Brit J. Britson (1856-1932)

BRITSON

Posted By: Bobbie Knudsen (email)
Date: 9/28/2008 at 18:24:51

The Story City Herald
Thurs. March 3, 1932

BRITSON WAS LAST OF THE FIRST PIONEERS

Roland Man Who Died Last Week Came Here in 1856

(Roland Record)
The last member of the first group of pioneers to settle in the Roland community in 1856 was called away last week, when B.J. Britson died at five o'clock Thursday morning. Mr. Britson was a babe only a few months old when his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sjur Britson came from Illinois, and he has lived here continuously since that time, a period of 76 years. There may be a few in Story county who have lived here a year or two longer, but Mr. Britson had the distinction of being the oldest resident of the Roland community.

There were three groups of pioneers who left Illinois to make their homes in this part of the country, the first in 1856, another in 1857 and the third in the following year. From then on new settlers came steadily and the country was soon well inhabited.

It is interesting at this time to enumerate those who first broke the sod in this vicinity. The members of the first colony who came in 1856 were: Rasmus Sheldahl with his wife and one child; Erick Sheldahl and wife; Elias Hendrickson and wife; Jonas Duea with his wife and two children, Julia and Joseph; Rasmus Larson Tungesvik with his wife and six children; Ole Rasmusson and his wife and one child; Jacob Erickson and wife; Hans Twedt, wife and one child; Sjur Britson, wife and two sons, Sjur and Brit; Lars and John Ness and Hans Peterson.

The members of the second colony who came in 1857 were; Osmund Henryson and wife; Samuel Holland family; Knud Egland family; John Charlson and family; Ole Braland and family; John Bjorka and family; Andrew Christenson and family; Peter Tjernagel and family; Knud Helvig family.

The third group of 1858 included Paul Thompson and wife; Mons Grove; John Grindem, wife and two children; Knut Tvedt and wife; Lars Henderson, wife and four children; Johannes Mathre and family; Tjeran Halnes, wife and four children; Baard Beroen, wife and four children; Thor Hill, wife and one child.

As far as is known, all of those who came in these three groups are now dead, Mr. Britson, who came in the first contingent, being the last survivor to pass away.