Monona County IA Archives News.....HISTORY OF SOLDIER VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH 1932 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/iafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Carolyn Jarvey iandaz@cox.net December 7, 2009, 9:55 pm Unknown 1932 HISTORY OF SOLDIER VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH Our next subject is Christian Hansen Norby. When we mention him here it is not because he was one of the very first men to arrive here, but because he is the oldest citizen of Soldier Valley today. Mr. Norby is 85 years old. When he was thirty he left Urskogen, Norway with his young wife and three children. His wife who has been dead for several years was (torn --- ---- ---- - ---- ----)Ole T. Foss. He tells us that it took him 18 days from N---- --- New York. Christian Norby who has been a faithful church member here for many years relates about his coming to Monona County in interesting language. He came to Onawa where there was only acouple(sic) stores at that time. He happened to come in to some Norwegians in Onawa who received him well. Like several of our early immigrants, Norby also was without food for several day (sic) on the journey. Ole Strand from Soldier who happened to be in Onawa just at the time brought him to Soldier. His destination was his brother-in- laws place, Arnt Amundson, the father of Casper and Olaf. He worked for 50 cents a day. Norby tells us that the ministers who visited this valley were obliged to stay with the farmers in their dug-outs or sod houses. At this early period the most of the land was owned by speculators. Land was purchaseable(sic) for 5-6 dollars per acre. Most of the first settler bought 40 to 80 acres of land and used as much of the adjacent land as possible. Norby remembers that he paid $37.00 for his first cow and $300.00 for a team of small horses. Most of the pioneers used oxen. The picture which appears in this installment was taken about 20 years ago. The five sweet children, who encircle him so smilingly, are all grown up now. They are his nephews children. The picture was taken in Minnesota during a visit there a couple of decades ago. This beautiful picture will surely brighten up the face of every one who is fortunate enough to see it. And we hope that we shall be able to run several good illustrations with the subsequent articles on this subject. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ia/monona/newspapers/historyo60gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/iafiles/ File size: 2.7 Kb