We left Chicago on July 2nd and arrived in Wiota, or Hamilton's Diggings as it was then called, after a tiresome journey of five days. On July 7th we passed Elgin, Illinois, in a grove near which Independence day was being celebrated, on July 4th, but there was then no town, only a few scattered houses. We progressed with some difficulty as our wagon broke down twice during the journey. The second of these accidents occurred as we were nearing Rockford toward evening, when the axle gave way; but Peder Skjervheim, with only an ax and an augur went into the woods nearby, and from a convenient tree cut and made a new axle that night, so that we proceeded safely on our way the next morning. There being no bridges, we forded the rivers at Rockford and Freeport. There was then not a house where the thriving city of Rockford now stands and only one small grocery store at Freeport. There were, at that time, no Norwegians in or around Wiota, and the nearest Norwegian settlement was at Rock Run, Illinois. Peder Skjervheim and I, each bought forty acres of government land in the Township of Wiota, upon which we each built a log cabin and began other improvements. Andres Brække also bought forty acres but soon sold it again. In 1842 there came to our neighborhood three young people from Voss; David Larson Fenne and wife, and his brother, Nils Fenne. In 1843 there came some families from Vik, in Sogn, and settled near by: Ole Iverson Unde and wife Britha, and his brother Erik's family. Erik died before reaching America, but his wife and children settled down here. Likewise, Erik Engebrit Hove, Ole Anderson and Sjur Tallakson Bruavold came at the same time. To those which Mr. Vinje mentions as arriving in 1842 may be added Isak Johnson from Skien,[176] and Christian Hendrickson from Lier, Norway. The latter however moved to Primrose Township in Dane County in 1846. (See below). [176] I am told that he came in 1841, but this seems to be a mistake. Mathias J. Engebretsen of Gratiot, Wisconsin, tells me that Per Fenne and wife Martha came to Wiota in 1842, while Nils Sunve and wife Maline, and Ivar Fenne came in 1843; all these were from Voss. Helge Meland and wife from Telemarken came in 1843, as also Tore Thompson from Tindal and Ashley Gunderson from Numedal.[177] Those mentioned by Arne Vinje at the end of the above account, Ole and Sjur Bruavolden, did not settle at Wiota, it seems, before 1845, and Erik E. Hove not until 1847. These had located first at Long Prairie in Boone County, Illinois, as had also Ingebrigt Fuglegjærdet, who came from Vik, Sogn, in 1844. Of the immigration from Land, Norway, to Wiota, which began with Syver Johnson (Smed or Smedhögen in 1844), I shall speak in the next chapter. The growth of the Jefferson Prairie Settlement will, however, claim our attention briefly first.