Nils Otto Tank
Encyclopedia
Nils Otto Tank was a Moravian Church missionary and pioneer land developer in Wisconsin
.
, in Østfold
county, Norway
. The son of a wealthy politician and landowner, Tank was educated in various European universities. His father was Carsten Tank
(1766–1832) had been Minister of Finance on the governing council in Norway in 1814. His mother, Cathrine von Cappelen
Tank (1772–1837) had been the daughter of Diderich von Cappelen, a wealth land-owner and ship owner. In 1813 Tank was sent to a school in Oslo
and in 1818 to a Moravian School in England
. In 1834, he was sent to serve at the Moravian settlement in Christiansfeld
, Denmark
.
. During that time, his daughter was born and his wife died. Tank's experience in Suriname ended on a bitter note. In colony such as Suriname, the economy depended upon slaves for the labor-intensive plantations of sugar cane, timber, coffee and other tropical products. It became increasingly clear to Tank that the treatment of the slaves in Suriname was intolerable. In 1847, he asked to be relieved of his duties in Suriname and returned to Europe.
where a group of Norwegian Moravian immigrants wished to form a settlement. Tank purchased a tract on the west bank of the Fox River
at Fort Howard, including the historic Tank Cottage. Tank planned to establish a communal society. However, the religious community elected to settle elsewhere.
Tank became associated with the Fox-Wisconsin River Improvement Company, but eventually lost heavily in the venture. He then turned his promotional activities to land speculations in Menasha
and Manitowoc
, and to railroad ventures, chiefly the Green Bay and Minnesota Rail Road.
. Otto Tank and Marianne Frueauf were married in Herrnhut during 1838. Their daughter Marianna Fredericka was born in Suriname in 1843. His second wife, Caroline Louise Albertina van der Meulen, (1803–1891) was born in Amsterdam
, The Netherlands. In 1849, Otto Tank married Caroline van der Meulen who lived on wealth inherited from her own family.
After the death of Nils Tank in 1864, Caroline Tank remained in Fort Howard until her death in 1891. In 1867, she donated books to the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, later transferred to the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Caroline donated land to build a Home for Children of Foreign Missionaries in Oberlin, Ohio
. She donated park land to the City of Green Bay. She gave money to several missions in China
as well as to American schools. In 1867 she donated a large collection of Dutch-language books to the Wisconsin State Historical Society.
(added 1970 - Building - #70000028).
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
.
Background
Otto Tank was born at Rød Herregård, the family estate near HaldenHalden
is a both a town and a municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The seat of the municipality, Halden is a border town located at the Tista river delta on the Iddefjord, the southernmost border crossing between Norway and Sweden.-History:...
, in Østfold
Østfold
is a county in southeastern Norway, bordering Akershus and southwestern Sweden , while Buskerud and Vestfold is on the other side of the bay. The seat of the county administration is Sarpsborg, and Fredrikstad is the largest city.Many manufacturing facilities are situated here. Moss and...
county, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. The son of a wealthy politician and landowner, Tank was educated in various European universities. His father was Carsten Tank
Carsten Tank
Carsten Tank was a Norwegian businessman and politician who served as Norwegian councilor of government of the 1st Ministry , and later councilor of state of the same ministry....
(1766–1832) had been Minister of Finance on the governing council in Norway in 1814. His mother, Cathrine von Cappelen
Cappelen (family)
Cappelen is the surname of a prominent Norwegian family of merchants, land owners, civil servants and politicians. In the 18th and 19th century, it was one of the so-called patrician families in Norway, i.e...
Tank (1772–1837) had been the daughter of Diderich von Cappelen, a wealth land-owner and ship owner. In 1813 Tank was sent to a school in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
and in 1818 to a Moravian School in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. In 1834, he was sent to serve at the Moravian settlement in Christiansfeld
Christiansfeld
Christiansfeld, with a population of 2,915 , is a town in Kolding Municipality in Southern Jutland in Region of Southern Denmark in Denmark....
