USA > Wisconsin > Rock County > Rock County, Wisconsin; a new history of its cities, villages, towns, citizens and varied interests, from the earliest times, up to date, Vol. I > Part 40
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Norwegian system of names.
1st .- Baptismal name, Gullik.
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SCANDINAVIANS IN ROCK COUNTY
2nd .- Father's baptismal name : Ole (plus) sen
3rd .- Residence name, Gravdal.
Full name-Gullik Olsen Gravdal.
A woman's name is on the same plan, except adding the word datter (daughter) after the father's baptismal name, thus :
1st-Baptismal name, Gunnil.
2nd-Father's baptismal name, Gjermund (plus) datter.
3rd-Residence name, Odegarden,
and we have her full name, Gunnil Gjermund's datter Odegar- den.
The process of change of name in America was brought about in a variety of ways, often unrealized by the person himself until years after, when he became familiar with and understood the American system of family names.
Very few Norwegian names have escaped mutilation of some sort. Some may be but slightly changed in spelling-Nattestad to Natesta, Vegli to Wagley; here the sound of the name remains practically the same, but we have a meaningless word and name substituted for a descriptive one. Natte or nut equals knoll. Stad equals town, and we have Knolltown. Veg equals wall, li equals glenn or side-hill, and we have wall glenn or wall-side. This change has usually come about by the phonetic spelling of the name as pronounced. Others have had their name divided and sub-divided, being designated at one time by their first or baptismal name, afterwards by their father's Christian name, with suffix son or sen, and perhaps later on by the farm, grange, or locality name which finally becomes the permanent family name. All of these separated names would also be subjected to still further changes by phonetie spelling. To illustrate the last mentioned series of changes, we will take Mr. Gravdal, the father of Rock Prairie settlement, whose name has now gone into his- tory as Gullik Olsen Gravdal.
When Mr: Gravdal first met his American friends and neigh- bors he could speak no English; they, of course, understood not his Norwegian. In the family and amongst acquaintances the Norwegians always address each other by the Christian name. His American friends heard him called Gullik by his family, as also by his Norwegian neighbors; so naturally enough he became
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Mr. Gullik or Gulack when they had occasion to spell and write the name.
His children would be Mr. Gulack's children. As they learned their Christian names they became Ole Gulack; Tollev changed to Tolle became Tolle Gulack. Maria Gulack and Sigri or Siri was changed to Sarah Gulack. It was the same with all of the earliest Norwegian settlers, at least on Rock Prairie. They were first known and designated by their Christian names. Gunnil Gjermundsdatter Odegarden became widow Gunnel; Lars Hal- vorsen Skavlem was Mr. Lars; Gisle Sebjornson Hallen, Mr. Gis- ley ; Hans Halvorsen Husemoen, Mr. Hans, and Kleofas Halvorsen Hansamnoen, Mr. Cleophas. When their children first came to English school their English speaking playmates would tell the teacher the name of the bashful little towheads and it was Hal- vor Lars and Halver Hans (12), Halvor Cleophas (13) and Seb- jorn changed to Saber Gesley (14).
And by the same school house legislation the writer's mother- in-law, who was a daughter of the widow Gunnil and whose full Norwegian name should be written Gjertrud Thorstensdatter Ode- garden, was hokus-pokused into Mary Gunniel. When she paid Uncle Sam a dollar and a quarter per acre for the S. W. 1/4, N. E. 1/4, Sec. 21, T. 1, R. 11, June 7th, 1846, we find her registered as Mary Gounoriel.
If we could stop with these changes it would be easy, but the trouble has just commenced. When Mr. Gravdal went to the land-office at Milwaukee, December 12, 1839, and made his first purchase of land we find from the records that on December 12. 1839, Goelicke Holt became the owner of S. W. 1/4, of N. E. 1/4, Sec. 1, Town 1. north Range 11, E. On February 19, 1842, the same name Goelick Holt is registered as the purchaser of N. W. 14. S. E. 1/4, Sec. 1, Town 1. Range 11. And on March 13, 1846, Gullek Olsen buys the S. E. 1/4, S. E. 14, Sec. 1, Town 1, Range 11. Now these three parcels of land above described are the old Gravdal farm, which Mr. Gravdal purchased direct from the government, so Mr. Holt and Mr. Olsen and Mr. Gravdal must be one and the same person. Now for the explanation : As they had no home or farm as yet in this country they would be known by the last home they had in the old country. Mr. Gravdal had sold his farm. Gravdal, a short time before he con- cluded to emigrate to America and purchased a place called Holt.
