Gustaf Unonius and the New Upsala settlement

Project to get the historical recognition from State of Wisconsin

creating an

Official State Historical Marker

Presentation outline

• Life of Gustaf Unonius

• The first Swedish Settlement in Wisconsin

• The Swedish pioneers

• Unonius and the Episcopal Church

• Unonius Memoirs

• Gustaf Unonius impact today, 180 years later

• Official State of Wisconsin Historical Marker - Process and Requirements

• Preliminary steps of the project

The life of Gustaf Unonius

• Born in 1810 in Helsinki Finland, Graduated from University of Uppsala, Sweden

• In May of 1841 set out to create a Swedish settlement in America together with wife and a few friends

• After a long journey overseas, rivers and land they arrived in Milwaukee Oct 4, 1841

• Based on recommendation from Mr O.G. Lange, another Swede, they discovered the Pine Lake area, and decided to settle there. The land was also inhabited by Potawatomi Indians

• Unonius and company established New Upsala, Pine Lake Scandinavian Parish and the Holy Innocents cemetery, and Unonius was ordained an Episcopal minister.

Gustaf Unonius family

Unonius a graduate from Upsala University

The life of Gustaf Unonius (continued)• Unonius remained in New Upsala until 1848, moved to

Manitowoc, and then to Chicago where he founded the Swedish Episcopal Church of St. Ansgarius

• In 1858 he returned to Sweden and in 1862 released his memoirs

• Gustaf Unonius passed away in 1902 in Hacksta Parish, closeto the city of Enkoping, Sweden.

In a previous SAHSWI presentation John Elliott described in detail the Unonius adventurous trip, and the establishment of the Swedish Colony (https://sahswi.org/gustaf-unonius-and-new-upsala/)

See also next exhibit Unonius life timeline

1810 1820 1830 1840 1850 1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910

Gustaf Elias Marius Unonius

10/14/1902 – died at 92

1888 – Retired

1863 – promoted to collector at Grislehamn

1862 – Memoirs published

1848 - Moved to Manitowoc, Wisconsin and became the first Rector of St. James' Episcopal Church

1849 - Founded the Swedish Episcopal Church of St. Ansgarius in Chicago

1853 – visited Sweden

1858 returned to live permanently in Sweden• Rejected from the Lutheran church because he was Episcopal• Joined the Customs Service

1845 - Became the first graduate of Nashotah House

1810 - Born in Helsingfors, Finland to a Swedish family (Finland was part of Sweden)

1810 - Moved back to Sweden when Finland became part of Russia. During the Finnish War between Sweden and Russia, Finland was again conquered by the armies of Tsar Alexander

1830 - Graduated from the University of Uppsala

1833 – Graduated from the University of Uppsala Law Department

1841 - Married MargrethaCharlotta Ohrstromer (1811 to 1903)

1841 – Immigrated to the United States

New Upsala - The first Swedish Settlement

• With help from other settlers, including Friman, the first Swedish settler in Wisconsin, Unonius built a cabin on the east side of Pine Lake

• He wrote letters back to Sweden, which were published in Swedish papers, including Aftonbladet

• Within 2 years a number of Swedish immigrants arrived to join Unonius and the Swedish colony

• The cabin became the focal point for all newcomers, who stayed until they established their own living quarters.

• The Indian name for Pine Lake is Chenequa, and the new settlers lived side by side, in harmony, with the Potawatomi Indians

The New Upsala pioneers

As a result of the published America Letters a number of Swedish people and families arrived to join Unonius in 1842 and 1843

• George Edward Bergwall, a Customs Inspector from Gothenberg

• Baron Fredrik Thott, Officer of the Swedish Army

• Bengt Petterson, a Regimental Paymaster in the Swedish Army

• Knut Bottiger, a Lieutenant in the Swedish Army

• Carl Fredrick Polycarpus von Schneidau, Nobleman, Lieutenant of the Swedish Artillery

• A.F. von Proschwitz, Lieutenant from the Varmland Regiment

• Lars and Anders Wohlin, Blacksmiths

• John O. Rudberg, Surveyor and Forrester

• Charles Balkman, Sailor

• Adolf Fredrik St. Cyr von Lindsfelt, exchamberlain of the Swedish Court

Many of the Swedish newcomers were not prepared for the pioneeringconditions and had a hard time dealing with the elements

Other Scandinavians also arrived, mainly Norwegians, they settled onthe west side of Pine Lake, the Swedes were on the east side.

Map reference Pine Lake,William F. Stark

Unonius and the Episcopal church

• Gustaf Unonius held religious devotions at his cabin for his familyand neighbors.

• In 1842 he met James Lloyd Breck, an Episcopal Missionary, wholater would establish the Nashotah Episcopal Seminary.

• In the fall of 1845 Unonius was ordained an Episcopal minister,the first graduate of the seminary.

• In January of 1844 Bishop Jackson Kemper visited New Upsala

• In March the Holy Innocents cemetery was consecrated for theScandinavian community, and the Pine Lake ScandinavianParish was established.

• Gustaf Unonius was ordained as its first pastor.

• A few years later a small church was built on the cemeterygrounds.

