Gustaf Unonius
Encyclopedia
Gustaf Elias Marius Unonius also referred to as Gustav Unonius, Gustave Unonius, Gustavus Unonius, or Gustov Unonius ( 25 August 1810 - 14 October 1902) was a pioneer
and priest
in the American Midwest. Unonius served as a catalyst for early Scandinavian emigration
to the Upper Midwest
.
, then part of the Russian Empire
. His family moved to Sweden
when he was a child. In 1830, he graduated from Uppsala University
in Sweden and from the Uppsala law department in 1833. In 1841 Unonius emigrated to the United States
, settling in Waukesha County, Wisconsin
.
. Unonius' letters to Swedish
, Danish
and Finnish
newspapers about pioneer life in America sparked a wave of immigration by Scandinavians
to the Midwest. While living in Waukesha County, Unonius befriended James Lloyd Breck
, one of the founders of the Episcopal seminary Nashotah House
.
and was ordained to the Diaconate by Bishop Jackson Kemper
. He was later ordained as a priest in The Episcopal Church, continuing to commute from the Pine Lake Settlement for several years. In 1848, Unonius moved to Manitowoc, Wisconsin
and became the first Rector of St. James' Episcopal Church
. In 1849, he founded the Swedish Episcopal Church of St. Ansgarius
in Chicago, Illinois.
.
American pioneer
American pioneers are any of the people in American history who migrated west to join in settling and developing new areas. The term especially refers to those who were going to settle any territory which had previously not been settled or developed by European or American society, although the...
and priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in the American Midwest. Unonius served as a catalyst for early Scandinavian emigration
Emigration
Emigration is the act of leaving one's country or region to settle in another. It is the same as immigration but from the perspective of the country of origin. Human movement before the establishment of political boundaries or within one state is termed migration. There are many reasons why people...
to the Upper Midwest
Upper Midwest
The Upper Midwest is a region in the northern portion of the U.S. Census Bureau's Midwestern United States. It is largely a sub-region of the midwest. Although there are no uniformly agreed-upon boundaries, the region is most commonly used to refer to the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and...
.
Background
Unonius was born of Swedish parents in Helsinki (Swedish: Helsingfors) in the Grand Duchy of FinlandGrand Duchy of Finland
The Grand Duchy of Finland was the predecessor state of modern Finland. It existed 1809–1917 as part of the Russian Empire and was ruled by the Russian czar as Grand Prince.- History :...
, then part of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
. His family moved to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
when he was a child. In 1830, he graduated from Uppsala University
Uppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
in Sweden and from the Uppsala law department in 1833. In 1841 Unonius emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, settling in Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Waukesha County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2008, the population was 380,629. Its county seat is Waukesha.-History:The part of Wisconsin that Waukesha County now occupies was a part of Michigan when Milwaukee County was organized in September 1834. On July 4, 1836, the...
.
Nya Uppsala
Unonius was founder of the early Swedish-American immigrant settlement known as the Pine Lake Settlement or New Upsala, (Swedish:Nya Uppsala). The settlement was near what is now the town of Merton, WisconsinMerton (town), Wisconsin
Merton is a town in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,988 at the 2000 census. The Village of Merton is located partially within the town. To local residents, the town of Merton is not called Merton, but is rather split up into the smaller unincorporated communities of...
. Unonius' letters to Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
newspapers about pioneer life in America sparked a wave of immigration by Scandinavians
Scandinavians
Scandinavians are a group of Germanic peoples, inhabiting Scandinavia and to a lesser extent countries associated with Scandinavia, and speaking Scandinavian languages. The group includes Danes, Norwegians and Swedes, and additionally the descendants of Scandinavian settlers such as the Icelandic...
to the Midwest. While living in Waukesha County, Unonius befriended James Lloyd Breck
James Lloyd Breck
James Lloyd Breck was a priest, educator and missionary of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America.James Lloyd Breck is commemorated on April 2 on the Episcopal calendar of saints.-Early life and education:...
