Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-10-20
Mr.. AND MRS. PAUL THOMPSON.
STORY COUNTY PIONEERS.
CELEBRATE.
AMONG FIRST TO SETTLE
on IoWA's PRAIRIE LANDS
Mr.. Thompson Headed Committee to
Come West and Select Cite For Nor.
wssian colony-Purchased in 1866
Farm Hs Still 0wns-Undsrvrsn
Pioneer Hardships.


the most highly respected couples of
Story county, with Mr.. and Mrs. Paul
Thompson celebrating the sixtieth an
niversary OF their marriage. 1t falls to
the lot of Il very few to be able to cell
citrate such an event and they were
yesterday receiving their numerous
friends at an informal reception at
their home on South Main street. and
accepting their congratulations, which
they richly deserve. A light luncheon
was served to all callers and their nu
merous relatives who were assembled
to pay homage to the venerable couple.
Paul Thompson was born in Selvig,
Nerstrand in Ryfylke, Norway. March
10. 1929, being al present past 81 years
and is still vigorous and strong consid-
ering his advanced years. He came to
this country in ls49. settling near Lis
bon. Kendall county Illinois. where he
started in as a farmer.
Their Early Life.
Mrs. Thompson, formerly lnSer
Helgesdatter Risvold was born in Ris-
void. Saude 1 RyfyIke, Norway. March
30, 1928. thus being past Sc years Mrs.
Thompson has been strong woman
until nearly eight years ago. when she
was taken sick with siege Of rheuma-
tism, which has crippled her so that
she has been confined to her home al
most continuously since, and for the
past couple Of years, has been confined
to her invalid chair and bed. altho at
present, she is as we'll as her friends
can hope. In 1851 she emigrated to this
country. settling near Lisbon, ILL.,, where
she was Joined in wedlock Oct. 10, 1851.
to Mr.. Thompson.
Early Settlers Of Story.
They were not satisfied to rent land
and longed for time when they would
be able to get a home that they could
cali their own. but as land was already
worth considerable in Illinois. they
could see no future for themselves
there and they began to talk and study
plans for moving west into Iowa. Their
neighbors and friends were also dis
GUESSING this question and the more
they talked and thought about
the matter, the more plausible 1t
seemed, 80 finally action was taken,
looking towards an emigration. A mass
meeting was called and the matter was
sifted thoroughly, resulting in the
naming OF a committee that should
take q trip into Iowa and investigate
the prospects for getting good govern
ment land at a figure. which they hoped
they would some day be able to pay.
This. committee consisted Of Paul
Thompson, Lars Sheldahl, Jonas Duea.
Ole Thompson. John Menus Johnson.
Mons &. Grove, John Tarvestad Nelson
and Jacob Erickson, the only one still
living being Mr.. Thompson. These
eight men left for Iowa in the summer
of 1855, coming to Story county, which
in those days was nothing but will
derness. The Yankees had settled along
the Skunk river, but the husky Morse
men could see that the open prairie Of
fered them better future so they
picked location about four miles east
Of the river. They all purchased each
a quarter section, Paul Thompson buy
ing the farm one mile south Of Roland
which he still owns, NJ. c.. Grove the
quarter section Just south Of town and
still owned by the Grove family, Jonas
Duea buying the farm, which still is
owned b ythe estate, Jacob Erickson
the quarter on which the greater part
of Roland is now located, Ole Thomp-
son. the farm on which II. II. Lura
now lives. John Menus a farm south of
Story City and Lars Sheldahl farm
about six miles northwest of here.
These men returned to their respective
homes in the fall, with glowing reports
about the fertility of the soil and the
next spring number Of families start
ed out for the wilderness, where they
expected to establish their homes.
The Trip to Iowa by Wagon.
Mr.. and Mrs. Thompson did not
move that year, but left Illinois In the
spring of 1898. arriving at their desti-
nation in July There were ten fami-
lies In the company and they had
twelve covered wagons in which was
stored all their earthly belongings, ex-
cept their cattle. which they drove in a
herd after the wagons. Slowly they
wendell their way westward crossing
the Mississippi river on a ferry, and
fording other streams which they were
obliged to cross. They travelled every
day except Sunday. when they would
go into camp and would conduct religi-
Gus services, they being brought up in