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SCANDINAVIANS IN ROCK COUNTY
This place was some distance from the old home of Gravdal and located in another parish. So when he came to join the Ansten Natesta party, consisting largely of neighbors from his old home, to them he was still Gravdal and the name Holt only appears on the first two patents. In the third patent he gives his name simply as Gullik Olsen. This was what may be termed the common every day style of Norwegian signature, by the Christian name and the "Far's-navm" (Father's name) which consisted of the father's Christian name plus son or sen. Many would not sign their full name except when extreme accuracy or particularly important documents were supposed to require it. This is also customary at the present. Very few people ordi- narily sign their full name; most sign by initials and family name, except when requested to make signatures on documents of record. Ole Gulak, Mr. Gravdal's oldest son, adopted Gulack as his family name and among those that now represent the name of old Mr. Gullek is the Hon. Gilbert Gulack, ex-Senator of North Dakota, a grandson of Gullik Gravdal on his father's side and grandson of widow Gunnil on his mother's side. The younger son Tollev, changed to Tolle by phonetic spelling, took Gravdal for his family name, and old Gravdal's name is repre- sented by Gilbert Gravdal, a prominent and wealthy farmer of Newark. Again, others have translated the old country farm or home name, for instance, the Newhouse families of Clinton were Nyhus. Ny equals new and hus equals house, and we have Newhouse. Haugen translated has become Hill, and we have Halvor P. Hill, of Janesville, a grandson of Halvor Pederson Haugen, of the "Amelia" party. Mr. Hill's uncle, son of Halvor Pederson Haugen, took the middle name of his father Pederson, changed it to Peterson and adopted that as his family name, and we find him in history as the Hon. Halvor H. Peterson, repre- senting the first district of Rock county in the legislative assem- bly, 1871. Mr. Peterson is now living in Alta, Buena Vista county, Iowa, and is one of the few survivors of the thirty-niners. The following is a partial list of the various ways of changing names. Those who are in need of a new name can take their choice :
1st, Father's baptismal name for family name.
2d, Father's father's name plus son for family name.
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3d, Farm or home name for family name.
4th, Translation of home name, family name. .
5th, Phonetic spelling of either of above names for family name.
6th, Any old name will do for family name.
Two well known families can trace the origin of their family name to a large spring, located near the center of the north half of Sec. 4, Town of Newark. This fine spring soon attracted the attention of the early homeseekers, and in September, 1841, Gullik Knudsen and Gunnel Stordock, with their families, located near this spring, which as a land mark was already known as the "Big Spring." Stordock with his family lived in a haystack for three months while he built a house. In 1843 he sold his interest in the place to Gunder Knudson, a brother of Gullik Knudson; so we have the two brothers, Gullik and Gunder Knudson, living near "Spring-en" (the spring). This place already having a name, they were referred to as Gullik Springen and Gunder Springen. As their families grew up they continued the name
Springen. And Ansten Springen still owns the farm of his father Gullik. The well known K. G. Springen and his sons, prominent business men of Mayville, N. D., represent Gunder Springen. Perhaps the most singular and apparently unexplain- able mutilation of a name is that of widow Odegarden, as her name appears upon the government land records. In examining the entries of land in Rock county I find that Gisle Seberson Hallan became a freeholder in Rock county, November 29, 1839, and on the same date Gooneal G. Doetor took title to her first land. Now the question is how can we change the "Doetor" to the widow Gunnil Odegarden? The explanation is this: Un- doubtedly Mrs. Odegarden sent with Mr. Hallan money to pur- chase this piece of land, and when the clerk at the land office asked for the name of the person to whom the patent should be made Mr. Hallan gave the name Gunnil Gjermunds-datter. This to the clerk would sound as a name of three words, and following the custom then as now common, to only give the initial of the middle name G, he then mistook the datter for Doctor, and there you are.