, one of the founders of the Episcopal seminary Nashotah House
Nashotah House
Nashotah House is an Anglo-Catholic seminary of the Episcopal Church located in Nashotah, Wisconsin, approximately 30 miles from Milwaukee, in the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee. The seminary opened its doors in 1842 and received its official charter in 1847...
.
Priesthood
In 1845, Gustaf Unonius became the first graduate of Nashotah HouseNashotah House
Nashotah House is an Anglo-Catholic seminary of the Episcopal Church located in Nashotah, Wisconsin, approximately 30 miles from Milwaukee, in the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee. The seminary opened its doors in 1842 and received its official charter in 1847...
and was ordained to the Diaconate by Bishop Jackson Kemper
Jackson Kemper
Bishop Jackson Kemper was the first missionary bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America.Baptized David Jackson Kemper by Dr...
. He was later ordained as a priest in The Episcopal Church, continuing to commute from the Pine Lake Settlement for several years. In 1848, Unonius moved to Manitowoc, Wisconsin
Manitowoc, Wisconsin
Manitowoc is a city in and the county seat of Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, United States. The city is located on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Manitowoc River. According to the 2000 census, Manitowoc had a population of 34,053, with over 50,000 residents in the surrounding communities...
and became the first Rector of St. James' Episcopal Church
St. James' Episcopal Church, Manitowoc
St. James' Episcopal Church, named for James the Greater, is a historic Episcopal church located at 434 North Eighth Street in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, a city on the western shore of Lake Michigan. St. James' is a "broad church" parish in the Diocese of Fond du Lac, and the only Episcopal church in...
. In 1849, he founded the Swedish Episcopal Church of St. Ansgarius
Ansgar
Saint Ansgar, Anskar or Oscar, was an Archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen. The see of Hamburg was designated a "Mission to bring Christianity to the North", and Ansgar became known as the "Apostle of the North".-Life:After his mother’s early death Ansgar was brought up in Corbie Abbey, and made rapid...
in Chicago, Illinois.
Return to Sweden
Unonius returned to Sweden in 1858, having lived in the United States for 17 years. The stories of his travels to the United States and the trials and tribulations of life on the frontier were the subject of his two-volume memoirs, published in 1862. A partial translation of his memoirs, A Pioneer in Northwest America 1841-1858: The Memoirs of Gustaf Unonius, was published in 1960 for the Swedish Pioneer Historical Society by the University of Minnesota PressUniversity of Minnesota Press
The University of Minnesota Press is a university press that is part of the University of Minnesota.Founded in 1925, the University of Minnesota Press is best known for its books in social and cultural thought, critical theory, race and ethnic studies, urbanism, feminist criticism, and media...
.
Selected works
- Haandbog for den Hell. allmindelige Kirkes Bekjendere (1846)
- Reply to A Letter of Bp. Chase to the Members of the PEC (1851)
- Minnen från en sjuttonårig vistelse i Nordvestra Amerika (1862) Volume one Volume two
- Mormonismen: Dess Uprinnelse, Utveckling Och Bekannelse (1883)
- Bihang till Minnen från en sjuttonårig vistelse i Nordvestra Amerika (1896)
Additional reading
- A Pioneer in Northwest America 1841-1858: The Memoirs of Gustaf Unonius. (translated by Jonas Oscar Backlund and edited by Nils William Olsson Unonius, University of Minnesota Press, 1960)
- Past And Present Relations Between The Anglican Communion And The Church of Sweden (by Rev. G. Hammarskold, transcribed by Wayne Kempton, Episcopal Diocese of New York City, New York: A. G. Sherwood & Co., Printers, 2008)
External links
- Gustaf Unonius directory on Project CanterburyProject CanterburyProject Canterbury is an online archive of material related to the history of Anglicanism. It was founded by Richard Mammana, Jr. in 1999, and is hosted by the non-profit Society of Archbishop Justus...