New Glarus in Green County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Swiss Pioneers Monument
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, July 9, 2022
1. Swiss Pioneers Monument Marker
Aug. 16, 1845
Locators of the Colony: Niklaus Durst Fridolin Streiff
Monument Committee: O. Babbler Mel. Schmid N. Durst
Oswald Babler Fridolin Babler Jost Becker Fridolin Becker Mathias Durst Balthasar Durst Fridolin Hefty Fridolin Hosly Heinrich Hosly Marcus Hosly Mathaus Hosly Fridolin Streiff Heinrich Aebli Fridolin Legler Sr. Fridolin Legler Jr. George Legler John Casper Legler Abraham Schindler Balthasar Schindler Mathias Schmid Paulus Kundert Hilarius Wild Anton Stauffacher Jacob Stauffacher Rudolf Stauffacher Jost Trumpi
Erected 1915.
Topics. This historical marker and monument is listed in these topic lists: Immigration • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is August 16, 1845.
Location. 42° 48.943′ N, 89° 38.035′ W. Marker is in New Glarus, Wisconsin, in Green County. It is at the intersection of 5th Avenue and 1st Street, on the right when traveling west on 5th Avenue. The statue is in front of the Swiss United Methodist Church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 18 5th Avenue, New Glarus WI 53574, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker and monument is in the American Midwest, on the Great Lakes, in the Corn Belt, and in the Driftless Area Bluff Country. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: New Glarus (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Herbert O. Kubly (about 500 feet away);
this page online
More about this marker. The memorial, about 18½ feet tall, was erected in 1915 in honor of the 70th anniversary of the founding of New Glarus by Swiss emigrants. The monument was placed near the site where the settlement's first log cabin was erected. The pioneer man depicted in granite at the top was created by F.B. Luchsinger, who owned a monument works in Monroe, Wisconsin.
Also see . . . History of New Glarus.
Excerpt: "In the early 1840s, after several years of failed crops and as food became scarce, much of the canton of Glarus in Switzerland found itself deep in poverty. With more workers than available jobs, the government of the canton saw emigration to America as a solution. Authorities established the Glarus Emigration Society in 1844, which offered loans to help residents purchase(Submitted on December 9, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)land in the New World. All other expenses associated with the voyage to America were to be paid by the emigrants themselves. Men were offered 20 acres (81,000 m2) free of rent for ten years, after which they could own the land for a mere ten shillings per acre. Given the desperate economic conditions in Switzerland, 193 volunteers decided to leave their homeland to start anew in America."Photographed by Sean P. Flynn2. Swiss Pioneers Monument in front of Swiss United Methodist Church
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn
3. Swiss Pioneers Monument: Rear and right side
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn
4. Swiss Pioneers Monument left side
Credits. This page was last revised on February 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 9, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 143 times since then and 82 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 9, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
