Filip A Forsbeck in his book “New Upsala – The First Swedish Settlement in Wisconsin released in 1936” concludes: The history of founding of New Upsala, the first Swedish Settlement in Wisconsin at Pine Lake, now the village of Chenequa, is so intimately connected with the personality of Unonius, the leader of the enterprise that the record of the former is absorbed in the biography of the latter. In his final removal the activities and the pioneer years of himself and his associates at Pine Lake came to an end, and, as but little remains to this day to tell the story, the events of these fateful years now belong to the realm of history.
This page is dedicated to stories from or about New Upsala which lasted a little more than a decade, starting in 1841 with the arrival of Unonius and company.
Milwaukee Historian Harry H. Anderson has written many short stories relating to the Swedish heritage adopted into the American society. The following stories are from New Upsala. See also “Bits and Pieces of Swedish American History.
- Gustaf Unonius’ Homemade “Snoose”
- Possessions of a Swedish Pioneer (Story to be added)
SAHSWI’s Historical Projects Committee Chair Martha Bergland is the author of “The Birdman of Koshkonong – The Life of Naturalist Thure Kumlien” published by Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2021 receiving numerous awards. The following stories are from New Upsala) (See also “Martha’s Stories”)
Swedish American Historical Society of Wisconsin 