nineteenth century, and he believes that his party of about half a dozen people were the first w^ho took advantage of the new law w^hich granted the privilege of leaving the kingdom Avithout special royal permission. Being young, energetic, and fearless, and having just graduated from the University of Upsala, he possessed many of the qualities, both physical and intellectual, which were necessary for the severe struggles in the American wilderness. He and his young wife and their companions embarked from Gefle, and reached New York in the early part of September, 1841, after having spent three months on a sailing vessel, and proceeded to Milwaukee on the slow boats on the Erie Canal HISTORY OF SCANDINAYIANS IN WISCONSIN. 117 and the Great Lakes, reaching their destination about six months after they had left Upsala. The party settled at Pine Lake, about thirty miles west of Milwaukee. This was, undoubtedly, the first Swedish colony in America in the nineteenth century. The founder had left his native land in order to improve his economic conditions, to test the sweet experience of adventure, and to satisfy a youthful desire for change. Excepting the first, his dreams were fully realized. His book, Minnen, contains a a admirable description of the early pioneer life in the West ; and his contributions to the newspapers in Sweden drew some educated adventurers, noblemen, ex-army ofiicials, bankrupt merchants, and a large proportion of criminals to the colony — most of whom were totally unfit for the hard struggle on the western frontier. As a consequence the settlement at Pine Lake, named Ne-w Upsala, failed ; but the attempt was not w^hoUy without influence upon the Swedish-American history, because several of the participants were voluminous letter writers, and thus they became the mediums of calling the attention of the common people in different parts of S^weden to the advantages of America, which shortly after resulted in a heavy emigration and the founding of large Swedish settlements in various places in the United States. The large and well-known colony at New Sweden, Iowa, the first permanent Swedish settlement in the New World in the nine- teenth century, was the direct result of letters sent from Pine Lake. Even the famous Fredrika Bremer visited the Wisconsin colony in the early fifties. In this connection it is proper to remark that the emigration from Sweden appears to have begun with the upper classes instead of with the 118 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. common people. This might serve as another lesson to that school which looks to the lower strata of society for the originators of all great popular movements. Rev. E. Norelius claims that some of his countrymen resided in She- boygan, Waupaca, Douglass, and Portage counties at a very early date. But as there were only eighty-eight Swedes in Wisconsin in 1850, according to the United States census, not much in the line of settlements could have been accom- plished before that time; and twenty years later about 3,000 resided in the state. Since 1880, however, the Swedish immigration into Wisconsin has been quite heavy, and in 1897 there must have been in the neighborhood of 50,000 persons of the first and second generations. II. Causes of Immigration to Wisconsin. It is claimed that some of the greatest historical events are purely accidental. Pascal says, "Had the nose of Cleo- patra been a little shorter, the whole face of the world might have beenchanged." It is also possible that the little incident at Milwaukee in 1839, when a fat man was pre- sented to the Telemarken folks as an evidence of the excellent climate in Wisconsin, is the main cause why Wisconsin has up to late years been the very stronghold of the Norwegians in America. It is certain that where these pioneer emigrants settled, at Lake Muskego, some of the most influential Nor- wegian-Americans located shortly after, having undoubtedly been attracted to that place by the first settlers. It was here that many well-known pioneers lived and acted, for example, Knud Langeland, Col. Hans Heg, and Rev. O. J. Hatlestad— their biographies are in this volume— with HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 119 their influential relatives, as well as other leading persons. It was here also that the first Norwegian-American news- paper, Nordlyset, was started in 1847. But while greater and less personages somewhat directed the Norwegian migratory movement towards and into Wisconsin, there were other, and perhaps greater, causes which operated in securing a highly desirable class of Norsemen to locate within the border of the state. Chance, climate, and the fact that the state was first opened up to settlers at the same time as the Norwegian emigration began, have been powerful factors in directing the movement. But as these are exactly the reasons which induced the majority of the Scandinavians to prefer the Northwest to any other part of the country, it will be unnecessary to restate here what has already been asserted in three or four other places in this w^ork. What has been said, in the first volume, about the variety of the natural resources and the beautiful scenery of Minnesota, as an inducement to settlers, applies with equal or even greater truth to the state of Wisconsin. The climate, as a whole, of the latter state is undoubtedly more like the climate of the Scandinavian countries than that of the former. The moisture produced by Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, and the immense pine forests have a powerful effect in modifying the temperature and making the atmos- phere somewhat similar to that of certain parts of Sweden and Norway. III. The Civil War. During the four years of fierce and bloody struggle and civil anarchy, over 91,000 men from Wisconsin endeavored, 120 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. on the battlefield, to preserve the Union. According to the original and unpublished records of the adjutant-general of Wisconsin, about 100 Swedes, 200 Danes, and 3,000 Nor- wegians assisted, during the whole war period, in making the cause of the South a Lost Cause. But to count correctly all the Scandivians as enumerated in over fifty large and un- printed volumes, is ataskw^hich few will undertake, and none can perform satisfactorily, especially as several companies and even whole regiments, do not mention the nativity of the men enrolled. Yet, since nearly three thousand names of Northmen were actually computed, it must be fair to assume that not far from 4,000 Scandinavians were enlisted in the various Wisconsin regiments, including one or two hundred Northmen from neighboring states who served in the Fifteenth, or Scandinavian, Regiment. Both in Wisconsin and Minnesota about one-eighth of the total population fought in the Union army, but one in every six of the Northmen in these two states served his adopted country on the bloody fields of the American rebellion. As the history of the Fifteenth Regiment has appeared in the first volume of this work, it will be out of place to discuss the same here; at the same time only a short space can be devoted to the Scandinavian soldiers in other regiments, on account of the lack of materials. At the very beginning of the war the Scandinavians flew to arms. At least a couple of Norwegians were in the troop which Wisconsin sent in answer to President Lincoln's call of 75,000 volunteers. Not less than 125 descendants of the Vikings evinced, by enlisting in the Third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, as much courage as their savage ancestors, and perhaps more sense. HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 121 Nearly all, both men and officers, of Company H of the Twenty-seventh Regiment were Norwegians, Chas. Cor- neliusen being captain of the company. There were, undoubtedly, Scandinavians in all the fifty-three Wisconsin regiments. But while the Norwegians supplied a large number of common soldiers, they do not appear to have distinguished themselves at all as officers. Outside of the Fifteenth Regiment, there was not a single Wisconsin Nor- wegian of all the 3,000 who participated in the Civil War that rose to a higher position in the army. A couple of Danes, Adolph Sorensen, of Waupaca county, and Chas. Hall, of Dane county, were captains of Company D of the Forty-seventh Regiment and Company A of the Forty-ninth Regiment, respectively. IV. Political Influence. The territory of Wisconsin was organized in 1836, but no Scandinavian served in any of the legislative branches during the twelve years of territorial government, nor did any Northmen hold any kind of public office during that period. If the constitution which was framed in 1846 had not been rejected when submitted to a vote of the people the following year, no descendants of the Vikings would have assisted to form the constitution of Wisconsin, under which so many sons and daughters of the North have toiled and prospered. As it was, James D. Reymert, then residing at Norway, Racine county, sat in the constitutional convention of 1847-8, being also a member of the assembly in 1849 and 1857, and represented his district in the state senate in 1854 and 1855. Reymert was of Norwegian-Scotch extrac- 122 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. tion, and had been educated in both those countries. Politically, he sympathized with the Free Soil party. He was editor of the first Norwegian-American newspaper, Nordlyset, which was established in 1847, and he was undoubtedly the first Norseman in the United States who exercised any influence upon public affairs, either state or national, or held any public trust in the gift of the people. P. C. Lutkin, of Whitesville, Racine county, was a member of the assembly in 1857, being, unquestionably, the first Dane in Wisconsin who was elected to fill any respon- sible public trust. Since, about six other Danes have served in the lower branch of the legislature, but none in the upper. Before 1860 there had not been more than half a dozen Scandinavians in the legislature; but that year Knud Langeland and C, G. Hammerquist, both Republicans, served. The latter, then residing at Fort Atkinson, was the first, and with a couple of exceptions, the only Swede w^ho ever sat in any of the legislative branches of the state of Wisconsin. During the last thirty-five years, there have been Northmen in the assembly at nearly every session, and some of them have been re-elected many times. But only three or four Norwegian state senators have been elected, among whomis the well-known J. A. Johnson — his biography is in this volume. Since the constitution was adopted in 1848 and up to 1896, there have been about fifty persons of Norwegian birth or descent in the two legislative branches. In other w^ords, over twice as many Norsemen have exhibited their wisdom or ignorance in the arena of the capitol of Minnesota during the last forty years, as their com- patriots in Wisconsin have done during the last fifty years. HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 123 Col. Hans C. Heg was elected state prison commissioner in 1859, and was, perhaps, the first Norwegian who was elected to any state office in America. Hans B. Warner was secretary of state from 1878-82, and Sewall A. Peterson was elected state treasurer in 1894. N. P. Haugen, Atley Peterson, and Thomas Thompson have all served as railroad commissioners. The latter is the only Swede ever elected to any state office in Wisconsin, and Halford Erickson, who was appointed commissioner of statistics in 1895, is the only person of that nationality ever appointed to any important state office. A few other Northmen might be mentioned in connection with the political review of the Scandinavians in Wisconsin, but as the biographical depart- ment of this volume deals with the various public men in the state, it would be too much of a repetition to enumerate many of them here. At the same time it should be stated that Prof. R. B. Anderson was appointed United States min- ister to Denmark in 1885 by President Cleveland, and that N. P. Haugen was in Congress for eight years, serving longer than any other congressman of Scandinavian extraction. A glance at the names of the county officials seems to in- dicate that in most counties Scandinavians have been office- holders, but seldom in proportion to their numbers. Although all the blue books and several legislative journals have been carefully examined, yet it is very difficult to write a political history of the Scandinavians in Wis- consin, or even to, ascertain the exact number who have been elected to the two branches of the legislature. The nativity of the members has not always been given. Most of the law-makers and officials bom in the North have been 124 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. fully Americanized, or have pretended to be; as a conse- quence it is questionable whether the Scandinavian legisla- tors in Wisconsin have ever succeeded in passing a single measure, the substance of which had before been in vogue in their own country, and perhaps they never tried. Nor have they had much of a chance either, because purely American topics have always been awaiting solution. In nearly all, if not in all, the great questions agitated in the state, the house (of Norway) has been divided against itself. They have, per- haps, never worked in solid concert for any great public end, although most of them have been Republicans. While some of the Norw^egians in Wisconsin, as individuals, have had a powerful influence upon the affairs of the state, yet in their public career they have often been more American than the natives themselves. What has been said about the Scandinavians in Wiscon- sin is also true of them in other parts of the Union. In fact, it is to be doubted whether there is any direct legislation in the land that can be traced to a Scandinavian origin, and w^hich has been incorporated into the statutes as the result of Scandinavian- American statesmanship, except the estab- lishment of courts of conciliation in North Dakota, in 1893, which was said to be "a striking instance of the influence exerted by a body of adopted citizens upon American legis- lation." It is also remarkable that the Gothenburg system of controlling thetraffic in liquors, which for a long time has been in successful operation both in Sweden and Norway, has never been attempted to be introduced in the strong Scandinavian states, but in South Carolina and Massachu- setts. This fact becomes more curious when it is remem- HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 125 bered that temperance and prohibition agitation has been going on in the Northwest for several years, and that in these movements the Northmen have taken an active part. V. Occupation. The Scandinavians have been a great factor in laying the material foundation of the state of Wisconsin. The Northern countries have furnished a large number of the sailors on the lakes, the laborers in the numerous lumber camps in the immense forests, the hands in factories, and the farmers on the prairies. While it is true that the majority of the Northmen in Wisconsin, as well as in other states, have been and are common laborers, servants, and farmers, yet there are undoubtedly more Scandinavian manufacturers, in proportion to the population, in this state than in any other part of the Union. The intellectual activ- ity of the Wisconsin Scandinavians is about on the same level as in the neighboring states. Both the legal and the medical profession are well and ably represented. About two dozen Norwegian authors and literary men reside, or have died, in the state ; some of whom have made their names honored and revered on both sides of the Atlantic. But, strange to say, seldom has any great Norwegian-Amer- ican newspaper been published in the state. VI. Statistics. In 1850 one out of every 34 persons in Wisconsin was a Scandinavian by birth ; twenty years later, one out of 22 ; and in 1890, one out of 17. But this only includes persons bom in the North, while a much larger per cent, have Scan- 126 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. dinavian parents and grand-parents. The second genera- tion of the Norwegians in the state is a powerful element, not only in numerical strength, but in intellectual and spir- itual advancement. According to the United States census for 1890, there were 23,882 persons in Wisconsin bom in Denmark or having Danish parents ; 130,737 Norwegians ; 29,993 Swedes— or in all 184,556 Scandinavians of the first and second generations. Many persons, however, of all nationalities are omitted from the census reports ; and un- doubtedly the nearest approach to the truth in regard to the number of Northmen and their children in any state, can be had by multiplying the Scandinavian-borh by 2%. The number of Scandinavian-bom persons in the different states is given on pages 156-60 in the first volume of this work, and the population in each county of Wisconsin is published at the end of this article. By multiplying the numbers found in these tables by 2%, a fair estimate of the Scandina- vian-American population of the first and second genera- tions may be obtained. The Northmen and their children in Wisconsin numbered, in 1897, about 260,000; that is, one out of every seven persons in the state was a Scandinavian. HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 127 TABLE III. Showing the Number of Scandinavians Born in the Scandina. viAN Countries, and the Total Population in Each County OF Wisconsin. U. S. CENSUS OF 1870. U. S. CENSUS OF 1890. i g g 00 ia J u ^1 i Q i O 1 i 32 637 3 98 1 451 656 651 8 1 439 79 1,515 764 6,601 3S3 344 93 1,336 871 6,601 221 637 344 25,168 11,123 706 12,335 8,311 3,450 28,802 13,075 63,096 47,036 4,919 1,122 9,488 10,769 142 120 70 46 819 6 5 45 47 87 74 5 449 39 314 80 109 131 28 46 9 7 37 50 13 51 24 302 654 31 87 1 384 947 2,373 1,085 439 1,165 497 14 1,379 605 862 801 6,728 180 962 1,058 3,167 3,897 65 65 22 400 623 17 904 2,507 246 518 53 72 4.371 927 4 1,357 566 774 104 45 1,641 16 217 169 34 14 222 14 549 1,572 155 546 600 25 10 15 12 18 8 276 19 69 170 9 267 94 a,8S9 Ashland 20,063 15,418 Bayfield 7,390 371 39,164 Buffalo 15,997 4,393 22 20 3 49 11 131 37 82 3 61 21 16,689 25,143 ciifs ::'.■ 17,708 28,350 15,987 69,678 a,934 16,682 13,468 Dana - . Eao Claire 22,664 30,673 2,604 98 156 46,273 44,088 1,012 13 12 15 3 543 1.017 27 1,647 944 384 379 29 97 2,646 993 37,979 23,611 13,195 24,544 7,687 34,040 12,372 13,147 10,128 20,297 22.659 36,651 22,732 15,163 22,117 16,797 is 65 71 44 65 3 33,530 17,125 Kenosha 15,681 16,163 38,801 Lafayette 20,265 128 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. TABLE III.— Continued. U. S. CENSUS OF 1870. U. S. CENSUS OF 1890. COTTNTHIS. i n li MS5 g ^1 S 1 1 an 4 69 92 27 90 304 70 381 186 388 21 217 3 3 210 844 118 19 2,893 32 128 320 31 13 200 37 !50 21 34 93 21 23 393 962 342 1,210 213 39 489 900 348 887 14 1,904 837 193 142 70 51 67 1,835 1,311 1,048 140 949 288 1,632 2,638 123 423 709 199 143 4,118 3,387 516 155 25 326 1,270 291 562 466 55 320 14 308 1,407 386 30 257 211 80 18 739 1,281 1,600 185 982 278 15 150 694 26 113 103 32 168 204 45 139 322 6 56 161 20 114 249 9,465 12,008 38 1,420 73 33,364 5,886 37,831 30,369 20,304 5 130 2 60 31 636 573 321 8,056 89,930 16,550 8,321 9,676 236,101 23,211 15,009 6,010 56 16 37 98 484 1,052 483 795 18,430 15,564 4,659 9,958 3,422 10,634 38,690 14,943 6,932 19 106 47 20,385 Polk 12,968 24,798 5,258 1,294 3 52 71 9 1,088 237 1,428 940 93 26,740 15,731 39,030 11,035 23,860 36,268 Richland . 19,121 Bock 43,220 St. Croix 22,397 Sauk 30,676 1,997 23 8 146 234 3,166 31,749 19,236 42,489 6,731 9 39 28 2,633 3,138 679 10,732 18,645 25,972 18,920 25,111 Walworth 27,860 2,926 2 278 557 369 723 51 40 486 1,225 220 762 106 23,919 28,274 15,639 11,279 37,279 3,912 22,751 33,270 26,794 13,507 50,097 Wood 18,127 Total 6,212 42,845 1,054,670 13.885 65,696 20,157 1,686,880 Historical Review of tlie Scandinavian Scliools in Wisconsin. No less than nine different institutions of learning have been started by Norwegian Lutherans, and two by Danish Lutherans, within the borders of Wisconsin. Two of them were removed to Iowa, and one to Minnesota ; and four of them have been discontinued, leaving only four, all of which are in a prosperous condition. Of those which have been either removed or discontinued, three were theological semi- naries, two were colleges, and the rest were schools of lower grades. It is a noteworthy fact that the three oldest Nor- wegian institutions of learning in America were started in Wisconsin, the years of their establishment being 1861, 1865, and 1869. But it is equally noteworthy, by way of commentary on the instability, or at least mobility, of the early Norwegian-American schools, that the only insti- tutions of this class existing in the state at this writing were established as late as 1885, 1888, and 1893, respect- ively. During the sixties and seventies a large proportion of 129 130 HISTORY OF THK SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. the progressive element of the Norwegian population of Wisconsin removed farther west, and this movement was highly tmfavorable to the growth of institutions of this kind. But during the past ten years a vigorous rally is clearly noticeable, due, no doubt, partly to the greater ability of later educators to meet the practical needs of the rising genera- tion, but chiefly to the fact that a larger proportion of the young and progressive element remain at home. Three of the schools now in operation are academies, and one is an Indian mission school. The three academies devote only a small amount of time to religious instruction, but the chief aim of the proprietors in estabhshing the schools w^as to build up Christian character in the youth, and save them from drifting away from the Lutheran church. Norwegian is catalogued as a regular study at the academies, and perhaps nine-tenths of their attendants are of Norwegian birth or extraction. The aggregate annual enrollment of the three academies is about 375, and that of the Indian mission school from 120 to 150, making a total of 500. The latter, as well as Stoughton Academy, have already proven themselves to rank among the best institutions of their kind in this part of our country, and they are an orna- ment to those good people who established them ; while the academies at Mount Horeb and Scandinavia as yet have scarcely had time enough to demonstrate their efficiency, their establishment dating only from the fall of 1893. Norwegian. Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, was started at Halfway Creek, near La Crosse, on September 4, 1861 ; but after one year's work, which closed on June 5, 1862, the institution was removed to Decorah. A lengthy and able SCANDINAVIAN SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN. 13l historical sketch of Luther College is found in this volume. In 1865 an attempt was made by members of Hauge's Synod to establish a school in Dane county ; but the under- taking failed for lack of support. The Norwegian Augustana Synod, one of the organi- zations which were merged into the United Church in 1890, operated an academy at Marshall, Dane county, from 1869 to 1881, and also a theological department therewith dur- ing the same period, excepting the years 1871-75. Luther Seminary, the theological seminary of the Nor- wegian Synod, was established in 1876 at Madison, w^here it remained until 1888. During this period Prof. F. A. Schmidt and Prof. H. G. Stub successively served as presi- dent of the institution. The work carried on here during the eighties was marred by doctrinal controversies, in which Prof. Schmidt was the central figure. Nevertheless, about fifty young men were graduated from the seminary while it was located at Madison. Monona Academy was established by the Norwegian Synod people at Madison in 1876. The attendance was fairly good for a number of terms ; but financially it proved a heavy burden, and the school was discontinued in 1881. The Bethany Indian Mission and Industrial school at Wittenberg was the only Lutheran institution of its kind as long as it was controlled by its founders. It was established in 1884 by the Norwegian Synod. The school was originally held in a log house four miles west of the village of Wittenberg, and five boys, all belonging to the Winnebago tribe, were in attendance the first term. The next year the children were transferred to the orphans'home at Wittenberg; but in 1887 132 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. the school was removed into a fine building erected for that purpose near the northwest limits of said village. From this time on the attendance increased at a rapid rate, the tribes represented being the Oneidas, Winnebagoes, Chip- pewas, Stockbridges, and Mohawks. The work performed was eminently satisfactory, and the influence of the teachers upon their pupils may be inferred from the fact that many of the latter joined the Lutheran Church of their own choice. A few of them afterwards entered college, and the most of them are growing up into a useful and respectable set of people. No single man did more for the btiilding-up of this institution than Rev. T. Larsen, who resigned his position as superintendent in 1893. For a number of years the school was liberally supported by the federal government, the amount annually received from this source being $108.00 per pupil. A law which was passed by congress for the purpose of gradually abolishing all appropriations for sectarian schools, applied to this school, too, and the United States government assumed control of the school in 1895, leasing the buildings for a period of five years, dating from July 1, 1895. The people of the Norwegian Synod had spent thousands of dollars in the interest of this school, and, in order to avoid serious disturbances in its good work, the government appointed one of their own men. Axel Jacobson, to the superin tendency of the school, which position he still holds. Stoughton Academy and Business Institute is one of the foremost institutions of its kind in the state. It was started in a rather tentative way in 1888, but enjoyed a vigorous growth almost from the start. It offers five com- SCAXDIXAVIA.N SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN. 133 plete courses, and as an index to its efficiency may be men- tioned the fact that graduates from its university course can enter the State University without examination. This insti- tution is owned by a stock company, the majority of which are members of the Norwegian Synod. The yearly enroll- ment is about 200, and the value of the property belonging to the academy is $8,000. Mount Horeb Academy dates from the fall of 1893. It was started, and is still controlled, chiefly by members of the United Norwegian Church. The school offers four different courses. The total attendance is about 100, and the prop- erty is worth $20,000. Scandinavia Academy, at Scandinavia, was started in 1893, and the most of those who contributed to its estab- lishment, and who have controlled it since, are members of the United Norwegian Church. The enrollment is about 75, and the property owned ty the institution is valued at $15,000. Danish. A Danish high school was started in West Den- mark, Polk county, in the eighties ; but the attendance was so small that the work had to be discontinued. Later attempts were no more successful. Th. Helveg for a number of years conducted the theological seminary of the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America at the same place, and about a score of students in attendance afterwards entered the ministry of the gospel. Othkr Institutions. Albion Academy, Beloit College, and Galesville College at one time or another have been largely attended by Scandinavian students. For twenty-five years past, however, the State University has been drawing a 134. HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. larger part of the bright and ambitious Scandinavian youth than has any other school in the state. It must be recorded as an historical fact that R. B. Anderson, as instructor and professor in the university during a part of the sixties and the seventies, was instrumental in drawing a large number of Norwegian students to the university. Another drawing card is the library, which contains 1,500 volumes of choice Scandinavian literature. The fact that three of the pro- fessors, namely, Julius E. Olson, Storm Bull, and Fritz Wilhelm Woll, are Norwegians, also tends to make their countrymen feel at home in the university. Nor must it be forgotten that the university offers a complete Scandina- vian course. This volume contains biographies of said pro- fessors. Of late, the attendance of students of Scandinavian extraction has been about 80, which is almost exactly five per cent, of the total attendance. This class of students are not only holding their own, but during the last few years many of the boys have distinguished themselves at orator- icaJ contests. Historical Review of tlie Scandinavian Cliurclies in Wisconsin. — BY — O. N. NELSON AND J. J. SKORDALSVOLD. The first attempts to perpetuate the tenets and practices of the I/Utheran Church among the Norwegian-Americans were made in the Fox River settlement in Illinois at the close of the thirties. As yet, however, there was no ordained Norwegian minister in America, and church work under the guidance of ordained clergymen did not commence until 1843, at Muskego, Wis. This year marks a turning point in the history of the Norwegian-American churches. Thence- forth, very few of those religiously inclined left the Lutheran Church; so far the accomplished result is practical unity. But from that very year some division of the Norwegian- American Lutheran church has been the scene of internal controversies, the contending parties at times being repre- sented by as many as half a dozen distinct associations ; so far the accomplished result is, apparently, diversity. And southeastern Wisconsin is the scene of the inauguration of this era. Here Eielsen and Clausen were estranged from each 135 136 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. other before the close of the year 1843, and this soon led to open hostility. Here Dietrichaon laid the foundation of the most conservative and best organized of the Norwegian- American church associations, thereby incurring the natural odium of all who are impatient of restraint. Here the organization of the two oldest Norwegian church associa- tions was perfected, and even the powerful Swedish Augus- tana Synod points to southern Wisconsin as its birthplace ; Hauge's Synod and the Swedish Augustana Synod having been organized at Jefferson Prairie, and the Norwegian Synod at Koshkonong, which two places are only about forty miles apart. Here w^as the home of Rev. H. A. Preus, who for about a third of a century guided the Norwegian Sj"nod with imperturbable firmness. And here Prof. F. A. Schmidt accomplished a part of that work by which his name w^as to be indelibly graven upon the pages of the history of the Norwegian-American Lutheran church. The total number of Scandinavian congregations in Wisconsin is about 550 ; the aggregate number of communi- cant members, 55,000 ; and the total membership, including the children, not far from 90,000. That is, over one-third of the Scandinavian people in the state belong to some of the leading church organizations. But several thousand Northmen are associated w^ith churches wholly outside of those enumerated below, and all of these, combined with people who are not church members, but nevertheless attend this or that favorite church fully as regularly as some actual members do, will undoubtedly swell the number of church- going Scandinavians in Wisconsin to a grand total of about 180,000, or over two-thirds of the whole number. But as SCANDINAVIAN CHURCHES IN WISCONSIN. 137 lengthy accounts of the different Scandinavian church asso- ciations have been given in the first volume of this work, the present chapter will be made short in order to avoid too many repetitions. The United Church. Since the United Norwegian Lutheran Church does not by any kind of organization rec- ognize the boundary lines of Wisconsin, no separate chapter wUl be devoted to it here. But, having a large representa- tion in the state, it nevertheless deserves special attention. Rev. J. C. JensBon, the secretary of this body, says: "At the time of the organization of the United Church it was found that 121 congregations in Wisconsin had formally adopted the articles of union and the prospective constitu- tion, and thus became members of the new organization. Of these congregations, 63 had belonged to the conference ; 55, to the brotherhood; and 3, to the Norwegian Augustana Synod. Two more joined the United Church immediately after the organization of that body, making a total of 123 congregations in Wisconsin in the year 1890." According to the same authority the total membership of those con- gregations at that time exceeded 25,000. But according to the United Church parochial reports of 1890, published in the annual report of 1891, only 103 congregations in Wis- consin were in actual union with the organization, and 32 more were served by its pastors, making a total of 135 con- gregations in the state, which were supposed to be more or less in union or sympathy with the general body. The United States census for 1890, on the other hand, puts the number at 187. Thus, there is a difference of over 50 congregations . This discrepancy maybe partly accounted 133 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. for. The United Church at that time was in the process of formation, and a large number of people who sympathized with the movement had as yet taken no steps w^hatsoever to attach themselves to the organization. Nevertheless, these sympathizers were counted as members of the United Church. The difference in the number of congregations as given by the official report of thechurch in 1890, and that of the United States census for the same year, affords an illus- trious instance of reliability ! For it appears that at least 10,000 Norwegian Lutherans in Wisconsin w^ho, in the United States census of 1890, are reported to be in connec- tion with the United Church, had taken no formal steps in that direction. Even six years later the number of congre- gations in Wisconsin in actual union with the United Church fell nearly 70 below what was reported in the United States census of 1890. Nor can it be denied that the annual reports of the organization itself appear to be "waste and void " on the point in question ; and to extract any kind of statistical light from them takes much diligence and more patience. For during the years 1890-96 a number of con- gregations appear to have joined ; but Jensson again says that in 1896 only 119 congregations were in actual connec- tion with the organization, and that 65 others were served by United Church ministers. These statistical data include the Friends of Augsburg, or the minority, who had not as yet been excluded from the reports, although they have effected a separate organization of their own. In other words, in spite of the addition of several new congregations, the whole number of congregations formally belonging in 1896 was four less then the number which was supposed to SCANDINAVIAN CHURCHES IN WISCONSIN. 