The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 65, July 1961 - April, 1962 Page: 202
663 p. : ill., maps (some col.), ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
institution greatly hindered the growth of the Texas colonies in
favor of the northern settlements."9
In answering a series of travel letters published in France which
severely criticized Texas, Mrs. Waerenskjold was quick to contra-
dict in behalf of her new home. So far as social conditions were
concerned, she said, "It is not here as in Norway, where equality
and freedom are found only on paper, but not in real life." She
said she was greatly opposed to slavery, but admitted that slaves
in Texas were treated better and were often in better positions
than laborers in Norway. Of all states, Mrs. Waerenskjold said,
Texas was best and she maintained that people would improve
their status by coming to Texas, especially if they were poor. Her
letter, published in at least two Norwegian newspapers, was ac-
companied by statements of other settlers corroborating its ac-
curacy.20
Mrs. Waerenskjold, a tremendous force in the Prairieville com-
munity, organized a temperance society and a Lutheran congre-
gation, taught school, and even persuaded her husband to preach
until a trained pastor could be secured. In 1849, through her
initiative, the Reverend Elling Eielsen came to Texas on a mis-
sionary journey. She also led a movement which called Emil
Fredericksen as minister of the Gospel at Four Mile Norwegian
Lutheran Congregation, where he stayed from 1854 to 1857. Mrs.
Waerenskjold's husband eventually was assassinated because of his
vehement anti-slavery views.21
Brownsboro and Prairieville did not meet the high expecta-
tions of the Norwegians for a variety of reasons. Perhaps their
expectations were too high, for they certainly made material head-
way. The climate was all right in winter, but the settlers were
unaccustomed to the summer heat and consequently were plagued
with diseases and epidemics. Medical aid was not easily obtained.
After the first year the soil grew progressively worse.22 Water at that
time was clean and clear, but no streams had enough volume for
19lbid., 186.
201Obid., 186, 187.
210. M. Norlie, History of the Norwegian People in America (Minneapolis, 1925),
175.
22Pierson, Norwegian Settlements in Bosque County, Texas, 34, 35.202
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 65, July 1961 - April, 1962, periodical, 1962; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101195/m1/232/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.