Glick. Their children are: David Gaylon and Therease Nichole. Pamela is studying to become a child psychologist. Holly Sue married Jure Gene Kamm. Their children are: Justin Gene  and Travis David. They live in Ft. Collins where Holly works in the Assessor’s Office.

David, Myrna and Dawn Iverson

Iverson, Lars and Sigrid (Haves)

(Ethel Iverson)

One early settler of Canoe Twp. was a Norwegian immigrant by the name of Lars Medaas Iverson. He was born in Voss, Norway 3 Aug 1802 and died in 1887. In the old country he led the life of a peasant. The barrenness of the country, the hard toil to make a living and the monarchical government were the reasons he emigrated to America. In 1850, he left the shores of Norway with his family consisting of wife Sigrid Haves, born and raised in Hardanger, and 3 children. Iver (took the name of Larson) became a Decorah merchant: William stayed with farming and Mary later became Mrs. Lars Fossum.

It took 11 weeks to cross the ocean and when Lars arrived in New York he fell ill. After his recovery, he took company with a Dane and found his family after 4 months separation.

Lars was 48 years old at this time and the sickness made him very weak and slender.

They migrated to Wisconsin and stayed there the first winter. The next spring he bought a yoke of cattle and a wagon and they started on their journey not knowing where they would end up. In 1857 after a long journey of toil, trouble and hardships, they arrived at section 2, Canoe Twp, Winneshiek Co., IA, took a homestead and acquired other property.

The first thing needed was a shelter, so they put 4 crotches into the sidehill, laid sticks across and covered them with grass. One night there came a terrible rain and the sod house was ruined. The next day they started to dig a cellar in the sidehill. They put up a few rounds of logs and on the roof they laid some grass and covered it with dirt. Lars broke 5 acres the first summer and planted corn the next spring. The frost came early and took his corn. Wheat grew very well.

Wolves were plentiful in the early days as were deer and trout, but no rabbits. There was much large timber. The prairie grass on his land was so tall that he could not spot his oxen until he got up on the hill to find them.

Mills were scarce forcing Lars to construct a crude mill for grinding corn which was also used by the neighbors. (The mill was given to the Luther College Museum in the 30’s.)

Prairie fires seemed to come every spring and summer. Farmers would plow around the dwellings or burn around them to meet the coming fire, thus stalling it. There were several Indian scares, but no Indians. The Norwegian snow-shoes-different from the Indian snowshoes-were like 2 sleigh runners, about 8 to 10 feet long and 3 to 4 inches wide. There was a loop at the center to put the toe in, and you would shove along almost like skating.

Lars was given the honor of being Canoe Township’s outstanding farmer. Great changes have taken place between the early days and the present time. Large tracts of land on the prairies which were considered deserts that would never be settled, have made pleasant homes for many immigrants. Land that was covered with brush and shrubs is now covered with towns and cities.

”l have not been blessed with much wealth and riches, but I have had its equivalent and that is contentment. I have not been compelled to sigh for food or shiver for want of clothing. And now a word to the rising generations: We have cleared the road and broken the sod. We had hardships and trials that you may have never dreamed of. We hope the best for you. We bid you adieu and let the followers carry us to our graves. Dated at Locust Lane this 11 th day of January 1877. ” (Lars Iverson)

A change was made in the family record when another member was added, Lars Iverson Jr., born 7 Dec 1852. He

The house where Lars and Ingri Iverson’s nine children were born and raised. The left side was log before they used boards for the outside walls.