139 belong in 1890, according to the estimation of Jensson. Yet, as he points out, some of the smaller congregations have, since 1890, been joined together into one. But the average membership per congregation, in direct or indirect connec- tion with the United Church, was a trifle more in 1890 than in 1895, averaging 184 in the former year and only 182 in the latter. It is true that in 1896 the average membership per congregation appears to be 205, and it is so asserted by the secretary of the United Church in his report for that year. But this statement as well as the statistical tables are misleading, because the average membership has not, as in the previous years, been based upon the total number of con- gregations of the organization, but upon, those only which reported; and, of course, it is nearly always the small and vacant congregations that fail to send in reports. After a thorough and careful investigation of the statistics, it does not seem reasonable that the congregations in Wisconsin, served by United Church ministers, will average more than 185 souls each at the beginning of the year 1897, which would make a total membership in the state of nearly 35,000, of whom about 20,000 are communicants. About 25,000 souls in Wisconsin, including the Friends of Augs- burg, are today actual members of the United Church. In point of membership Minnesota by far exceeds Wis- consin, but during the whole history of the church most of its important offices have been held by residents of Wiscon- sin. It is difficult to give any statistics in regard to the value of church property, because no light is thrown on that subject by the official reports of the organization. But the total value of the property of the United Church in Wiscon- 140 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. sill may be estimated at about half a million dollars. The orphans' home at Wittenberg — an accountof this institution is given in the biography of E. I. Homme, in this volume — •which provides food and shelter for many children and aged people, is partly under the influence and control of the United Church. Swedish Augustana Synod. This great association dates from a meeting which was held at Jefferson Prairie, close to the Illinois boundary line, June 5, 1860. The oldest congregation in the state now belonging to said synod, namely, that of Stockholm, Pepin county, was, however, not organized until the following year. In 1880 thenumber of congregations was only fifteen ; but since that year the growth has been rapid, the number of congregations having more than trebled in the course of the past seventeen years. The communicant membership is about 4,000, and the total number 7,000. There are forty church buildings, and the value of the church property is about $125,000. For administrative purposes, the state is divided between Min- nesota and Illinois conferences. Danish Lutherans. The United Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was organized at Minneapolis in 1896, being a union of the Danish Lutheran Church Asso- ciation and several congregations and clergymen formerly connected with the Danish Lutheran Church in this country. The association at the time of the union was represented in the state by half a dozen congregations having a total membership of about 600. Thirteen congregations are reported as having joined the United Danish Church, and sixteen more in the state are served by its pastors. If each SCANDINAVIAN CHURCHES IN WISCONSIN. 141 congregation averages 100 souls, then there should be in the neighborhood of 3,000 persons in Wisconsin who are con- nected, directly or indirectly, with the new movement. The Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America had in 1890, according to the United States census, over 2,000 members in Wisconsin. But since many of the largest and oldest congregations — for example, those of Racine, Waupaca, and Neenah — have, virtually, become identified with the United Danish Church, the oldest Danish religious society in the country has been considerably diminished. As no regular annual reports, however, have ever been issued by this organization, it is impossible to give any reliable statistics. It is difficult even to determine when the Danish Lutherans began their religious work in Wisconsin, which certainly was not later than 1872 ; for by that time congre- gations were in existence at Racine and Waupaca. Hauge's Synod. During the years 1843—46 Rev. Elling Eielsen gathered a number of devotionalists in southeastern Wisconsin into groups which may, perhaps, be called con- gregations, and which in turn were organized into the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America by Eielsen and a few others who met for that purpose at Jefferson Prairie, Wis., April 13 and 14, 1846. This society, therefore, enjoys the distinction of being the oldest Scandinavian organiza- tion of its kind in America. In 1875 a schism occurred, the majority re-organizing themselves into Hauge's Synod. Eielsen laid such a tremendous stress upon the importance of the salvation of the individual as to positively discourage and neglect organized effort. And for the past half cen- tury the grow^th of Hauge's Synod in Wisconsin has been 142 HISTORY OF THE SCAKDINAYIANS IN THE U. S. verjr slow as compared with that of other Norwegian Lutheran organizations in the same field. Thus, the present contingent of Hauge's Synod in the state of its birth is only twenty-eight congregations with an aggregate communi- cant membership of a little over 2,000, and about 3,800 souls. In other words, only one-eighth of the members of the synod worship in the state, where nearly one-fourth of the total Norse population in the country reside. At Lodi, at least, there is still a charge which adheres to a small association which remained with EUing Eielsen and the old organization. Methodists. Rev. C. B. Willerup, a native of Denmark, was sent by the Methodist Church to preach to the Nor- w^egians in southern Wisconsin. He entered upon his work at Cambridge in 1850, and in the summer of 1851 the first Norwegian Methodist congregation in the state was organized at the same place. It may be stated as an inter- esting historical fact that the first Norwegian Methodist church building in the world was erected here in 1851. It is a stone structure which costs about $3,000, and is still in good condition. In 1856 there were seven Norwegian- Danish Methodist congregations in the state ; this number has increased to forty, and the aggregate number of com- municants is about 1,600. There are eight Swedish Metho- dist churches with an aggregate communicant membership of 300. The property held by these churches, including five church buildings, is $6,500 Baptists. The first Swedish congregation in Wisconsin was organized at Wood River, Burnett county, in 1869. There are now twenty-five in the state, and their total com- SCANDINAVIANS CHURCHES IN WISCONSIN. 143 municant membership is 1,200. They have fifteen church buildings, and the aggregate value of the property held by them is $25,000. The Norwegian-Danish Baptist Church is represented by 1,000 communicant members, w^ho are organ- ized into twenty congregations. There are fifteen church buildings, and the value of the property is $26,000. Swedish Evangelical Mission Covenant. This asso- ciation is represented by half a dozen congregations in Wis- consin. Some of them have church buildings of their own. The total number of communicant members is not quite 400, but the value of their church property is reported to be worth nearlv $20,000. There are also a number of Free Mission Friends, and Swedish and Norwegian Congrega- tionalists in the state Historical Review of tlie Eastern District of the Norwegian Synod. — 3¥— The seven pastors and tw^enty-eight churches that, in February, 1853, at East Koshkonong, Dane county. Wis., founded the Norwegian Synod, were nearly all located in southern Wisconsin, and for a number of years this state continued to hold the bulk of the pastors and churches of this organization. For this reason the synod was some- times called ihe Wisconsin Synod. By the year 1876, how- ever, the synod had spread over ten or twelve different states and territories, and a division of the synod into dis- tricts had for some time been felt to be a necessity. The revised constitution adopted by the synod in June, 1876, at Decorah, Iowa, made provision for such division into dis- tricts. The constitution also provided for triennial meetings of the synod and for annual meetings of the districts. Three districts were formed, namely, the Eastern, or Wisconsin; the Western, or Iowa; and the Northern, or Minnesota. 145 146 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. The Eastern District w^as made to include all the pastors and churches of the synod located east of the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers. These pastors and the representatives of these churches attending the synod meeting at Decorah in 1876, convened, June 22, 1876, and organized the Eastern District, electing the following officers: President, Rev. P. A. Rasmussen, of Lisbon, 111.; vice-president, Rev. J. B. Frich, of La Crosse, Wis.; secretary, Rev. C. M. Hvisten- dahl, of Stoughton, Wis.; treasurer, Halle Steensland, of Madison, Wis.; lay member of the church council, J. J. Naeset, of Stoughton, Wis.; auditors, T. J. Widwey and John Lienlokken, both of La Crosse, Wis. At the time of its organization the Eastern District numbered 49 pastors and 175 churches. Of the latter, 145 were in Wis- consin, 14 in Illinois, eight in Michigan, two in New York, two in New Jersey, one was in Indiana, one in Ohio, one in Maine, and one in Ontario. The following, compiled from the parochial reports, show the growth of the district during its first decade: Pastors, in 1876, 50, ten years later, 68; churches, 180, and 225; communicants, 25,862, and 32,313; number of souls, 46,788, and 57,118. It will be seen that the growth of the Eastern District during the decade, though steady, was comparatively slow. This was due chiefly to little immigration, and much emigration to states and territories farther west. During the next decade the numerical strength of the district was greatly reduced, through the withdrawal of the Anti-Missourian faction, at the close of the great controversy on election, or predesti- nation, and kindred questions.. The story of the great con- troversy, which lasted for years, and resulted, in 1887, in EASTERN DISTKICT OF NORWEGIAN SYNOD. 147 the disruption of the Norwegian Synod, is told in Vol. I of this work. The Eastern District suffered most severely through this sad schism. In this district two of the founders and fathers of the Norwegian Synod were deposed by Anti- Missourian majorities in churches which they served. One of the two was Rev. H. A. Preus, for thirty-two years the president of the Norwegian Synod. The Eastern District at Ashippun, Wis., in 1886, and at Stoughton, Wis.,inl887,by a majority vote sustained all pastors thus deposed, and recognized the protesting minorities in the churches that deposed them. At the district meetings in 1884-85 the presidency of the district was a matter of contention and heated discussion, the Anti-Missourians attempting to oust President Frich and to seat Rev. P. A. Rasmussen. The matter was submitted to a committee of arbitration, con- sisting of Judge G. R. Willett, of Decorah, Iowa; Judge J. H. Carpenter, of Madison, Wis.; and Hon. Elihu Colman, of Fond du Lac, Wis. The decision of the arbitrators was in favor of President Frich. After the Synod meeting of 1887, held at Stoughton, Wis., the Anti-Missourians, or adherents of Professor P. A. Schmidt, gradually withdrew from the synod, and peace was restored. The statistics of 1889 bear witness to the severe losses suffered by the Eastern District through this secession. In that year the strength of the district was : Pastors, 48 ; churches, 163 ; communicant members, 19,682; number of souls, 34,707. In January, 1896, the figures were : Pastors, 68 ; churches, 196; communicants, 20,410; number of souls, 35,018. Of these 196 churches, 131 were in Wisconsin, 32 in Michigan, 18 in Illinois, three in Indiana, three in Ohio, three in Ten- 148 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. nessee, seven in New York, four in New Jersey, two in Mass- achusetts, two in Ontario, and one was in Rhode Island. Rev. J. B.Prich, of La Crosse, Wis., Rev. 0. Juul, of Chicago, 111., and Rev. H. Halvorsen, of Westby, Wis., have held the office of president of the Eastern District. Rev. P. A. Ras- mussen, of Lisbon, 111., was elected president in 1876 and in 1883, but both times refused to accept office. He was again elected in 1885, bat his election was declared illegal by the committee of arbitration mentioned above. The annual meetings of the Eastern District have been held as follows: In 1877 at Winchester, Wis.; in 1878, pending synod meeting, at West Koshkonong, Wis. ; in 1889 at Lee, 111.; in 1880 at Wiota, Wis.; in 1881, during synod meeting, at Spring Grove, Minn.; in 1882 at Blair, Wis.; in 1883 at Perry, Wis. ; in 1884, during synod meeting, at Minneapolis, Minn.; in 1885 at Roche-a-Cree, Adams county. Wis.; in 1886 at Ashippun, Wis.; in 1887, during synod meeting, at Stoughton, Wis.; in 1888 at Rush River, Wis.; in 1889 at Spring Prairie, Columbia county. Wis.; in 1890 at Minneapolis, Minn., pending synod meeting ; in 1891 at Lee, 111.; in 1892 at Menomonie, Wis.;in 1893 at Chicago, during synod meeting; in 1894 at West Kosh- konong, Wis.; in 1895 at Halfway Creek, Wis.; and in 1896 at La Crosse, Wis., during synod meeting. At these meetings of the district the rule has always been to devote the afternoon sessions to business matters and the morning sessions to the elucidation of doctrines and principles. This is an unwritten law in the Norwegian Synod, as has been explained in the article on the low^a District in this volume. Among the topics thus discussed in EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORWEGIAN SYNOD. 149 the Eastern District were the following: The Divinity of the Scripture; Gratitude to God for Blessings Bestowed; Re- ligious Awakening; the Scriptural Doctrine of Election; Conversion; Assurance of Salvation; the Nature of the Divine Call ; Ways and Means of Building up True Lutheran Churches ; Dangers that Threaten the Church in Our Day ; True and False Lutheranism ; Ephesians II. 8—10; the Nature and Object of Missions; the Missionary Spirit; Home Missions ; Seamen's Missions ; Mission Work Among the Mormons. Under the constitution of the Norwegian SjTiod, each district has its own board of home missions, and attends to the home mission work to be done w^ithin its borders. Of late years the amount w^hich the Eastern District has expended for home mission work has been about $4,500 annually. At present twenty missionary pastors, serving fifty-one churches, are receiving more or less aid from the home mission fund. Of these missionaries, five are stationed in northern Wisconsin, three in the state of New York, two in Chicago, three in northern Michigan, and the others in Tennessee, Canada, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Massa- chusetts. The Eastern District, as such, owns and contrOiS no institutions of learning or charity. In the Norwegian Synod districts are not incorporated, and all such institutions are established, controlled, and supported either by the synod, or by merely local associations. The theological seminary of the Norwegian Synod, Luther Seminary, was located at Madison, Wis., from 1876 to 1888, when the institution was remo ved to Minneapolis. Monona Academy was established 150 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. at Madison, Wis., in 1876, by the churches around Madison. The academy was discontinued in 1881. In 1882 Rev. E. J. Homme built an orphans' home at Wittenberg, Wis., the churches and pastors of the Norwegian Synod furnishing the necessary means. This home is now well housed and in a flourishing condition and doing good work. Rev. Homme still being the superintendent. The institution is not now connected with the Norwegian Synod. It was lost to the synod eight or nine years ago, as the result of the with- drawal from the synod of Rev. Homme and other Anti- Missouri ans. The Bethany Indian Mission School, opened in txie autumn of 1884, is owned by the Norwegian Synod. It is located on a farm of 120 acres, near Wittenberg, Wis., and has a neat church and two brick buildings, steam-heated, with accom- modations for about 160 inmates. This Indian school was conducted by the synod, under the contract system, down to 1895, when the grounds and buildings were leased to the United States government. The institution was then changed into a government school, but the principal, the teachers, and the matrons were retained. The Tabitha Hospital, opened three years ago, at Humboldt Park in Chicago, is the prop- erty of the Tabitha Society, a local organization. The hos- pital has a commodious and well-appointed building, and a fine staff of physicians, surgeons, and trained nurses. The Stoughton Academy and Business Institute, at Stoughton, Wis., was opened in the fall of 1888, and is conducted by the Stoughton Academy Association. The academy building is of brick, three stories above basement, and beautifully located. The average annual attendance is nearly 200. EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORWEGIAN SYNOD. 151 The Martin Luther Orphans' Home, near Stoughton, Wis., is the property of the Norwegian Synod. This institution was opened in 1889 at Madison, Wis., but was removed to Stoughton in the spring of 1894. The home is located on a farm of over 100 acres, two miles from the city of Stough- ton, and has two fine frame buildings, steam heated, afford- ing accommodations for about 100 children. The numberof inmates at present is seventy -six. From 1877 to 1896 the annual contributions of the Eastern District to the treasury of the Norwegian Synod have averaged about $11,000, ranging from about $5,000 to over $20,000, the total amounting to nearly $215,000. To the annual remittances to the synodical treasury and to the home mission fund of the district should be added large sums given to the orphans' homes at Wittenberg and Stough- ton, to the church extension fund, to the Monona and the Stoughton academies, to the Pacific Lutheran University, to the Lutheran Ladies' Seminary at Red Wing, Minn., to the Tabitha Hospital, to various relief funds, etc. The officers of the Eastern District at present (1897) are: President, Rev. H. Hal vorsen, of Westby, Wis.; vice- president. Rev. A. K. Sagen, of La Crosse, Wis.; secre- tary, Rev. J. Nordby, of Lee, 111.; treasurer, A. H. Dahl, of Westby, Wis. RRYMLD ANUNDSEN, DICCORAIT. A. ANOKKSON, SIOUX CITV. UHV. J. A. ANDKRSON, CRESTON. A. CAKLSON, DES MOIXES. REV. A. NOERBOM, SWEDESBURG. Biographies of Scandinavians in Iowa. Anderson, Andrew G., the hero of the flood of 1892— Sioux City — ^born 1854, in Lena, Vestergotland, Sweden; died 18 May, 1892. He emigrated in 1870, settling in Sioux City three years later ; at first w^orked as a common laborer ; was fireman and engineer on a ferry-boat at Sioux City, and in 1876 fireman on the steamboat Tiger, the boat that made the first trip up the Yellowstone river ; and at the time of his death was employed as stationary engineer of the Sioux City brick and tile works at Springdale, a suburb of Sioux City. Anderson was a member of the Scandia Lodge of K. P., and of the Brotherhood of Stationary Engineers; was married in 1879 ; and at his death left a wife and three children. The deeds accomplished by Andrew G. Anderson during the last moments of his life perhaps have no counter- part in the history of the -world, and entitle his name to be remembered to the end of time. In the disastrous flood which visited western Iowa, he, at the evident risk of his own life, 18 May, 1892, saved twenty-seven persons from drowning. Though almost exhausted, he swam out to save one more, a woman who was struggling for life; but his strength failed, and both were drowned. Nordljset, a 153 154 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. Danish weekly, published in New York, said of Anderson's heroism : " Such a deed can be explained only in one way — 'I love my neighbors more than myself.' " Rev. D. L. Mackenzie, in his funeral sermon over the remains of Ander- son, expressed himself thus : ' ' Braver Knights never buckled on armor and w^ent to the fray. An expert w^aterman, he w^as inspired by naught but unselfish desire to save human life, and he breasted waves that made the stoutest hearts grow faint. But after twenty-seven people had through his efforts been saved he was at last compelled to yield up his life to the remorseless w^aters. Our heroes of Gettysburg immortalized themselves, yet they fought for home and native land. This hero won greater honors, for he fought for no such selfish result." The funeral services took place at the Trinity Lutheran Church of Sioux City, 22 May, under the auspices of the Scandia Lodge of K. P., Rev. J. A. Christenson speaking in Swedish, and Rev. Mackenzie in English. Anundsen, Brynild, publisher — Decorah — ^bom 29 Dec, 1844, in Skien, Norway. He commenced to work in a cigar factory at the tender age of seven, and afterwards in a stone quarry and in small grist mills. At the age of fifteen he learned the printer's trade and then followed the sea for a couple of years. Anundsen was kept so busy during his boyhood that he cotild attend school only at irregular intervals and in the evenings. He left for America in 1864, and tried his hand at various occupations in Wisconsin. He soon settled at La Crosse, however, as type-setter in the office of Faedrelandet og Emigranten, where he remained until 1866. About this date he started a paper of his own. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN IOWA 155 Ved Arnen, a monthly magazine for "novels, stories, poems, etc, by the best authors." At the close of the first year of the existence of the paper, its financial condition was such that the publisher had to balance its accounts by working on the road for some time. In 1868 Anundsen removed to Decorah, Iowa, with his printing outfit, which, together with the rest of his earthly possessions, made up two wagon loads . Here he continued the publication of his magazine and also printed Kirkelig Maanedstidende, the ofiicial organ of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod; but in spite of his best efibrts, the receipts of his magazine persisted in lagging behind the expenditures, and after a three years' struggle, Ved Amen gave up the ghost. Anundsen continued the printing of the organ of the synod, besides occasional pam- phlets for the same body, until the synod started a printing office of its own. In 1874 he began the publication of Decorab-Posten, at first only a highly unpretentious local weekly. This marks the turning-point in the life of Anundsen, and the paper through which this was accomplished deserves more than passing mention. Decorab-Posten difiers from the average Scandinavian-American newspapers in that it does not meddle w^ith opinions on any subject whatever. It is perfectly colorless as to religion and politics. In order to avoid all kinds of controversy it has no editorials. But on the other hand, its reading matter is exceedingly varied. The aim of the paper seems to be exclusively that of furnish- ing interesting reading matter. And to judge by the phenomenal success which the paper has made, Anundsen hit the nail squarely on the head when he conceived the idea of such a paper. In less than twenty years after its estab- 156 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. lishment, the circulation of it exceeded that of any other newspaper printed in the Norwegian language, and now it has over 35,000 regular subscribers. Ved Amen was revived again a number of years ago, and is sent as a supple- ment to Decorah-Posten. The latter has been published twice a week since the fall of 1894. All this business is managed on a sound cash basis ; consequently, Anundsen is looked upon as one of the most soUd and substantial busi- ness men in that part of the state, and the people of Decorah take pardonable pride in his establishment which now employs thirty men the year round. A few years ago Anundsen bought a large brick building for his establish- ment. Anundsen is a member of the United Norwegian Lutheran Church. He was married in 1865 to Mathilda Hofstrom, of Ostergotland, Sweden. They have grown children. Bergh, Knut E., educator and state legislator — Decorah — bom 27 May, 1838, in Voss, Bergen stiffc, Norway; died in Hardanger, Norway, in 1875. He emigrated to America in 1857; began to teach parochial school the same year at Liberty Prairie, Wis.; then a+tended English schools at Liberty Prairie, Madison, and Evansville, Wis., successively; attended Concordia College, in St. Louis, in 1860 and 1861 ; and entered the school of the Norwegian Synod at Halfway Creek, Wis., in the fall of 1861, but was forced to leave at the close of the first term on account of poor health. Bergh then spent three years in teaching, devoting his spare moments to study. In 1864 he entered Luther College at Decorah, but poor health again interrupted his studies. His health improving, he took up the studj- of law, and was BIOGRAPHIES OP SCANDINAVIANS IN IOWA. 157 admitted to the bar in 1869. The same year he accepted a chair at Luther College, and for several years was connected with the institution. In 1870 he began the publication of For Hjemmet ; and a couple of years later was elected a member of the state legislature by an overwhelming major- ity. In this capacity he served on several important com- mittees. Bergh was a powerful speaker, mastering the tongue of his adopted, as well as that of his native country, and those who attended his classes at Luther College have spoken of his work as a teacher in glowing terms. Boye, Nils Christian, pioneer— Iowa City— born about 1786, in Laaland, Denmark; died of cholera in 1849, in St. Louis, Mo., where he had gone for the purpose of buying goods. He received a good education in his native land; emigrated to this country in 1827, for the purpose of attending to some inheritance which had been left by one of his brothers who had come to this country a couple of years before, and who had surveyed the state of Virginia. N. C. Boye had also lost thousands of dollars in Denmark during the anarchy of the Napoleon w^ars. He had been a merchant and miller in Denmark, and for seven years had a small store in Philadelphia, but went to Muscatine county, Iowa, in 1837. After having resided at the latter place for about one year, he settled in Linn county, and moved to Iowa City in 1842, where he engaged in merchandise. Boye is the first Scandinavian settler in Iowa, as far as could be ascertained by all the researches made for the compilation of this work. Of Boye's thirteen children, one son became quite prominent as a merchant in Ncav Orleans, and one son in Denmark became a noted physician. 158 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. Brydolf, Fabian, pioneer and soldier — Burlington — born 28 Nov., 1819, in Hellestad, Ostergotland, Sweden; died 25 Jan., 1897. His father was a minister in the state church of Sweden. Young Brydolf received a good general edu- cation, and at an early age developed a talent for landscape painting, which profession he followed with considerable success until 1841, when he emigrated to this country. At first he located in Cleveland, Ohio ; worked at his profession in various cities until 1846, when he came with a party of Swedish immigrants to Burlington, Iowa, being their inter- preter on the journey, as w^ell as assisting them in securing land after their arrival at their destination. In 1847 Brydolf enlisted in the Fifteenth Regiment of the regular U. S. army, and participated in several battles during the Mexican War. From 1848 to the outbreak of the Civil War he worked quietly at his profession in Burlington; then organized a company, of which he became captain, and joined the Sixth Iowa Infantry. The 6th of April, 1862, w^hile leading his company to action in the fierce battle at Shiloh, Tenn., he lost his right arm; but nothing daunted the brave descendant of the Goths, and shortly afterward Brydolf was promoted to lieutenant-colonel of the Twenty- fifth low^a Infantry. He served in that regiment until the capture of Yicksburg, Miss., in 1863, when he resigned, and President Lincoln commissioned him lieutenant-colonel of the Second Regiment of the Veteran Reserve Corps, and he served in that capacity tintil 1886. Since the close of the war Brydolf has devoted his time to painting, working with his left hand. An historian, speaking of Col. Brydolf, says: ' He w^as a brave and gallant officer, always ready to lead BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN IOWA. 159 where he expected his men to follow. He has served his adopted country faithfully in two important wars, and his empty sleeve bears testimony to his bravery and fidelity to his duty. His success as an artist in later years of his life is all the more remarkable when we consider that he is obliged to do the work with the left hand. His eye is keen, his taste excellent, and his skill with the brush remarkable, when we think how late in life the left hand was trained to work.' In 1850 he was married to Fannie West, an English lady, who died several years ago. They had seven children, a few of whom are living yet. Burnqufst, Sam., legislator— Dayton— bom 16 Sept., 1849, in Broddetorp, Vestergotland, Sweden; died 8 Jan., 1895. He was the youngest of a family of seven children. Being brought up on the farm, he w^as accustomed to hard work ; but the poverty of his parents prevented him from enjoying any better means of education than that afforded by the parish school. What he lacked in schooling, how- ever, was made up for by a strong will and an upright char- acter. In 1864 he emigrated to America in company with his brother John, and they soon found profitable employ- ment at Andover, 111. In the course of one year they saved nough money to pay for the passage of their parents to this country, and in 1866 they purchased eighty acres of land near Dayton and settled on the same. In 186$ their crops were destroyed by the grasshoppers, and Sam. started for Ft. Dodge in hopes of obtaining work on the railroad. On his way he stopped inDayton, and asked the leading merchant of the town if he could have a pair of boots on credit. The merchant eyed him as though he was capable of judging the 160 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. character of the poor man before him, and answered, "no." Bumquist then repeated his request to Geo. Porter, who kept a small store in the same town ; and the reply w^as a prompt "yes." This kindness was never forgotten, and the friendship then formed lasted until Porter's death After repeated disappointments, Bumquist obtained work and returned late in the fall with a new suit of clothes on his back and one hundred dollars in his pocket. He next made quite a reputation for breaking prairie land, and at the same time saved enough money to give him the first substantial start in a financial w^ay. In 1875 he and his brother sold their farm property and went into business in Dayton. Year after year their business was enlarged, and some ten years ago they dissolved the firm, Sam. continuing the busi- ness in his own name. To accommodate this, he erected a new brick block, the most elegant of its kind in the whole town. It did not take the people of Dayton long to find out that Bumquist was a public-spirited as well as an absolutely trustworthy man. Accordingly, they bestowed upon him the highest honor in the gift of the town by electing him mayor for a period of eight years. He also served as a member of the board of township trustees for six years. In the fall of 1893 he was nominated for representative to the legislature from Webster county by the Republicans, and though the county is regarded as strongly Democratic, he w^as elected by a handsome majority over his opponent. During the campaign Bumquist was called " the most popu- lar man in Webster county." In the legislature he was appointed chairman of the committee to visit the School for the Deaf, and served as a member of several other com- BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN IOWA. 161 mittees. Burnquist's family belonged to the Augustana Synod, and he was a prominent member of the order of Freemasons. At his death he left a wife and two children. Cassel, Peter, pioneer — New Sweden (post office, Four Comers) — bom 1791, inAsby, Ostergotland, Sweden ; died 1857. His ancestors had come from Germany and settled in Sweden in the sixteenth or seventeenth century. In his native land he had been a miller as well as a manufacturer of a kind of threshing machine, propelled by the hand, which he had invented and patented. Cassel, no doubt, was a man of energy and mental vigor, although his education had been limited. He could read and write, that was all ; but it must be remembered that to be able to do this in those early days was an accomplishment which only a few of the peasants in Sweden had acquired. Captain P. vonSchniedau — who was one of the pioneers at Pine Lake, Wis., who have been so admirably described by Rev. G. Unonius in his Minnen — ^had written to his father in Kisa, Ostergotland, who was a prominent man, concerning this country. It might in this connection not be out of place to remark, that the most of the Swedish adventurers and fugitives from justice at Pine Lake had received an excellent education in their native land; and although they were unable and unfit to clear the woods in Wisconsin, or directly to be of much account in a new- country, yet indirectly they did much in making America known in Sweden. This might serve as a good lesson for that school which looks to the lower strata of society for the originators of great popular movements. The contents of these letters became known among the common people, who at once became interested in America, and a few of the 162 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. bolder of them decided to emigrate in order to improve their economical conditions. Cassel was then nearly fifty-five years of age, yet he concluded to take his family with him, and settle in the American wilderness. He became, in 1845, the leader of twenty -five emigrants, mostly farmers, some of whom had their families w^ith them. They secured a passage on a sailing-vessel from Gothenburg to New York for about $20.00 each, being eight weeks on the ocean. They seemed to have had a joyous time, playing and dancing on the deck during the week days, and attending divine service on the Sabbaths, the captain of the ship officiating as their religious instructor. Besides those people from Kisa, there were on the vessel about ten other persons from dififerent parts of Sweden, including some noblemen, and four of the ten had been several years in America before. Originally the party had intended to settle in Wisconsin, probably at Pine Lake, which place the Swedish adventurers there had, through correspondences, made known in Sweden, but they decided to go to Iowa instead. From New York to Philadelphia they traveled on railroad, and from the latter place to Pitts- burg on canal boats, w^hich part of the time were wheeled on the railroad tracks. They sailed, or rather plodded, on the Ohio river from Pittsburgto the Mississippi, and on that up towards Burlington, Iowa; where, according to the assertion of one of Cassel's sons, they met a Dane, who had a drug store in the village, and who had been in America some time previously, which goes to prove that the Scandi- navians were among the very first pioneers in the Western states. Others of the party, however, maintain that no Dane was met at Burlington, but they remembered having BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN IOWA. 163 slept in a museum in Cincinnati which belonged to a Swede or a Dane by the name of Natt och Dag. This is probably the same concern which is referred to in the first volume, page 294, in Minnen, by Unonius. He claims that an ex.