• In1849 Unonius founded the Swedish Episcopal Church of St.Ansgarius in Chicago

James Lloyd Breck Bishop Jackson Kemper

Holy Innocents Church, after being moved and remodeled to a regular residence

Gustaf Unonius memoirs• After returning to Sweden in 1858 Unonius wrote and released a book in1862

titled “Minnen fran en sjuttonarig vistelse in Nordvestra Amerika” (Memoriesfrom a 17 years journey in Northwest America).

• This book was translated to English titled “A Pioneer in Northwest America,1841 – 1858” and is available in two volumes, publisher Swedish PioneerHistorical Society; University of Minnesota Press

• The book in two volumes is available digitized by North Park University inChicago.

• Volume 1: A Pioneer in Northwest America, 1841 – 1858: the Memoires ofGustaf Unonius

This volume deals with Unonius travel from Sweden to Wisconsin, his founding of thecolony, and finally his departure to Chicago.

• Volume 2: A Pioneer in Northwest America, 1841 – 1858: the Memoirs ofGustaf Unonius

The second volume focus more on his activities as an episcopal minister.

The book is also available on-line in Swedish – link below

• Minnen fran en sjuttonarig vistelse in Nordvestra Amerika

Unonius today, 180 years later

Unonius and New Upsala historical marker in the village of Chenequa

• Erected in1948 by Wisconsin Swedish Pioneer Centennial Commission which was a set up by The Swedish Pioneer Historical Society, today Swedish American Historical society, Chicago.

• The marker is located just west of Highway 83 at the intersection with Waukesha county road K

Nashotah House Theological Seminary• Gustaf Unonius first graduate.

• The historical marker was erected in 1992 by the Swedish American Historical Society of Wisconsin and Linde Lodge 492 – Vasa Order of America.

• Nashotah House is located, 2777 Mission Rd, Nashotah, WI, by Upper Nashotah Lake

Unonius today, 180 years later

Saint John’s Lutheran Church in Stone Bank

• In August of 1847 Norwegian members of Pine Lake Scandinavian Parish left to organize a new Norwegian Lutheran congregation in Johnson’s Mill, now Stone Bank.

• St. John’s Lutheran congregation was established, referred to as Pine Lake Norwegian Lutheran Church

• After being moved from the original location, the church is now located at W334N6990 Stone Bank Road, Oconomowoc, WI.

St. Anskar’s Episcopal Church,

• In 1864 Pine Lake Scandinavian Church became known as the Holy Innocents EpiscopalChurch. In 1962, Holy Innocents merged with Grace Holy Innocents Episcopal Church inHartland, and in 1975 the name was changed to St. Askar’s Episcopal Church.

• The church is located at N48W31340 State Road 83, in Hartland east of State Road 83,just north of Highway 16 intersection

• Note: St. Anskar (801-865) was the archbishop of Hamburg, Germany and a missionary to Scandinavia near the beginning of the Viking Age.

Unonius today, 180 years laterHoly Innocents Cemetary

• In 1844 consecrated for the Pine Lake Scandinavian Parish, Pastor Gustaf Unonius, used until 1864.

• The Church cemetery was not used again until 1895. In 1895, the last survivor of the original Scandinavian Parish legally transferred the land to Holy Innocents, today St. Anskar's Church.

• Today there remains an active Holy Innocents cemetery on the former church site.

• This cemetery is locatedwest side of Highway C, approximately 1 1/2 miles north of Nashotah, at the western limits of the Village of Chenequa, Section 31, Merton Township.

• on the

Process for applying for State of Wisconsin Historical Marker

1. Pre-Applicationreview with Wisconsin Historical Society to get pre-approval (takes 2 to 3 weeks)

2. Download Application form (PDF) and prepare the applicationThe applicant must be able to pay for the cost of the marker and application fee

Agree to maintain the marker

Have the permission from the landowner where the market is to be erected

3. Make Sure Your Marker Topic and Site Location Meet Established CriteriaTopic: Events, People, Art and Architecture, Prehistory and Archeology, Ethnic Groups, Legends, State History

Historical Marker Location: Landowner permission, public access, easement right-of-way to the marker

4. Choose the Type of Marker You Want for the SiteThere are three types: Small City Marker (16" h x 24" w), Large City Marker (36" h x 24" w), and Two-Post Marker (72" h x 54" w). Cost from $660 (smallest 320 characters) to $5430 (largest, two posts, different text each side, 2006 characters)

Made of cast aluminum and have raised cream-colored letters on a tobacco brown background.

You may include a photograph, map or graphic

5. Develop Well-Documented, Clearly-Written Text to Be Included on the Marker

6. Submit the Application and Fee ($250)

The Society will review and approve applications that meet the requirements under Wisconsin Statute s. HS 4.06. It may take up to 180 days)

Preliminary steps of the project

1. Engage people interested to work on the project

2. Contact people and organizations in some way connected to the Unonius history, promote the project

3. Assemble a project team

4. Secure a location for the marker

5. Raise funding for the marker and implementation

6. Complete pre-application, review with Wisconsin Historical Society

7. Application

8. Implementation Swedish American Historical Society of Wisconsin