More on the Pine Lake and Rock River Settlements

In an earlier Post, I gave a short account of the Norwegian settlement at Pine Lake, that our Naas grandparents first joined when the arrived in this country in 1845.  I have since worked on the photos that I took of the area, and particularly the farm they cleared and the congregations that they joined.  The Memorial to the left is to the earliest settlers and is found at the site of the earliest formal cemetery at Stone Bank, near the south end of Pine Lake.  Refer to the earlier Post for a map of the area, and the location of churches and farms.

Gustaf Unonius was a central figure in the early history.  The Swedish aristocrats, whom he led, were the first immigrants, but soon abandoned the frontier, and were followed by the first Norwegians.  Unonius was the most important person in forming the first congregations.  He felt that the Scandinavian churches were theologically  consistent with the Anglican theology of the missionaries who were the first arrivals.  Unonius became the first graduate of the Nashotah seminary, and adapted the Anglican liturgy and conducted services in Norwegian.

Pine Lake is a glacial lake, surrounded by steep banks.  The immediate area was not well suited to agriculture, forcing our ancestors to move west a few miles to find more promising land.   Pine Lake is now a very exclusive development of large and opulent homes of wealthy families who commute to Milwaukee.  The picture shows the boat ramp on the north end of the lake, which is the only public access.

The earliest surviving church is St Olaf's, which celebrated it's 150th anniversary in 1994.  I've previously mentioned the nice history of the church which was written by Roger Johnson and Clayton Swanton.  The History is still available from the church.

The ancient log house, to the left, was the home of Roger Johnson's forebears, and is from the era that our Naas ancestors arrived.  Presumably, a similar log house was built on  the land that the family took possession of on the banks of the Rock River ... about 10 miles to the west of Pine Lake.

The Naas - Gunderson land, as seen from the homesite.  The Rock River is several hundred yards ahead, hidden by the large trees along its banks.  In about 1860, Gunder and Asborg transferred the farm to Gunder's son Nils, by his first marriage, and moved with our gr gr gr GM Mariken to Kasson, Minnesota, where they raised their family and died.    The farm remained in the Gunderson family for many years.

The Nils Gunderson home must have been built in the 1890s, and reflected many decades of hard and successful work.  The current owners are restoring the home, and rehabilitating the fields with prairie restoration.   The Gundersons were early members of the St Lukes congregation.  The church was built a few miles north of the Gunderson farm.  The graveyard contains many of the Gunderson family, as well as the Gasmann family.  It is also the burial site of Aaste (Esther) Olson, who was the sister of my gr gr GF Nils Taraldsen, from the other line of my Norsk kin.

 

 St Luke Church                                                                                


               St Luke Altar


           

In addition to these photos, I have photos of St. Olaf Church and Cemetary, as well the home of Daniel Simonsen and of Aaste and Nilsmund Olson.  There are also a number of Gundersen and Gasmann graves, which I can post if there is interest.   A trip to the Pine Lake - Rock River area is very worthwhile.