- officer of the Swedish army conducted a kind of museum in Cincinnati, consisting of several curiosities, and among other things exhibited an artificial infernal region, which attracted a great deal of attention, and on which the pro- prietor became wealthy. At times the owner employed Swedes to manage the thunder and lightning, the falling of brimstone and the movement of evil spirits, as well as to clean the lamps in Gehenna; and in that place he, perhaps, permitted the Swedish immigrants to remain over night. Nearly all immigrants from Kisa settled at New Sweden, Jefferson county, thus becoming the founders of, virtually, the very first Scandinavian settlement in Iowa, and of the first permanent Swedish settlement of any importance in America in the nineteenth century; where also the first Swedish Lutheran church organization was effected by Rev. M. F. Hokanson three years later. Cassel wrote several letters to his native land, and in that way induced many more to cast the die in favor of the "land of the free and the home of the brave." During the religious confusion among the Swedish Americans in the first half of this century, the pious and enthusiastic J. Hedstrom, the learned and cere- monious G. Unonius, the bold and unscrupulous P.O. Nilson, endeavored to convince the Swedes in this country that only by joining the Methodists, Episcopalians, or Baptists, respectively, could they expect to gain salvation in the next world and happiness in this. Cassel, who had, of course. 164 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. been brought up a Lutheran and had always been a very religious and temperate man, joined the Methodists; and later in life preached occasionally in the interest of that denomination. Epieson, C. J. A., banker and state senator — Boone — born 8 March, 1840, in Sodra Yi, Smdland, Sweden. At the age of twelve he came to America. with his parents, who were among the early Swedish settlers of Rock Island county, 111. Young Ericson worked on his brother's farm, besides being engaged in other kinds of common labor until 1855, when he removed to Altona, Knox county. 111. In 1859 he settled at Ridgeport, Boone county, Iowa, thus becoming one of the Swedish pioneers of that part of the country. In this connection it may be proper to mention that the first white settlers of Boone county located there in 1843, while some Swedes arrived there in 1846 and settled at Swede Point in the same county. Among the latter were four men by the name of Dalander. Ericson was engaged in the merchandise business at Rridgeport for a number of years ; served also as postmaster of the village for twelve years ; and held various other positions of trust and honor. In 1870 he removed to Boone and began to follow the same line of business as before. Ericson was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Boone, and for some time its vice-president. In 1878, this bank having voluntarily sur- rendered its charter, the City Bank was organized by him and others, the capital stock being $50,000, and the surplus accumulated by the bank now amounts to $150,000. Ericson has been the cashier as well as the actual manager of this bank ever since it was started. He is also interested BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN IOWA. 165 in Other business enterprises, and owns a great deal of city and farm property. In 1871 Ericson was elected a repre- sentative to the state legislature, and to the state senate in 1895, being the first Swede who occupied a seat in these bodies. Ericson has held various local positions of trust in the city of Boone, such as those of president and treasurer of the school board, city treasurer, and member of the city council. In 1894 Ericson and his daughter made an exten- sive tour of the Old World, visiting Spain, Italy, Egypt, Palestine, Turkey, Greece, Switzerland, Prance, Belgium, Germany, England, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Hehad not seen his native country in forty -two years. As to politics, Ericson affiliates with the Republican party. He is a prominent Preemason, and a member of the Presbyterian church. Por years he has been a member of the board of trustees as well as treasurer of his home congregation. Ericson is very popular in his own county and in the state. In 1895 Judge Stevens publicly said: "More than forty years ago there came to this county a barefooted Swedish boy with a brave heart, a good brain, and willing hands. He came fully resolved to make a true American, and if ability and willingness to labor intelligently for the best interest of his country makes a good citizen, then he stands a model. Like every true-hearted man, he never forgot the land of his birth. No poor emigrant from his native land ever appealed to him in vain, but his liberality and charity are too broad to be confined to his own nationality." He was extensively and favorably recommended by the leading men in the state, as well as outside of the state, in 1897 for the appointment of minister to Sweden-Norway. In 1873 166 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE V. S. Ericson was married to Nillie Liuderblad, of Princeton, 111. In 1899 he gave over $12,000 to Augustana College. Hatlestad, 0. J., clergyman and author — Decorah — born 30 Sept., 1823, in Skjold, near Stavanger, Norway; died in 1891. His grandfather, -who had been a personal fiiend of Hans Nilsen Hauge, the great lay preacher and national evangelist of Norway, had charge of the education of the subject of this sketch. The religious instruction thus received made a lasting impression upon the mind of young Hatle- stad, and before he was confirmed he resolved to devote his life to the service of his Redeemer. At one time he seriously thought of going to Africa as a missionary ; but this plan had to be given up, and for several years he taught the parish school of Nerstrand. In 1846, Hatlestad, in company with his parents, brothers, and a sister, left for America, and after a ten weeks' voyage arrived in New York. They settled at Muskego, Wis., the same year. In 1847 Hatlestad obtained a position as teacher at Jefferson Prairie; but removed in 1850 to Racine, w^here he, in company with his brother-in- law, Knud Langeland, published Nordlyset, the first Nor- wegian paper published in this country. While here, Hatle- stad began to conduct the devotional exercises of a limited circle of friends ; but the attendance increased, until a church was organized, O. Andrewson being its first pastor. In the fall of 1853 Hatlestad quite unexpectedly received acall from the Norwegian Lutheran church at Leland, La Salle county, 111.; and he was licensed to preach by a joint meeting of the Chicago and the Mississippi Evangelical Lutheran Confer- ence at Chicago in January, 1854. A few months later he removed to Leland, and was formally ordained the next BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN IOWA. 167 year. The congregation was small, and the salary at first amounted to about $200 a year. Hatlestad served the congregation for five years, during which period it enjoyed a healthy and vigorous growth. In 1859 he removed to Mil- waukee, w^here he spent sixteen and a half years of hard and almost ceaseless labor. Indeed, so onerous w^as his position as a preacher at this flood-gate of Scandinavian immigra- tion, that his health was impaired ; and this was the chief reason why he left his " dear Milwaukee " in 1876. Having spent the next two years in Forest City Iowa, he accepted a call from a church near Decorah, where he remained until his death. For twenty years Hatlestad was the most con- spicuous figure in the Norwegian Augustana Synod, which he served as president from 1870 to 1880, and again from 1888 to 1890, said body being merged into the United Nor- w^egian Lutheran Church at the latter date. He was also editor of Lutbersk Kirketidende for a number of years. In 1887 he published Historiske Meddelelser om den Norske Augustana Synode, which is not only a history of the Nor- wegian Augustana Synod, but also touches upon the history of the other Norwegian- American Lutheran churches, as well as on the settlements. It was the most complete Nor- wegian-American history that had appeared. In 1848 Hatlestad married Aasa L. Landru. They had eight chil- dren, two of whom are James Hatlestad, attorney -a t-law, Canton, S. D., and Joseph Hatlestad, president of Gulf Coast College, Handsboro, Miss. Hokanson, Hag'nus Fredrik, clergyman and pioneer — Munterville — ^bom 7 Sept., 1811, in Ronneby, Blekinge, Sweden; died 2 Jan., 1893. His father, whose education 168 HISTdRY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. had been very limited, was a shoe-maker in the village, and he compelled his son to learn the same craft early in life ; but young Hokanson, who evinced an intense religious enthu- siasm even as a child, was far more anxious to attend to the welfare of men's souls than to mend their soles. He desired to become a clergyman in the state church; his father objected. The young man consulted a clergyman in the neighborhood; no encouragement. In this perplexity, Hokanson left his native town and went to Stockholm, where he w^orked in a shoe establishment, owned by an educated man w^ho sympathized with Hokanson's endeavor to secure a better education than he had, in order to become a minister. With this object in view^, Hokanson consulted various leading divines in the Swedish capital, but to no avail. He had only received a common school education, and before he could study theology, his mental faculties had to be trained. After the Foreign Mission Society in London, England, to which Hokanson had appealed, had refused to accept his services, he decided to go to the extreme northern part of Sweden and try to convert the Lapps. But during his preparation for the Lappish mission, a friend of his, an influential man in Stockholm, advised him to "stick to his last" and remain in the capital, and this man promised to introduce him to a respectable and wealthy young lady; and thus, his fiiend argued, his happiness would be secured, and his anxiety would vanish. This argiiment was too tempt- ing even for the w^ould-be clergyman', who had also become tired of his many adversities. He acted upon this advice ; won the affection of the young ladj-^ ; but the parents refused to give their consent to the partnership until he had proved C. J. A. EEICSON, BOONE. r. w. ciiAXTLAxn, I'OitT iioium;. ri;iii\ a. lo. eccio, iowa city. . u- ! 1 1 r 1 if^ 1 i b / 1 1! ■ ! K. I'. .lOIINSO.X, DECORAII. P.. L. WICK, CICPAU i;AriDS. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN IOWA. 169 to be a successful business man, whicli lie failed to do, and the engagement contract was dissolved. On account of business failure, disappointed hopes, and unsuccessful love, he had become mentally and spiritually depressed. But at this time a friend of his accompanied him, in 1847, to the New World, and paid for his passage. It is proper, however, to remark that Hokanson later settled in full for the expense incurred during the voyage. The same year he reached the colony at New Sweden, Jeiferson county, Iowa, which had been founded a couple of years before for a more com- plete description of this early and important settlement, see Peter Cassel's biography in this volume. But Hokanson, w^ho was used to comfortable accommodations in Stock- holm, could not and would not endure the hardships of pioneer life. He sold some of his clothes and effects, and intended to return to New York ; but during the journey he became sick ; lost the trunk which contained his clothes and money, and as a consequence was compelled to stop in St. Louis, Mo. Being unable to speak the English language, he could secure no work; and for seven days he lived on apples, picked up on the streets, and washed in the Missis- sippi river. During the nights he slept in an open shed. In other words, he was a tramp, but his Northern sense of independence deterred him from begging. By selling his only coat, he secured enough means to return to Burlington, Iowa, and soon recovered all his effects in good condition. His health was broken down, and, being unable to work, he, after a few months' stay in Burlington, decided to return to New Sweden, where board and other necessary expenses were lower than in towns and villages. It was at this place that 170 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. Hokanson, then about thirty-seven years of age, commenced his life-work. Although he was neither learned nor brilliant, yet, from an historical standpoint, he is an important char- acter. He organized, in 1848, the first Swedish Lutheran congregation in America, in the nineteenth century; and since the Swedish Augustana Synod, with which this congre- gation is connected, undoubtedly has exercised a greater influence upon the Swedish- American people than all other spiritual and intellectual forces combined, it will be necessary and useful to minutely discuss the attempts of Hokanson to instruct his countrymen in the faith of their fathers. In the first place. Rev. E. Norelius, the historian of the Augustana Synod, says, in Ev. Lutherska Augustana Syaoden i Nord- Amerika, page 15: "The people of New Sweden united themselves into a Lutheran congregation in 1848, and made use of the privilege of the church of God in selecting one of the multitude to become their instructor and to administer the sacraments"; adding, in a foot-note, that this proce- dure was a case of necessity, and not recommendable under ordinary circumstances. But the same author in his larger history, published in 1890 (which has been extensively con- sulted in the preparation of Hokanson's biography) , claims that there was no formal church organization in 1848 ; but that the young people were confirmed, the sacraments administered, the Swedish church ritual used, and the pioneers considered themselves as members of the Lutheran church in Sweden. Secondly, the church reports of the Augustana Synod have annually, for very nearly forty years, asserted that the church organization at New Sweden was effected in 1850. Partly on account of these conflicting BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN IOWA 171 statements, the editor of this work made a special visit to New Sweden in the summer of 1894, and with the kind assistance of Rev. C. J. Bengston, the following facts were deduced from the old church books and records, as well as through conversation with several of the men who had been there since the settlement was established in 1845: I. The early pioneers in New Sweden appear to have been extremely moderate in their virtues as well as in their vices. They w^ere not very religious, nor irreligious. But after Hokanson's arrival, he succeeded in arousing a spiritual awakening among them, so that they commenced to feel the need of attending devotional exercises, of partaking of the Lord's Supper, and of having their children brought up under religious influences. It is true, that now and then an American clergyman, or itinerant evangelist, visited the settlement; but most of the Swedish people could not under- stand English. It was under such circumstances that Hokanson, in 1848, was requested to lead in religious meet- ings, administer the sacraments, and baptize and confirm the children. At the church parsonage, there are no records of any description that a church was ever organized at New- Sweden. But in the church record, compiled by Rev. H&kan Olson in 1859, two persons are registered as having joined in 1848, and five names are entered for 1849. II. Whether this unpretentious organization was formal or not, depends entirely upon the definition of the word formal. That the proceedings were not so regular and solemn as the rituals of the Lutheran state church of Sweden, in such cases, prescribe, or that parliamentary rules of order were as closely observed as when the United States Congress con- 172 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. venes, could hardly be expected in this instance, when most of the participants were barely able to read and write. Yet the organization was unquestionably legal. For according to the civil law^ of the land, any set of persons, capable of making a contract, may engage another to be their religious instructor, and to perform all the religious ceremonies in concordance with their belief; and this will be considered a lawful church organization. But another question arises. Was the organization of this congregation in conformity with the discipline of the Lutheran church ? Rev. E. Nore- lius, in Korsbaneret for 1894., says : " The manner of calling Hokanson was simple, natural, and correct." Nor is there anything in the fundamental doctrines of Lutheranism to prove that the pioneers at New Sweden did not act in accordance with the creed of the church in selecting a lay- man as their clergyman, when no ordained minister could be secured. In fact, they could by imposition of hands have or- dained Plokanson, and no Lutheran church body would have re-ordained him, Lutheranism , properly interpreted, consists in unity of faith more than anything else. But it must be admitted that this is, perhaps, the only instance in the world w^here a Lutheran congregation has been organized in such a democratic manner. III. It has been claimed that Prof L. P. Esbjorn re-organized the church when he visited the settlement in 1851 ; but this is highly improbable, as neither Esbjorn himself nor Norelius, in any of their writings, men- tionsthefact, although both of them speak at length concern- ing the religious condition at New Sweden. On the contrary, the former urged Hokanson and his congregation to con- tinue as they had begun, and to remain true Lutherans, and Dr. C. M. Esbjorn claims that several Swedish-American Lutheran churches have had a similar origin as the church at New Sweden. He also maintains that documen- tary evidence can be produced from his father's writings to prove that his father effect- ed a permanent, or regalar, church orgaa»»'»f« at New Swcdon Anril 27, 1,?51.— Ecitob. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN IOWA 173 he made no attempt to re-confirm any of the five children whom Hokanson had confirmed in 1848. According to NoreHus' history, Esbjom promised to attend to the neces- sary requirements, that the church might join some Lutheran synod. Esbjorn probably assisted the pioneers in selecting deacons and trustees. It was also then decided to build a church. Norelius, in his large history, page 93, says: "In 1853 Prof. T. N. Hasselquist visited the settlements and further assisted Hokanson in the arrangement of church matters, when also a kind of constitution was adopted"; and five years later a new constitution was adopted . Hokanson, who had reluctantly consented to lead the pioneers at their devotional exercises, was soon forced to become an unwilling participant in fierce religious strifes and fanatical controversies, in which sectarianism rather than religion seems to have been the main object of some of his opponents. In 1849 the well-known Rev. G. Unonins, Episcopalian, visited the settlement; and, being a strong believer in the Apostolic succession, he, of course could not, nor did he, endorse Hokanson's course. The next year Rev. Jonas Hedstrom, Methodist, arrived upon the scene, and soon succeeded in convincing a large number of the people that they could attain human and divine perfection upon this wicked earth of ours if they joined his denomination. He condemned all the Lutheran forms and practices of wor- ship, and endeavored to convert Hokanson to Methodism, but failed. As, however, more than half of Hokanson's con- gregation had become Methodists, he was worried and depressed, and in the presence of Hedstrom resigned. After Hedstrom 's departure from the settlement, the remaining 174 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. Lutherans again requested Hokanson to act as their leader; but he declined, recommending an older member. The people proceeded to vote for the two candidates. Hokan- son was elected. But not satisfied with this, he proposed that they cast lots, which they did, proceeding in accordance with the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, which describes the manner of choosing a successor to Judas Iscariot. The lot fell upon Hokanson, and he then again consented to take charge of the congregation. In 1854 Revs. G. Palmquist and F. 0. Nilson, Baptists, came to New Sweden — Nilson 'sbiogrophy can be found in the firstvolume. Hokanson had known the former in Sweden as a pietistic Lutheran, and it is claimed that at first Palmquist did not tell any one in the settlement of his change of faith. In the hands of the refined and polished Palmquist, and of the bold and unscrupulous Nilson, the weak and confiding Hokanson became a mere plaything. He wavered, again resigned his charge, and was immersed. Hasselquist, who had heard of Hokanson's vacillation, hastened to the settlement, and met him and others just as they were proceeding towards the river to immerse Hokanson. Hasselquist politely asked them where they were going ; they told him ; he kindly blessed them, and calmly went into the house and conversed with Mrs. Hokanson. It would be interesting to know the contents of the conversation which occurred be- tween these two men, after Hokanson's return to his house. He was re-converted to Lutheranism in a few hours. The liberal views of Hasselquist were amply illustrated by the fact that he permitted Hokanson to remain as the pastor of the congregation, without any re-ordination whatsoever. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN IOWA. 175 Through the influence of Esbjorn, Hokansou had received a license to preach from the Joint Synod of Ohio, in 1851, and $70 in cash ; and was ordained by the Lutheran Synod of Northern Illinois two years later, at Galesburg. Up to 1858 Hokanson was the only Swedish Lutheran clergyman in Iowa, having charge of five congregations, located in as many different counties. His churches in Burlington and Swede Bend, Webster county, were exactly one hundred and seventy-five miles apart in a straight line. Considering that there was hardly a bridge, or even a path, in the whole state at that time, Hokanson's ministerial comforts can be better imagined than described. In 1856 he left New Sweden and moved to Munterville ; settled at what is now Madrid three years later; but returned to Munterville in 1862, where he lived and preached for nearly thirty years. The last two or three years of his eventful life he spent with his adopted daughter at Red Oak, w^here he died. He was buried at Munterville. Hokanson was married in 1848 to Anna E. Anderson, from Horn, Ostergotland. They had no children. Jacobsen, Jacob D., educator — Decorah — bom 16 July, 1842, near Skien, Norway; died 1 April, 1881. His parents emigrated to America when he was less than one year old, and settled at Pine Lake, Wis. Their pastor, N. Brandt, in the course of time discovered unusual talents in the boy, who, by the assistance of Brandt and his congregation, was enabled to enter Concordia College and Seminary, in St. Louis, Mo., in the fall of 1858. Here he pursued his studies uninterruptedly until the spring of 1861, his expenses being largely defrayed by Brandt's congregations. Jacobsen next studied a few months at Concordia College, Ft. Wayne, Ind., 176 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. but soon returned to St. Louis, where he remained until the spring of 1863. In the fall of 1863, he was employed as assistant professor at Luther College, Decorah ; then studied one year at the same place; and again entered Concordia College, Ft. Wayne, finishing his collegiate course and grad- uating in 1867. Having completed a regular theological course in the Concordia Seminary, in St. Louis, he gradu- ated in 1870. He was ordained for the ministry the same year, and in 1872 accepted a professorship at Luther Col- lege, which position he held until his death. Jacobsen was very successful as a teacher. "He was capable of teaching about all the branches comprised in the college course; and the choicest productions of the great authors, he had read either in the original or in translations." He married Guro Ingebrigtsen in 1871; they had four children. Eoren,Ulrlk Vilhelm, clergyman and pioneer — ^Decorah — born 22 Dec, 1826, in Bergen, Norway. He received a col- lege education in his native city, and in 1852 was graduated as a cand. theol. from the University of Norway. Having accepted a call as minister from congregations near Deco- rah, he emigrated to America in 1853. Although Korenhas received numerous calls from other churches, he has remained where he first located. Being the first Norwegian Lutheran minister who permanently settled west of tHe Mississippi, his charge at first comprised an extensive territory, which since has been divided into a large number of charges. Koren was one of the pioneers of the West, and as such ex- perienced all the hardships characteristic of early settle- ments. In this connection it is only proper to mention that Koren has been instrumental in drawing a highly desirable BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN IOWA 177 class of emigrants from his native country to the northeast- em part of Iowa and the southeastern part of Minnesota. Rev. A. Bredesen says of Koren : " The task that confronted him was one before which a weaker, or less devoted, man would have quailed. His parish proper was about fifty by forty miles in extent, and his mission field was all north- eastern Iowa and southeastern Minnesota. Passable roads were few, and much of the traveling between the widely scattered settlements must be done on horseback or on foot. There were difficulties, hardships, and privations of every description to overcome or endure. But Koren was the right man for the post. A man of European university education, and accustomed to mingle in the most cultured society of the fatherland, with his equally refined helpmate, he took up his abode in a rude log cabin a few miles from the present city of Decorah, and with an heroism born of a strong faith devoted himself to his life-work, the building- up of the Church of the Reformation among his scattered and destitute countrymen in those western wilds." Since 1861 he has served as a member of the executive committee of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod ; from 1876, when the synod was divided into districts, to 1894, as president of the Iowa District ; and from the latter date as president of the whole synod. Koren secured the land on which Luther College was established, and, with the exception of Presi- dent Larsen, no man has done more than he toward making that institution what it is. His culture and solid attain- ments, his unflagging interest in the institutions of the synod, his enthusiasm and earnestness, his versatility in advocating what he has conceived to be the truth, and his 178 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. untiring perseverance, have made him one of the most con- spicuous of Norwegian Lutherans in this country. He has written much for the religious papers of the synod, and is the author of: Vore Kirkelige Modstanderes Vaaben, Kan og bor en Kristen vaere vis paa sia Salighed, Hvad den Norske Synode bar villet og fremdeles vil, De Kirkelige Par- tier blandt vort Folk i Amerika, and other pamphlets, which are contributions to the controversies which have agitated the Norwegian Lutheran churches in this country, also con- taining much, especially the last named, of great historical value. Det Gamle Hus is a poem about that schism in the synod which led to the withdrawal of the Anti-Miss ourians during the eighties. His most lasting literary work is his contribution to the new hymn book of the synod. His gifts as a preacher, and his conscientious devotion to his duties, have won for him the lasting esteem and love of his parish- ioners; his alertness and readiness for any emergency, his calmness in adversity and prosperity alike, have made him a tower of strength in the Norwegian Synod. And if any man, above all others, deserves the title of defender of the principles and the practices of the Norwegian Synod, that man is Ulrick Yilhelm Koren. He married Else Elisa- beth Hysing, of Larvik, Norway, in 1853 ; they have had eight children. One of his sons is also a minister in the Norwegian Synod, and another is a prominent statistician. Larsen, Laur., educator — Decorah — bom 10 Aug., 1833, in Kristiansand, Norway. "I was born on the same day as the town organization of Chicago was perfected," said Lar- sen in a talk to the students of Luther College a few years ago. "My father was the youngest of twelve brothers and BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN IOWA. 179 sisters, and yet I have scarcely any relatives on my father's side." His mother's father, Oftedahl, was a member of the convention of Eidsvold, which framed the constitution of Norway. Larsen further says : " My parents were married 17 Sept., 1832, and I attended their golden wedding in 1882." Larsen's father was an officer in the army, and his income was so small that the family had to practice the strictest economy to make both ends meet. Larsen was exactly nine years old when he entered the Latin school of his native city, and the instruction he received there was certainly of a high grade. "Upon the whole," he says, "I must consider it fortunate that I received a very good school education. Most of my instructors were able men, the classes were small, and we were more isolated from the dis- turbances of the world than the students of the present day are, or can be." Even as a school-boy, Larsen gave unmis- takable evidence of conscientiousness and a strong will. Once, some of his school-mates tempted him to begin to smoke cigars. He soon regretted this, and decided never to touch tobacco again until he became a man, and he kept his promise to the letter. Larsen -was enthusiastically devoted to athletic sports, and particularly distinguished himself as an expert swimmer. That these exercises did not interfere with his studies, is demonstrated by the fact that his stand- ing, at the examinations for the degree of A. B., was 1 — which virtually equals 100 in this country — for all languages. Upon entering the University of Norway, at Kristiania, in 1850, Larsen rented a room scarcely 8x8 feet, for which he paid $2.00 a month; and his expenses were kept correspond- ingly low in other lines. Btit a new and rich world was 180 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. Opened to his mind, and so intensely did the young man apply himself to his studies that his health began to fail. He was compelled to leave the uniyersity, and spent the first months of the year 1851 as private tutor at the house of his uncle, Rev. Bassoe, of Raade. This enabled him to save some money, and he re-entered the university in the fall. But his funds were soon completely exhausted, and he had to earn his living by teaching in schools or private families. For some time he gave two private lessons every afternoon for a consideration of $6.00 per month. Larsen received his degree as cand. theol. in June, 1855, after having devoted three and one-half years to theological studies. After this he continued to teach in Kristiania, his favorite branches being French, German, and Hebrew. But from childhood he had made up his mind to serve as a minister of the gospel, and with that aim in view he emigrated to the New World in 1857. He served as pastor of a congregation near Rush River, Pierce county, Wis., until the Norwegian Synod, on 14 Oct., 1859, called him as its theological professorat Con- cordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo. The Norwegian Synod, at its annual meeting at Rock Prairie, Wis., in the summer of 1861, decided to build a college of its own. Accordingly, a school was opened the same year in the Halfway Creek par- sonage, thirteen miles from La Crosse. Larsen was appointed principal of the school, which was removed to Decorah, Iowa, the next year, and has since been known as Luther College. As Larsen has been at the head of this col- lege firom its beginning until now, his subsequent biography and the history of the school are intimately interwoven. The accommodations at Halfway Creek were so limited that BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN IOWA. 181 the ofEce of the president had to be utilized as sick-chamber for the students, and another room served both as sitting- room and bed-chamber for him and his family. The pro- fessors and their families dined with the students, and all the inmates of the building became accustomed to look upon themselves as members of the same family. And they all agree that those days were some of the happiest and most beautiful in their lives. After the removal to Decor ah, larger quarters were secured ; but the reputation of the school was such that in a year or two many applicants for admission had to be turned away for lack of room. Hence a mag- nificent brick structure was erected during the years 1864- 65, and the formal dedication of it occurred on 14 Oct., 1865. Great numbers, even from distant congregations, came to attend the dedication exercises. With surprise they witnessed the grandeur and beauty of the new building. About six thousand people attended the ceremonies, and the occasion marked an epoch in the history of the Norwegian Lutheran churches in America. The building cost $75,000. In view of the comparative poverty of the congregations which had to raise the funds, this amount was large, and no one knows better than the president of the college how difficult it was at times to save the whole plan from tempo- rary collapse, to say the least. "It often happened," he says, "that on a Saturday we did not know whence the $1,000 were to come wherewith the numerous laborers were to be paid on the following Monday." The attendance at the college steadily increased, and in a couple of years the whole building was occupied. Nine years later an addition was built. In 1889 the main college building was destroyed 182 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. by fire, but at the meetings of the three districts of the synod the same year, it was resolved immediately to rebuild it. The next year it was again completed at a cost of $56,000. Larsen has always enjoyed the utmost confidence of the synod, and the devotion of many of its members to the col- lege was once expressed by an aged clergyman in these words: "I am sure I have offered up as many prayers for Luther College as there are bricks in the building." In the fall of 1884 Larsen had served the synod as a professo uninterruptedly for a quarter of a century, and the event was fittingly commemorated at Luther College. On 22 Oct. some three hundred students and other friends of Larsen, including many of the ministers of the synod, gave vent to their feelings of gratitude and devotion by demonstrations of various kinds, and in the evening Larsen w^as the recipient of several valuable presents. As to Larsen's work at Luther College, The Midland Monthly, June, 1894, says: "The amount of work he has performed, and to a great extent is still performing, will be better appreciated when it is stated that his duties as president alone have comprised what in many colleges is distributed among the ofiices of president, registrar, and dean, and, inasmuch as Luther College is a boarding school, also a general supervision of the students' conduct." And yet Larsen finds time to do all his work thoroughly. Not only is his private work performed with the minutest care ; but every public duty assigned to him is discharged with the same