“Who We Were” is a story book comprised of a prologue and sixteen factual stories beginning when Ole Iverson was born in 1835 and was baptized in the the unique ‘Stave Church’ located adjacent to his grandparent’s farm in Vik, Norway. Ole, at age 21, and his brother John, who was only 11 years old, left Norway and their family forever. Ole first settled in Wisconsin where he married Britha, who with her father had sailed for 67 days on the same 3-masted ship, Juno, with the Iversons.
In 1861, they homesteaded on 120 acres in Faribault County, Minnesota, residing first in a house built of root-bound prairie sod, later in a log cabin and finally in a white wood-frame house which is still occupied today. During these first years while farming on their pioneer farm, there were born eleven children; five of whom did not live to adulthood. This sadness gives brute evidence of the horrific hardships that this pioneer family suffered to accomplish their young dream and goal to succeed and to forever become “Americans”.
Ole and Britha are followed by four generations of heirs, whose stories on that farm and in the local community give glimpses of stalwart lives, vivid personalities and hard-won wisdom through 156 years of changing culture. Ole and Britha Iverson came across the virgin prairie in a covered wagon with wooden spoke wheels and now the present heir of that farm has traveled cross-country in the family airplane with GPS navigation.
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You may mail a copy of the completed Book Order Form together with your check or money order to: Books/Victor Johnson, 6453 Burnham Circle, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076
Upon payment received, your order will be promptly sent by USPS. Book price is: $14.50 plus $5.50 for taxes, handling and shipping. TOTAL- $20.00