Hans Halvorsen Smedsrud
The first emigrant to USA from Land and West-Oppland, and the 2nd from Oppland, was Lars Nielsen Røste b. 1799, emigrated 1839. His encouraging and informative letters home ignited the interest for emigration. But, first 3 years later, he could welcome the first couple from Torpa. On his invitation, and on his account, a newly wed couple, (Åmot church March 24, 1842) Hans Halvorsen Smedsrud b. 1804 in Nord-Aurdal and Marthe Olsdatter b. 1812 in Nord Torpa, emigrated in May 1842 with sailship to Quebec.
After 16 weeks they arrived in Rock Prairie, Wis. September 1st. Their first child, Helene, was born here Oct 31st, 1842. An thus she was the first "landing" child born in the new world. At first, the family stayed with Paul Skavlem from Numedal, but soon got their own farm, which they in 1852 sold to Hans Haraldsen Ommelstad (emigrated 1843). Together with 4 other men, Hans Smedsrud went west to find new land.
After traveling 300 miles, they came to an area where no white man had been before. They marked their land and traveled back to their families in Rock Prarie. In the spring of 1853, 40 families with 300 cows and 40 wagons pulled by oxen, left Rock Prairie to settle in the northeastern corner of Iowa. They crossed the Mississippi River in a boat pulled by 2 blind mules. They arrived at Cedar River, Mitchell County in 2 groups.
Hans Smedsrud was in the last one. To his surprise, he found that 2 men from Valdres had settled on the land marked by Smedsrud and his friend. Since the land was not measured and for sale, no one had a legal right to it. It was, however, an established custom among the settlers, that the first person who chose land and built on it, had 2 years before he had to go to the nearest land office to purchase the land from the state.
In the end Hans Smedsrud had to find another place. For a long period, there was great bitterness in the settlement because of this. When the Norwegian settlers should build their church, Hans Smedsrud was the one who freighted the first load of stones to the church. It was told that he and his two sons helped build the church gratis.
Hans Smedsrud died 1872 on his farm near St. Ansgar, Iowa. His wife lived till 1890. Both are buried at the First Lutheran Church graveyard in St. Ansgar. In 1953 the family published a pamphlet in memory of the first setllers 100 years ago. It's there mentioned that the total number of family members over the years, amounted to 510 persons whereof 113 had passed on. The Smedsrud couple wasn't just pioneers as emigrants from Land, they were also among the first to start farming in this part of Iowa, which today is one of the best agricultural states in the US. Their descendants are spread all over the US, but the "Halvorson Farm" is still in the family (1973).
From Arvid Sandaker: Boka om Land, Volume IV, Utvandringen til Amerika (the emigration to America) from Nordre and Søndre Land 1839-1915 -- Page 146
Submitted to IaGenWeb by Don Grell, May 2005