conscientious painstaking, the same scrupulous exactness. This characteristic undoubtedly furnishes the main key to the reputation of Luther College as an institution of learning. It is at least certain that BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN IOWA. 183 Luther College has a far better standing among our great institutions of learning than has any other of the advanced Norwegian schools in this country. Larsen has also per- formed a large amount of work not connected with the college. While the college was located at Halfway Creek, he served as pastor of five congregations in and around La Crosse, besides preaching at Trempealeau and Beaver Creek, during the Christmas and Easter vacations. After having removed to Decorah, Larsen at first preached regularly every other Sunday, and afterwards was called as regular pastor of a new congregation in Decorah. In 1865 he was relieved of this duty, but still for many years continued to preach on two Sundays out of every three. In 1882 the Decorah congregation called Larsen as its pastor, which position he held for some time. Since 1890 he has not been connected with any church as pastor, though he still con- tinues to preach occasionally. In 1868 Larsen was appointed editor in-chief of Kirkelig Maanedstidende, the official organ of the synod, and held the position until January, 1889. As a member of the most important boards and committees in the synod, he has directly exerted a powerful influence upon the history of that body, and from 1876 to 1893 was its vice-president. Most of the clergymen serving in the Norwegian Synod today, as well as several other Norwe- gian-American Lutheran ministers, have completed their literary studies at Luther College ; and since Larsen became president of the institution up to 1897, about three hundred persons — including clergymen, lawyers, physicians, authors, journalists, etc. — have graduated from the college. Besides, there has been many times that number who have attended 184 Hl&iOEY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. the school without completing any regular course of stuuy; and Larsen has, unquestionably, been able to stamp his indi- viduality upon the educated Norwegian-Americans to a greater extent than any other person, living or dead. In 1855 Larsen was married to Karen Neuberg. She died in 1871, leaving him with four children. The next year he was married to Ingeborg Astrup, by whom he has had ten children. In 1895 he lost his oldest son, who, a year before, had entered upon a promising practice as physician in Texas. Linn, John, clergyman and pioneer — Dayton — ^bom 29 May, 1826, in Dodringhult, SmS.land, Sweden. He emi- grated in 1849 and, after much suffering, settled at Swede Bend, Webster county, Iowa, which was then a wilderness. While log huts were being put up for the winter, Linn and his wife took up temporary quarters under the trunk of a basswood tree which had been felled so that its butt end rested on the stump ! They were among the earliest settlers of Webster county, and it is claimed that their daughter Julia was the first w^hite child born in that county, her birth- day being 8 Jan., 1851. Meat w^as plenty in those days. Professional hunters were in the habit of taking only the hind quarters of the deer, leaving the rest of the carcasses; wild turkeys were so abundant that Linn one w^inter caught dozens of them by a peculiar trap ; and he was engaged by a Boone county farmer to catch a lot of hogs which had been running at large until they were practically wild, Linn receiving one-half of the hogs for his trouble. The distance to the nearest reliable grist-mill w^as so great that Linn con- structed a hand-mill on which a strong man could grind two bushels of corn in a day, and this for some time was a great BIOGRAPHIES OP SCANDINAVIANS IN IOWA. 185 boon to the neighborhood. These mill-stones may still be seen in the foundation of William Linn's house, at Pilot Mound, Boone county. Salt cost ten cents a pound ; but, on the other hand, maple sugar was abundant, and Linn, in company with another man, gathered three barrels of wild honey in one week ! In 1853 a man tried to sell eighty acres of land, where the city of Des Moises now stands, to Linn for $320 ; but the latter declined the offer, looking upon the price as excessive. Linn for years tended to his work as a com- mon farmer, without paying any extraordinary attention to religious matters. But in the spring of 1854 he was aroused to an unusual degree byGustaf Smith, a Methodist preacher; a church was organized, and Linn became its first member and exhorter the following year, though no licence to preach was given him until 1857. He now divided his time between the cares of his home church and the management of his farm. As road supervisor Linn acquired the title of " Swede King," by requiring the farmers of his district to work so long on the road that they received vouchers for the pay- ment of their poll tax for the next ten years ! In 1868 he accepted a call as pastor from a church in Moline, 111., where he remained three years. He next served churches succes- sively at Rockford and Galesburg, 111.; and in 1874 was ap- pointed presiding elder of the Iowa district, and removed to Des Moines. In 1877 he settled at Sheldahl, as presiding elder of the new Burlington district, and in the course of the next few years served charges at Sheldahl and Des Moines. His work in the capacity of presiding elder was most satisfac- tory, and in 1884 he raised $700 for the Swedish theological seminary at Evanston, 111. In the fall of 1888 he removed 186 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. to Dayton, in order to spend the eve of his life with his brothers. The native powers of Linn were of a high order; yet it seems strange that he could accomplish so much, con- sidering that he never enjoyed a day's schooling, nor could even write his name until he was a grown man. In 1848 Linn was married to Mary Somberg, who died in 1853 ; and again to Mrs. Jacobsen in 1854. Linn had children in both w^edlocks. Lysnes; David, clergyman and educator — Beloit — born 31 July, 1832, near Larvik, Norway; died 11 Aug., 1890. He lived and worked among the peasants of his neighbor- hood until he was nineteen years old, at which time he began to teach parochial school, and he continued uninter- ruptedly for seven years, his salary being $20.00 a year and room and board. In 1859-61 he completed a course at Asker Seminary, and afterwards taught three years at Hans Kappelens Minde, an orphans' home at Skien; and four years at Kristiania. In 1868 he emigrated to America, and settled as pastor of a Norwegian congregation at Pontiac, 111. ; in 1870 removed to Decorah, Iowa, where he labored for eight years ; and four years later was called as theologi- cal professor, by the Norwegian Augustana Synod, whose theological seminary was located successively near Decorah, at Marshall, Wis., and finally at Beloit. Lysnes worked in this capacity until the Augustana Synod was merged into the United Church, at Minneapolis, in 1890, when he was appointed one of the theological professors of that body. For some time he also served a church at Elk Point, S. D. Though Lysnes never had enjoyed the advantages of a clas- sical training, his intellect was keen and powerful, and his BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAYIANS IN IOWA. 187 personal influence upon his pupils and parishioners was marked. He was married in 1867 to Maren Andrea Heiret, of Eidsvold, Norway, who died in 1868 ; and in 1871 to Maren Jonetta Nas, of Asker, Norway. He had four children by his second wife. Olsen, Johan, clergyman— St. Ansgar— bom 3 July, 1834, in Bindalen, Tromso stift, Norway. His parents had come under the influence of the great revival inaugurated by Hans Nilsen Hauge in the early part of this century, and the boy was brought up in a religious atmosphere. At an early age he evinced a keen taste for books, and more than once he would give vent to his religious feelings by preaching while herding cattle in the woods and mountains, his audience con- sisting of cows and sheep. But the boy was bound to rise. Though his opportunities for learning were meager indeed, he had learned enough to become a public school teacher at the age of fifteen. Three years later he entered the Tromso normal school, and was graduated with honors in 1854. He next served as teacher and precentor at his home. In 1857 he was appointed principal of a higher school in Kaa^orden, w^here he remained two years . For some time he had cherished the desire of studying theology, and this desire at last became irresistible. In spite of the lack of means, he went to Kristi- ania for the purpose of fitting himself for the ministry. His life in the capital meant ceaseless work and privation. His patience and perseverance, however, overcame every obstacle, and he received the degrees of A. B. and Cand. Phil, in 1863 and 1864, respectively. The next two years were spent in studying theology. By this time his health was seriously impaired by over-work in studying and supporting his family^ 188 HISTOKY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. now consisting of five persons. In 1866 Olsen emigrated to America, and was appointed adjunct professor of Hebrew and some other branches at Agustana College, Paxton, 111. In 1867 he was ordained for the ministry by the well-known Prof. T. N. Hasselquist, and settled as pastor of a congrega- tion at Neenah, Wis. Later he removed to Ft. Howard, aod while here he organized many new congregations in the northeastern part of Wisconsin. Olsen was a prominent figure among those who organized the Norwegian-Danish Lutheran Conference at St. Ansgar, la., 16 Aug., 1870. He served this body as vice-president from 1870 to 1872, and as president from the latter date to 1881. Since 1873 he has resided at St. Ansgar, where he enjoys the esteem and love of his parisioners to an unusual degree. St. Ansgar Seminary and Institute was started in 1878, chiefly through the efforts of Olsen, and for years he has given lectures at that school. He was married in 1858, and has had eleven children, six of whom are still living. One of his sons, Sigurd Olsen, is a professor in St. Ansgar Seminary and Institute. Ottesen, Jacob Aall, clergyman and pioneer — Decorah — bom 1 June, 1825, in Fet, Kristiania stift, Norway. His father and grandfather were clergymen at his birthplace for fifty years previous, and more than forty of his relatives are, or have been, clergymen. Ottesen completed his theolo- gical studies at the University of Norway, and graduated with honors in 1849. Having spent three years as instruc- tor in Kristiania, he emigrated to America in 1852. Upon the request of Ole Bull, the famous violinist, who had started a Norwegian colony at 01eana,Pa., Ottesen stopped at that BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN IOWA. 189 place and preached to his countrymen before going west. He settled as pastor at Manitowoc, Wis., the same year, his charge consisting of three organized congregations in and about Manitowoc, and ten missionary stations located along the laJie shore from Green Bay to Milwaukee. He was an exceedingly busy man in those days. His time was spent in unceasing travel, mostly on horseback, and he would cover from thirty to fifty miles a day. His exposure to all kinds of weather resulted in a chronic rheumatism, which ever since has reminded him of the hardships of those early pioneer days. He was one of the seven clergymen who organized the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Synod at Koshkonong, Wis.,inl853, and for a number of years served as secretary of that body. In 1857 Ottesen, together with Rev. N. Brandt, was appointed a delegate of the synod to visit the theological seminaries at St. Louis, Mo., Columbus, O., and Buffalo, N. Y., with the view of finding a suitable institution for the education of young Norwegians for the ministry. The seminary at St. Louis was chosen, and Prof. Laur. Larsen was appointed to represent the Norwegian Synod in the theological faculty of that institution. In 1860 Ottesen moved to Koshkonong. Here he served as pastor of the oldest church of the Norwegian Synod until his re- moval to Decorah in 1891. For a number of years Ottesen w^as associate editor of Kirkelig Maanedstidende, the ofla- cial organ of the synod. When the synod established Luther Seminary at Madison, Wis., in 1878, he was requested to serve as its first president, but declined. Later he served as a member of the board of visitors of his district for a num- ber of years. In 1893 Ottesen wrote Kort Uddrag af den 190 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. Norske Syaodes Historic, which was exhibited at the World's Fair in Chicago the same year. As is indicated by the title, this work is brief; but it is one of the most correct and impartial histories of the Norwegian Synod w^ritten up to date. Since 1891, Ottesen has had no regular charge, but officiated from Nov., 1894, to Aug., 1896, as temporary pas- tor during a vacancy in the Norwegian church in Decorah. Rev. J. C. Jensson in his great work, American Lutheran Biographies, says of Ottesen: 'His classical training, keen reasoning powers, ability as writer and counsellor, and, above all, his ardent devotion to the truths embodied in the confession of the Lutheran church, has made him a repre- sentative man among his brethren — honored and revered as one of the fathers of the Norwegian Lutheran churches in America. Though the life and work of Ottesen have not attracted the attention of the w^orld — ^his work having been carried out in that obscurity which necessarily surrounds one, no matter how gifted, who devotes himself to the wel- fare of any small community of foreigners in this country — his life has none the less been one of heroism and selfdenial, which deserves an honored mention. To men who, like him, have made it their aim and purpose of life to carry the truths of eternity to their fellow beings, our country owes its noblest achievements of true progress and civilization, and they deserve a lasting gratitude.' Ottesen married Cath- erine Doderlein, of Kristiania, in 1852. They have had six children, four of w^hom are dead. His only living son, Otto Christian, is also a clergyman in the Norwegian Synod . Topgerson, Torger Andreas, clergyman — Somber— born 26 Jan., 1838, near Tvedestrand, Kristiansand stift. Nor- BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN IOWA 191 way. He emigrated in 1852 with his parents, who settled in Scandinavia, Waupaca county, Wis. After his arrival in this country, Torgerson's boyhood was spent mostly in attend- ing school, working on his father's farm, and preparing for college. At the age of twenty he entered Concordia College, St. Louis, Mo. Three years later this institution was moved to Fort Wayne, Ind., where he graduated in 1862; and, having completed a course at the Concordia Theological Seminary, St. Louis, Mo., was ordained for the ministry in the Norwegian Lutheran Synod by Rev. H. A. Preus in 1865. The staying qualities of Torgerson may be inferred from the fact that he has served as a minister at his present home for thirty years. Rev. A. Bredesen says of him : "With the excep- tion of Rev. Koren, no man in the Iowa District has done longer, harder, and more faithful and effective service than Torgerson." His field of labor has extended one hundred and fifty miles from east to v\rest, and one hundred and twenty-five miles in the opposite direction, comprising in all thirty -four different churches, and for some time his charge consisted of eighteen congregations, scattered over this large territory. At present no less than thirteen ministers of the Norwegian Synod are laboring in that territory, besides a fair number of Norwegian Lutheran ministers not con- nected with the synod. Torgerson has been in danger of losing his life on no less than eight different occasions, his escape in several cases having been very narrow, not to say miraculous. His position in the synod has always been prominent, and he has officiated as secretary of the pastoral conference of the synod and of the Iowa District for twenty years. He has been president of the Albert Lea special pas- 192 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. toral conference since its organization in 1873 ; president of the general ministerial conference for six years; and is at present president of the Iowa District, and a member of the church council of the synod. In 1870 Torgerson pub- lished Ma.rkelige TUdragelser, a pamphlet of fifty-eight pages on local church disputes. He has also contributed much to different papers, and many of his sermons have been printed by request in Evangelisk Lutbersk Kirke- tidende. He married Dina Anderson, a sister of Prof. R. B. Anderson, in 1866. They have had seven children, all boys, one of vrhom is a successful attomey-at-law at Lake Mills, Iowa, and another a clergyman in the synod. Biographies of Scandinavians in Wisconsin. Anderson, Mons, manufacturer and wholesale merchant —La Crosse— born 8 June, 1830, in Yalders, Norway. He attended the parish school of his native valley ; and, being compelled to shift for himself by the death of his father, departed of his own accord for the New World at the early age of sixteen. During the first year after his arrival in this country he was employed at a hotel in Milwaukee, kept by the Hon. Daniel Wells, and afterwards attended school for two years. Having spent another year in the same city as salesman in a grocery store, he pushed further west, set- tling at La Crosse in 1851. He first engaged as clerk in the store of S. T. Smith ; was soon admitted as partner in the fiirm ; and afterwards formed partnerships successively with W. W. Ustick and S. E. Olson, the latter now having a large dry goods store in Minneapolis. He finally bought out his partners and continued the business, in which he proved so successful that the volume of his trade was the second largest of its kind in the state. In 1885 he admitted both of his sons into the company, the firm assuming the name of Mons Anderson & Sons. In the same year he closed out his retail establishment, and since that time the firm has 193 194 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. been doing a wholesale dry goods and manufacturing busi- ness. The firm employs several traveling salesmen and hun- dreds of hands in the factory and the store. It is generally admitted that this establishment is the largest of its kind in America in proportion to the population of the locality in which it is situated. He owns a great deal of real property, besides being interested in various financial enterprises. Thereasons forMons Anderson's success may be summarized as follows : Prom the very start he kept strictly one price, treated everyone alike, and endeavored to represent his goods just as they were. The main key to his success, how- ever, is undoubtedly to be found in his great energy, and the systematic order in which his affairs are managed. He is at his store at seven o'clock every morning. While he endeav- ors to do his duty as a Christian and a citizen, he permits neither poHtics, religion, nor anything else to interfere with his business. Anderson has had in his employ three hundred clerks who have since gone into business on their own account, and w^ho received their first training under Ander- son's guidance. Some of these have since almost equalled him in business success. An authority says : "Anderson, as a man, does his own thinking, is original, has positive con- victions, and shows his character and ability more by what he does than by vehat he professes. In his pursuit of wealth he has not been unmindful of the comfort of his employes, nor has he been wanting in public spirit." Although he is a member of the American Baptist church, yet he has given large sums to Luther College and other Scandinavian insti- tutions. Anderson has traveled very extensively both in this country and in Europe. His large collection of sculp- BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 195 tttre, statues, paintings, and curiosities has been gathered from nearly every country in Europe. Pew Scandinavian- American business men have such a large and well selected library as Anderson has. His books are counted by the thou- sand, including some rare productions, and several works on art. Anderson was married in 1853 to Jane Halvorson, who came with her parents from Norway to Wisconsin in 1846. They have two sons; Alfred H., the oldest, owns and manages a large property in the state of Washington ; and Samuel W., the youngest, is a member of his father's firm, which in 1891 was formally organized into a stock company; his oldest daughter is married to a prominent attorney, C. W. Bunn, located in St. Paul, Minn.; and his youngest daughter is Mrs. W. L. Crosby, of La Crosse. Anderson has in all ten grand-children, of whom he is very- proud. Anderson, Rasmus B., author and United States minister to Denmark — Madison — ^born 12 Jan., 1846, in Albion, Dane county. Wis. His father was the son of a peasant near Stavanger, Norway, and his mother a member of the von Krogh family, the name of which for two hundred and fifty years past has figured very prominently in the military records of Norway and Denmark. Her relatives were greatly displeased with the union because of Anderson's humble rank in society. This difiiculty was further aggravated by the fact that he was a Quaker, and in order to evade what virtually amounted to a mild type of persecution, they left for America in 1836. They lived successively at Rochester, N. Y., and in La Salle county, 111.; but in 1841 removed to Wisconsin, being the first couple of white settlers in the 196 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE V. S. township of Albion, Dane county. Here Rasmus B. Ander- son was born. During liis early boyhood he worked on the farm in summer, and attended the district school in winter. At the age of fourteen he left home for the purpose of acquir- ing an education, and in the fall of 1861 entered the school established by the Norwegian Lutheran Synod at the Half- way Creek parsonage, near La Crosse, Wis., afterwards located at Decorah, Iowa, and known as Luther College. Being impatient of the restraint imposed upon him by the faculty, Anderson rebelled to such an extent that he was expelled from the school when he had almost completed a classical course. In 1890, ho-wever, after Anderson had made a reputation, Luther College conferred the degree of A. B. upon him. In 1866 he was appointed professor of Greek and modem languages in Albion Academy, near his home. This w^as the signal for a genuine stampede of Nor- wegian students to that institution, and three years later, when he withdrew, there was a similar stampede in the opposite direction. Having entered the State Universitj- of Wisconsin, at Madison, as a post-graduate student, he was appointed instructor in languages in that institution in 1869. In this capacity he served until the summer of 1875, when he was appointed to the chair of Scandinavian lan- guages, which had just been established in the university, being the first native of Wisconsin to be honored with a full professorship in this institution. In this connection it must be mentioned that he was instrumental in establishing a Scandinavian library, which at present contains 1,500 vol- umes of choice Scandinavian literature. In founding this library he w^as generously assisted by Ole Bull, the world- BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 197 famed violinist, who, on 17 May, 1872, gave a concert in Madison for the benefit of the enterprise. In 1883 Anderson severed his connection with the university, and for nearly two years was connected with the New York Equitable Life Insurance Company. Up to this time he had generally supported the Republican party. But in the campaign of 1884 he gave his support to Cleveland, thus drawing upon himself the opprobrious title of " mugwump," a term intro- duced by the Republicans during that compaign to stig matize those who left their ranks and joined those of the Democrats. In 1894 he again joined the Republican party, for which he stumped the state two years later, though not exactly "sound" on the fundamental principles of Re- publicanism. In 1885 President Cleveland appointed Ander- son United States minister to Denmark, and he served in this capacity for the next four years. During his stay in Copen- hagen, most of his time was devoted to literary pursuits. After his return to America in 1889 he became connected with a New York firm which controls the sale of Moeller's cod liver oil in America, a position which he resigned in 1894. In 1895 he assisted in the organization of a new life insurance company in Madison, Wis., and was elected its president. For nearly thirty years past Anderson has been a speaker at 17th of May celebrations and other public demonstrations arranged by Norwegian-Americans, and in 1890 he began to agitate for the establishinent of a "grape festival" in the fall of the year, in commemoration of the discovery of America by the Norsemen. This move- ment met with vigorous opposition on the part of those who wish to maintain the habit of celebrating the 17th of May; 198 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. but in the fall of 1894 the originator of the idea was pleased to receive accounts of "grape festivals" from dififerent localities in the Northwest. Anderson shares the honor with Ole Bull of having raised the funds for the erection of a monument to Leif Erikson in Boston. Perhaps no American of Scandinavian birth or blood has produced anything in the English language which has created such a wide-spread stir as have some of Anderson's works. There are two pro- ductions in particular which deserve special consideration. By his Norse Mythology he has made the religion of the old Norsemen more accessible to the world at large, and the se- lect translations from the Eddas incorporated into this work give English readers fascinating glimpses of the old Norse literature. Next to this ranks America Not Discov- ered by Columbus, his first literary production. It is true that this is chiefly a compilation, and even its author no longer maintains all assertions originally made in it. But the extensive and favorable reviews which it received gave such a prominence to the discovery of America by the Norse- men that thenceforth nearly every American historian took it into account, and treated the matter as a legitimate his- torical fact. Some of his books have been translated into French, German, Italian, Norwegian, and Russian. A com- plete list of the books either written or translated by Ander- son would fill at least one page in this volume; hence, only some of the most important ones are given below. Den Norske Maalsag, Julegave, Where Was Vineland? and The First Chapter of Norwegian Immigration are among his lead- ing original works. Of the translations may be mentioned: Heimskringla; Viking Tales of the North; The Younger BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 199 Edda; seven volumes of Bjomstjeme Bjomson's novels; His- tory of Scandinavian Literature, by F. W. Horn; The Spell- bound Fiddler, by Kristofer Janson; Eminent Authors of the Nineteenth Century, by Georg Brandes; Teutonic Myth- ology, by Viktor Rydberg; and Among Cannibals, by Carl Ltunholtz. As to bulk, Anderson's original books aggregate about 1,500 pages, and the books translated by him about 5,000 pages. Besides the books he has also written contri- butions to the American supplement to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, to five other cyclopaedias, and to a few maga- zines. Anderson is a fighter, and a great number of articles, mostly in Norwegian-American papers, amply testify to his combativeness. In 1868 he was married to Bertha Karina Olson, of Cambridge, Wis., a sister to Prof. Julius E. Olson. They have four children living, some of them grown and married Dundas, Johan Christian, physician and poet — Cam- oridge — bom 1815, in Helgeland, Norway; died in Madison, in 1883. He was a lineal descendant of Peter Dundas, or Don Dass, a Scotchman, who in about the year 1630 settled in Norway, having left his native land on account of re- ligious persecution. This man married a Norw^egian w^oman, Maren Falch, and was the father of Peter Dass, the famous poet of northern Norway, who was the first real poet in Norway after the Reformation, and whose poems are still widely read, for they contain sparks of nature's fire. Dass was a minister, and such an impression did he leave upon those to whom he sang and preached two centuries ago, that many strange traditions of his supernatural powers are still current among the people of Norway and their kinsmen in Since 1898 Prof. Anderson has been the editor and proprietor of "Amerika," the semi- official organ of the Norwegian Synod, which organization he joined at about the same time.— Editok. 200 HISTOEY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. this country. Tradition has it that he could pray so fer- vently that the air was suddenly filled with birds which devoured the worms and insects that were destroying the crops ; subdue the thunder with his preaching ; control the malicious magic of the hostile Finns and Lapps by a word; and even force the devil into his service. These traditions indicate that Peter Dass was a man of marked personality, to whom the people in their adoration ascribed supernat- ural powers, and are interesting in this connection, as they serve to explain an inherited trait of J. C. Dundas's char- acter. His personality, too, w^as so marked, that any one w^ho met him, even once, w^ould scarcely forget him; and many of his countrymen about Cambridge verily believed that he could cure any disease, if he simply wished to do so. Bjornstjeme Bjomson, who made his acquaintance in this country, considered him the most original person that he had ever met. Ole Bull was very fond of him, and visited him twice in his Cambridge home. His father, Isaac Georg Dun- das, was a man of means, and liberally educated. He had eleven children, and sought to give them a good education. Johan, the youngest, w^as early sent to Bergen to attend school, and later w^ent to the University of Norway, where he studied during the years 1837—39. Here he began the study of medicine, which he continued at Copenhagen, Vien- na, Helsingfors, and Berne. After a voyage to the East In- dies in the service of the Dutch East India Company as a surgeon, he spent the year 1849 in the larger English hos- pitals. The next year he came to America, and proceeded to the Koshkonong settlement in Wisconsin, w^here his country- men were suffering from the cholera. After having made a K. P. HADGEX, RIVER FALLS. REV. T. H. DAHL, STODGHTON. REV. H. HALYORSEN, WESTBT. REV. L. LUXn, ELROY. H. STIOEXSLAXK. MADISON. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 201 tour of the country he returned to Holland, whence he sailed as physician on board a ship bound for China. In the course of about two years he returned to Cambridge to take up his permanent abode, and hereheremained as a practicing physician until his death. Dundas was a remarkable char- acter, a skilful surgeon, and a clever poet, being well versed in literature, history, and politics. In his younger days he had familiarly known the poets HenrikWergeland and Johan Ludvig Runeberg. In his later years he wrote a great deal of verse, much of which was printed in the Norwegian and Danish papers in this country. In 1856 he married an Amer- ican lady, Malina E. Tracy. They had two daughters. GjePtsen, J. P., clergyman — Stoughton— born 25 Oct., 1803, in Askvold, Bergen stift, Norway; died in 1892. While a young man he served as school teacher, and later on held a couple of local offices. He was also engaged as temperance lecturer for five years, and was deeply inter- ested in the spiritual and moral welfare of his countrymen. In 1864 he emigrated to this country, and for a series of years served as pastor of churches at Racine, Bostwick Valley, Winneconne, and Oshkosh, "Wis. The last nine- teen years of his life were spent with his children in Stough- ton, Wis. Mainly through his tireless efforts, the Zion Mis- sion Society for Israel was oganized in 1877, Gjertsen him- self serving as its first president. He devoted much time and labor to this society, which during its history has been the means of converting a number of Jews to Christianity. Gjertsen also edited a hymn-book, Missionssange for Israel. especially adapted ior use at services devoted to the cause of the Jewish mission. He was married in 1841 to Berthe 202 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. Johanne Gaasevor. Among their childi-en may be mentioned Rev. M. F. Gjertsen, of Minneapolis, and Mrs. Rev. T. H. Dahl, of Stoughton. Wis. Haugen, Nils P., congressman— River Falls— bom 9 March, 1849, in Modum, Kristiania stift, Noi-way. In 1854 he emigrated with his parents, who located in Rock county, Wis. In the spring of 1855 they moved to Martell, Pierce county, where his father purchased government land, and where he made his permanent home until his death in 1896. His father was a school teacher in Norway, and had some experience in blacksmithing, which was the trade of young Haugen's grandfather. Young Haugen spent most of his boyhood working on his father's farm; but also tried his hand at other kinds of hard work, such as logging in the pineries, working in a saw mill in Menomonie, and rafting on the St. Croix river. He attended the common school until fourteen years of age; entered Luther College, De- corah, Iowa, in 1868, where he remained over two years, finishing the studies up to the sophomore class. After returning from college he taught one term of Norwegian parochial school, and common school for two years, in his county. In 1872 he entered the law department of the State University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, graduating two years later; then located at River Falls, and began to prac- tice law. But in 1874 he was appointed court reporter of the eighth judicial circuit, including several counties, in which capacity he served for a period of seven years, besides devoting some time to his practice. In 1881 he resigned this position, and formed a law partnership with Frank L. Gilson. In 1879 and 1880 Haugen served two terms in the BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 203 state assembly. While in this position he was one of the main supporters of Mat. H. Carpenter, who was elected U. S. senator in 1879 ; and was a member of several important committees. In 1881 he was elected railroad commissioner, to which position he was re-elected, serving five years in all. Upon the death of the congressman-elect of his district, in 1887, Haugen was made his successor at a special election, and was re-elected three times successively, serving as a member of congress for a longer period, excepting M.N.John- son of N. D. , than any other Scandinavian. Both Haugen and Lind, of Minnesota, were firm opponents of the proposition which aimed at placing the three Scandinavian kingdoms under a common legation, and this proposition was defeated. The bill by which Oklahoma was organized as a territorv originally provided that persons who were not citizens of the United States should be debarred from enter- ing government lands. Haugen proposed an amendment to the bill, placing all who have declared their intention to become citizens, on an equal footing with actual citizens in regard to government lands, and the amendment was car- ried. He strongly advocated the commercial interests of the Great Lakes ; made several strong and consistent speeches in favor of a protective tariff; deprecated experimentation, and recommended conservatism in regard to the money question. Haugen was a very strong candidate for gov- ernor of Wisconsin in 1894; but Upham proved a trifle stronger than Haugen at the state convention, and the latter failed to receive the nomination. Haugen has always been a Republican. He has devoted much time to the Ger- man language, and has made French a special study, being 204 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. better versed in modern literature than is usually the case with our public men, and may be said to have made a special study of the humorous and witty literature of the Scandinavian countries. In 1875 he was married to Inge- borg A. Rasmussen, of Pierce county, Wis. They have one grown daughter, who has been attending the normal school. River Falls, for years. Heg, Hans Christian, pioneer and soldier— Waterford— born 21 Dec., 1829, near Drammen, Norway ; died 20 Sept., 1863, at Chicamauga, Tenn. In 1840 he came to America with his father, who settled in town of Norway, Racine county. Wis.; and was one of the early settlers of the noted Mtiskego settlement. Young Heg was a w^ideawake boy, and although he enjoyed no means of a higher education, he managed to keep himself well informed on all questions of the day, and took pains to familiarize himself with the English language. In short, he became withal the brightest young man of the neighborhood, and was noted as ' an enthusiastic and active anti-slavery man long before he became of age. In 1849 he went to California, where he was fairly successful as a gold digger, but upon the death of his father, in 1851, w^as forced to return and take care of his younger brothers and sisters. Having settled down on his father's homestead, he was elected to some local office at every election, and invariably discharged his duties to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. In 1859 he removed to Waterford where he, in company with two Americans, opened up a general merchandise business. In the fall of the same year he was elected state prison commissioner on the Republican ticket, being perhaps the first Norwegian elected BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 205 to any state office in America. Many of his countrymen were somewhat apprehensive lest he should fail to give satisfaction in such a trying position. But, to use the language of K. Langeland, "he was praised by his col- leagues as well as other leading men in the state. He intro- duced many important reforms and improvements, and never has there been such order, activity, and economy within the walls of the penitentiary as during his adminis- tration. The expenses were smaller and the receipts larger in proportion to the number of convicts than ever before or since ; but to crown his work : His accounts were perfectly clean, w^hich had never been the case with those of his predecessors. Said a leading Milwaukee man to the writer shortly after the funeral of Heg : ' He is the only man who has left a clean record at the state prison.' " He was renominated for the same office in 1861, but declined the nomination because he had already decided to enter the war. He was appointed colonel of the Fifteenth Wisconsin, or Scandinavian, Regiment, which was organized under his supervision — a full account of the regiment is given in the first volume of this work. At the battle of Chickamauga, in which he was killed, he commanded a brigade, having been brevetted brigadier general. Heg left an enviable record in the war. He displaj'ed true bravery on several occasions, and if his life had been spared a little longer he would have been advanced to a higher rank. His par- ticipation in the battle which cost him his life is described as follows by K. Langeland : " His conduct in the battle at Chickamauga won the admiration of all who saw him. When his brigade was overwhelmed and beaten back on 206 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. that terrible Saturday afternoon, he -was present every- where, encouraging his soldiers to check the victorious march of the rebel legions. The Twenty-first Illinois was sent as re-enforcement to Col. Heg. They marched bravely on, but their lines were broken, and they were repulsed. Then Col. Heg rode up, swung his hat, and shouted they should follow him. It seemed as though they were almost electrified, with a shout they charged the rebels and drove them back almost six hundred feet, but were again over- whelmed and forced to retreat. An officer has told me that Heg continually remained in the thickest of the firay unscathed." As he was riding to another part of the line, however, he was mortally wounded by a stray shot, and died the same night. Heg was a man of more than ordi- nary courage and ability, and his sincerity was beyond all doubt. This accounts for his great popularity, which was most conspicuously demonstrated when his remains were laid to rest in the Norway church cemetery, near his home. Heg is one of the few Norwegians who prominently dis- tinguished themselves in the Civil War. He was a Free- mason, but was not connected with any church organization. He. was married in 1851 to Gunhild Einung. They had four children. One of them is James E. Heg, who has held the office of vice-president of the state board of control of Wisconsin, and who has held numerous minor offices. He was president of the Wisconsin press association for several terms, and also president of the Republican editorial asso- ciation for a number of years. Another son. Dr. Elmer E. Heg, has been president of the state board of health of the state of Washington. A daughter, Hilda S. Heg, married BIOGBAFHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 207 Congressman C. N. Powler, of the state of New Jersey. Hoyme, Gjermund, clergyman— Eau Claire— bom 8 Oct., 1848, in Valders, Norway. He came to America in 1851 with his parents, who settled at Port Washington, Wis. Four years later they removed to Winneshiek county, Iowa, where young Hoyme soon had to earn his living as a wage- worker on the farm. Having an insatiable craving for knowledge, he borrowed books and devoted every spare moment to reading. For twelve successive winters he at- tended English schools, and in 1869 entered the theological seminary at Marshall, Wis., where he remained two years. He next took up a course in languages, especially English, German, Latin, and Greek, in the State University of Wis- consin, at Madison. Hoyme still remembers with gratitude how Hon. J. A. Johnson met him at the depot, took him to his home, and kindly assisted him in many ways. Prof. R. B. Anderson, who at that time was instructor in the univer- sity, also took pains to encourage and assist him. Having finished his course at the university, he resumed his theolog- ical studies at Augsburg Seminary, Minneapolis, Minn. Lacking pecuniary means, and receiving urgent calls to en- ter the ministry, he discontinued his studies earlier than he originally had intended, and began his life-work as pastor at Duluth in 1873. While there he taught a Norwegian par- ochial school in the day, devoted the evenings to English in- struction, and preached twice every Sunday. But Jay Cook's failure all but ruined the young city, and the congre- gation was so crippled financially that Hoyme had to leave it. He next served three congregations at Menomonie,Dunn county, Wis., and finally settled at Eau Claire in 1876. This 208 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. date marks a turning point in his external life. Earlier in life he and grim poverty had been on most familiar terms. According to Am. Lutb. Biographies, by J.C.Jensson, Hoyme himself once wrote to a friend about his trials at college as follows: "The money I earned at hard labor dur- ing the summer vacation, was not sufficient to carry me through to the next vacation. It frequently happened that I did not have enough money to pay the postage on letters to my old mother. My apparel was often too plainly an in- dex to the condition of my purse. When a change of clothes seemed indispensable, my method of renovation generally consisted in giving the old and threadbare ones a thorough brushing." His success since his arrival at Eau Claire forms a pleasant contrast to this picture. Gradually his power for good has increased, and in many respects he is now abso- lutely the strongest man in the city of Eau Claire. His in- fluence in the church union to w^hich he belongs, is thorough- ly in keeping with his local standing. From 1881 to 1886 he was the secretary, and from the latter date to 1890, the president of the conferience; and since the organization of the United Church in 1890, he has served that body as pres- ident. As a parUamentarian and presiding officer he has no superior and, perhaps, no equal among the Scandinavian clergy in the United States. His preaching is very earnest; his language lofty and dramatic ; in fact the man is so se- rious that it would be difficult to find a single humorous sal- ly in all his public utterances. Hoyme, unlike most of the leading men in the Norwegian American churches, has writ- ten very little for publication. Harpen, a hymn-book pub- lished by him and L. Lund, has had a large sale, seventeen BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 209 editions having been exhausted. In 1893 Hoyme published Saloonen, a strong invective against the saloon, and fifteen thousand copies of the book were disposed of in a few weeks. In 1874 he was married to Mrs. Ida Othelia Olsen, of Duluth. Johnson, John A., state senator and manufacturer — Madison — born 15 Apr., 1832, near Skien, Norway. He came to America in 1844 with his parents, who settled in Walworth county, Wis., but a few years later removed to Pleasant Spring, Dane county. Young Johnson began the battle of life at the early age of twelve. His educational ad- vantages were rather meager ; but by dint of untiring efforts, guided by a decidedly practical turn of mind, he not only made steady progress in his purely practical work, but also acquired a considerable amonut of theoretical knowledge. In 1861 he settled at Madison, and was dealing in farm- ing machinery for the next few years ; and in 1881 began to manufacture the same kind of goods as he had been trading in, by organizing the manufacturing firm of Fuller & John- son. A little later he was also the chief organizer of the Groutholdt machine company, and has always been presi- dent of these two enterprises, which now give employment to about three hundred men the year around. The farming machinery turned out by the former company is sold chiefly in the Northwest, while the turret lathes manufactured by the latter are largely shipped to the East. Johnson is one of the very few Norwegian Americans who are engaged in man- ufacturing enterprises on a large scale. Though the business enterprises over vv^hose destinies Johnson presides are so ex- tensive as to actually furnish employment to the bulk of the laboring people of his city, he has also found time for prac- 210 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. tical politics and literary pursuits. Thus, from 1861 to 1869 he served as county clerk of Dane county; in 1857 as mem- ber of the state Assembly ; and in 1873 and 1874 as state senator. He was also a member of the board of trustees of the State Hospital for the Insane, near Madison, from 1878 to 1882. Johnson is a Republican on general principles. In 1884, however, he supported Cleveland for president, and in 1886 received 117,909 votes for state treasurer on the Dem- ocratic ticket. This was a couple of thousand more than the average number of votes cast for the other candidates on the ticket, but he was defeated by the Republican candidate, who received a majority of 11,649. Johnson's most noted literary work is Det Skandinaviske Regiments Historic, w^hich was published in 1869. This is the earliest systema- tized account of the famous Fifteenth Wisconsin Regiment. In 1888 he published Fingerpeg for Farmere og Andre, a book containing about 200 pages. The newspaper articles written by Johnson cover a considerable number of different topics, and these as well as his books are characterized by a systematic arrangement of the subject matter, coupled with an easy and lucid style, and an unmistakable tendency to arrive at practical results. Johnson has contributed liberally to some of the Norwegian-Lutheran institutions of learning, but is himself a member of the Unitarian Church, He was married in 1861, and has five children, four of whom have graduated from the University of Wisconsin. • Kumlieii, Thure L. T., scientist — Milwaukee— born 9 Nov., 1819, in Harlunda, Vestergotland, Sweden; died 5 Aug., 1888. His father, who was a quartermaster in the Swedish army, ov;^ned several large estates in that part of BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 211 the country. Kumlien, having received his first instruction from a private tutor, entered the college at Skara, and sub- sequently attended the University of Upsala, graduating in 1843. During his stay at the university, he devoted himself especially to the study of botany, and was the favorite pupil of the celebrated Swedish botanist, Elias Fries, the most renowned Swedish botanist since the days of Linne, Tinder whose guidance he laid the foundations for his thor- ough knowledge of that branch of science, and acquired such a familiarity with the lower types of plant life, as, for example, ferns, mosses, lichens, fungi, etc., that he equalled, if not surpassed, his more renowned instructor in these departments. What makes his familiarity with so many branches of botany the more remarkable, is the fact that from boyhood his special study seems to have been ornithol- ogy, and even in later years he devoted a great deal of time to this study. In 1843, shortly after having completed his studies at Upsala, Kumlien, then but twenty-four years of age,. emigrated to America, accompanied by his young wife. They came at once to Lake Koshkonong, Jefferson county, Wis., having decided upon this locality without any previ- ous knowledge of the place, but merely from the study of the map, for a locality affording facilities for the pursuit of his favorite studies. It is, however, probable that he had received some information in regard to Wisconsin from a former acquaintance during his sta3'- at Upsala, Gustaf Unonius, a Swedish Episcopal clergyman, who came to this country in 1841. Unonius, who visited Koshkonong in 1843, says in his Minnen in regard to Kumlien: "It was really curious to see how he divided his time between agri- 212 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. culture and scientific researches. Necessity tied his hands to the plow and hoe, while mind and disposition w^ere fastened upon flowers, birds, and insects. A fine herbarium, and a not inconsiderable, though on account of limited space, somewhat confused, ornithological cabinet testified to greater activity as a naturalist than as a farmer." Ulti- mately, he found it more profitable to rent out his farm and to devote himself exclusively to the care of his garden and to his favorite studies. In addition to a thorough scientific education, he possessed also an unusual skill in taxidermy, which enabled him to procure some additional income. At last, several scientific associations in the Eastern states had their attention drawn to the young naturalist, who had concealed himself from the eyes of the world in an insigni- ficant cottage in the western wilderness. During the first twenty years after his arrival at Koshkonong, he was engaged in making collections in many branches of natural history for several large museums, both in Europe and in this countrj'. Among the institutions whose collections he thus enriched, are the celebrated museums in Stockholm and Leyden, the British Museum in London, and the Smith- sonian Institute, in Washington, D. C. In 1867 he was called to a position as instructor in botany and zoology in Albion Academy, Albion, Wis., remaining for a few years. Later he w^as employed in forming and arranging collections for the state normal schools and the State University. From 1883 to the time of his death he held the position of conser- vator at the Public Museum in Milwaukee. Kumlien received several honorary degrees from institutions of learn- ing, and was corresponding member of various scientific BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 213 societies in Europe and America. On account of his modest and reserved disposition, lie was averse to parading his own superior attainments before the public. Consequently, very few of his valuable observations have been published, and he himself has remained almost unknown to the world, while others have succeeded in acquiring both fame and honors, though not so well equipped either intellectually or morally. A friend and colleague, writing shortly after the death of Kumlien, gives the following estimate of his char- acter : " Mr. Kumlien was no narrow man. He was passion- ately fond of painting, music, and poetry. I have heard him repeat, with a glow of delight, verses from Runeberg and from Tegner's Fritbiofs Saga, rendering the wonderful rhythm of the latter with exquisite grace and precision. He was a man of most refined tastes, without any of the extra- vagant desires which such tastes often engender. He was satisfied to live most simply a life which philosophers might envy. Higher than his intellectual accomplishments rose his moral qualities. The leading features of his character were harmlessness and truthfulness." Two of his children sur- vived him, one of whom, Ludwig Kumlien, is professor in Milton College, Milton, Wis. Langfeland, Knud, pioneer and journalist — Milwaukee — bom 27 Oct., 1813, in Samnanger, Bergen stift, Norway ; died 8 Feb., 1888. ' At the age of thirteen he lost his father, and a little later was forced to begin to make a living on his own account. His school facilities were of a very inferior grade; but by availing himself of every means within reach, he acquired more knowledge than his comrades. For gen- erations past Langeland's ancestors had been of an inde^ 214- HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE V. S. pendent turn of mind, and he himself was a chip of the old block in that respect. Thus, according to his autobiography, when the sons of the pastor and the government officials of his neighborhood made fun of the ragged clothes he was compelled to wear in his early teens, he wept and swore and was offended. In comparing his fate with that of the upper classes, he says: "This painful question, like the sharp steel, forced its way to my young heart. What have I done, and what have these people done, to create such a difference between us?" At the age of fourteen he learned German, his only means of instruction being a German Bible which he compared with the Norwegian Bible; and in spite of the protestations of the other members of the family, he began to extend his field of knowledge, w^ithout, however, having any distinct purpose in view. He was impelled by a natural inclination, and proceeded to Bergen, where he continued his studies under the guidance of a young student. Having taken a six months' course, he was appointed public school teacher and precentor in a settlement near his birthplace. Here Langeland worked very faithfully and with signal suc- cess, and he always looked back upon this time as one of the happiest of his life. "In a life so fall of vicissitudes, of joys and sorrows, of happiness and misfortune," he says, "there is nothing else in my past life which affords me so much joy and comfort as the memories from this time." His income the first year w^as about $11.00 ; but his position as precen- tor and sexton gave the people of the parish an opportunity to testify to their great satisfaction with his services by giving him larger collections on Sundays and holidays, and his annual income more than doubled in a couple of years. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 215 At the early age of twenty he was also appointed public vaccinator, and for several years his time was spent in teaching in winter and vaccinating children in summer. As impottant incidents from this time may be mentioned that he spent several months in England, in 1835, on which occa- sion he made a return trip by railfrom Newcastle to Shields; and that later he was awarded a prize as the best teacher in the fifteen school districts of the parish. One of the most discouraging experiences of Langeland as an educator was his attempt to establish a parish library. Having raised about $100 for that purpose, he w^as authorized to make a selection of books. The list of the books shows that they w^ere all of an educational, scientific, or practical character. But a few bigots succeeded in making the people believe that the books were detrimental to religion and morality, and no end of abuse was heaped upon the head of Lange- land, the soul of the undertaking. Almanakmanden was the most offensive book in the lot because it was supposed to contradict Joshua, X, 13: "And the sun stood still." The library was continued, but the stir which it had created henceforth hampered Langeland somewhat in his work, and after a seven years' service as a public educator in general, and an official teacher in particular, he resigned and became interested in a fishing smack. As to his success in this busi- ness, suffice it to say that whatever profits he made in one year, were generally lost the next year, and in 1843 he gave it up as a failure and emigrated to America, following in the wake of a brother, Mons A. Adland, who had left Norway in 1837, with the first emigrant vessel that sailed from Bergen, and on which was also the well-known Ole Rynning. 216 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE O. S, Langeland made his first home at Yorkville Prairie, Wis.; but in 1845 he settled in the southern part of Coltmibia county, and was one of the founders of the prosperous Nor- wegian settlement of that locality. He sold out his claim and returned to Racine county in 1846, and in the course of the next few years made himself conspicuous by supporting everything that would tend to promote the prosperity of the Yorkville settlement. In 1849 he bought the outfit oiNord- lyset, the first Norwegian paper in America, and, in company with Rev. 0. J. Hatlestad, began to publish it at Racine. The name of the paper was changed to Demokraten, because the Democrats had poked fan at it and called it 'a will-o-the- wisp that led the Norwegians into the morasses of the Free Soil party.' The paper at one time had about 300 sub- scribers, but its publication had to be suspended the next year for lack of funds . Shortly afterwards Lange'.and began to print Maanedstidende, and in 1852 removed to Janes- ville. Wis., but shortly afterwards sold out his printing out- fit. He now spent some time on his farm at Yorkville. In 1856 he w^as engaged as editor of Den Norske Aznerikaner, at Madison, Wis. The owner of the paper, Elias Stange- land, however, wanted to support Buchanan for president, while Langeland was an implacable anti-slavery man, and Langeland resigned, thus proving himself more of a man than the average American editor. The paper met with little or no sympathy among the readers, and soon died for lack of support. In 1860 Langeland was elected to a seat in the state assembly, and his most noteworthy effort as a legislator was the introduction and successfijl engineering of a bill by which 2,500 acres of state swamp land located ItEV. fMEiaiT'ND IIOYIIE, EAI' CLAIRE. REV. A. BI;EDI0S|.;.\, STOUGHTON. 1T!0F. JULIUS E. OLSON, MADISON. r. O. STKO.MMi:, M.VliISllX. T. E. TOl:l;lS(>X, M.\MTOW0C. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 217 in the township of Norway, was granted to said township. Having spent a number of years on his farm, Langeland was again induced to enter the field of journalism, this time as editor of Skandinaren, which was started in Chicago in the summer of 1866, by John Anderson and Iver Lawson. This paper was an out-and-out advocate of Republican principles, and the rapid increase of its circulation soon made its editor known among his countrymen from one end of the country to the other. During the sixties and seventies, a considera- ble number of Norwegians, chiefly ministers of the gospel, defended the doctrine of slavery as a mere theory — "slavery in itself" was the exact term used — and, on the other hand, they sometimes criticized the American common school sys- tem as "godless." For a long series of years Langeland kept up a systematic warfare against these parties, and his advocacy of the cause of our common school system w^as subsequently recognized by the board of education of Chi- cago, which named one of the public schools after him. It must be recorded as an historical fact that Langeland did more than any other man to attach his countrymen to the Republican party as well as to our common school sys- tem. In 1872 he severed his connection with Skandinaven, and for a time edited Atnerika, of Chicago. The latter w^as soon sold to the former, and Langeland again contributed to Skandinaven until the eighties, when he withdrew to Milwaukee to spend the closing days of his life. In 1880 the Republicans recognized his services by nominating him for presidential elector, and, being elected, he cast his vote for James A. Garfield. From this time on, however, he gradu- ally became displeased with the practical politics of our 218 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. cotintry. "The large Republican majorities have brought unscrupulous politicians to the front," he says, "and a little independence on the part of the voters is in its place — nay, it is the very essence of voting." Langeland's spirit of inde- pendence remained unimpaired to the very last, ample proof of which may be found in the fact that a few months before his death he publicly defended the much-abused Prohibition party. The year after his death Skandiaaren published his book Nordmaendene i Amerika. This work contains some valuable information in regard to the Norwegian immigra- tion, the first settlements, and the early Norwegian-Ameri- can press ; but, on the whole, it is more of an autobiography of Knud Langeland than a history of the Norwegians ; and it would, perhaps, never have appeared in its present form, if Langeland had lived to edit it. Langeland was married to Anna Hatlestad, who is a native of Skjold, Kristiansand stift, Norway, and is now living at Milwaukee. They had nine children, five of whom are still living. Among these may be mentioned Peter Langland, who is practicing medi- cine in Milwaukee, and James, who is on the editorial stafi" of the Chicago Record. Nattestad, Ole K., pioneer — Clinton— born 24 Dec, 1807, in Veggli, Kristiania stift, Norway; died 28 May, 1886. While a yotmg man he tried his hand at farming and black- smithing ; but, upon seeing that even his best efibrts did not enable him to save anything for the future, he decided to emigrate; and in 1837, in company with his brother Ansten, went to America by way of Gothenburg, Sweden. Natte- stad, 'or Natesta, as he spelt his name in this country, had first heard of America while on a visit to Stavanger. He BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 219 spent the first winter at Beaver Creek, 111.; but settled at Clinton, Wis., 1 July, 1838, being, as far as is known, the first Norwegian settler in the state of Wisconsin. Here he spent the rest of his life as a quiet and unassuming, but very prosperous farmer. His children received a good education, and several of them are prominent and respected members of the communities in which they reside. ' Nielsen, Andreas Sixtus, clergyman— Wi thee— bom 6 Apr., 1832, in Aalborg, Denmark. His school advantages in his boyhood appear to have been very limited. In his younger days he spent a couple of years in Norw^ay, where he became interested in a religious movement ; returned to his native land ; bought a small farm and engaged in agri- ctdtural pursuits ; and began as a layman in 1866 to lead religious meetings in Yendsyssel, where he lived. During liis travel as an itinerant missionary, he came in contact with several clergymen who called his attention to the fact that a committee, called Udvalget, had been formed for the purpose of promoting the preaching of the gospel among the Danes in America, and the pastors advised Nielsen to go to the Western world and become a minister. After having, at the age of thirty-nine, attended a high school for one winter, he, in company with a clergyman. Grove Rasmussen, set sail for America in 1871 with the intention of taking a view of the field of his future labor. He landed in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he became pastor of a Danish Lutheran congregation, which had been organized by Rev. C. L. Clausen a short time previously. Before accepting the pas- torage, however, Nielsen returned to Denmark for the pur- pose of bringing his family with him, and in order to b^ 220 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAATIANS IN THE V. S. ordained. As a matter of historical curiosity it may be mentioned that Nielsen had the Danish consul in Chicago indorse the letter written by five members of the congrega tion in Cedar Falls to Udvalget in Denmark, in which letter thsy requested Udvalget to ordain Nielsen as their pastor. The incident is an excellent illustration of the futile attempts, often indulged in, of bringing the w^estem pioneers under the control, or at least under the influence, of the state church machinery of some European country. Nielsen, however, was not ordained in bis native land, his time and education being too limited. But Udvalget did recommend that he should be ordained by Rev. Clausen in accordance with the Danish rituals, which was done. He remained in Cedar Falls for eight years, going through the usual hard- ships of pioneer life, his salary being only three or four hundred dollars a year. He was pastor in Chicago for four- teen years, and has since resided at his present place, where he organized a new congregation. His influence upon the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has been great, most of its pastors having been ordained by him. His services have been recognized not only by his friends, but also by his opponents, and even on the other side of the water, for in 1896 the king of Denmark made him a knight of the order of Daneborg as a recognition of the meritorious work he had done among the Danes in this country. In 1858 he was married, and he has eight children. Preus, Herman Amberg, clergyman and pioneer— Mor- risonville — born 16 June, 1825, in Kristiansand, Norway died 2 July, 1894, at Lee, 111. His ancestors were Germans, the earliest known being Hans Preus, a rich estate owner, BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 221 living at Eisfeldt, Sachsen-Meinigen ; and this man's son settled in Norway about the year 1700. Preus's grand- father was a Lutheran clergyman; his father, a college president; and his mother, a member of the illustrious Keyser family. He received a fine preparatory education at home, and spent the years 1843—48 at the University of Norway, receiving the degree of A. B. in 1843, and that of can. theol. in 1848. The next three years were devoted to teaching in the capital. In 1851 he accepted a call as pastor from three churches in the vicinity of Spring Prairie, Dane and Columbia counties. Wis., and was ordained before leav- ing for the New World. Upon his arrival at Spring Prairie there were no church buildings, and he had to enter upon his work as a minister by preaching in small log cabins which often were literally packed, while occasionally a large num- ber of people had to stand outside the open doors and windows during the services. Being a hard worker, Preus soon extended his field of activity far beyond the original charge. He thus preached in numerous places within a radius of fifty miles, and often he would preach at places located over one hundred miles from his home. It has been estimated that his travels averaged 3,500 miles a year for several years before there were any railroads in that part of the country. During this pioneer period Preus preached once or twice every day, or at least once every other day. His qualifications soon assigned to him a prominent posi- tion in the Lutheran church of America. On 4 January, 1851, a few ministers and lay delegates had organized a union of Norwegian Lutheran churches. But the constitu- tion agreed upon contained a few words referring to bap- 222 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. tisxn in sucli a way as to favor Gmndtvigianism, and Preus became very active in endeavoring to persuade the contract- ing parties to dissolve the organization, in order to get wholly rid of this "leaven of Graadtrigianism" which already had caused some trouble. Accordingly, the organi- zation was dissolved in 1852, and Preus was one of the seven ministers who participated in the organization of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod of America on 5 Feb., 1853. At the annual meeting of the synod in 1854, he was elected a member of the executive committee, and since that date till his death forty years later, he was one of the most promi- nent and influential men in the synod. Preus, Laur. Larscn, V. U. Koren, and J. A. Ottesen have justly been called the " venerable fathers " of the Norwegian Synod; and Rev. A. Bredesen says, "If any one man, before all others, deserves to be designated as the Patriarch of our church in America, that man is Herman Amberg Preus." But Preus was not such a successful organizer and leader among the Norwe- gian-American Lutherans, as, for instance, Muhlenberg was among the Germans, or Hasselquist among the Swedes. Preus was too inflexible and conservative to adapt himself to the new conditions in the New World, even in cases when it is difficult to understand how the doctrine and practice of pure Lutheranism would have suffered by yielding a little. He was too frank to practice what may be called diplomacy or policy. His unrelenting conservatism has always to a great extent characterized the Norwegian Synod up to the present time; and that organization has largely on this account been forced to participate in many religious contro- versies, which have resulted in schisms and direct loss to the BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 223 synod. Yet this very conservatism has not been without its bright sides. It has counterbalanced the anarchistic ten- ency, often misnamed freedom, which a new^ country is always subject to, not only religiously, but also socially, politically, and financially. The original loose organization of EUing Eielsen's Samfimd has, for example, in later years developed into the more stable Hauge's Synod, as a direct result of the conservative influence which the Norwegian Synod has exercised upon that body. Among all the promi- nent Scandinavian-American pioneers, it is quite difficult to find a man that was more conservative than Preus ; and this characteristic to hold on to what is old and stable, constitutes a double virtue in an age when change, for either good, bad, or indififerent, is the ruling passion of mankind. Realizing the power of the press, he devoted much time to the publication of Kirkelig Maanedstidende, the organ of the synod, and was appointed editor-in-chief of it in 1859, discharging his duty as such during the next nine years. In 1862 he was elected president of the synod, and so satis- factory were his services in this capacity that he vsras re-elected at every subsequent meeting as long as he lived. He was a strong man ; but his endurance was often severely tested. Says a personal friend of his: "When he had to travel day after day he would sit up and work half of the night, and yet the next day be as vivacious as ever in preaching or debating, or presiding at some large meeting." In the early seventies he traveled several thousand miles a year, and in one year he covered no less than eight thousand miles. The division of the synod into three districts, in 1876, relieved him of a part of the burdens which had 224 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. become too onorous for almost any one man. His fine physique and his frankness won the sympathy of the people, and his earnestness and sincerity inspired thinking men and women with confidence. Hence, it is no w^onder that so many people yet speak in a strain of touching tenderness about " Old Preus." His character was a rare combination of gentleness and firmness. Even his physiognomy was striking, and it is claimed that Prof. Walther, of St. Louis, upon first seeing him, exclaimed : " A detei'mined man ; he will make his mark." He w^as rather slow in making up his mind, but did not often recede from a position he had once taken. On the other hand, his heart was highly responsive to the sufferings of his fellow-men, and his generosity v^as more than ordinary. Experience had taught him the diflSculty of building up churches in new settlements, and throughout his career as president of the synod he was par- ticularly solicitous about the needs of the fi-ontier missions. Another marked feature of his great life-work was his untiring efforts to give the people of the synod a thorough and Christian education, by means of parochial schools. In 1866 he expressed himself on that subject as follows: "It is our endeavor to arrange our parochial schools so that the English common schools may become superfluous to our church members. This, of course, can only be accomplished by taking up such branches in the parochial schools as are taught in the English schools. It involves many difficulties, but we must work with this purpose in view." And again in 1893: "Strive with all your might to build up good parochial schools ! Try earnestly to give your children a Christian education ! The growth of the Lutheran church, REV. H. A. PREDS, MORRISONVILLE. KMll LANUELAXI), MILWAUKEE. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 225 nay its very existence, largely depends upon this ; for the future belongs to the rising generation." His personal con- tributions to the schools of the synod were comparatively large, and the example thus afforded undoubtedly has had something to do with the fact that the synod has done more for the cause of education than all the other Norwe- gian church organizations in the country combined. Preus w^as a Lutheran of the old school. Indeed, the following expressions from his report to the synod in 1893, remind one strikingly of the very language of Martin Luther himself: "At this moment an exceedingly dangerous tendency pervades nearly all Christian denominations in the world. It may not be the aim of the leaders and their followers, but it is the aim of the originator of this tendency, Satan, the deceiver, to get rid of the absolute, divine authority, by rejecting the biblical doctrine of the inspiration of the Scriptures." Having reviewed this tendency in the great Protestant churches in America and Europe, he continues: "We see the error threatening our very lives, and the spiritual atmosphere surrounding our church people is full of its poisonous microbes. The Scrip- tures are subjected to the judgment of the reason, and doc- trines of men take the place of the divine articles of faith. The foundation of Christianity and of Holy Writ, which is the Prophets and the Apostles, with Christ as the chief comer-stone, is thus undermined, justification by faith alone becomes a problem, divine certainty of faith yields to uncer- tainty and doubt, and the sinner is deprived of his consola- tion and peace." The Catholics also received some atten- tion in the same report: "The Catholic church stretches 226 HISTORY OF THB SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. forth its arms for prey. Its efforts to get the common schools into its clutches are well known ; in direct violation of the constitution it appropriates the money of the state for its church schools, and struggles for the acquisition of political power, in order to utilize it in the service of the Papal church. Woe to the Protestant churches if it suc- ceeds! For still the Papal church thirsts for the blood of 'heretics!' " The materialism of this age is sized up thus: "Last but not least, the synod will faithfully testify against the increasing worldiness, pursuit of riches, and love of pleasure. Our age is materialistic, it wants something for the eyes, something tangible. Here is the greatest dan- ger that the church may become secularized." These expres- sions were not dictated by any policy whatsoever. They sprung from the intense conviction of a cultured, intelligent, and singularly sincere man. Hence they give us, brief as they are, a reliable insight into the working of his mind. Such a man as Preus naturally found himself surrounded by true and trusty followers, whose devotion made life's ardu- ous task less irksome. The great bulk of his parishioners looked up to him as a respect-inspiring, yet loving and tender father. His family relations were the most beauti- ful and happy. On the other hand, his life was not w^ith- out streaks of shadow. During the eighties the synod was rent in twain by doctrainal controversies. This was brought home to him in a particularly painftd manner. On Good Friday, in the spring of 1883, a majority of the Norway Grove congregation which he had served as pastor for thirty years, deposed him because he refused to subscribe uncon- ditionally to resolutions adopted by said majority. Upon BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 227 receiving the news he said: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." According to Prof L. Larsen, however, something worried Preus still more than these reverses. Said Larsen at the dedication of the East Kosh- konong Pioneer Monument 10 Oct., 1894: "The man who by right ought to have dedicated this monument, the man who for thirty-two years was the president of our synod, but who last summer entered the rest of his Lord, throughout his whole life-work complained of nothing so much as of the aegligence which we have manifested in regard to the Chris- tian schooling of our children." Preus has written a large number of contributions to the organ of the synod. Syv Foredrag over de kirkelige Forbolde blandt de Norske i Amerika, 144 pages, pubhshed in 1867; and Oftedal's og Weenaas's Wisconsinisme, 146 pages, published in 1876, are valuable contributions to the history of the Norwegian- American Lutheran churches. He made visits to Norway in 1866-67 and in 1888-89. On the former occasion he deliv- ered the seven lectures mentioned above, thereby arousing renewed interest in American church affairs among the Nor- wegians. He also oflBciated at the funeral of his youngest sister and that of his father, the latter having reached the age of eighty-eight years. In the spring of 1876 his silver wedding was remembered by a few old friends who gathered at his house ; in the fall of the same year the twenty-fifth anniversary of his entering upon the service as a minister of the gospel, was fittingly celebrated by a large concourse of people in a grove near his home ; and in June, 1887, at the annual meeting of the synod, at Stoughton, Wis., a great number of his friends devoted one evening to a commemora- 228 HISTORY OF THK SCAXDINAYIANS IN THE U. S. tion of the work accomplished by him during the twenty-five years he had served as president of the synod. On this occa- sion he was the recipient of a valuable present from his brethren in the ministry. He w-as married in 1851 to Caro- line Dorthea Margrethe Keyser, of Kristiania, Norway, who died in 1880. She was an accomplished lady, and equally shares the honor with her husband of having brought up children who are an ornament to the Norwegian- Americans: Rev. C. K. Preus, Rev. J. W. Preus.Mrs. Rev. I. Nordby, and Mrs. Rev. Dan. Kvaase. The remains of Rev. H. A. Preus and his wife rest in the Spring Prairie cemetery, at Keyser, Wis. Steensland, Halle, vice-consul of Sweden and Norway — Madison — born 4 June, 1832, in Sandeid, near Stavanger, Norway. His father, who was a farmer, for more than a quarter of a century held the position of non-commissioned officer in the Norwegian army. At the early age of twelve, young Steensland gave indication of that spirit of self- reliance which has characterized his later life, by leaving his parental homestead and entering the battle of life on his own account. He first hired out as a farm hand; this occupa- tion, how^ever, being neither pleasant nor remunerative, he obtained a position as clerk in a store in Stavanger. But in the long run this position did not suit the ambitious young man, and in 1854 he left for America, arriving in Chicago with less than ten dollars in his pocket. He proceeded to Wisconsin the same year, and since the spring of 1855 has been a resident of Madison. The record of Steensland as a business man for nearly half a century past is bright, indeed. Beginning at the foot of the scale, as clerk in a store, he soon embarked in business for himself, first as member of a BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 229 mercantile firm, and afterwards as sole owner of the busi- ness. In 1871 he entered upon an entirely new branch of business by taking an active part in organizing the Hekla Fire Insurance Company, perhaps the first enterprise of its kind undertaken by Scandinavian- Americans. Steensland was the first secretary and treasurer of the company, acting in the capacity of the former about ten years, and in that of the latter for the whole period of eighteen years during which he was connected with the enterprise ; and served also as its president for the last few years of its existence. The com- pany was started w^ith a nominal paid-up capital of $25,000, and its affairs were so well managed that in 1889 the company's assets amounted to nearly half a million dollars ; but next year the Hekla was transferred to other parties and moved out of the state. Immediately after the consummation of this deal Steensland organized the Savings Loan and Trust Company of Madison, the paid-up capital being $100,000. In less than six years the assets of this company increased to over $530,000. Halle Steensland is its president and treasurer, and his son, Edward B. Steensland, its secretary. From the above it will be seen that Steens- land, notwithstanding the limited advantages he had in his early life as to education and opportunities for advance- ment, has succeeded not only in acquiring a competency, but has built up for himself a reputation as a business man of high rank. In 1872 Steensland was appointed to the office of vice-consul of Sweden and Norway, and has filled that position with signal tact and ability, and to the entire satisfaction of his fellow-citizens, as well as to the govern- ments of Sweden and Norway. In this connection it maj^ be 230 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. mentioned that he takes pardonable pleasure in an inter- view which he had with King Oscar II, in Norway, in 1889, on which occasion the king gave him a very cordial recep- tion and, as a special mark of esteem, created him a knight of the Order of Vasa in 1898. Politically, Steensland has always been identified with the Republican party, and has taken active part in some of the campaigns, especially that of 1884, when James G. Blaine was the Republican candidate for president. Steensland and family belong to the United Church, and he has served as member of the board of trus- tees of said body since 1890. In the summer of 1895 he, in company with a son, made an extensive trip through the Mediterranean countries and the Orient, and an account of his travels, which he sent to the papers, was eagerly read by thousands of people in this country and Norway. In 1857 he w^as married to Sophia Halvorson, of Madison, and their home is w^idely noted for its attractiveness and the hospi- tality of its occupants. Their children are also making their mark : Morten M. is a graduate of Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, and of the Lutheran theological seminary at Phila- delphia, Pa.; Edward B., mentioned above as secretary of the Savings Loan and Trust Company, and Helen A. are both graduates of the University of Wisconsin; Halbert S. is studying medicine at Johns Hopkins University. They have also two other sons, Henry H. and Adolph E. Thorsen, John, pioneer and manufacturer — Milwaukee — bom 20 March, 1820, in Stavanger, Norway. He received a common school education, and at the age of fourteen left his native city. Having made several voyages on the Baltic and Mediterranean seas, and visited the East and BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 231 West Indies, he spent two years on the coast of Norway. He came to America as early as 1838, and took up his home in Milwaukee in 1844, where he has resided ever since. In 1895 he returned to Norway to visit his native land after an absence of sixty years. On settling in Milwaukee he commenced as a ship chandler, and continued in that business until 1868, when he entered the lumber business in Manistee, Mich., but continued to reside in Milwaukee. He was one ofthe first to discover and develop the large salt resources of eastern Michigan, and had one of the first salt blocks in Manistee. In 1895 he sold out his salt and lumber business and retired. In his younger days he was a great oarsman, and on the Fourth of July, 1856, won the boat race in Mil- waukee against all comers. Early in the sixties a large ship with a number of people on board was wrecked in a terrible storm off Milwaukee. He organized a life saving crew and brought one boat-load safely ashore, but the second load was not so fortunate, the boat being overturned in the surf, but with the heroic exertion of those on shore, all w^ere saved. Thorsen, however, was taken home in an insensible condition, and for some time his life was despaired of. He has been one of the most public spirited citizens of Milwaukee, having held many offices of trust and responsibility; for instance, in the Chamber of Commerce, the Milwaukee Club, and the North- western National Insurance Company. He has always been an enthusiastic Republican, but would never accept any political office. In 1849 he was married in Milwaukee to Sarah Kildahl, of Kristiansand, Norway. They have five children, three daughters and two sons, each of whom received a liberal education. Their son, William R., is a 232 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. large manufacturer at Manistee, Mich.; their datighter Emma is married to an English merchant in Rio de Janeiro; and the others are residing in Milwaukee. Thrane, Markus, radical agitator and writer— aEu Claire — ^born 14 Oct., 1817, near Kristiania, Norway; died 30 April, 1890. He received a college education, and gradu- ated from the University of Norway, and he afterwards carried on a private school at Lillehammer. During a short stay in France, the liberal movement agitating the masses of that country made a powerful impression upon his liberty-loving mind, and upon his return to Norway he became the champion of a similar movement there. The movement culminated in the Revolution of 184-8, which swept western Europe in the course of a few months. His paper, Arbeiderfoieningernes Blad, soon reached a circula- tion of 4-0,000, and for a time no name was more frequently mentioned throughout Norway than that of Markus Thrane. His demands seem eminently reasonable and moderate at the present time ; but they were so far ahead of the age that Thrane was made to suifer for his labors in the interest of human progress. He was finally arrested, and though his followers seemed both w^illing and able to liberate their leader, he dissuaded them from doing so, believing that the authorities would dismiss him in a few days. In this he w^as mistaken, however, and he had to remain four years in jail, and afterwards three years in the penitentiary. Thoroughly disgusted with a government that was capable of perpetrating such an outrage against an honest man, he emigrated to America in 1864, remaining one year in New York, and afterwards settling in Chicago. In the latter OSULD TOREISriX, :NI ANITOiVOC. REV. J. A. BERGH, ORFOI[IJ\'ILLE. O. GRANRERG, BLAIR. A. JEXWON, EDGERTOX. F. L. TROXSDAE, EAU CLAIRE. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 233 city he published Den Norske Amerikaaer, Dagslyset, and Den Nye Tid, which papers were not only radical on social and political questions, but also very bitter against many of the practices of the Christian church. His Wisconsin- bibelen is a sarcastic attack on leading Norwegian Lutheran clergymen, and the biblical form in which the language of the book was cast made it exceedingly obnoxious to those against w^hom it Was directed. Upon the whole, Markus Thrane was not in touch w^ith the bulk of the Norwegian- Americans, on account of his pronounced hostility to the church. The closing days of his life were spent with his son, Dr. Thrane, of Eau Claire. Consistent to the last, he insisted that no clergyman should be allowed to speak at his funeral. He was married in 1840 to Josefine Buch, who died in 1863. They had five children. Torrison, Osuld, merchant — Manitowoc — ^born 6 March, 1828, near Grimstad, Kristiansand stift, Norway; died 3 Nov., 1892. His ancestors for many generations back had been highly respected tillers of the soil. Torrison received a common school education in his native land, at the same time learning to make himself useful as a farm laborer ; emi- grated to America at the age of nineteen, making his first home at Port Washington, Wis., where he began to attend school ; removed to Manitowoc Rapids, where he clerked for about two years ; and in 1851 settled at Manitowoc, where he resided during the remainder of his life. Here he began to clerk in a store ; but two years later he, in company with another man, bought out his former employer, and success- fully conducted a general merchandise business for five years. In 1858 Torrison purchased his partner's interest, and 234 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. under his able management the business became one of the most extensive enterprises conducted by Scandinavian- Americans. In 1882 he built a very large brick building, ■where his heirs, under the management of his son, Thomas E. Torrison, still conduct the business. But his activity was not confined to his general store ; he also dealt in real estate, lumber, etc., on an extensive scale; he owned several saw-mills and ware-houses; his vessels plowed the great lakes ; and his annual transactions aggregated about half a million dollars. Torrison w^as a patriotic American, took some interest in politics, but had no political ambition, and on one occasion he made his Republican friends understand that their wishes to have him accept a nomination as candi- date for Congress could not be complied with. He was a member of the Norwegian Synod and a generous supporter and patron of Luther College, Decorah, Iowa. Being a generous man, Torrison brought his mother, brother, and sisters to this country as soon as he had saved enough money to do so. One of the traits of Torrison's character was his love for his native land, which he visited four times, and he took active interest in the welfare of his country- men everywhere. He was married in 1854 to Martha Hansen Findal, who was bom nearI,angesund,Kristiansand stift, Norway. They had ten children. Six of their sons are graduates of Luther College, the other two attended several years, and some of them have taken post-graduate courses in the best universities of this country and Europe. Thomas E., the oldest son, succeeded his father in the busi- ness ; Inanda A. is the wife of Rev. A. Bredesen, of Stough- ton, Wis.; Isac B. is a clergyman in the Norwegian Synod' BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WISCONSIN. 235 Oscar M. and George A. are practicing law and medicine, respectively, in Chicago, 111. Gusta H., Norman G., Aaron J., and William S. are connected with the business at Mani- towoc, and Agnes M., the youngest child, is attending col- lege at Wellesley, Mass. Every member of this family is developed to an unusual degree, physically as well as men- tally, and it has been stated that in point of bodily develop- ment and intellectual vigor and equipoise, these ten brothers and sisters constitute a family which have no peers among the two hundred and odd thousand Norwegian- American families. Warner, Hans B., secretary of state — Ellsworth — born 12 July, 1844, in Gudbrandsdalen, Norway; died in 1896. In 1849 he emigrated with his parents, who first settled in Dodge county, Wis. In the summer of 1855 they moved to Pierce county, where Warner resided ever since. Dur- ing his boyhood, young Warner received such education as the common schools afforded, the greater part of his time being spent on the farm. In 1864 he enlisted as a private in company G, 37th Wisconsin regiment, but after a few months' service w^as wounded and captured by the Confed- erates during the campaign in front of Petersburg, Va., and was held as prisoner of war in Danville and Libby prisons until paroled. In July, 1865, he received his discharge from the service on account of wounds received in battle. He returned to his home, and at the election in 1868 was elected county clerk, and held that office until he resigned, in 1877, to assume the duties of secretary of state, to which position he had been elected. Warner has the distinguished honor of being the first Scandinavian in Wisconsin elected to one of 236 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. the more important state offices, though in a {e\r cases others had succeeded in reaching electiTC offices of minor importance and rank. He was re-elected in 1879, holding office until 1881. In 1883 he was elected state senator, and held that office for four years, being among the few Scandi- navians ever elected to the upper branch of the state legis- lature. At the close of his legislative career he was elected to the position of supervisor for the village for seven years, and was chairman of the county board of supervisors for the same length of time. In 1895 Warner w^as appointed a member of the state board of control for a term of five years, and at the organization of that body w^as elected president of the board. Warner was a life long Republican. In 1866 he was married to Julia E. Hudson; they had no children. Biographies of Scandinavians in Wisconsin and Iowa. Ager, Wm., author— Eau Claire, Wis.,— born 23 March, 1869, in Fredrikstad, Norway. His ancestors for genera- tions had been soldiers, and his father served in the Norwe- gian army a long series of years. Young Ager received a good common school education, and has always been an ardent student of modern literature. In 1885 he emigrated to America, locating in Chicago, where he learnt the print- er's trade. Much of his time has been devoted to the temperance movement, and in 1891 he took a very active part in the organization of a Norwegian Grand Temple of the Templars of Temperance. From 1891 to 1894 he edited Texnplat-Bladet, the official organ of the Scandinavian templars, and has organized a number of local temples. Since 1892 he has been connected with i?e/orxn, ofw^hich he has been manager since 1896. In 1894- he published Paa Drikkeondets Konto, a collection of short stories and poems bearing on the drink problem, which work met with a very flattering reception. In 1896 he was elected treas- urer of the total abstinence congress. He married in 1899. Akermark, Gudmund E., poet and journalist— Wood Lake, Wis.,— born 1863, in Gothenburg, Sweden. For some time he attended college in his native city, completing three classes; emigrated in 1887; was editor of a couple of Swed- ish papers in Omaha for some time; for one year held the 237 238 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. same position on Sf^enska Atnerikanska fasten, Minne- apolis. Since 1893 lie lias edited Skordemannen, a Swed- ish semi-monthly agricultural paper published in Minne- apolis, and is also connected with Srenska Folkets Tidtiing, although he and his family reside on his farm at Wood Lake. The great Swedish-American literary critic, Ernst Skarstedt, in his Svenska Amerikanska Poeter, speaks highly of Akermark as journalist and poet. In 1891 he was married to Constance Nelson; they have children. Anderson, Abel, banker — Sioux City, la., — born 17 June, 1855, at Jernskog, Vermland, Sweden. He received a com- mon school education in his native country; emigrated to this country in 1874, coming directly to Sioux City, where at first he worked in brick yards, as well as on a farm in Union county, S. D. In 1877 he started a small grocery store of his own in Sioux City, which he kept for nine years; then traveled as a commercial traveler a couple of years in the Northwest, and in 1890 he, in company with others, organized the Northwestern National Bank, capital stock $100,000, of which he was vice-president one year, having since been president, and is now the principal owner of this bank. In 1892 he w^as elected, by the Republicans, city treasurer, being re-elected in 1894 by a very large majority. He is respected, not only by the Scandinavians, but is looked upon by other nationalities as being one of the most successful and prosperous financiers among the Scandina- vians in the Northwest. He is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church, having been one of the trustees of his home congregation nearly ever since the church was organ- ized in 1875. In 1882 he was married to Henrietta L. Carl- strom, of Sioux City. They have children. Anderson, Joseph Alfred, clergyman— Creston, la.,— bom 10 July, 1868, in Lommaryd, SmMand, Sweden. His BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WIS. AND IOWA. 239 father was a farmer, who emigrated in 1868, and settled in Des Moines, Iowa. Young Anderson, whose mother died when he was an infant, came to this country at eight years of age, joining his father at Des Moines, where he attended the public schools during the winters, and parochial school during the summer time. In 1882 he entered Augustana College, from which institution he graduated six years later; took the degree of A. M. at his alma mater in 1891, being the first graduate of Augustana College to complete the regular course of study leading to the master of arts degree; completed his theological course the following year. Dur- ing his school days, he clerked in grocery stores a couple of years; taught parochial school at Iron Mountain, Mich., during the summer of 1887-88; was professor at Hope Academy, Moorhead, Minn., the first year of its existence, in 1888—89. At the end of that time he went to Washing- ton, where he had charge of the Swedish Lutheran churches in Seattle and Tacoma. During his vacation in 1890 he had charge of the Swedish Lutheran church in Keokuk, Iowa, and was stationed at Dalsborg and Newman Grove, Neb., the following year. Since his ordination in 1892 he has been pastor of the Swedish Lutheran church in Creston, served as secretary of the Iowa Conference of the Augustana Synod in 1893-8. He has been a member of the executive committee of the Alumni Association of Augustana College and of the Iowa Conference. Anderson married Ellen S. Carlson in 1896. They have children. Anderson, J. E„ state legislator and journalist — Forest City, la.,— born 29 March, 1846, in SmMand, Sweden. In 1852 his parents came to America, and settled on a farm in Winnebago county, la., in 1860. Young Anderson attended the Upper Iowa University in 1866-69; took a full course of scientific and classical studies at the State University, gra- 240 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. duating in 1872; and completed his law studies at that institution four years later. Anderson is the author of a work on business calculations, and in 1872-75 visited about three hundred colleges, lecturing on his specialty. In 1881 he was elected state legislator on the Republican ticket. Up to about 1890, he was a Republican; since he has joined the People's party, and was president of the first state conven- tion of that party in 1891. Anderson is a member of the American Methodist Church. He is married, and has children. Bengston, Carl J., clergyman— New Sweden (Postoffice Four Comers), Iowa,— bom 22 July, 1862, in Slafsinge, HaUand, Sweden. He emigrated to this country at the age of thirteen; graduated from Augustana College in 1888; and completed his theological studies at that institution two years later. Bengston served for three years in Hartford, Conn., and in the summer of 1893 accepted a call to his present charge, which is the first Swedish Lutheran congre- gation in America organized in the nineteenth century. He has since 1898 been secretary of the Iowa Conference, and is a member of the constitutional committee. In 1899 he w^as elected to the state legislature on the Republican ticket. In 1891 he married E. Otilia Swanson, of Jamestown, N. Y. Bergh, J. A., clergyman and author — Orfordville, Wis., — ^born 12 Jan., 1847, in Kristiania stift, Norway. His father was a clergyman, and he received a good education at a private school in Kristiania. He emigrated to America in 1860; studied at Paxton, 111., and graduated from the theological department of the seminary at Marshall, Wis., in 1871. He accepted a call from Tordenskjold and other congregations in Otter Tail county, Minn. In 1877 he removed to Iowa; and in 1882 settled at his present home. Bergh, in addition to his labors as pastor of a large congre- gation, has also extended his work into the fields of journal- BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WIS. AND IOWA. 241 ism and literature. Some of his ablest newspaper articles are contributions to the controversies in the Norwegian Lutheran church, and his book, Den Gamle og Njre Rei- ning, is an exposition of a controversy w^hich was'started in 1882. Among the books compiled by Bergh may be men- tioned Underfald BonhQrelse, I Sidste Oieblik, Lirs- billeder, and I Ledige Stunder. He was married in 1873 to Birgitta Meland, who died in 1897. They had six children. Bergh, Martin, lawyer— La Crosse, Wis.,— bom 16Sept., 1862, in Kristiania, Norway. His father was of Norwegian, and his mother of Swedish parentage. In 1870 he emi- grated with his parents to this country, going directly to La Crosse, Wis. Bergh graduated from the high school of La Crosse in 1882. After devoting three years to the study of law, he was admitted to the bar in 1885. Besides an extensive practice in Wisconsin, he has conducted important cases in the adjoining states. After a partnership with J. H. A. Ginder from 1885 to 1887, he practiced alone until 1894, w^hen the firm of Bleekman, Bloomingdale & Bergh was formed, with which firm he has since been connected. In 1895 and 1897 he was elected city attorney of La Crosse. Bergh has taken a prominent part in the affairs and cam- paigns of his party, and has several times represented his city in Republican state conventions. He ranks high in the Masonic order. In 1880 he was married to Hanna C. Fleischer, a daughter of the well-known journalist, Freder- ick Fleischer. They have children. Borehsenius, Hans, soldier and public officer— Baldwin, Wis.,— bom 19 Sept., 1832, in Nestved, Sjalland, Denmark. Borehsenius emigrated to America in 1856, settling at Madison, Wis. In 1858 he became proprietor and editor of Nordstjernen, which position he occupied for the next two years. At the breaking out of the Civil War he enlisted in 242 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. the army, being appointed adjutant in the famous Fifteenth Wisconsin, and served as major on the march to Louisville, Ky. In 1864 he was appointed clerk of the state school land department, which position he occupied until 1869. In the fall of 1868 he was elected clerk of the board of super- visors of Dane county, on the Republican ticket, and was re-elected two years later. During this period he also studied law at the State University of Wisconsin, and was admitted to the bar in 1872; removed to Baldwin in 1877; served five years as state agent for the government timber land along the Chippewa and Menomonie rivers; was chief of a division of the internal revenue department at Washington for two years; and in 1896 was elected to the state assembly. Bothne, Gisle, educator — Decorah, la., — bom in Fred- rikshald, Norway, 7 Sept., 1860. He is a son of Th. Bothne. He attended the Latin school in his native city until fifteen years of age, emigrated with his parents to this country two years before he had completed his course, and graduated from Luther College in 1878, receiving the degree of A. M. from his alma mater in 1883. After he had completed his studies in Luther College, he graduated from the North- western University in 1879, and spent one year at Johns Hopkins University. Bothne was called to the professor- ship of Greek and Norwegian literature in his alma mater, Luther College, in 1881, w^here he has since remained, except- ing the year 1883-84, when he again attended Johns Hop- kins University. He has written a history of Luther College. Bredesen, Adolph, clergyman — Stoughton, Wis., — born 25 Oct., 1850, in Sol5r, Hamar stift, Norway. His ances- tors for many generations back were farmers, smiths, or lumbermen. He came to America in 1852 with his parents, who settled in Adams county. Wis. Bredesen entered Luther College at the age of fifteen, and was graduated in 1870. