Near Brokaw in Marathon County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Pomeranian Settlement in Marathon County

Photographed by Joel Seewald, August 17, 2019

1. Pomeranian Settlement in Marathon County Marker

Inscription. In the 1850s, in the midst of Wisconsin's lumber boom, a large migration of Germans helped settle Marathon County. This group hailed from Pomerania, a former Prussian province in present-day northern Germany and Poland. Immigration continued for the next several decades, but the largest movement occurred in 1867. That year, Wausau merchant August Kickbusch journeyed back home to convince his former neighbors of Wisconsin's riches. More than 700 immigrants followed him to Wisconsin. Pomeranians spoke PlattDeutsch, also known as Low German, and established several Lutheran churches. Members of today's Pommerscher Verein (Pomeranian Society) of Central Wisconsin work to preserve the language and traditions that helped shape the culture of this region.

Erected 2013 by Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 552.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Immigration • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1867.

Location. 45° 4.538′ N, 89° 47.323′ W. Marker is near Brokaw, Wisconsin, in Marathon County. It is at the intersection of Berlin Lane and Naugart Drive, on the right when traveling south on Berlin Lane. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11248 Berlin Lane, Athens WI 54411, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Wisconsin. It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Great North Woods,

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 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Pomeranian Settlement (within shouting distance

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of this marker); Our Story (approx. 6½ miles away); Three Arch Stone Bridge (approx. 8.3 miles away); T.B. Scott Free Library (approx. 8.3 miles away); Merrill Post Office (approx. 8.6 miles away); Merrill City Hall (approx. 8.7 miles away); Lincoln County Courthouse (approx. 8.9 miles away); Baesemann Cemetery (approx. 9 miles away).

Photographed by Joel S., August 7, 2015

2. Pomeranian Settlement in Marathon County Marker

View to the northeast with the Wisconsin Historical Society marker at the far left of the photo.

Photographed by Joel Seewald, August 17, 2019

3. Pomeranian Settlement in Marathon County Marker

View to the southwest with the Pomeranian Settlement monument in the background.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 8, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 10, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 3,505 times since then and 152 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 31, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 2. submitted on August 10, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 3. submitted on August 31, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.