Histories: Trempealeau Co. Historical Accounts:
"History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin, 1917":
Chapter 8:
Preston
-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.