The Memoirs of Aslak

THE MEMOIRS OF ASLAK IVERSON

The Ulvik Church in Norway

Photo courtesy of Ivar Osa

by Alice Iverson 1960

Aslak Iverson, the son of Iver and Dorte Aslakson Lekve, was born in Ulvik, Norway, July 14, 1827. He was the oldest of five children.

Aslak was married to Guro Sampson (daughter Haaheim) the spring of 1854 and came to America the same year and settled at Cambridge, Wisconsin. Later they moved to the neighborhood of Stoughton in Dane County, Wisconsin where they lived for a short time.

This marriage was blessed with one son, Iver A. Iverson, Jr. born March 20, 1855. Mrs. Iverson passed away in 1855 when their son, Iver A. Iverson, Jr. was but three days old. Aslak’s sister cared for the child until Aslak married Brita Mikkelson in 1857. This marriage was blessed with two sons, Lewis A. Iverson born September 13, 1858 in Dane County, Wisconsin and Jacob G. Iverson, born May 6, 1861 in Clay County, South Dakota.

When rumors were circulated that the Dakota Territory was to be opened for settlement to the white people, his longing for a home of his own overtook him. He, with several others, started out for the Plains of Dakota, going by way of Dubuque, Waterloo, and Fort Dodge to Sioux City. This point was reached after a period of thirty seven days. With no roads or bridges, and with rivers and swamps to cross, they were compelled to hitch six oxen to a wagon and a man to each wheel to cross, forty rods of swamp. They would then have to unhitch and go back for another wagon, making six trips in all.

Reaching Sioux City, they crossed the Missouri River into Nebraska. After great hardships, they came to North Bend and St. James on the Nebraska side. Here they found the colony of their acquaintance who had come the year before to see and admire the big forest and rich flat land in the Dakota but which was owned by the Indians and not to be opened for settlement before 1861. They prepared temporary homes and provided for their stock until they were able to cross over the river into the Dakota Territory.

In the fall of 1859, Aslak put his feet on the Dakota soil which is now Clay County. They crossed the Missouri River in wagon boxes as ferry boats, and swimming their live stock. Others waited and crossed on the ice during the winter and spring of 1860. They settled on the lowland and forest near the river; here they had water for their stock and material for their homes and fuel to keep them warm. The following year, June 1860, Aslak’s wife and family came to their new home by way of the covered wagon. Their second son, Jacob G. Iverson, was born May 6, 1861.

In 1867, Aslak’s parents and sister came to America. They came as far west by train as Dennison, Iowa, which at that time was the end of the railroad. Aslak met them by covered wagon and yoke of oxen. This was not a very pleasant trip but a happy re-union. Before starting out from Norway, they had been busy for weeks baking Flat Bro and packing in barrels other food and keepsakes for the trip; a trip which took weeks and months to reach their destination. The lived with and near their son until their death.

Iver A. Iverson Sr. Became a citizen of the United States October 7, 1867. He filed on the land a short distance from his son’s home which was later taken over by Iver A. Iverson Jr. and now by the Iverson sisters.

Some dwelling houses were erected from the forest trees, the houses which were to shelter them and their families who were waiting their completion in their eastern home The one room log cabin was the usual dwelling but dug outs were frequent during this first winter. Later these dugouts were used to store their pork barrels, or flour sack or whatever eatables they possessed.

The Sivert Myron cabin built near where the Don Beaty stock farm is located and where the first Lincoln Post Office was housed, was the first cabin built between the Vermillion and Jim River.

At first no food supplies could be secured nearer than Sioux City or meal from the mill in Nebraska Each family, as a general thing, made two trips a year for food, usually one or two teams would go. The slowness of the oxen made the trip a long one, therefore, they had to camp by night and travel by day. To overcome this hardship, Mr. Iverson, Hans Gunderson, and Christ Jordahl, together with others, built a grist mill near the Amund Hanson farm. This mill was also a haven to many families during the flood of 1881.