What the records show. Scandinavian freeholders in Rock county up to January 1, 1843 :
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SCANDINAVIANS IN ROCK COUNTY
Town 1, Range 11, Town of Newark.
Sec. 1.
S. W. 14, N. E. 14-Goelicke Holt (Gravdal), December 12, 1839. N. W. 1/4, S. E. 14-Goelicke Holt (Gravdal), February 19, 1842. Sec. 4.
S. E. 1/4, N. W. 1/4-Margaret Oles Dater (Mrs. Gullik Springen), October 22, 1841.
N. E. 1/4, S. W. 14-Tellef Helgaison, December 15, 1842. Sec. 5.
S. W. 1/4, N. W. 14; N. W. 14, S. W. 14-Gubrand Oleson, October 7, 1841. . Sec. 9.
N. E. 1/4, N. W. 14-Guleke Oleson, December 15, 1842. Sec. 11.
N. W. 1/4, N. E. 14-Lars Halvorsen (Skavlem), June 4, 1841. N. E. 1/4, S. W. 14-Halvor Nilson (Aae), November 14, 1842. Sec. 23.
N. 1%, N. E. 14-Gooneal G. Doctor (Odegarden), November 29, 1839.
Sec. 24.
S. E. 1/4, N. W. 1/4-Gonnoriel G. Doctor (Odegarden), October 12, 1840.
Town 2, Range 11, Plymouth.
Sec. 32.
S. W. 1/4, N. E. 14-Paul Halvorsen (Skavlem), September 15, 1841.
N. W. 14, S. E. 1/4-Nils Oleson (Vegli-Wagley), September 15, 1841.
E. 1%, N. W. 1/4-Nils Oleson (Vegli-Wagley), September 15, 1841. Sec. 33. N. W. 14, S. E. 14-Gunnel Halgorsen, September 15, 1841.
Town 1, Range 12, Beloit.
Sec. 6.
N. W. 1/4, S. E. 1/4-Geesley Saberson Hollen, November 29, 1839. S. W. 1/4, N. E. 14-Geesley Saberson Hollen, July 12, 1841. N. E. 1/4, S. W. 1/4-Torris Sebarison, December 15, 1842. N. W. 1/4, N. E. 14-Margarett Nutes (Mrs. Gisle Sebjornsen Hal- lan), December 15, 1842. Nutes equals Knudsdatter. ("Nutes" is all the clerk got down of Knudsdatter.) Sec. 19.
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
N. W. 14-Abram Hobartson (Herbrand Halvorson Skavlem), September 29, 1842.
Sec. 28.
S. W. 14, N. W. 14-Goelicke Halverson (Gullik Halverson Blake- stad-Skavlem), May 16, 1840.
Town 1, Range 14, Clinton.
Sec. 15.
