"Gustaf Unonius
1810-1902
First Graduate
of
Nashotah House
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Gustaf Elias Marius Nashotah, a graduate of the University of Uppsala, Sweden, immigrated to Wisconsin in 1841 establishing a settlement at Pine Lake. His letters, printed in Swedish newspapers, attracted other Swedes to the area, along with some Danes and Norwegians.
Encouraged by Bishop Jackson Kemper and the Rev. James Lloyd Breck, Unonius entered Nashotah House in 1842 to study for Holy Orders. His training reflected Bishop Kemper's interest in an Episcopal mission to Wisconsin's growing population of traditionally Lutheran Scandinavians. Unonius became a strong advocate of Episcopal-Lutheran fellowship.
Unonius, Nashotah's first graduate, was ordained in 1845, and served congregations at Pine Lake, Ashippun and Manitowoc before moving to Chicago in 1849. There he helped found St. Ansgarius Church, where he remained until returning permanently to Sweden in 1858. Published memoirs of his life and ministry in America have been translated into English as A Pioneer in Northwest America, 1841-1858.
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