Eric Halvorson Strand

Eric and Ragnhild sailed from Norway on a sailing vessel on May 15, 1856 with seven children: Julia, Anna, Ole, Halvor, Isabelle, Mary Ann, Bertha. The crossing took seven weeks, but it wasn't until September 6 of that year that they arrived at their destination at Bostwick Valley near LaCrosse, Wisconsin where they bought a farm. They made the trip west on train and boat and arrived at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin which was the end of the railroad line. There Eric bought a team of oxen, an old wagon and a cow, and they finished their journey in the wagon. The two sons helped the father clear land of stones and timber so

that crops could be planted, and there on the farm the children were raised. The father, Eric died sometime before 1864 and the boys took over the farm until after the war, when they re-located in Soldier Valley, Iowa.