S. E. 14, S. E. 14-Ole Newhouse, September 26, 1842. Sec. 20.
E. 1/2, N. E. 14-Airik Gubrandson, May 16, 1840.
S. E. 1/4, S. W. 14-Kittel Newhouse, June 15, 1840.
W. 1/2, S. W. 14-Tosten Nilsen, September 19, 1842.
N. E. 14, S. W. 14-Kittel Newhouse, September 26, 1842.
N. W. 14, S. E. 14-Ole Knudson (Natesta), November 25, 1842. Sec. 22.
N. E. 14, N. W. 14-Andreas Jacobson, January 25, 1840. W. 1/2, N. W. 14-Ole Newhouse, September 26, 1842. Sec. 25.
S. W. 14. S. W. 14-Jas. Hilbeitson, September 19, 1842.
S. W. 14, N. W. 14-Tore Halgesen, September 19, 1842. Sec. 29.
E. 1%, S. E. 1/4-Erek Gulbeitson, October 22, 1841.
W. 1%, S. E. 14-Erick Hilbeitson, September 19, 1842. Sec. 30.
E. 12, N. E. 1/4-Thosten Nilsen, December 25, 1839.
S. E. 1/4, S. E. 14-Chris Newhouse, September 25, 1842.
N. E. 1/4, S. E. 14-Gulbrand Gulbrandson, October 31, 1842. Sec. 32.
W. 1%, N. E. 14-Ansten Knudsen (Natesta), December 25, 1839. Sec. 35.
S. E. 1/4, S. E. 14-Ole Pederson Buckstrung, December 15, 1842.
A study of these records shows that Gisle Sebjornsen Hallan was the first Scandinavian land owner in Rock county, while the widow Odegarden undoubtedly was the second, as her entry was of the same date as Mr. Hallan's. Dating the settlement by freehold Rock Prairie, in Rock county, is older than Jefferson Prairie. The earliest date of Scandinavian freehold in Clinton is by Ansten Knudsen (Natesta) and Thorsten Nilsen, dated December 25. 1839. Ole Knudsen Natesta did not take title to his land until November 25, 1842. We have seen that the greater
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SCANDINAVIANS IN ROCK COUNTY
part of the early cmigrants left Norway to get away from re- ligious intolerance. As a rule they were strongly religious, each one tenacious of his own particular and often peculiar idea. In the earliest colonies many had already allied themselves to the various American church societies, with which they came in con- tact. No effort at church organization among the Norwegians had been made until Elling Eielson arrived in 1839. (15)
An enthusiastic Hougian Evangelist, he had traveled exten- sively both in Norway and Denmark, preaching everywhere re- pentance and the forgiveness of sins. At some places he was endorsed and encouraged by the resident clergy; at others he was bitterly opposed and denounced as a dangerous heretic. This culminated in his arrest and imprisonment while in Denmark; but even in prison he could not be silenced. He was continually admonishing his fellow prisoners to repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus. Prince Kristian and Princess Karoline Amalia took his part and procured his release from prison. He returned to Norway, where he continued his itinerant preaching. His char- acteristic boldness and unqualified denunciation of church ritual- ism and secular interference in religious matters caused continu- ous conflict and opposition by the state church. On arrival in this country he immediately commenced his religious work. Gathering around him the few Scandinavian residents of the then small village of Chicago he held his first "Christelig Samling" (Christian assembly), as he termed his meetings, and vigorously exhorted to repentance and faith in "Christ and His Crucified." From Chicago he visited the scattered Norwegians in Illinois and Wisconsin. At the Jefferson and Rock Prairie settlements he found sympathetic audiences. Some were pronounced Hougians and the rest were at least liberally inclined. At first Eielson had no opposition and naturally assumed the leadership. A number of religious exhorters and lay preachers flocked to his standard and each recognized the other as a "Brother in Christ." While on a visit at Rock Prairie, 1842, at a meeting held with Mrs. Odegarden, who was an active Hougian, the necessity of pro- viding for the religious education of the young people was con- sidered. All agreed that this was of great importance and some- thing must be done immediately. Finding but one of Pontop- pidan's explanations of Luther's catechism, and but one or two catechisms in the settlement, with a similar scarcity of supply in
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
the other communities, it was decided that Eielson must go to New York and make arrangement for the printing of an edition of these necessary books. Eielson was a man of action and forthwith departed on his errand. It was late in the fall before he was ready to return from New York, over a thousand-mile journey, and the canal boats and steamboats were laid up for winter-but the walking was good. And so, with knapsack on back, he walked all the way back to Jefferson Prairie (16) and arrived there shortly after New Years, 1843. On the 3d of July, the same year, he married Sigri Nilsen, of Muskego, Racine county.
