Koshkonong Settlement > Coon Prairie Settlement

The first immigrants from Biri in Norway came to this country in 1846 and settled at Koshkonong. These were Peter Bronstad, Syver Galstad and Even Gullord. Bronstad had money so he paid the fares for the others. Even Gullord was a young bachelor who was very capable and with his well-written letters encouraged many others to follow. Gullord worked for a year at Koshkonong and earned enough to pay back the money he owed for his fare. Then when he felt himself a free man again he left Koshkonong to search for good land for a Norwegian settlement for others he knew were following him. He went to Galena, Illinois where he worked for a year and earned money for a river boat passage northward. After about 150 miles the boat stopped at Coon Slough (Stoddard) for supplies. He disembarked there and wondered up the whole length of Coon Valley, about 20 miles. Even Gullord saw many beautiful places along the way but no settlers. At last he came up on large Coon Prairie, beautiful bountiful and untouched by man. Glorious was the sight of this magnificent prairie. No wonder he knelt down there in the grass and thanked God for bringing him to this good land. He examined the whole prairie and found that in every way it was excellently suited for a large Norwegian settlement. He chose for himself 160 acres of land and wrote his name on the survey marker. This was the first farm on Coon Prairie and later owned by Richard Grimsrud. Thereupon he journeyed back to Galena where he continued his work until fall.

In 1847-1848 a number of others, had on his advice, came to Galena and got work. Together with these he traveled in September of 1848 back to Coon Prairie to take up permanent residence in that new settlement.

When Gullord came back to settle on his claim, he found that someone else had taken residence there. Rather than to fuss about this, he chose another parcel of land nearby. This lies a half mile north of the Coon Prairie Church and has lately been owned by Richard Galstad. Here Even Gullord settled and lived for many ears. After Gullord’s encouraging letters back to Norway, many more immigrants came in 1849 and most of them settled on Coon Prairie. Others took land in the nearest surroundings.