Soren Bache was a pioneer Norwegian settler, born in Drammen, Norway in 1814. He migrated to the US in 1839, settling at Wind Lake, Racine County, in 1840, part of the general Norwegian community known as Muskego.

Bache's letters to Norway encouraged many Norwegians to migrate to Wisconsin, and Muskego soon became a leading Norwegian settlement. Bache helped found the first Norwegian-American church in 1843, and the first Norwegian newspaper, "Nordlyset" in 1847.

In 1845 he was among those responsible for the "Muskego Manifesto," a document answering the anti-emigration propaganda of the Norwegian government. In 1847 Bache returned to Norway where he engaged in farming near Drammen until his death. 

Learn More

Soren Bache

See more images, essays, newspapers and records about Soren Bache

Dictionary of Wisconsin History

Explore more than 1,600 people, places and events in Wisconsin history.

[Source: Dictionary of Wisconsin biography]