Garrett Runey

Runey Cabin

GARRETT RUNEY, farmer, Secs. 24 and 23, P.O. Oregon; is a son of the first settler of Oregon Township, viz. Bartley Runey, who was born in Maryland in 1795; married in his and her native State, Margaret Garnett; they settled in Ohio in 1824. Garrett Runey was born in Preble, Clinton Co., Ohio, Oct. 10, 1832; in March 1841, Mr. Runey left La Porte Co., Ind., with team and covered wagon, and reached Janesville, Wis., April 8; early in the spring of 1842, he made the first claim, built the first house and became the first permanent white settler of what is now Oregon;

Hans Peter Olsen

Downtown Oregon in the 1900s

HANS PETER OLSEN was the other of two “tilletsmann” or Trustees on the first Church Council. He was born March 11, 1851 in Rolokke from Lolland, Denmark.

Cassius M. Palmer

Palmer House

Cassius M. Palmer, dealer in real estate, who makes his home at 1809 Jefferson Street, Madison, was born in Erie county, Pa., September 19, 1844.

Nels Peterson

Downtown Oregon in the 1900s

NELS PETERSON, of Oregon, is the only son of Claus Peterson, a small farmer of Denmark.

Peter H. Peterson

Downtown Oregon in the 1900s

PETER H. PETERSON is recognized as one of the leading tobacco growers of the town of Oregon, where he has lived during the past forty years. He is a native of Denmark and the date of his birth is November 7, 1845, his parents being Peter Mortenson and Dorothea Hanson, both of whom were born in Denmark and died there.

S. Peterson

Downtown Oregon in the 1900s

S. PETERSON, farmer, Sec. 23; P.O. Stoughton; was born in Norway in 1835; he came to America in 1865; stopped in Chicago for nine years, and in 1874 came to Rutland, Dane Co., where he then bought this farm of 80 acres. He was married in Chicago, in 1869, To Elizabeth Ellingson, a native of Norway; they have three children-Peter, Sena and Nils; they are members of the Lutheran Church.Ref. 1880 History of Dane County, Wisconsin, p. 120.

J.G. Pierce

Mr. John Pierce

J. G. PIERCE, farmer, Sec. 4, 5 and 3; P.O. Oregon, born in 1836, in Jefferson Co., N. Y. son of John and Alvira (Hyatte) Pierce, both natives of New York; in June, 1842, the family settled on a wild, new farm near Janesville, Wis. and after building, breaking, etc., exchanged for 160 acres of the Pierce farm in Oregon; Mr. P. and sons did good work here, cleared the scattering burr oaks, the father owning 120 acres, J.G. 280, Sylvester 120 and Alfred 80; there were nine children-Mary A., Sylvester, Orelia, John G., Jane, Rebecca and Nancy; were born in Jefferson Co., N. Y.; Melvin was born and died in Rock Co; Alfred was born in Oregon.

Jacob Rasmussen

Downtown Oregon in the 1900s

JACOB RASMUSSEN was born Oct. 1, 1851 on Bjerne Mark, on Forsenge Svendborg in Denmark, baptized the next year in Brininge Church and confirmed in the same church on Mikkelsdag (St Michael’s Day) 1865. He came to America August 24, 1879 and joined the Rutland Church. Later he was active in organizing the Oregon congregation Feb. 7, 1896.

John Muir

John Muir in nature

Because John Muir at one time taught at the Lake Harriet School, Oregon claims this famous naturalist as one of its early inhabitants.  Born in Dunbar, Scotland, April 12, 1838, Muir with his father, sister, and two brothers immigrated to Green Lake county, Wisconsin, in 1849, when he was eleven years old.

Charles Neath

Downtown Oregon in the 1900s

CHARLES NEATH, who is one of the prosperous farmers of the town of Rutland, is a fine example of the self-made man, and his life in an illustration of the opportunities that America affords for the industrious and preserving youth.