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WIS. AND IOWA. 243 Having completed a theological course at the Concordia Theological Seminary, he entered the ministry in 1873, and for the next three years served a number of churches in Columbia county, Wis., as the assistant of Rev. H. A. Preus. During the school years of 1876-78 he was an instructor at Luther College; then accepted a call from three churches in the western part of Dane county. Wis., where he remained until the fall of 1881; and since the latter date has served a church at Stoughton, and another at McFarland, near the same city. For many years past Bredesen has been chair- man of the board of directors of Stoughton Academy and Business Institute, and also of the board of directors of Martin Luther Orphans' Home, at Stoughton, and is a member of the Wisconsin Historical Society. Bredesen generally prepares his public utterances with great care, and some of his lectures in favor of total abstinence and prohi- bition have been published in pamphlet form. He was chosen to deliver the English address at the dedication of the pioneer monument at East Koshkonong, Wis., 10 Oct., 1894. This address, published in a book called Kosh- konong, contains, besides other important historical mat- ter, an excellent summing up of the peculiar social condi- tions prevalent among the early Norwegian pioneers, and it has been liberally quoted by other authors. In 1878 he was married to Inanda A. Torrison, a daughter of Osuld Torri- son, of Manitowoc — an account of this remarkable man and his family is given in this work. Bredesen has children. Bull, Storm, educator— Madison, Wis.,— born 20 Oct., 1856, in Bergen, Norway. He is a nephew of Ole Bull, the w^orld-famed violinist. He attended school in his native city, and completed a course at the celebrated polytechnic institute of Zuerich, Switzerland, graduating with the high- est honors in 1877. In 1879 he emigrated to America, and 244 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAYAINS IN THE U. S. at once accepted a position as instructor in mechanical engineering in the University of Wisconsin; five years later was appointed assistant professor in the same branch; from 1887-91 occupied a regular chair of mechanical engineering; and at the latter date took charge of the department of steam engineering. He is familiar with several languages, and speaks Norwegian, English, German, and French with fluency; belongs to several societies; and is a Unitarian. Burg, P. N., merchant— Shell Lake, Wis.,— born 15 Apr., 1860, in Sallerup, Sk4ne, Sweden. His parents were farm- ers, and young Burg commenced to earn his own living at the early age of fourteen. He w^orked as a farm hand until twenty years of age, when he emigrated to America, coming to Grove City, Minn. For a couple of years he worked on the railroad during the summer, and attended school in the winter. He then moved to Princeton, Minn., where he remained for five years, being employed as clerk in a store. In 1887 he settled at Shell Lake, Wis., and after having clerked for three years, started a general merchandise store, having at that time a capital of only $200. In this under- taking Burg has been very successful; has built up a large business; has an annual trade of about $50,000; and has one of the largest establishments of its kind owned by any Swedish merchant in the state. In 1885 he was married to Lizzie Hillman, of Falun, Dalarne, Sweden, whose ancestors were prominent in the public affairs of that place. Carlson, Anton, journalist— Des Moines, la., — bom 17 Oct., 1859, in Misterhult, Sm&land, Sweden. After comple- ting a course of study at a preparatory school in Oscars- hamn, Carlson entered Frans Schartau's commercial school at Stockholm, from which he graduated. In 1881 he emi- grated to this country. After working as clerk in clothing stores in Chicago, Ottumwa, la., and Holdrege, Neb., he BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WIS. AND IOWA. 245 moved in 1889 to Des Moines, where he became connected with the Swedish Publishing Company. In the latter part of the same year he became editor of Sritbiod, a newspaper published by said company, continuing in the same capacity until May, 1898, when he, during the Spanish-American War, accepted a position in the office of the Assistant Quartermaster General at New Orleans, La. Carlson is a Republican, and ably advocated the principles of that party as an editor. He is a Freemason. Carlson, Osear W., physician and surgeon — Milwaukee, Wis., — ^bom 1 Aug., 1843, in Stockholm, Sweden. At the age of ten he emigrated to America; resided at Columbus, Ohio, for one year; moved to Waukesha, Wis., where he attended the public schools; worked for some time in a lum- ber camp. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in the 28th Wisconsin Infantrj', serving for three years. He took active part in the siege of Mobile and other places. After having returned from the army, Carlson commenced to study medicine in Milwaukee, and completed his studies in Chicago, in 1872. He then practiced his profession in Milwaukee for seven years; visited his native land as well as other European countries, studying at some of the larger hospitals in England and elsewhere. After his return he has practiced in Milwaukee, being the only Swedish physi- cian in the city. His large practice, however, is mostly among the Americans, as he is hardly able to speak the Swedish language fluently. Carlson is a member of several societies, in which he has held high offices. Chantland, P. W., sheriff— Fort Dodge, la.,— born 11 Oct., 1840, in Aardal, Stavanger amt, Norway. His father was a sea captain, sailing along the coast, and most of his mother's ancestry had been in military service. At the age of thirteen he came from his native country to Primrose, 246 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. Wis., where he remained until 1861, when he enlisted in the famous Fifteenth Wisconsin Regiment, serving over two years. In 1864 he moved to Fort Dodge, where he pur- chased land, being one of the earliest Norwegians in Web- ster county; but soon returned to Wisconsin, where he attended Albion Academy for a couple of years, as well as teaching some; then settled permanently in Webster county, and farmed from 1867-75. Chantland was sheriff for eight years; has since dealt in real estate and insurance, and was elected justice of peace in 1892 and 1894. He is a member of the order of Freemasons, of the I. O. O. F., and of the A. O. U. W., having held the highest offices in some of these organizations. He is also an active member of the G. A. R.; was for a number of years captain of Company F, Sixth Regiment, Iowa National Guards, and afterwards pro- moted to lieutenant-colonel on the governor's staff. Chant- land is a very prominent public man in Webster county, and has done a great deal for the welfare of the Scandinavians in the vicinity. He is a Republican. In 1869 he was mar- ried to Julia Skavlem; she died in 1872, and three years later he was married to Anna Natesta, or Natestad, whose father was the earliest Norwegian settler in Wisconsin, coming there in 1839. Chantland has had children by both wives. His eldest son, Wm. T. Chantland, was born 22 June, 1870; is a graduate of the collegiate and law depart- ments of the University of Iowa; w^as captain of company G, 52nd Iowa Infantry Volunteers, during the Spanish War in 1898; has been county attorney of Webster county for some time; and is also interested in the beet sugar industry. Dah]l, J. M., clergyman .— Ratna, la., — born 14 Dec, 1836, in Karlso, Tromso stift, Norway. He left his native land and studied from 1860 to 1866 atthe missionary school at Hermannsburg, Germany, and passed the theological BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WIS. AND IOWA. 247 examinations required by the royal consistory of Hanover. Shortly afterwards he was ordained, and departed for India as a missionary in the Telugu country. Dahl became a per- sonal friend of the rajah of Venkatagiri, and the progress of his work was gratifying. But he was sunstruck at two dif- ferent times, and was compelled to return to Europe. In 1873 he accepted a call from a congregation in Winnebago county, Iowa, arriving at his present home in the fall of that year. Dahl is a highly influential member of the United Church. He has been married twice, and has children. Dahl, T. H., clergyman — Stoughton, Wis., — born 2 Apr., 1845, in Baadstad, Kristiania stift, Norway. He attended a Latin school in Kristiania for a while; emigrated to Amer- ica in 1865; completed his theological studies at Paxton, 111.; and in 1868 accepted a call from congregations in Meeker county, Minn., being the first Norwegian Lutheran pastor who settled west of "the Big Woods." In 1873 he removed to Ft. Howard, Wis., and settled at his present home in 1881. He joined the Norwegian-Danish Lutheran Conference in 1871, and served that body as secretary from 1876 to 1881, and as president from the latter date to 1886. His words and works alike are characterized by Christian charity, and even in the heat of controversy he generally remains calm and impartial. His preaching is universally popular. In 1894 he published Fred og Strid, treating of the controversy raging in the United Church at that time. The same year he was elected vice-president of the United Church. In 1867 he married Lina Gjertsen, a daughter of Rev. J. P. Gjertsen. They have several children. Dahle, Onon B., merchant— Mt. Horeb, Wis.,— born 4 Oct., 1823, in Nissedal, Kristiansand stift, Norway. He graduated from Hvideseid normal school in 1842, and emi- grated six years later. He settled in Dane county. Wis., 248 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAl L4.NS IN THE U. S. after having been in California for some time; and for over forty years had a country store in Perry, being one of the leading men in that vicinity, as well as one of the most successful and wealthy Norwegian business men in the state of Wisconsin. He is a member of the United Norwegian Church. In 1854 he was married to Betsey Nelson, of North Cape, Racine county; they have three sons, and their daughter is married to the able ex-county attorney of Henne- pin county, Minn., James A. Peterson. His son, H. B. Dahle, was bom 30 Mar., 1855; attended the University of Wisconsin for a few years; has for many years been in the mercantile business at Mt. Horeb; and was elected on the Republican ticket to the U. S. Congress in 1898. Dan, Adam, clergyman and author — Fredsville, la., — born 8 Feb., 1848, in Odense, Island of Fyen, Denmark. Dan's father was an officer in the Danish army; his mother was of French descent. He studied for some time at the University of Denmark and at Basel, Switzerland. After extensive travels in Europe he proceeded to Egypt, then to the Holy Land, where he was missionary for nearly a year, when he accepted a call from the Danish Lutheran church in Racine, Wis., arriving there in 1871. After a period of nine years' successful labor in this field, Dan went to San Francisco, where he remained for four years. He now visited Denmark, and while there was called as pastor® of the Danish Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minn., where he resided from 1884 to 1893, being also pastor of the Danish churches in St. Paul and Hutchinson. From 1893 to 1896 he filled the pulpit of one of the Danish churches in Chicago, and while there celebrated the 25th anniversary of his ordination, receiving expressions of esteem from Danes all over the country. Since 1896 Dan has been pastor at Fredsville. Dan was the first clergy- A. PETERSON, SOLDIERS GROVE. M. BERGH, LA CROSSE. P. N. BURG, SHELL LAKE. A. T. LINDHOLM, STILLWATER. PROF. E. G. LUND, MINNEAPOLIS. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WIS. AND IOWA. 249 man of the Danish Lutheran Church in America. He was once president of the denomination, once vice-presi- dent, twice editor of the church paper, KirkelJg Saznler, which he founded, once editor of the children's paper, and has also been president of the board of trustees of the theological seminary. He is the author of numerous poems, essays, novels, and books of travel. His largest work, Kaaaan, has gone through several editions, and gives an excellent description of his travels in the Holy Land. Dan is an able speaker, and his writings are polished and sympathetic. In 1871 he was married to Signe Sorensen, who died in 1895. His daughter Thyra is a good singer. Davidson, James 0., state treasurer — Soldiers Grove, Wis., — ^born 10 Feb., 1854, in Norway. He received a com- mon school education in his native land, and emigrated to America in 1872, settling in Madison, Wis. Since 1877 he has resided at Soldiers Grove, where he has been engaged in mercantile business. He was elected to represent his district in the state assembly in 1892, in 1894, and in 1896; and was elected state treasurer as a Republican in 1898. £ggre, Albert E., educator — Iowa City, la., — ^born 12 Feb., 1857, in Winneshiek county, la. His parents were bom in Ostre Slidre, Valders, Norway. They emigrated to this country in 1850, residing until 1853 in Dane county, Wis., and afterwards in Winneshiek county. When a boy he attended the district school near his father's farm. In 1873 he entered Luther College, from which he graduated in 1879. After teaching for three years he went to Johns Hopkins University, where he s^ent five years (1882-87). Here he devoted himself specially to Teutonic philology and history, but gave much attention also to the Romance languages, comparative philology, and pedagogy. In 1884 he was appointed, by the trustees of Johns Hopkins Uni- 50 250 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. versity, graduate scholar in English, and shortly afterwards also assistant in English, holding the latter position for three years. In 1885 he was appointed fellow in Teutonic languages, and in 1887 received the degree of Ph. D. From 1887 to 1892 he was professor of English, German, and history in St. Olaf College. Then for four years he was instructor in English in the State University of Iowa, Iowa City. In 1896 he accepted the chair of English literature in the Washington Agricultural College and School of Science, Pullman, Wash. Egge has acquired an enviable reputation as a philologist, and as an authority on the English lan- guage. In 1891 he married Sina Berge, of Decorah. Erdall, John L., assistant attorney general — Madison, Wis., — ^bom 5 June, 1863, in Deerfield, Dane county. Wis. His grandfather and father came from Hardanger, Norway, in 1847, and settled in Deerfield. Young Erdall graduated from the classical department of the State University in 1885, from the law department in 1887. In 1888 he was elected district attorney of Dane county, holding that office for two years. In 1895 he was appointed assistant attorney general for the state, being, perhaps, the first Scandinavian in the United States who has been appointed to a position which requires such high legal attainments, and involves such great responsibility. He is a member of the United Church. He was married in 1885, and has children. Eriekson, HalfoFd, commissioner of statistics— Superior, Wis.,— bom 7 July, 1862, in Fogelvik, Yermland, Sweden. He received a common school education in his native land; emigrated in 1882; attended MinneapoHs Academy for some time; worked for the Northwestern railroad company until 1889, when he removed to Superior, Wis. In 1890 Eriekson was elected register of deeds of Douglas county, and w^as re-elected in 1892, being the first Swede in Douglas county BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WIS. AND IOWA, 251 to be elected to that office. Erickson is a Republican, and in 1895 was appointed by the governor commissioner of the bureau of statistics, and re-appointed two years later, being the first person of Swedish parentage who has received an appointment to any important office in Wis- consin, in fact the only Swede in the state who at present is in any manner prominent in public life. Erickson has paid special attention to the study of political economy, and possesses one of the largest private collections of books treating of that subject in the Northwest. As a statistician and political economist Erickson has, probably, no superior or equal among the Scandinavians in America. In 1889 he was married to Annie Carlson. Estrem, Andrew, educator — Clinton, la., — ^born 6 Mar., 1864, near Cresco, Iowa. His parents came from the vicinity of Haugesund, Norway, in 1855, and settled in Howard county, Iowa. He graduated from Luther College in 1886; studied for a short time at the State University of Iowa; then went to Cornell University, receiving the mas- ter's degree at that famous institution in 1889. He was instructor in Latin and history at Luther College the follow- ing year, after which he returned to Cornell to pursue a more extended course in American history and in political science. He received the Ph. D. degree at Cornell University in 1892, and has since 1894 taught the English language and literature in Wartburg College, Clinton, Iowa. His ability as a writer and teacher is generally recognized. Fleischer, Frederick, journalist — La Crosse, Wis.,— born 18 June, 1821, in Vaaler, Kristiania stift, Norway; died 12 Nov., 1878. Being the son of a minister, young Fleischer received a liberal education, and received from the University of Norway the degree of A. B., and of LL. B., in 1840 and 1844, respectively. He emigrated to America in 252 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. 1853, and spent eight years in California, Ms chief occupa- tion being gold-digging and farming. In 1863 Fleischer settled at La Crosse, and began the publication of Fadre- landet, but changed the name of the paper in 1868 to Fadrelandet Off JBmigranten, which he published during the remaining ten years of his life, and accumulated a small fortune. In 1871 he was elected county treasurer of La Crosse county, and one year later presidential elector at large from his state. In 1875 he was appointed register at the U. S. land office at La Crosse. His generosity and nobility of character made him popular among his acquaint- ances, and at his death he had w^on the hearts , of thousands of his countrymen in the New World. Fleischer was an active Republican, and a member of the Lutheran church. He w^as married in 1866 to Josephine Johnson, of Rush- ford, Minn., and one of his daughters is the wife of Martin Bergh, a prominent attorney in La Crosse. GranbeFg, Ole, grain dealer— Blair, Wis.,— born 11 Sept., 1856, in Grue, Hamar stift, Norway. He received a common school education, and emigrated to America in 1868, com- ing with his parents directly to Trempealeau county. Wis., being among the early Norwegian settlers of that part of the country. He worked on farms at first, but has dealt in grain most of the time, doing an annual business of about $50,000. He has been chairman of the board of supervisors for one year, but has since refused to accept any kind of office, although several nominations have been offered him. He affiliates with the Democratic party. In 1882-84 he resided in Yellowstone Park, engaged as a carpenter. Gran- berg is a radical free thinker, and has written newspaper articles on that subject, both in American and Norwegian papers, and has also performed other literary work. He takes interest in scientific topics and political economy. BIOGRAPHIES OP SCANDINAVIANS IN WIS. AND IOWA. 253 In 1895 he married Kate Blottenberger, of Philadelphia. Grundtvig, F. L., clergyman and author — Clinton, la., — . bom 15 May, 1854, in Copenhagen, Denmark. He is a son of the renowned Danish bishop and poet, N. F. S. Grundtvig. F. L. Grundtvig graduated from the University of Denmark in 1880, having made a special study of the natural sciences. The next year he emigrated to this country, and settled in Outagamie county. Wis., where he resided a couple of years. During his stay here he made a special study of ornithology, on which subject he published a small pamphlet, which has been very favorably received by eminent naturalists. He has also written several other books and pamphlets on various subjects, both prose and poetry. He was ordained as a minister in 1883, having ever since had charge of a Danish Lutheran church in Clinton. Grundtvig was the chief organizer of Dansk Folkesarafand i Amerika, in 1887, of which he was president until 1894. In 1881 he was mar- ried to Kristina Nelson, a Swedish lady. Halland, B.M., clergyman — Stanton, la., — born 15 Oct., 1837, in Drangsered, Halland, Sweden. He emigrated to this country in 1855; attended the theological department of Augustana College, Paxton, 111., for a while; and was ordained in 1864. He served the congregation in Burling- ton, la., until 1870, when he founded the large Swedish settlement in the vicinity of Stanton, generally known as the Halland settlement. He remained in Stanton for nearly thirteen years, then accepted a position as business manager of Augustana College, which position he held for two years. He was a missionary in Wisconsin and Michigan for a couple of years, and served the Iowa Conference as secretary and also as president in its earlier days. During President Har- rison's administration he was postmaster at Stanton. He was married in 1865, and has several children. 254 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. Halvorsen, Halvor, clergyman— Westby, Wis.,— born 15 Sept., 1845, in Stavanger, Norway. During the years 1859—65 lie was a sailor, serving one year as first mate; graduated from a Latin school in Kristiania in 1867; attended the theological department of the University of Norway, receiving the degree of candidate of theology in 1871. For one year Halvorsen served as principal of a private school in Stavanger; emigrated to America in 1872, coming directly to Coon Prairie, Vernon county. Wis. In the early days of his work in this charge, Halvorsen traveled 5,000 miles in one year, in order to attend to his minis- terial duties. For several years he served as secretary of the Eastern District of the Norwegian Synod; in 1887 he was elected secretary of the synod, and re-elected at the meetings held in 1890 and 1893; from 1888-93 served as vice-presi- dent of the Eastern District; and since the latter date has been president of that district. He has w^ritten several articles for Evangelisk L,athersk Kirketidende, as well as for several other papers. He has published one book; besides, a few of his sermons have been published. He was married in 1871, and has several children. Haugen, G. N., congressman — Northwood, la., — bom 21 April, 1859, in Rock county. Wis. His parents came from Hallingdal, Norway, in 1846, and settled at his birthplace. He received a common school education, attended school in Decorah for some time, and a business college in Janesville, Wis. In 1880 he started a hardware store at Kensett, and in 1887 was elected, by the Republicans, county treasurer, which position he retained for six years. In 1890 he was one of the organizers of the Northwood Banking Company, of which concern he became president in 1894. In 1893 and 1895 he w^as elected to represent his constituency in the state legislature, and was elected to Congress in 1898. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WIS. AND IOWA. 255 Hendrickson, Peter, educator and journalist— Albion, Wis., — born 6 June, 1842, near Skien, Norway. In 1845 he came to America with his parents, who settled in Racine county. Wis.; entered Beloit College in 1859, graduating with honors in 1867; spent one year at the University of Norway, devoting his time to the study of literature, philology, and philosophy; proceeded to Germany and studied about one year at the University of Erlangen; traveled through Switzerland, Italy, France, Scotland, and England; and, having returned to America in the fall of 1869, concluded his studies by attending the Chicago Theo- logical Seminary for one year. In 1870 he began to teach Greek at Beloit College, and at the end of the year w^as elected professor of modern languages in the same institu- tion, which position he held for over fourteen years. In 1885 he severed his connection with the college, and for the next eight years served as editor-in-chief of Skandinaven. After two years of partial rest he purchased the Albion Academy. Hendrickson served with the 40th Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers during the Civil War. He was mar- ried in 1873, and has several children. Holmes, Ludvig", clergyman and poet — Burlington, la., — born 7 Sept., 1858, in Strofvelstorp, Ska,ne, Sweden. Young Holmes was forced to begin to shift for himself early in life, entering the struggle for existence as office boy and typesetter, in Helsingborg, at the age of fifteen. He next spent some time in Stockholm, and in 1879 emigrated to America; entered Augustana College the following year, where he spent three years; but on account of ill-health was unable to complete his literary studies, although he gradu- ated from the theological department of that institution in 1886. Both before his ordination and afterwards, he preached in Connecticut, and settled in Jamestown, N. Y., in 256 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINATIANS IN THE U. S. 1888; but moved to Burlington, Iowa, the next year, where ^ he has since served as pastor of a Swedish Lutheran con- gregation. Holmes was a member of the committee which edited Nj^a Hemlandaskngboken — the authorized hymn- book of the Augustana Synod — and has also served as secre- tary of the executive committee of the Augustana Synod, and of the Iowa Conference. He is a fluent and happy speaker, and very popular as a preacher. He is widely known as a writer of religious and semi-religious poems. His poetry, according to Ernst Skarstedt, in Svensk-Atner- ikanska Poeter, "is generally characterized by a beauti- ful form and by w^armth of feeling." Bishop Von Scheele in his Heznlandstoner says: "Ludvig's Jabel Poezn is remarkable for its deep thoughts, and the brilliant expres- sion of these thoughts." In 1896 he published a large volume, being a collection of his poems, under the name of Dikter. For some years he has been president of the Swed- ish Lutheran Mutual Fire Association. In 1891 he received the degree of A. M. of Bethany College, and 1897 the same institution conferred the degree of doctor of literature upon him. King Oscar II. of Sweden honored him with a silver medal in 1898. Holmes was married in 1887 to Sophia Johnson, of Altona, 111. They have one child. Hoist, Martin, j ournalist— Cedar Falls, la. ,— born 13 Apr., 1856, in Rodding, Slesvig. Young Hoist received a common school education and attended a college in Askov for three years. He taught Danish private schools in Denmark and Slesvig for seven years; but he concluded to emigrate, and came to Elk Horn, Iowa, in 1881. In 1882 he began to work in the office oi Dannevirke, Cedar Falls, which paper he, in company with N. U. Christianson, bought the following year, and which Hoist has ever since continued to edit. He is one of the most prominent lay members of the Danish BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WIS. AND IOWA. 257 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He is married and has children. Homme, Even Johnson, clergyman— Wittenberg, Wis.,— born 17 Oct., 1843, in Moland, Kristiansand stift, Norway. He attended the common school of his native parish until emigrating with his parents to America in 1854. At the age of nineteen he entered Luther College, where he remained for two years, and in 1864 began to study theology at Con- cordia Theological Seminary, graduating in 1867. Shortly afterwards he accepted a call from the Norwegian Synod congregation at Winchester, Wis., where he resided for fifteen years. In 1880 Homme founded the village of Wittenberg. For years the Norwegian Synod had been dis- cussing the need of an orphan asylum, and Homme decided to start such an institution on his own account at Witten- berg. Accordingly, a building was put up in 1882. The institution has experienced a healthy growth, and some 250 children and aged people have been cared for under its roof. In 1886 Homme superintended the erection of a building for an Indian mission school at Wittenberg, and through his efforts said school received large appropriations from the national treasury. In 1885 Homme established a printing office in connection with the orphans' home, and has since published three weekly papers. For several years he served as secretary of the Norwegian Synod, but since 1890 has been a member of the United Church. In 1893 he was nom- inated for state senator by the Republicans, but accepted the nomination with reluctancy. He was defeated at the polls. Homme was married in 1869, arid has several children. Hougen, J. 0., clergyman — Decorah, la., — born 6 Mar., 1857, in Kvinnherred, Bergen stift, Norway. His parents emigrated when he was only two months old. He received a common school education, entered Luther College at the 256 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. age of fifteen, graduating in 1879, and completed his theo- logical studies at Madison, Wis., three years later. He served churches successively at Fargo, N. D.; Canton, S. D.; and Manitowoc, Wis. In 1898 he accepted a call from a church in Decorah. Hougen originally was a member of the Norwegian Synod, but joined the United Church in 1890. He was one of the founders of Concordia College, at Moor- head, Minn.; has been a member of the board of missions of the United Church; and has held other positions of trust and honor in the religious circles in which he has moved. Hougen is an active and energetic man, a fair speaker, a great reader, an extensive traveler, and a voluminous news- paper writer. He has been married twice, and has children. Jeanson, B. E., emigration agent — Des Moines, la., — born 4 July, 1832, in Karlskrona, Sweden. His great- grandfather came from England in the sixteenth century, and established a factory to color leather near Karlskrona. Young Jeanson received a common school education; went to sea at the age of eleven; for about ten years w^as captain of a vessel sailing on the coast of Sweden; emigrated to America in 1865, settling in New York City; and was engaged as agent for the American Emigration Company. Jeanson remained with said company until 1893, having had the controlling interest of the concern tijl 1889. Through mismanagement the company failed in 1893. He moved to Swea, Kossuth county, Iowa, in 1879, where he organized a large Swedish settlement. In 1894 he removed to Des Moines. Jeanson has always taken great interest in religious matters, having been ordained as a Baptist clergyman two years after his arrival to this country, and organized the first Swedish Baptist church in New York in 1867. He is married, and has children. Jenson, Andrew, merchant — Edgerton, Wis., — born 4 BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAYIANS IN WIS. AND IOWA. 259 June, 1843, in Sandsvar, near Kongsberg, Norway. At the age of twenty-six he emigrated to America, coming directly to Edgerton, Wis., where he worked in the vicinity as a farm hand the first summer, and attended school during the first winter, and one year after his arrival started to grow tobacco by working land on shares. He settled in Edger- ton, and commenced to deal in leaf tobacco on a small scale; but in a short time Jenson became one of the leading dealers in his line in the state, besides being interested in other financial undertakings in the city, for example, in a brick yard and a pottery plant. He is one of the five proprietors of Atnerika. He is a member of the Norwegian Synod, and the main supporter of his home congregation, having also been one of the trustees of Luther College, and a mem- ber of the church council of the synod. Jenson has affili- ated with the Democratic party since 1884; was presi- dential elector in 1892; has been mayor of Edgerton for several terms; and was one of the judges on leaf tobacco at the World's Fair in Chicago, in 1893. In 1877 he married Hannah P. Johanson, of Edgerton; they have children. Johnson. E. P., county attorney — Decorah, la., — bom 25 June, 1846, in Sogn, Bergen stift, Norway. When he w^as five years old his parents emigrated to this country, settling at Norway Grove, Wis. Young Johnson worked on his father's farm and attended the public schools during his boyhood; graduated from a business college in Madison, Wis., in 1872; received his literary education at the Uni- versity of Wisconsin; and graduated from the law depart- ment of the State University of Iowa in 1874. For one year he was assistant principal of Marshall Academy, Marshall, Wis. After having completed his legal education he settled in Decorah, where he successfully has practiced his profession ever since, and has now a very lucrative 260 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. practice. Johnson has been secretary of the Decorah board of education for ten years, member of the city council for two terms, city attorney for a couple of terms, and was elected county attorney on the Republican ticket in 1892, being re-elected twice. