ALBANY - Anyone who has driven through New Glarus or spent a day in Monroe during a Cheese Days weekend knows about the Swiss heritage in Green County.
But another group of county settlers often is overlooked.
In June, settlers from Wales, who settled on land north of Albany, will be honored with a Wisconsin Historical Marker.
Settlers from Wales came to Green County between 1845 and 1880, according to Cynthia Bagley and her husband, Loren.
The Bagleys have spent several years researching the settlers who emigrated to the Albany area from Radnorshire and Montgomeryshire, Wales.
English Settlement was located in the area northeast of Albany along what became known as English Settlement Road.
Cynthia said the early pioneers largely have been ignored by Wisconsin historians. She and her husband wanted to do something about the oversight.
"We knew there was a settlement there (north of Albany) but it was something no one acknowledged," she said.
Their work will change all that when the historical marker reminds people of the pioneers who moved to the area.
Those early pioneers built log cabins, cleared the land for their farms, built schools and churches and built a cemetery, she said. There are no remnants of the settlement in the area. The church burned down several years ago, Bagley said.
According to the Web site www.monticellowi.com, Thomas Pryce was a stone mason who learned his trade in Wales before he moved to the United States. He traveled for three months to Canada before he came to live in Green County. He and his wife had 10 children. When a history of the county was published in 1884, Pryce's children still were listed as county residents.
"We know the descendants of those early settlers are still in the area," Bagley said.
Pryce's family was one of 70 families that came to the Albany area to settle in what was called "English Settlement." Bagley said neighbors to the east were from Ireland and to the west from Norway.
"They were called 'The English Settlement' and the name endured," Bagley said.
The dedication ceremony to honor the pioneers is planned for 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 29, at the Albany Lions Club.
The Bagleys still are looking for information from people who are descendants of the early settlers. People with more information can contact Loren and Cynthia at (608) 676-4289.
But another group of county settlers often is overlooked.
In June, settlers from Wales, who settled on land north of Albany, will be honored with a Wisconsin Historical Marker.
Settlers from Wales came to Green County between 1845 and 1880, according to Cynthia Bagley and her husband, Loren.
The Bagleys have spent several years researching the settlers who emigrated to the Albany area from Radnorshire and Montgomeryshire, Wales.
English Settlement was located in the area northeast of Albany along what became known as English Settlement Road.
Cynthia said the early pioneers largely have been ignored by Wisconsin historians. She and her husband wanted to do something about the oversight.
"We knew there was a settlement there (north of Albany) but it was something no one acknowledged," she said.
Their work will change all that when the historical marker reminds people of the pioneers who moved to the area.
Those early pioneers built log cabins, cleared the land for their farms, built schools and churches and built a cemetery, she said. There are no remnants of the settlement in the area. The church burned down several years ago, Bagley said.
According to the Web site www.monticellowi.com, Thomas Pryce was a stone mason who learned his trade in Wales before he moved to the United States. He traveled for three months to Canada before he came to live in Green County. He and his wife had 10 children. When a history of the county was published in 1884, Pryce's children still were listed as county residents.
"We know the descendants of those early settlers are still in the area," Bagley said.
Pryce's family was one of 70 families that came to the Albany area to settle in what was called "English Settlement." Bagley said neighbors to the east were from Ireland and to the west from Norway.
"They were called 'The English Settlement' and the name endured," Bagley said.
The dedication ceremony to honor the pioneers is planned for 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 29, at the Albany Lions Club.
The Bagleys still are looking for information from people who are descendants of the early settlers. People with more information can contact Loren and Cynthia at (608) 676-4289.