In an autobiography Mrs. Eielson speaks of the "simple life" of those early days as follows: "Eielson bought a piece of land near my father's, where he built a small log house. Our house- hold furniture was of the simplest kind; the emigrant chest served as table for two years, when a neighbor presented us with a home made table. I was alone most all the time. Eielson was doing missionary work, constantly traveling from place to place. I was strong and loved to work. I planted trees and made gar- den, spun and wove linen from flax, that we raised ourselves; also made cloth from wool and prepared our own garments. In 1846 we moved to Jefferson Prairie, where we lived with a kind Norwegian family for three years. Then we again purchased a piece of land, built a small cabin, just one room, and our furniture still consisted of the big chest, home made table and several benches."
Early realizing the urgent demand for some kind of parochial organization of the scattered clusters of his countrymen he sought church orders and was ordained at Chicago October 3, 1843, by the Lutheran pastor, Rev. Hoffman. Many of the lay preachers or exhorters, who conducted religious services in the early days of the colonies, followed Eielson's advice and example and later became Lutheran clergymen. But, fifteen days later than Eiel- son, C. L. Clausen was ordained at Buffalo by Rev. L. F. E. Krause. Ole Andrewson, who was a co-laborer with Eielson and Clausen in early pioneer days, came to America in 1841 and located at Jefferson Prairie in 1844, "where he settled on a piece of land, at the same time ministering to the spiritual wants of his countrymen who had settled there." He was ordained for the ministry in 1846. For four years previous to this time he
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SCANDINAVIANS IN ROCK COUNTY
devoted himself entirely to gospel work, traveling from place to place in the Norwegian settlements in Illinois and Wiseonsin. From 1846 to 1856 he organized congregations at Mission Point, Lisbon, Leland and Fox River, Ills .; also at Racine, Milwaukee and Muskego, Wis. In 1856 he became a resident pastor of the Evangelieal Lutheran Church of Clinton, Wis .; serving also other congregations at Muskego, Queen Anne Prairie, Leland and Rock Prairie. For nearly thirty years he continued to serve these places with remarkable.faithfulness and ability up to his death, which occurred February 23, 1885. He was a laborious worker, a good preacher, made many long missionary journeys, was charitable to those of different opinions and was beloved by all who made his acquaintance.
These early leaders earnestly advised their friends to Ameri- canize as fast as possible. They realized the impracticability of building little Norways on Wisconsin prairies. They prepared themselves to conduct religious services in the English language. Prominent among these was Paul Anderson, who came to America in 1843. He had acquired a fair knowledge of English in Nor- way. A devout Christian of the Hougian type, he soon became acquainted with Eielson, Ole Andrewson, Clausen and others and joined them in their active missionary work. Realizing the need of English teachers among his countrymen he soon became a student at the Beloit Seminary and, while attending school there, often conducted religious services at the home of Lars H. Skav- lem, in Rock Prairie. He afterwards spoke of this place as a home to him during his school days at Beloit. (He was often at our house and my father had a high regard for him .- Ed.) In 1848 Anderson's missionary work resulted in the organization of a congregation in Chicago. He was ordained at Sehohairie, N. Y., during the summer of 1848, and returning to Chicago began his pastoral duties. He soon introduced regular English serviees in his congregation, placing the English on an equal footing with the Norwegian. He established the first Sunday school among his people, which was also conducted in English; thus he gathered around him the young people.
The four names that will stand at the head of the list of that band of Christian workers whose influenee had so much to do with the early shaping of the social, moral and religious progress of the Norse-Americans in this country, must be Eielson, Clausen,
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
Andrewson and Anderson, and in 1846 all these were residents of Rock county. Eielson and Andrewson lived at Jefferson Prairie, Anderson at Beloit and C. L. Clausen became the resident pastor at Rock Prairie.