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod. In 1875 he was married to Carrie Grinde, of Norway Grove, Wis. They have five children, their two sons are graduates of Luther College, and one of their daughters is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin. Johnson, Ole C, soldier— Beloit, Wis.,— bom 1838, in HoUen, Telemarken, Norway; died in 1886. His father was an inn keeper at a place called Skibsnas, from which Ole took the name by which he was generally known. He came to America in 1844. He had attended Beloit College two years when the Civil War broke out, and he immediately enlisted in the service, recruited a company of volunteers, and received his commission as captain of the same, w^hich became a part of the Fifteenth Wisconsin Regiment. Later he was promoted to the rank of major; then to that of lieu- tenant-colonel, and at the battle of Chickamauga com- manded the regiment. During the second day of this battle he was captured by the Confederates, and was sent to Libby Prison, where he remained for eight months. While being transported to another prison, he succeeded in making his escape, and made his way to the Union lines, rejoining his regiment a couple of months later. At the expiration of his term of enlistment, Johnson was appointed colonel of the Fifty-third Wisconsin Regiment. Most of the time after the war he resided at Beloit, where he was engaged in business and held various offices. Larsen, Iver, merchant — Decorah, la., — bom 1 Nov., 1837, in Hardanger, Norway. He came to America in 1850, and settled in Winneshiek county, Iowa., in 1851. In BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WIS. AND IOWA. 261 1860-61 he studied at Concordia College, and in the fall of 1861 entered the new school of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod at Halfway Creek, Wis. He soon left his school, however, because he could not agree with his professor who held that "slavery in itself is not sinful." From 1866 to 1878 he was engaged in business on his own account at Brownsville, Minn.; but at the latter date removed to Decorah, where he has since built up the largest dry goods establishment in the city. Besides making his own business an unqualified success, Larsen, during the past fifteen years has managed to perform a large amount of work connected with his church. The following are some of the positions filled by Larsen: Treasurer of the Lutheran aid fund of St. Olaf College 1886-90; treasurer of the Anti-Missourian Brotherhood endowment fund, in which capacity he raised $90,000 by subscription; and president of the board of trustees of the United Church since 1890. In the last- mentioned capacity he had to conduct the famous lawsuit of the United Church against Augsburg Seminary, involv- ing the title to the Augsburg Publishing House. Larson, Ole, county judge— Osceola, Wis.,— born 2 Apr., 1841, in Nordre Aurdal, Hamar stift, Norway. He received a high school education, and visited various places in Nor- way, before leaving for America in 1868. In 1872 he settled at Osceola, and five years later was elected county judge of Polk county, to which position he has been re-elec- ted several times, having served over twenty years. Larson has been engaged in the real estate, loan, and insurance business during his entire stay at Osceola. In 1890 he bought Bethania Mineral Springs. Larson is one of the most influential Scandinavian Republicans in the state and in 1895 Governor Upham appointed him a member of the board of immigration of Wisconsin. In 1870 he mar- 262 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. ried Ingeborg Jolinson; they have two sons well educated. Lund, Lars, clergyman— Elroy, Wis.,— born 13 March, 1845, in Vefsen, Tromso stift, Norway. He graduated from the normal school at Tromso in 1864; taught in the public schools for five years; and emigrated in 1868, coming directly to Racine, Wis., but shortly afterwards entered Augustana College, Paxton, 111., where he remained one year. He completed his theological course in 1870 at the school of the Norwegian branch of the Augustana Synod, located at Marshall, Wis. For six years Lund had charge of Conference congregations in southwestern Minnesota. From 1876-97 he was located at Menomonie, Wis. Since the latter date he has been located at his present place. Lund was cashier for the mission during eight years of his connection with the Conference, and since that organization became a part of the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America, he has held the same position, being an influential member of this organization. Lund, in connection with Rev. G. Hoyme, published a hymn book called Harpen, in 1888. He was married in 1872. Naeseth, Christen A., educator— Decorah, la.,— bom 1 March, 1849, in Koshkonong, Dane county, Wis. His father came from Nedre Telemarken, Norway, in 1844. In 1869 Naeseth entered Luther College, graduating five years later. He completed his theological studies at Con- cordia Seminary in 1877; spent one year, traveling and studying, in Norway; from 1878-82 he served Norwegian Synod congregations in Rock county, Minn.; then accepted a call as professor at his alma mater, w^here he has since remained, having charge of English history, English litera- ture, and other branches, besides being the college librarian. Having been granted a year's leave of absence, he spent 1884-85 at Cornell and Johns Hopkins universities. In 1886 BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WIS. AND IOWA. 263 he married Caroline M. Keren, a daughter of Rev. V. Koren. Nelsenius, John D., clergyman— Ashland, Wis.,— born 12 Oct., 1850, in Mistelis, SmMand, Sweden. He received a common school education in his native land, and worked on his father's farm until eighteen years of age when he emi- grated to America. In 1875 he entered Augustana College, pursuing studies in the collegiate and theological depart- ments of this institution for seven years, and graduating from the latter department in 1882. He had charge of con- gregations at Anoka and St. Cloud, Minn., and other places in the vicinity until 1886, when he moved to Ashland, being the first Swedish Lutheran clergyman to permanently locate in the northern part of Wisconsin. Nelsenius has been a member of the board of education of Ashland for three years, and has also taken a great deal of interest in local affairs, especially whatever concerns the welfare of the Swedish people. In 1896 he was one of the presidential electors at large, on the Republican ticket, and he received the largest number of votes cast for any person during the whole history of the state. He was married in 1882. Nelson, Oley, state legislator — Slater, la., — born 10 Aug., 1845, in Rock county. Wis. His parents came from RoUag, Numedal, Norway, to Jefferson Prairie, Wis., in 1844. Young Nelson received a common school education, and w^orked on his father's farm. His father served in the army during the Civil War, and after his death, through disease, young Nelson took his place in the army, and parti- cipated in the battles of Memphis, Holy Spring, Jackson, etc. In 1867 he settled in Polk county, la., close to his present place of business, and has resided in the vicinity ever since, except for about eight years, when he lived in Des Moines. He has been in the general merchandise business ever since he came to Iowa, and now does an annual busi- 264 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. ness of about $100,000, being also engaged in banking. In 1885 he was elected to the state legislature, and was re- elected two years later. During his legislative career he secured the passage of several important bills, for example, one in regard to general tile drainage, and another for the purpose of securing cheaper text-books — these two laws were very important, and Nelson deserves the credit of hav- ing done some of the best work in the legislature that has ever been performed by any of the Scandinavians in the Iowa legislature. He is a member /of the United Church, taking active part i;i the secular affairs of that body; was one of the trustees of the Norwegian-Danish Conference for several years; and has held the same position since that organization became a part of the United Church. He has also been one of the trustees of Jewell Lutheran College. Nelson was the chief organizer, in 1896, of the Norwegian- American old settlers' association, of which society he became president. In 1869 he was married to Lizzie Ers- land, of Story county. They have several children. Nelson, Otto, publisher and state binder — Des Moines, la.,— born 14 Nov., 1843, in Ulrika, Ostergotland, Sweden. He received his education mostly through private instruc- tion; enlisted in the army at the age of eighteen, and passed a non-commissioned examination, after having served for three years. For three years he was sergeant, but after having been in the army for six years, he emigrated to America in 1867. In 1870 he settled in Des Moines; worked for thirteeji years for one book-binding firm, being the fore- man of the establishment the last seven years; and com- menced, in 1883, to publish Svithiod. Several other Swed- ish newspapers have been started before and since, yet Svithiod has been, and is, the most influential and widely circulated Swedish paper in Iowa. In 1895 Nelson severed 1 1 I ''^ ;^^^^^H^H^BH^^JHl p - J^^^w ^^^^^^^^^^BL ^^^^^^^^^H t ■J H@|[(^'^il^^^^v 1 B. WBgmBKk 1 1 -'^^^^1 ^^^^^^HLn»Bm^ O. C. PETERSON, DES MOINES. (1. NELSON. SLATKR. C. H. TOLLEP'SRUDE, ROLFE. REV. ,T. Or.SEX, ST. ANSGAR. REV. J. A. OTTESEN, DECORAH. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WIS. AND IOWA. 265 all connections with the paper, and engaged in the business of real estate and insurance until 1899, when he secured a position in the government printing office at Washington, D. C. In 1888 Nelson was elected state binder of Iowa by the legislature, being the first Scandinavian that has ever been elected to an^ state office in the state. In 1890-92 he was re-elected to the same position. Nelson has taken active part in eve^thing which pertains to the welfare of the Swedes in the city. Few Swedes are more widely known in the state, or out of the state, than he is. In 1874 he was married to Alfrida Jonson, who died in 1881, leaving two grown daughters, who have received a good education. Nordberg^, Bruno V., mechanical engineer — Milwaukee, Wis., — born 11 Apr., 1858, in Helsingfors, Finland. He is a direct descendant of Nordberg, the chaplain and historian of Charles XII., king of Sweden. Young Nordberg received a college education in his native place, and graduated from the Poljrtechnic College of Helsingfors in 1879, and shortly after emigrated, coming to Buffalo, N.Y., where he remained for about one year; then came to Milwaukee. In 1890 he started to manufacture steam engines of his own, is con- sidered one of the best engineers in the Northwest, and has about thirty patents of his own. He was married in 1884, and has children. Norrbom, August, clergyman— Swedesburg, la., — bom 19 June, 1860, in Sjogestad, Ostergotland, Sweden. He received a common school education in Sweden; emigrated in 1876; studied during the winter for four years; attended Augustana College from 1881 to 1887, and graduated from the theological department of that institution the latter year; served Swedish Lutheran congregations at Peoria and Knoxville, 111., for over three years, and in Topeka, Kan., from 1890 to 1896, settling at his present place at the latter 266 HISTORY OF THK SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. date. Norrbom has been secretary of the Kansas Confer- ence for two years, and treasurer of the conference for the same length of time, having also been a member of the board of directors of the orphans' home at Mariadahl, Kan., for six years, besides having held other offices in con- nection with church work. During 1891—6 he published, in Topeka, Kan., a small religious monthly called Tetnpel- klockan. In 1887 he was married to Emma A. Ahlgren, of Kossuth, Iowa. They have children. Oden, Martin P., clergyman— Alta, la.,— born 13 Nov., 1852, in Onsala, Halland, Sweden. He almost completed a course at the Latin school in Gothenburg; emigrated to America in 1876, for the purpose of entering the ministry; spent one yekr at the college department of Augustana Col- lege; graduated from the seminary in 1879; accepted a call to Big Rapids, Mich., where he remained for about two years; had charge of a congregation in Ottumw^a, la., for eight years; returned to Michigan in 1889, and for a couple of years w^as pastor of the church at Tustin; then moved to his present place. In 1877-78 he was vice-president of the Iowa Conference of the Augustana Synod, and was re-elected to the same position in 1893; in 1895 was elected president of that organization. Being one of the oldest and best educated ministers in the Iowa Conference, he has naturally taken a conspicuous part in the affairs of that organization. He was married in 1870, and has children. Oleson, Ole, sea captain and soldier — Oshkosh, Wis.,— born 30 Dec, 1839, in Tonsberg, near Skien, Norway. He emigrated to America in 1843; received a common school education, and settled in Oshkosh in 1859, w^here he was engaged in the steam boat business until the outbreak of the Civil War. In 1861 he enlisted in Company E., of the Second Wisconsin Volunteers, serving until the next year. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WIS. AND IOWA. 267 Then at the call of the navy department for volunteers to man the gun boats on the Mississippi river, he volunteered for the gun boat service, and took an active part in all naval battles until the river was opened a couple of years later. In 1864 he returned to Oshkosh, where he resumed the boating, which he continued until he was appointed postmaster by President Harrison in 1890, which position he held for four years. Oleson has taken an active part in the welfare of the Republican party, and is one of the influ- ential public men in the state, especially in that part of the country. He was married in 1871, and has one daughter. Olson, Julius E., educator— Madison, Wis.,— bom 9 Nov., 1858, in Cambridge, Dane county. Wis. His parents, who were born in southeastern Norway, emigrated to America in 1852, and have resided at Cambridge since that date. He graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin in 1884, and was immediately appointed instruc- tor in the Scandinavian languages and German, and was elected professor of Scandinavian languages and literatures in 1892. Professor Olson is peculiarly well fitted for his work as an educator, his eloquence and enthusiasm arous- ing the interest of his students, and the accuracy and scope of his knowledge making him an authority upon which they cheerfully rely. He has made a special study of the early history of the peoples of northern Europe, and the conclu- sions arrived at by his researches in this line may be sum- marized as follows: Scandinavia was the original home of the Aryan ancestors of all the fair-haired, blue-eyed peoples ■ now scattered over Europe. According to this theory, the different Teutonic races did not enter western Europe from the east, as hitherto supposed, but came from the Scandi- navian peninsulas. Olson is a fine lecturer and an inspiring orator. His Seventeenth of May and Fourth of July ora- 268 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. tions are polished, patriotic, and scholariy. Besides making contributions to various periodicals, Olson in 1889 pub- lished an English translation of Vitus Bering, the Discov- erer of Bering- Strait, a work originally written in Danish by Peter Lauridsen. In 1898 he published A Norwegian Grammar and Reader, with Notes and Vocabulary, and a high authority on the subject with which it deals. In 1897 he was married to Helen. O. Ericksen. Olson, Ole Bp., journalist and temperance lecturer — Eau Claire, Wis.,— born 19 May, 1857, in Kristiania, Norway. When a yonng man he started Fakkelen, a humorous paper, which after a few years gave up the ghost. In 1879 he emigrated to America, settled in Chicago, and in 1882 started Afboldsbladet, a small monthly devoted exclu- sively to the cause of temperance. In 1887 Olson removed to his present home, where he began to publish Reform, a weekly which for years past has been the most influential temperance and prohibition paper published in the Norwe- gian language in this country. Besides editing and manag- ing this paper, Olson has also lectured more or less on tem- perance, having delivered more than one thousand lectures on that subject in the course of the past twenty years. The Prohibitionists of Wisconsin have nominated him for mem- ber of Congress and lieutenant governor, and in the latter case he ran ahead of the state ticket of his party. In 1888 he issued, in two volumes, Haandbog for Afboldsvenner, which, however, as the author says himself, is mainly a compilation. Olson has unquestionably done more for the cause of temperance than any other Scandinavian- American. In 1895 he visited Norway and made a successful lecturing tour of the country, partly at the expense of the Norwegian- American temperance people. He was married in 1878. Paulson, Ole, soldier and clergyman — Blanchardville, BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WIS. AND IOWA. 269 Wis.,— born 26 April, 1832, in Solor, Hamar stift, Norway. He came to America in 1850; entered the theological semi- nary of the Augustana Synod in 1861; but soon discon- tinued his studies in order to defend the cause of the Union on the battle field. He served two years in the war, hold- ing the rank of second lieutenant in company H, Ninth Regiment Minnesota Volunteers; and resumed his studies at the same seminary in 1866. In 1868 he received a call as pastor in Minneapolis, and for two years was the only Scandinavian Lutheran minister in that city. In 1870 Paulson participated in the organization of the Norwegian- Danish Lutheran Conference, which body he repeatedly served as vice-president. He did more than any other man towards locating Augsburg Seminary in Minneapolis, and the supporters of this institution have honored him with the title "Augsburg's Father." From 1874 to 1885 he lived at Willmar, Minn., serving a number of congregations in and around that city; and since the latter date has resided at his present home. Paulson is an ardent advocate of total abstinence; for fifteen years past has been a frequent contributor to Folkebladet; and has written a few hymns, the most popular of which is Jeg er en Vandriagsraand. He was married in 1857, and has several children. Peterson, Atley, banker and legislator — Soldiers Grove, Wis.,— bom 21 Feb., 1847, in Lardal, Bergen stift, Norway. At the age of five he emigrated to America with his par- rents, and they settled near Soldiers Grove in 1854. He opened a general store here in 1866, remaining in this busi- ness for eight years, when he started a saw mill. He is pro- prietor of the Bank of Soldiers Grove, and was the leading spirit in bringing about the building of the Kikapoo Valley and Northern railroad. Peterson has held many local offices, in 1878 was elected to the state legislature, and 270 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. was re-elected three times. In 1886 he was elected railroad commissioner, and was re-elected in 1888. Peterson has been very active and influential in state politics. His success in the political arena is certainly to his great credit, when we take into consideration the fact that he resides in a county where only a small proportion of the population is of Norwegian extraction, thus having nothing of that nationality pull which often promotes persons in this country. In 1892 he was candidate for state treasurer on the Republican ticket, but was defeated with the rest of the ticket. He is a member of the I. 0. 0. F. and of the Free Masons, having taken many of the higher degrees in the latter order. He was married in 1869, and has children. Peterson, 0, C, lawyer and lecturer — Des Moines, la., — born 15 Dec, 1857, in Misterhult, Sm&land, Sweden. He attended the common school of his parish, and left for America with his parents in 1868. They located in Webster county, la., and young Peterson graduated from the Iowa Agricultural College in 1882. He next took a post gradu- ate course at the same institution, devoting himself espe- cially to the study of philosophy, and received the degree of M. Ph. in 1883. The same year he entered the Iowa Col- lege of Law, at Des Moines, and was admitted to the bar the following year. Peterson practiced law in Des Moines for twelve years, then settled in Chicago, where he is now engaged in an extensive practice, besides being president of the Swedish National Association and secretary of the Swedish-American Central Republican Clubs. But he man- ages to snatch enough time from his law practice to lecture on historical and popular themes. As a Republican cam- paign speaker he has built up quite a reputation in the West, and has been engaged as such by the national and state committees during the past twenty years. The BIOGRA.PHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WIS. AND IOWA. 271 North says: "As a speaker he is strong and convincing; magnetic rather than eloquent. He is pleasant in his man- ner and voice, and a good thinker with an exhaustless fund of historical information." Peterson speaks English and Swedish with equal fluency. His literary taste is strongly developed, his favorite subjects being history and political science. Peterson was married, in 1886, to Florence E. Felts, of Indiana, an American lady. They have two children. PeteFSOn, Sewell A., state treasurer— Rice Lake, Wis.,— born 28 Feb., 1850, in Solor, Hamar stift, Norway. He emigrated in 1864; in 1883 entered the mercantile business at Menomonie; and since 1887 has been running a general store at Rice Lake. He has held various local offices; was register of' deeds of Dunn county for six years; has been a member of the state assembly; and was elected state treas- urer in 1894 and 1896, being the first Scandinavian ever elected to that position in Wisconsin. Qvale, Sigvald A., capitalist— Eau Claire, Wis.,— born 18 July, 1852, in Haugesund, Norway; died 1890. He attended the high school of his native town; emigrated to America in 1868. He clerked in a dry goods store in Min- neapolis, and in the land ofiice of the Omaha railway com- pany at Hudson, Wis. At Eau Claire he was so successful in his business that he was worth several hundred thou- sand dollars at his death. His memory was so rententive that for many years in his extensive dealings with men he hardly kept a memorandum. He intended to establish a hospital; but he died before he realized his philanthropic plan. Reque, L. S., educator— Decorah, la.,— born 12 Aug., 1848, in Dane county,Wis. His father came from Voss, Nor- way in 1845. Young Reque graduated from Luther College in 1868, then studied law at the Iowa State University. He taught one year at St. Olaf College, but accepted a call as 272 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. regular professor at Luther College in 1875. This position lie has since held, his principal branches being English and Latin. He is a Democrat and in 1893 President Cleveland appointed him United States consul to Holland. Reque married Margarita Brandt in 1882. They have children. Roe, 0. 0., deputy auditor of state— Des Moines, la.,— born 4 June, 1854, near Bergen, Norway. When he was eight years old his parents came to this country, and set- tled in Story county in 1868. Young Roe graduated from the law department of Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa, in 1878. Soon after he opened a law ofHce in Story City, but was elected principal of the city schools at the same time. After having been principal for three years, he was elected county superintendent of schools; was re-elected four times, and served in that capacity for ten years. In 1892 he was appointed deputy auditor of state, and was re-appointed twice. Roe is a Republican, and a member of the English Lutheran church. He has been married twice. Sagen, Aandreas K, clergyman — La Crosse, Wis., — born 11 Feb., 1851, near Rockdale, Wis. His parents came from Bo, Teleniaken, Norway, in 1845. In 1869 he entered Luther College, graduating five years later, and completed his theological studies in 1879 at Concordia Seminary. He entered the ministry as pastor of a congregation at Wild Rice, Norman county, Minn.; in 1884 removed to Cal- mar, la., where he acted as assistant pastor to Rev. V. Koren; and since 1888 has had charge of a synod congrega- tion in La Crosse. Sagen has published a lecture on the question, Ht^iler Kriatendoxnmen paa Historisk Grand? and a pamphlet, Om Kiliasznen. Sagen has been chair- man of the committee having charge of the church exten- sion fund; member of the committee on missions for the Eastern District; and vice-president of the Eastern District G. N. SWAN, SIOUX CITV. REV. T. A. TOUGWRSON, SOMBER. HEV. O. P. VAXGSNES, ETOET CITY. PROF. A. A. VEBLEX, IOWA CITY. REV. X. P. XAVIER, RIDGEWAY. BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WIS. AND IOWA. 273 of the Norwegian Synod. He was married in 1875. Stromme, Peer 0., journalist and author— Madison— "Wis., bom 15 Sept., 1856, in Winchester, Winnebago county, Wis. His father came from Vraadal, Telemarken, Norway, to America in 1844, and his mother arrived four years later. Stromme graduated from Luther College in 1876; completed his theological studies at Concordia Seminary three years later; had charge of a Norwegian Synod congregation at Ada, Minn., for seven years; was pastor in Buffalo county, Wis., during 1886-87; taught in St.Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., for some time; and was principal of Mt. Horeb Academy in 1893-94. From 1888-92 he had charge of the editorial department of Norden, Chicago; was proprietor and editor of Posten, West Superior, in 1892-93; in 1895 became part owner and editor of Amerika; but severed his connection with this paper in 1898; and has since been on the editorial staff of the Minneapolis Times. He served as county superintendent of schools of Norman county, Minn., for three terms; stumped the country, under the auspices of the Democratic national committee, during all the campaigns from 1888 to 1896; organized tariff reform clubs in Wiscon- sin in 1892; visited and wrote up Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia in 1890; and was the Democratic candidate for secretary of state in Wisconsin in 1898. Stromme is well versed in American and European literature; speaks English, Norwegian, and German with equal fluency; but his reputa- tion rests mainly on the merit of his historical fiction, Hrorledes Halvor blev Prest, published in 1893. This work contains many fine gems of wit and humor, and is w^ritten in a brilliant, but simple literary style. Throughout it bears the stamp of originality, and on the whole it is true to life, dealing principally with the trials and triumphs of a Norwegian-American pioneer, and the education of his son. 274 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAYAINS IN THE U. S. Halvor, at Luther College. He has also written Paa Vest- ens Vidder and other works, both prose and poetry, and, of course, numerous newspaper articles— all of which evince the individuality of Stromme, being bright and pointed rather than deep or learned. In fact, the personaUty of the man himself is erratical rather than systematical, being more a man of genius than a man of talent. In 1879 he was married to Laura Ericksen; they have several children. Swan, Gustavus N., banker and vice-consul of Sweden- Norway— Sioux City, la.,— bom 16 May, 1856, in Tjarstad, Ostergotland, Sweden. After having completed the regular course of instruction in the public schools, he emigrated with his parents at the age of fourteen; they settled in Belinda," Lucas county, la., where he attended the public school in the winter, and assisted on his father's farm the balance of the year. From 1877-79 he studied at Augustana Col- lege, and in 1880 removed to Sioux City, and accepted a position as secretary of the Sioux City Plow Co., which position he filled until 1887. Since 1889 he has been con- nected with the Merchants National Bank, of which he is one of the directors and assistant cashier. In 1882 he was elected vice-president and secretary of the Scandia Printing and Publishing Company, the publishers of Nordvestern. From 1882—87 he served as secretary, and, irom 1889 to 1896, as treasurer and member of the board of trustees of his home church, which he also has frequently represented at conference and synodical meetings. From 1892-99 he served as treasurer of the Iowa Conference, and in 1894-96 was treasurer of the board of home raissions of the synod. In 1893 he was elected member of the board of directors of Augustana College. In 1892 Swan was instrumental in organizing the Swedish Publishing Company of Sioux City, publishers of Skandia, serving also as editor of that paper BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WIS. AND IOWA. 275 for a few montlis. In 1899 he was appointed by the Swedish government vice-consul of Sweden-Norway, having previ- ously been acting vice-consul in 1896 and 1898. For many years he has been a frequent contributor to many of the leading Swedish-American, some English-American, and some Swedish newspapers and magazines; is also the anonymous translator of Fjettrad, a work of fiction of 356 pages, published in 1885; and contributed a Hst of pseudonyms and initials used by Swedish authors, for Cushing's Initials and Pseudonj^ms, second series, pub- lished in 1888. He served as leader of the choir of his home church for more than fifteen years, and spends all his leisure moments in his well stocked library, which contains, per- haps, the choicest collection of rare and standard books, in various languages, owned by any Scandinavian-American, and which Swan has spent a life-time in gathering. In 1891 he visited Europe and traveled extensively in England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Denmarki and Sweden. Swan was married in 1884 to Carrie S. Samuelson, who died in 1888. A boy survives her. ThoFvilson, T. K., clergyman and lecturer— Eau Claire, Wis., — bom 16 July, 1852, near Stoughton, Wis. His par- ents had emigrated from Nissedal, Norway. Thorvilson entered Luther College, graduating in 1878. For eight years he had charge of Norwegian Synod congregations at Orford- ville, Wis.; then moved to Menomonie in 1889, where he served as pastor of congregations in that place for four years. Since 1893 he has lectured in the Northwest in the interest of the temperance cause, and is considered to be the most thorough and scholarly Norwegian-American temper- ance lecturer. In 1889 he married, and has children. Tollefsrude,C.H.,banker— Rolfe,Ia.,— born 1 May, 1845, in Rock Prairie, Wisconsin. His parents emigrated from 276 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE U. S. Terpen, Land, Hamar stift, Norway, in 1844, and settled in Rock county, Wis. Young ToUefsrude attended Beloit college for three years, taught in the public schools of Wis- consin for some time, and in 1870 removed to Pocahontas county, la. The following eleven years were occupied in farming and teaching. In the fall of 1881 he was elected county auditor of Pocahontas county, and re-elected two years later, serving till 1886. That year he became assis- tant cashier of the Farmers' Bank of Pocahontas ; later on assisted in the organization of the Pocahontas Savings Bank, and became its cashier. Since 1888 he has been con- nected with the Pocahontas Land and Loan Company, and removed to Rolfe in 1893, connecting himself with the State Savings Bank of that city. He has been an active and suc- cessful business man, and is a Republican. He married Maria G. Shirley, of Avon, Wis., in 1869. They have one daughter. Torrison, Thomas E., merchant— Manitowoc, Wis.,— born 10 Oct., 1855, in Manitowoc. He is the son of Osuld Torrison. Thomas Torrison graduated from Luther Col- lege in 1876. After his graduation he assisted his father in the business, and since 1890 has had full charge of the same, which includes, besides a general merchandise business, vari- ous other financial enterprises, the annual trade of which amounts to over half a million dollars. Besides having been a member of the board of aldermen and county board, he served as mayor of his city in 1887-89, and again in 1895-97, at the latter date receiving the unanimous support of the two leading parties. Torrison has been a member ot the school board for six years; is a member of the Norwegian Synod; and has been a member of the board of trustees of Luther College. In 1884 he was married to Jorgine Tosten- sen, of Manitowoc. They have one son. Tronsdal, F. L., subscription manager of publishing BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WIS. AND IOWA. 277 houses— Eau Claire, Wis.,— born 13 July, 1859, in Rindalen, Trondhjem stift, Norway. He received a good common school education and attended a high school in Opdal. In 1880 he emigrated to America; worked on farms a couple of years; and spent two years at Augsburg Seminary, three years at Minneapolis Academy, and two years at the North- em Indiana Normal School, Valparaiso, Ind. He gradu- ated from the rhetorical and law departments of the latter institution. In 1889 Tronsdal settled in Eau Claire, where he has built up a prosperous business as subscription man- ager of some of the largest publishing houses in the country. Much of his time has been devoted to temperance work, and he has been one of the leading members of the executive com- mittee of the Scandinavian Total Abstinence Association of Wisconsin; and for four years did very creditable work as secretary of said association, and was elected its president in 1897. He has also been secretary of the Total Abstinence Congress. He has been the backbone of the former associa- tion, as w^ell as of the local temperance society of his city. Since 1893 he has been president of the company which pub- lishes Reform. Tronsdal is a member of the United Church, having been one of the leading lay delegates at the annual meetings of said organization ever since he joined his home congregation. In 1889 he was married, and has children. Vangsnes, 0. P., clergyman— Story City, la.,— born 11 Jan., 1855, in Sogn, Norway. At the age of eleven he came with his parents to America. Having finished his studies at Luther College, he entered, in 1875, Concordia Seminary, where he studied for three years. He was pastor in Minne- apolis from 1878 until he moved to Story City in 1899. In 1888 he was elected vice-president of the Minnesota District of the Norwegian Synod. When Luther Seminary was moved from Madison to Minneapolis, in 1888, he became 278 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAYIAXS IN THE U. S. connected with the institution as Enghsh professor in homiletics for two years, when he resigned. In 1878 he married Oliva Brecke, by whom he has several children. Veblen, Andrew A., educator— Iowa City, la.,— bom 24 Sept., 1848, in Port Ulao, Ozaukee county. Wis. His parents came from Valders, Norway, to Wisconsin, in 1847; moved to Sheboygan county the next year; settled in Manitowoc county in 1855; and ten years later removed to Rice county, Minn. He taught school for about one year; entered Carleton College at the age of twenty-three, gradu- ating in 1877, receiving the degree of A. B. For four years he taught English at Luther College; went to Johns Hopkins University in 1881, w^here he remained two years, studying principally mathematics and physics. In 1883 he became instructor in mathematics in the State University of Iowa, and assistant professor tw^o years later; w^as appointed assistant professor of physics in 1886, of which subject he w^as elected professor two years later. Yeblen earned his own way in school, and has been very successiul in building up his own department in the State University. He is a charter member of the Baconian Club, which was organized for discussing scientific topics, and of which he has been sec- retary for a number of years, and president one year. Before numerous gatherings of scientific men, he has read papers and delivered lectures on various subjects in connec- tion with his specialty. Yeblen was married to Kirsti Hougen in 1877. They have several children. Wig, Peter S., educator — Elk Horn, la.,— born 7 Nov., 1854, in Egtved, Denmark. He received a common school education; studied theology for three years at Askov; emi- grated in 1879; but returned in 1882 and completed his theological studies at Askov and Copenhagen. Since he has been pastor of Danish Lutheran congregations in Shelby BIOGRAPHIES OF SCANDINAVIANS IN WIS. AND IOWA. 279 county, la., and Polk county, Wis., and professor of theol- ogy at a seminary in West Denmark, Wis., for four years. In 1894, when a theological chair was established at Elk Horn College, Vig was elected to occupy the same, being a leading Anti-Grundtvigian. When the United Danish Luth- eran Church was organized in 1896, he was elected presi- dent of the theological seminary of that body, and moved from Elk Horn to Blair, Neb., to assume his new duties. Vig has published four treatises on practical theological questions, and was elected chairman of the board of direct- ors of the Danish Lutheran Publishing House, Blair, Neb., in 1898. He was married in 1884, and has several children. Vinje, Aad John, circuit judge — Superior, Wis., — bom 10 Nov., 1857, in Voss, near Bergen, Norway. He came to America in 1869; entered the University of Wisconsin in 1878; and graduated from the literary department of that institution six years later. From 1884 to 1888 he was assistant state librarian at Madison, and at the same time pursued the study of law at the university, graduating in 1887; was appointed assistant reporter of the supreme court in 1888, which position he held till the spring of 1891, when he settled in West Superior. In 1895 he was unanimously endorsed by the bar of Douglas county for the office of judge of the eleventh judicial circuit of Wisconsin, and was ap- pointed by the governor; and the following year he was re- elected, without opposition, to the same office for the term ending the first of January, 1901, being, perhaps, the only Scandinavian in the United States who has ever been elected to a judgeship of such importance and requiring such high legal proficiency. He was married in 1886, and has children. Wiek, Barthinius L., lawyer and author— Cedar Rapids, la.,— born 1864, near Stavanger, Norway. His father was a cousin of Asbjom Kloster, the great temperance apostle of 280 HISTORY OF THE SCANDINAVIANS IN THE V. S. Norway. Young Wick came to America in 1876, settling on a farm in Benton county, Iowa. He graduated from the Iowa City Academy in 1887; from the State University of Iowa in 1891, receiving the degree of B. Ph. from the latter institution, which also conferred M. A. and LL. B. on him in 1893. For tw^o years he w^as fellow in history and instruc- tor at the University of Iowa, and has since practiced law. Wick is a frequent contributor to magazines and newspa- pers, and is the Eiuthor of A History of the Axnana Society and oiAznisb Mennonitea in Iowa. Both works indicate a most thorough research concerning the subject matter dealt with, besides proving that the author is exceedingly well versed in church history in general. He has traveled extensively in this country and in western Europe. He is a Republican, a member of the Society of Friends, and oftheY. M. C. A. XavieP, Nils Paul, clergyman— Ridgeway, la.,— bom 26 Sept., 1839, in Kautokeino, Tromso stift, Norway. He graduated from Tromso seminary in 1860; came to America in 1873; completed a theological course at the German Lutheran Seminary at Springfield, 111., in 1876; and has since served as pastor in the Norwegian Synod, having resided in Renville county, Minn., from 1876 to 1891, and at Ridgeway since the latter date. Xavier has been a mem- ber of the executive committee of the Lutheran Publishing House, and of the mission committee of the Iowa District of the synod. He married Amanda Magdalena Norum in 1868. They have several children.