It was a busy time for these pioneers, a time of hard work, privations and homesickness. Improvements had to be made, the prairie sod broken and crops planted, but bravely they struggled on. In the fall of 1861 many lost their homes and belongings by prairie fire. Women and children, left alone while their husbands and fathers were away or at work, were terrorized by Indians. They were plagued by grasshoppers that destroyed their crops for many years.

Aslak’s home was always open to the poor and needy. People from far off came to the Pioneer Farm for their winter supply of wood. On one instance, several teams came from a distance and were compelled to stay for several days because of a severe blizzard. They were housed and fed in his home during this time. They however, had to return with empty sleds because of badly drifted trails.

The Indians were frequent visitors in his home. They would come in to warm themselves on cold days. They would stack their guns, which they always carried, outside by the door on entering. One evening as Aslak and family, together with a fellow visitor, were visiting by the fireside , the dogs became very noisy outside and as they had seen Indians lurking in the woods, they became suspicious that they were pilferers and horse thieves. Aslak wouldn’t let the visitor go out and fire the gun. In a short time everything was quiet and peaceful. Not long thereafter, they learned of the terrible massacre of the Wiseman children across the river.

Aslak Iverson was very active in all church activities as well as affairs of the county and state. He was one of the leaders in his community. He held several political and church offices. He served one term as State Representative. The absence of authentic data covering the first few years of settlers is meager in this immediate territory. However, if there is one characteristic more outstanding than any other in the lives of these early pioneers who blazed the trail of Christian civilization over these prairies, it is their deep piety and desire to preserve the spiritual heritage brought with them from their home land. The home was a very important institution among these early pioneers, but scarcely less important was that of a church home. Their faith in God as a Protector and Provider was firm and comforting. Thought far from their homeland, they were still God’s children. They had faith in the church, so after completing their homes, their thoughts turned to establishing a church. Previous to this, they held their devotion in the various homes. They would read and discuss the Bible and sing hymn from the hymn book which they had brought with them from Norway. In 1864, a meeting was held to organize a congregation. At this meeting, Aslak was chosen as one of the trustees. It was not until 1871 that a start was made to build a church by taking up subscriptions toward they building. In 1861, he was elected building superintendent. Owing to crop failures and hard times, it took 20 years to complete this edifice. This seems a long time viewed in the light of present day conditions, but few of the present generation can fully appreciate or measure the struggles and hardships of the early pioneers. This building was threatened by prairie fire but was saved by Aslak Iverson who pulled the burning steps from the building.

The winter of 1880 and 1881 was severe upon these pioneers. A great blizzard came upon them in October. The snow fell to a great depth and was blown by a violent wind until the open sheds and buildings were filled. Stock was driven away or covered by the drifts. This snow did not go off until late April, when in a single day it was converted into a great sea of water. Without warning the water came upon them, carrying great sheets of ice, crushing and moving buildings as it swept along, driving the occupants into attics and upon roof tops. Their homes and earthly possessions were lost, most of them left with only the bare land. With faith and courage they started anew to rebuild their homes, and through the years became prosperous and wealthy.

Aslak Iverson continued to live on the homestead until his death, December 3, 1889. He was laid to rest by the side of his parents, Iver and Dorte Aslakson Lekve, in the Meckling Lutheran Cemetery. He was 62 years old at the time of his death. The homestead was taken over by Lewis A. Iverson and Jacob G. Iverson and now is the home of Clarence and Ernest Iverson and Arthur Iverson.

Aslak’s second wife, Brita, died March 16, 1906 at the age of 84. She was survived by two sons Lewis A. Iverson and Mikkel Mikkelson and stepson Iver A. Iverson, Jr. Jacob preceded his mother in death.

Blessed be the memory of these pioneers who blazed the trail and underwent the hardships to make a life for their children and their children’s children who are descendants of Aslak Iverson.

Aslak Ivarson (Ljonkleiv) Hakastad Ø. Lekve	Brita Larsdtr Jordalen b.25 February 1820
born 14 July 1827 in Ulvik, Hordaland, Norway	born 25 February 1820 in Voss, Hordaland, Norway
died 03 December 1889 in South Dakota	died 16 March 1906 in South Dakota