The same year that records the genesis of the Koshkonong Settlement, also registers the founding of the earliest Norwegian colony in Iowa, that of Sugar Creek, in Lee County, in the southeastern part of the state. When Kleng Peerson was on his way to Missouri in 1837 (see above, page 117), it seems that he passed through the southeastern corner of Iowa; he was, therefore, in all probability the first Norwegian to enter the State of Iowa.[158] Iowa had been organized as a territory in 1838. The settlers in Shelby County, Missouri, were dissatisfied, and, having heard of the natural resources of the Territory of Iowa, immediately to the north, and that good land with a near market[159] could be had in the southeastern part of the territory, they decided to move to Iowa. Going north into Lee County, Iowa, they located at a place six miles northwest of Keokuk, known as Sugar Creek. Andrew Simonsen and most of the settlers in Shelby County came at that time; but Peerson remained in Missouri. Here, however, they found a small colony of Norwegians who had, it seems, but recently established themselves. With the exception of one to be mentioned below, it is not known who these earlier settlers were, and I have not been able to ascertain where they came from. [158] Though not the first Scandinavian, for a Dane, Niels Christian Boye, came to Muscatine, Iowa, in 1837. In 1842 he located in Iowa City; a daughter, Julia Boye, the only surviving member of the family, lives now in Iowa City. [159] One of the settlers in Shelby County, Missouri, was Peter Omundson Gjilje. As an illustration of the state of wilderness of the country around them it is related that Gjilje once walked for nine whole days in the forest tract before he found human habitation. One morning early he heard a cock crow, and then he found people. During these days he had lived on wild strawberries. These facts are related by Mr. B. L. Wick of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.