The Iver Iverson Helvig family settled in 1866 southeast of Roland (the Juel Sandvold farm). Mr. Iverson (1824-1893) and his wife, Kari Olson (1825 -1902) immigrated to Clinton, Iowa, from Kvinherred, Norway in 1861. Seven children were born to the couple in Norway, four dying in infancy, one of whom died on the ocean voyage and was buried at sea.
Children of Iver and Kari Iverson, having dropped the name Helvig, were Kari Anna (Mrs. Ole Hegland), Oliver, Andrew and Carrie (Mrs. Tom Sandvold) who was born on the family homestead.
Elias Sandvig Johnson, born in 1833 at Teigland, Norway, and Taaran Boxte, born in 1843 at Skaanevig, Norway, came to America on the sailship Haraldharfoger on July 25, 1854. They were married November 15, 1859 at Lisbon, Illinois, where they lived five years.
In the spring of 1865 they moved to Iowa, Mrs. Johnson and the three children coming by train to Nevada while Mr. Johnson and others drove overland in covered wagons. They located on a farm 31- miles northeast of Roland, but stayed with Ole Rasmussen, who lived a mile west of them, until their home was completed.
They were the parents of 12 children, Julia, Caroline, Isabelle, John, Joseph, Pierce Elias, Peder Elias, Gerhard, Charles, James, Arnie, and Ella. One son, Peder Elias (Eli), operated the farm after his parents' deaths until he and his wife, Magdalena Annaniasen, retired to Roland in 1948. Their children are Earl, Agnes, Ruth, Jeannette, Julius, Marion, Herbert, and Ethyleen.
The Johnson farm has been in the family for over 100 years, and at present is farmed by Julius Johnson.
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