Histories: Trempealeau Co. Historical Accounts:
"History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin, 1917":
Chapter 8:
Preston Township was settled in 1855. There were two distinct groups, one group consisting of men of some means from the Eastern States, and the other group consisting of a Scandinavian colony from older Wisconsin counties. Among the Americans were Ebenezer Thurston, Robert Thompson, E. M. Reynolds, John B. Dunning, Simon S. Rice, John Hopkins and others. Richard Porter, by some believed to have been the first settler in the township, died a few weeks after his arrival, before his cabin was erected, as a result, it is said, of an encounter with a band of wolves. In the Scandinavian colony were Gullick Olson, Sivert Johnson, Lars Olson, Bjorgo Olson, Sigbjurne Ellickson, Peder Pederson, Gullick A. Storlee, Bengt Danielson, Nels Halverson, Jacob Tenneson and others. Family traditions and family Bibles differ considerably as to the date of the arrival of these pioneers. Some place Gullick Olson's arrival the year previous, and give him the credit of being the first settler. Others declare that Sivert Johnson and not Gullick Olson was the one who arrived in 1854.
"History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin, 1917":
Chapter 8:
Preston
-As transcribed from page 94
-As transcribed from page 94
Preston Township was settled in 1855. There were two distinct groups, one group consisting of men of some means from the Eastern States, and the other group consisting of a Scandinavian colony from older Wisconsin counties. Among the Americans were Ebenezer Thurston, Robert Thompson, E. M. Reynolds, John B. Dunning, Simon S. Rice, John Hopkins and others. Richard Porter, by some believed to have been the first settler in the township, died a few weeks after his arrival, before his cabin was erected, as a result, it is said, of an encounter with a band of wolves. In the Scandinavian colony were Gullick Olson, Sivert Johnson, Lars Olson, Bjorgo Olson, Sigbjurne Ellickson, Peder Pederson, Gullick A. Storlee, Bengt Danielson, Nels Halverson, Jacob Tenneson and others. Family traditions and family Bibles differ considerably as to the date of the arrival of these pioneers. Some place Gullick Olson's arrival the year previous, and give him the credit of being the first settler. Others declare that Sivert Johnson and not Gullick Olson was the one who arrived in 1854.