America in the spring of 1867 from Norway. Also in this company were Baar Beroien, his wife, and four children. Jacob Skimland and Wm. Tunge families settled near Daton, Illinois. Both of these families lived in the same house. Great grandfather worked by day and moved to Iowa from Platte, Illinois in 1865 in a covered wagon. The company consisted of Jacob Skimland and two children, and Thor Svelland, his brother-in-law, in one wagon; Elias Sandvig, a brother of Mrs. Kittel Carlson Hagen, and his brother Joe, and Peer Udtlsen in the second wagon; Sire Holmen and Vossa Nils in the third wagon.
The wagons were regular wagons covered with unbleached muslin, heavy enough so it kept out the rain. In the wagon was a barrel of home-made crackers, clothing, and a "brandfot", an iron frame on which a flat round piece of iron was placed and a fire built under to cook the meals. Jacob Skimland's wagon was drawn by oxen, and the other two wagons by horses. They each had cattle, so in all there were 110 head and a few horses. A cow was lost going through some timber. Sunday was a "day of rest", so no traveling was done. Cattle were herded, so milk was plentiful. Some was exchanged for sour milk at farm homes along the way, and a large kettle of hagleta was cooked for their Sunday dinner.
The trip took three weeks. The Mississippi was crossed by "fjarja" -ferry--cattle, wagons and all. Great grandfather's first stop was at Mons Grove's home south of Roland, then they moved on to Baar Beroien's home, as he had already settled in Iowa. The other two wagons stopped somewhere near McCallsburg, as they had been out here before and had bought land. They also stayed with Wm. Tunge. None of these had more room than they needed for their own families, so they moved on to the home of Lars Grindem in "Christitown", where they stayed six weeks.
Great grandmother, Reinert, Eli and Christina, Mrs. Thor Svelland and three children, Malinda (Mrs. Skorpen), Kari (Mrs. Sam Larson), Serina (Mrs. Tom Quam, who was the mother of Mrs. Ben Anderson), Mrs. Elias Sandvig, Mrs. Vossa Nils, Joni, Sire and Jacob Hokmen [Holmen] also came by train to Nevada where each were met. Svelland lived in a small house just east of Story City.
After six weeks, great grandfather moved to Cambridge and lived with Eric Sheldahl. Mrs. Sheldahl (Alice) was the oldest daughter of Baar Beroien. They moved to Joe Loghammer Iverson's home where they spent the first winter. By this time, Jacob Skimland bought or claimed 80 acres. A house was built on one forty, and a few logs were placed on another forty to claim them until they were for sale. He paid three dollars an acre for one forty, and four dollars an acre for the other forty.
Joe Hill and his son and grandchildren have been engaged in fox hunting for well over 50 years. First fox were hunted with dogs, but during the past years only traps have been used. This past season (1969-70) 133 fox, 73 raccoon, 1 wolf, and 1 badger were caught.
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