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.
Missionary
In 1842, Tank and his wife left to become teachers and missionaries in the Dutch colony of SurinameSuriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
. During that time, his daughter was born and his wife died. Tank's experience in Suriname ended on a bitter note. In colony such as Suriname, the economy depended upon slaves for the labor-intensive plantations of sugar cane, timber, coffee and other tropical products. It became increasingly clear to Tank that the treatment of the slaves in Suriname was intolerable. In 1847, he asked to be relieved of his duties in Suriname and returned to Europe.
Immigration
In 1850 the family migrated to the United States. The Tanks traveled to Wisconsin near Green BayGreen Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
where a group of Norwegian Moravian immigrants wished to form a settlement. Tank purchased a tract on the west bank of the Fox River
Fox River (Wisconsin)
The Fox River is a river in eastern and central Wisconsin in the United States. Along the banks is a chain of cities, including Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, Appleton, Little Chute, Kimberly, Combined Locks, and Kaukauna. Except for Oshkosh, these cities refer to themselves as the Fox Cities...
at Fort Howard, including the historic Tank Cottage. Tank planned to establish a communal society. However, the religious community elected to settle elsewhere.
Tank became associated with the Fox-Wisconsin River Improvement Company, but eventually lost heavily in the venture. He then turned his promotional activities to land speculations in Menasha
Menasha, Wisconsin
Menasha is a city in Calumet and Winnebago Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 16,331 at the 2000 census. The city is located mostly in the Town of Menasha in Winnebago County; only a small portion is in the Town of Harrison in Calumet County. Doty Island is located...
and Manitowoc
Manitowoc, Wisconsin
Manitowoc is a city in and the county seat of Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, United States. The city is located on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Manitowoc River. According to the 2000 census, Manitowoc had a population of 34,053, with over 50,000 residents in the surrounding communities...
, and to railroad ventures, chiefly the Green Bay and Minnesota Rail Road.
Personal life
His first wife, Marianne Dorothea Frueauf (1804–1844) was born in Grosshennersdorf near HerrnhutHerrnhut
Herrnhut is a municipality in the district of Görlitz, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany.It has access to Bundesstraße 178 between Löbau and Zittau...
. Otto Tank and Marianne Frueauf were married in Herrnhut during 1838. Their daughter Marianna Fredericka was born in Suriname in 1843. His second wife, Caroline Louise Albertina van der Meulen, (1803–1891) was born in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, The Netherlands. In 1849, Otto Tank married Caroline van der Meulen who lived on wealth inherited from her own family.
After the death of Nils Tank in 1864, Caroline Tank remained in Fort Howard until her death in 1891. In 1867, she donated books to the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, later transferred to the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Caroline donated land to build a Home for Children of Foreign Missionaries in Oberlin, Ohio
Oberlin, Ohio
Oberlin is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States, to the south and west of Cleveland. Oberlin is perhaps best known for being the home of Oberlin College, a liberal arts college and music conservatory with approximately 3,000 students...
. She donated park land to the City of Green Bay. She gave money to several missions in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
as well as to American schools. In 1867 she donated a large collection of Dutch-language books to the Wisconsin State Historical Society.
Tank cottage
The Tank Cottage at Heritage Hill State Historic Park in Green Bay is reported to be the oldest house in Wisconsin. It was located on the west bank of the Fox River. In 1850 Otto Tank bought the building and added both wings to the house. In 1975 the building came down the river on a barge and became a part of Heritage Hill State Historical Park. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
(added 1970 - Building - #70000028).
Other sources
- Holand, Hjalmar RuedHjalmar HolandHjalmar Rued Holand was an American historian and author. He was the author of a number of books and numerous articles principally dealing with the history of the Upper Midwest and with Norwegian-American immigration....
Nils Otto Tank (The Society. 1909) - Titus, William A. History of The Fox River Valley Lake Winnebago and The Green Bay Region, Volume II (Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1930)