Eric R. Sheldahl was born December 21, 1831, near Etne, Norway and came to the United States in 1845 with his parents, Rasmus and Randy Sheldahl. He was married to Betsy Ness at Lisbon, Illinois, and in June 1856 came to Story county and settled on a farm at the edge of what is now the town of Roland, and lived there until retiring in 1901.
They traveled to Iowa with 17 families in covered wagons in which they lived all summer, five families using one stove. In the fall, Mr. Sheldahl built a small one room log cabin which was their home for 11 years, when they built a new home.
Five couples were married the same day in June 1855. They were Mr. and Mrs. John Michaelson, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Lein, Mr. and Mrs. Charley Johnson Sandvig, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Haaland, and Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Sheldahl.
Back: Henry, Arabella (Severson), Russel, Olena (Twedt), Martha; center: Caroline (Burrets), Eric Sheldahl, Mrs. Sheldahl, Oscar; front: Annie (Eggland), Mrs. Gerhard Krohn, Lewis Sheldahl.
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