The next township to be set off from the others, as a separate township, was Howard, which was in 1860 constituted a township separate from Lafayette. Concerning this action, tradition, which is supported by the record, is to the effect that the new township was first designated Norway, in honor supposedly of the people who were already settling there and have since been its most numerous inhabitants. The plat upon the record still bears the name of Norway, but in the order for the erection of the township the original name has been very carefully erased and Howard inserted in a different hand and with different ink. "
In 1856 another large group came, and other large groups came from Lisbon, Illinois in 1857 and 1858. The following years, settlers came in large numbers and the land was rapidly taken up. An increasing number of immigrants came directly from Norway.
The Nelsons, in their history of the insurance association, described the conditions under which these settlers lived.
"Naturally, the first concern of all the settlers was to provide shelter for their families and their livestock. The first dwellings were built of logs from the timber along the Skunk River, the logs being cut and shaped by ax and adz. A few dug cellars and lived there until a dwelling could be built. In 1857, a saw mill, powered by a steam engine, was located at Story City and continued in operation for about eight years. During this time the settlers depended on this mill for logs and lumber for their buildings.
"Some of the dwellings were insulated with flax or oat straw between the walls, Due to lack of money, many of the buildings were cheaply built and cold. The log houses proved to be quite warm.
"Shelters for livestock were in most cases built with a framework of poles. In some cases boards were used for the sides. Most of these shelters had a framework for the sides stuffed with slough hay. The roofs were thatched with long slough grass held down with poles on top to keep the roof from blowing off. These roofs shed water fairly well if properly laid, but might drip for days after a heavy rain.
"Following the building of dwellings for the family and providing shelter for the livestock, the breaking of the tough prairie sod and preparing it for planting of crops was a herculean task in itself, considering the implements available for the purpose. Much of the prairie was dotted with sloughs and ponds, therefore only the high ground could be cropped. Generally, the first crop planted was flax to condition the soil, followed by oats, wheat or corn. The blue stem and wild prairie grass furnished roughage for the livestock. "
The nearest market places were Marengo, Alden, Marshalltown, Boone, Iowa City, and Des Moines, where they hauled their butter, eggs and dressed pork, receiving little in return. As towns rose up, markets became better and were nearer, and prosperity came as a welcome guest after many years of toil and privation.
In May 1870, before any businesses had been started, and before the town had a name, Jonas Duea had been appointed as the first postmaster of the new town at a salary of $5. 00 per year. The post office was located at Mr. Duea's farm at the present west limits of the town, and the mail came up from Nevada twice a week.
By the year 1873, Roland had become a place "of considerable busi-
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