Rev. Mr. Anderson's congregation increased year by year and soon became the largest city congregation of Scandinavians in the country. Paul Anderson was born in Vang Valders, Norway, August 24, 1821, and died October 11, 1891, at Norland Farm, La Jara, Col. We have already recorded the arrival of Deidrich- son at Koshkonong in 1844 and listened to the words of warning in his first sermon. He came as a missionary of his church-not as an immigrant-he had no idea of becoming an American. He loved his native land and its institutions with the strength of a young patriot, and above all he had just dedicated his young life, his all, to his great mother, the church. He found his countrymen here in a strange land, scattering flocks without a shepherd, under the influence of men whose proper place, from his view- point, was the prison and not the pulpit. Many had already been led astray by Americans in to the "many other" erroneous sects found among the Americans. Surely here was work to do, and that of the strenuous kind. Here was the opportunity and he was the man of the hour. And he went at it, like the Viking that he was, with sledge hammer blows. He warned his hearers to beware of the false teaching of Eielson and his fanatical asso- ciates, to keep clear of the Americans and their many heresies, and especially to guard their children from the bad influence of the godless common schools. He urged the Norwegians to organ- ize and support their own parochial schools and send to Norway for good orthodox teachers. The first church organization on Rock Prairie was the one organized by Diedrichson in 1845, and Lars H. Skavlem was one of its members. All went smoothly for a while. Then came the parochial school organization, with C. L. Clausen as their pastor. This was slow and up-hill work, but it was finally launched, and the school was to circulate from house to house, so many days at each place. In due time it came to Mr. Skavlem's house, some time in the early '50s, after Clausen had moved to Iowa. The scholars were all seated on benches around the room. When the teacher discovered that "Bergit" (17) (a nurse girl in the family of Mr. Skavlem) was missing. He questioned Mr. Skavlem as to the whereabouts of the missing
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SCANDINAVIANS IN ROCK COUNTY
scholar and Skavlem replied that the Yankee school had just begun and that he had sent her there. The good teacher took Mr. Skavlem to task for his carelessness of the spiritual welfare of his ward. Skavlem retorted that fortunately he was now in a country where he had a right to his own opinion on such matters, and the arguments grew long and waxed warmer until the scene, which stamped itself indelibly upon my memory, though I was then a mere child, was enacted. I can still see that cold steel blue glint in his eye as my father looked the pedagogue squarely in the face and slowly said in the Norwegian language what trans- lated would be "You can not plant Norway on these Wisconsin prairies," and his fist came down on the table with such a force that it would have been destruction to anything but a home made piece of furniture. "If this is your religion I am done with you and your church." This was the first and last Norwegian parochial school in Mr. Skavlem's house, and perhaps the first serious clash between the two contending forces, destined to a long and often bitter struggle, the outcome of which has never been in doubt. Nobody now wants to build Norway on these Wisconsin prairies. The conservatism and ultra Norse-National- ism of that portion of the Scandinavian immigrants, completely dominated by the so-called State Church, can only retard the com- plete Americanization of its members for perhaps another gener- ation. And this may be a "blessing in disguise." True evolution is slow of growth and too rapid changes are apt to produce many freaks and abnormal individuals. The early pioneers were more than half Americanized before they left their native land; not so with the mass of the later arrivals; the longer time in transition may be necessary to the best results.
Limited space allows but brief notice of the political affilia- tions of the early Scandinavian pioneer. Ole Rynning's little book undoubtedly had much to do with the anti-democratic line- up of many of the first settlers. The Free-soil and Liberty parties got the first vote of many of them. Later on, during the late '40s and early '50s, the bulk of the Scandinavian vote went to the Democrats. The first Norwegian newspaper published was called "Nordlyset" (Northlight). This made its appearance in 1847, was published in Racine county, Wisconsin; James O. Ray- mert, editor, and was an exponent of the "Free-soil" party. In 1849 Knud Langeland and O. I. Hatlestad became the owners of
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
the paper and changed its name to "Demokraten"; but it was to be "Free-soil Democrat." This proved a failure and it died, aged 1 year and 6 months. The printing establishment was now divided between Langeland and Hatlestad, and Langeland was induced to move his part of the outfit to Janesville, Rock county, Wis., where he was to be assisted by C. L. Clausen, then resident pastor at Rock Prairie, in the publication of "Maanedstidende," a religious monthly magazine. This was also a losing enterprise and after about a year's struggle Langeland decided to sell out. Langeland says that his office force in Janesville consisted of a young boy apprentice and one printer, named Conradi, a brother of the renowned professor of the same name.
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