The "Norwegian Farm"
Because of the founder's nationality, this farm
was called the "Norwegian Farm" for many years
by the early settlers of Stettin. It grew up into brush
and small trees and lay wild for about 12 years,
when Caspar Traxel purchased it in 1868 and set-
tled on it and improved it.
Regarding the early development of Marathon
County, Judge Marchetti wrote: "The settlement in
the Town of Stettin soon became the most popular
and flourishing one in the country."
Marchetti also writes: "The farm settlement in
Stettin flourished, together with that in Berlin, and
while a great number of the original settlers have
gone to the Dakotas, Nebraska, Iowa and as far
as Oregon, the majority still reside on the original
homesteads, the land being now held by their sons
and grandsons.
"It is one of the richest towns in Marathon
County, with splendid farms and fine buildings,"
it was written in 1913.
One early observer writes that "but for the stay-
ing qualities, the endurance, the grit and the fru-
gality of these pioneers, they might not enjoy the
prosperity which is theirs today."
In 1856, Marathon County had but one organized
township, the Town of Marathon, and reference
was made to the good qualities of those farmers
who had settled there. But the report adds: "What
has been said of these men applies with equal force
to the pioneers in other towns, the Towns of Stettin
and Wausau and the Irish Settlement (Halder)."
It is said that in New York City in 1848, every
hotel keeper and railroad agent and everyone else
who was approached for advice, directed immigrants
to Wisconsin. There was such an overwhelming
preference for Wisconsin that many German im-
migrants considered no other spot. From 1855 to
1857, about 75 per cent of the Marathon County
population was of German parentage.
The names of the townships reflect the German
settlers. Twelve out of the 42 are pure German,
including Stettin. The 1905 population showed
that more than two-thirds of the foreign born were
German.
An 1857 account of Marathon County by A. G.
Ellis states that this county could become the best
agricultural county in the state, as the weather con-
ditions were steady, with no sudden changes. But
in 1857, Wausau was cutting 20 million feet of
lumber annually and Mosinee another 6 million
feet. It was later that agriculture became important.

The Albert and Ed Ritter Threshing Rig

Emil Johr, William Hinz and August Radenz on the Hinz farm.

Walter Erdman Plows, Son Lawrence Rides

Roadbuilders Gust Kopplin, Art Haasch, Fred Roeder,
Gottlieb Bartelt, Fred Kop plin and Richard Kniess.