In subsequent years there arrived constantly new settlers from Skien, Sætersdal and Gudbrandsdalen, but even in the later forties many began to go to the counties immediately northwest to Waupaca and Portage counties and elsewhere. In 1850-54 these counties, as also Waushara and Winnebago counties on the south, received hosts of Norwegian settlers, some coming direct from Norway, a large number however from Racine and Dane Counties, and the Pine Lake region.[323] The period of growth in this settlement was therefore relatively short, and the removals relatively large. The result was that the Norwegians came to live more scattered and the community soon began to lose its distinctive national character. Thus it is significant, that of the ninety services held during 1907 in _Vor Frelsers Kirke_ at Oconomowoc sixty-three were in the English language.[324] But we are here touching upon questions which it is not our purpose to discuss in connection with the survey of settlement. [322] Through John Lia's influence this then came to be the destination of the earliest emigrants from Gudbrandsdalen between 1846-49. [323] Walworth County contributed some of the number; thus Ole Sögal, the first Norwegian settler at Heart Prairie, was one of those who went to Waushara County. [324] By way of comparison the number of English services to Norwegian as far as statistics are available were in the following localities: Morris, Ill., 13 of 67, Blue Mounds, Dane Co., Wis., 0 of 22; Leland, Ill., 14 of 28; Stoughton, Wis., 35 of 80; Long Prairie, 7 of 25; Koshkonong, 0 of 75; "Muskego," 41 of 112. CHAPTER XXXV _The Earliest Norwegian Settlers at Sugar Creek, Walworth County, Wisconsin. The influx from Land, Norway, to Wiota and Vicinity, 1844-1852_ We have briefly referred to Sugar Creek, Walworth County, Wisconsin, in chapter XXXIII above. This little settlement received its first Norwegian settlers in 1844 when Ole Vale and wife Anne from Holden Parish, Skien, located there; with them came the sons John and Anders and the daughters Aasta, Anne, Turine, Andrea and Maria. Vale and his wife lived in Sugar Creek till their death, and the daughters all married and settled there. In the same year Ole Kittelson and Nils T. Kvamodden, both unmarried and both also from Holden, came to the settlement. Ole Kittelson located permanently in Sugar Creek, but Nils Kvamodden and wife moved to Norway Township, Goodhue County, Minnesota, in 1857. There they died years ago, the homestead being now occupied by the son Ole.