Nicholas and Hely Schwalen were among the first farmers in St. Croix County after emigrating from Honsfeld, Prussia, in present-day German-speaking Belgium. They arrived in Racine, Wisconsin, in 1848, made their way to St. Paul by 1849, claimed government land six miles southeast of Hudson, and built a cabin in 1851. Nick Schwalen returned to Honsfeld to marry Cibilla Schneider, and when they came back they were joined by members of the Bonnes, Mayer, Roehl, Rohl, Ross, Schwalen, and Yost families. After a 46-day voyage on the ship Columbus, these pioneers landed in New York on 31 May 1852, traveled by the Erie Canal route to Racine, bought a breaking plow, six teams of oxen, and carts for the 170-mile trek to Galena, Illinois, and then continued by steamboat to Hudson, arriving on 27 June 1852. They cleared their land claims and built a common shelter into a hillside where the colony lived during its first winter. Later arrivals included the Wanner, Knott, Hapsch, Von Kuster, and Moelter families. In the early 1860s, schools were started at the east and west edges of the settlement along Stageline Road. Christian Bonnes donated land in 1867 for the Oak Valley School at the junction of Highways N and SS, Hely Schwalen sold land in 1869 for the Pleasant View School where Highways N and U meet, and Bartholomew Schwalen sold land for the cemetery in 1871. The cemetery association was founded on 25 March 1871 by Bartholomew Schwalen, Christian Bonnes, Hely Schwalen, Joseph Bonnes, John Hapsch, Mathias Knott, J. Nicholas Mayer, John N. Mayer, Jr., Peter B. Mayer, J. Peter Rohl, Leonard Rohl, Mathew Rohl, and Nicholas Schwalen.