(From HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, 1883, Page 757)

Ole Nilson Fjeld has lived in Worth Co., Iowa since 1870. His parents were Nils Hanson and Carrie (Syverson) Fjeld. There parents owned a farm in Aurdal, in Valders. On account of the failure of crops and hard times, they sold their farm for $1,000, and embarked for the New World of which they had heard so much. In April, 1847, Nils Hanson Fjeld, his wife and seven sons, with 100 emigrants, took ship at Christiana for New York. The ship was small and heavily ladened with iron. In the English Channel they were overtaken by a terrific storm, which for a time threatened to destroy the vessel and send all on board to a watery grave. The storm having somewhat abated, so that the crew got control of the ship, the captain commanded to run her into Stavanger harbor, Norway, in order for repairs They were fourteen days reaching New York. There was much privation amount the emigrants caused by scarcity of water and provisions. They met an American ship on their way from which they received water, whilst emigrants had to divide provisions with each other and with the sailors in order to relieve suffering. Arriving at New York Nils Hanson Fjeld came with his family to Milwaukee, Wis., where he buried on of his sons, aged two years. He settled for the first winter in Koshkonong, Albion township, Jefferson Co., Wis., and the next spring bought land in Blooming Grove township, Dane county, same State. Here they lived till their death. Nils Hanson Fjeld died in April, 1860, his wife in January, 1860. They were buried four miles east of Madison. Three of his sons are still in Wisconsin,. One is in Nebraska, and two if them, Ole and Engebey, moved to Worth Co., Iowa.

Transcribed by Gordon Felland, Sept. 9, 2005