In the years 1873-1875, Páll Þorláksson was the pot and pan in the adjustment of Icelandic immigrants in Wisconsin. He assisted them in finding a settlement site in the state. At the beginning of the summer in 1874, he got his father, Þorlákur Gunnar Jónsson and Haraldur, his brother, to go with him to Shawano County, somewhat north in the state, and there they found an ideal area. Icelandic settlement began there later that summer. Páll disappeared from the scene in the fall to finish his studies in theology. He completed it on July 8, 1875, and shortly after ordination he was ordained pastor of four small Norwegian congregations in Shawano County. The Norwegian Church Synod that had educated Páll and ordained him a priest suggested that he also take care of his countrymen in Shawano. He then formed “The Icelandic Lutheran Congregation of Shawano County, Wisconsin” and it was the first Icelandic congregation in North America. Below is a list of congregation members in the fall of 1875:
- Þorlákur Gunnar Jónsson
- Henrietta Lovisa Nielsdóttir
- Jón Valdimar Þorláksson
- Guðrún Jakobína Þorláksdóttir
- Þorsteinn Þorláksson
- Björn Þorláksson
- Valgerður Þorláksdóttir
- Haraldur Þorláksson
- María Sigurðardóttir
- Lovísa Björg
- Niels Þorláksson
- Friðrik Bergmenn
- Eiríkur Bergmann
- Loptur Jónasson
- Magnús Jóhannesson
- Elín Magnúsardóttir
- Hallgrímur Gíslason
- Herdís Jónsdóttir
- Aðalbjörg Indriðadóttir
- Guðfinna Jónsdóttir
- Jónatan Hallgrímsson
- Kristján Hallgrímsson
- Aðalbjörg Hallgrímsdóttir
- Magnús Gíslason
- Sigríður Jónsdóttir
- Anna Magnúsardóttir
- Kristján Magnúsarson
- Jón Jónsson
- Sigurbjörg Stefánsdóttir
- Helga Jónsdóttir
- Jón Jónsson
- Guðmundur Stefánsson
- Guðbjörg Hannesardóttir
- Stefán Guðmundsson
- Sigurlaug Guðmundsdóttir
The list is from Rev. Páll Þorláksson’s church book for the years 1875-1882.
English version by Thor group.