author

Barthinius L. (Barthinius Larson) Wick

1864–1947

Best remembered as a careful local historian and lawyer in Iowa, he wrote with a strong sense of place and a clear interest in the people who built their communities. His work still appeals to readers drawn to regional history, immigration stories, and religious life in the Midwest.

1 Audiobook

History of Linn County Iowa

History of Linn County Iowa

by Luther Albertus Brewer, Barthinius L. (Barthinius Larson) Wick

About the author

Born in Stavanger, Norway, on February 29, 1864, he came to the United States as a child in 1876 and grew up in Iowa. Sources describe him as the son of Lars and Inger Wick, and note that he studied at academies in Blairstown, Le Grand, and Iowa City before earning a B.A. from the State University of Iowa in 1891 and a law degree there in 1893.

He built his career in Cedar Rapids as an attorney, but he also became known for historical writing. His best-known books include The Amish Mennonites: A Sketch of Their Origin, and of Their Settlement in Iowa (1894) and, with Luther Albertus Brewer, History of Linn County Iowa (1911), a large-scale account of the region and its early residents.

That mix of legal training and historical curiosity gives his writing a practical, grounded feel. Even now, his books are useful to readers interested in Iowa history, pioneer communities, and the lives of immigrants who helped shape the state.