Review of "Norwegians in Wisconsin," by Richard J. Fapso

 Review of

Norwegians in Wisconsin, by Richard J. Fapso, ISBN 9780870203343

Four out of five stars

Largely fact-based description of the immigrants

 An aged lifelong resident of Wisconsin once told me that a local handyman of Norwegian extraction once told her that when faced with a difficult task the first thing you must do is cuss it in Norwegian. Although the numbers were not large, the value given in this book is 30,000 Norwegians left their native land to settle in Wisconsin, their influence in the area is significant. There is a significant Norwegian presence in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota as well. The name of the sports teams of Luther College in extreme northern Iowa is the Norsemen. 

 The first known individual from Norway that settled in Wisconsin arrived in 1838. As was the case with immigrants from other countries, the primary reason for Norwegians to go to Wisconsin was the presence of available land capable of growing crops. With all of the land in Norway in use, there were few opportunities for a young person to acquire farmland. 

 The stories of the first immigrants sending messages back to Norway encouraging others to follow are similar to those of people from other countries that immigrated for the purpose of establishing a farm. At first, somewhat socially isolated due to being the first ones in America, as others arrived, a social structure developed with a specifically Nordic theme. 

 While there are no surprises regarding the explanations of how the Norse populations were established and functioned, this book is illustrative of how America in general and Wisconsin in particular was a shining place for people to leave their homes and make a new and successful life and viable community. 


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