The Wisconsin river had to be crossed on a small ferry boat, the propelling power was furnished by a horse placed on a tread-power which worked the paddle-wheels. Only one wagon and a team at a time could be taken aboard. The herd of loose cattle had to swim over the river, all of which was accomplished without any accident worthy of note. The ferry boat at Prairie du Chien was larger and propelled by four mule power, but the water being high, the Mississippi River was nearly two miles wide, and much time was taken to get all to the western bank. Thirteen miles northwest from McGregor at Poverty Point, since called Monona, another halt of a creek was made. The scouting party before alluded to had visited several localities, and opinions were divided as to which was the best point to settle down. The company was now divided into three divisions, we going with the original leader to the vicinity of Decorah, landing on our claims on the third of July. The journey had taken five weeks, counting from the time of starting. Those who had room enough slept under the wagon covers, the others slept on the bare ground under the wagons.[432] [431] The Norwegian settlement at and about Westby, Vernon Co., dates from this time, 1850. [432] Speaking of the Indians Rev. Jacobson says, "They had their homes in the Territory of Minnesota, and did not molest the settlers in the least." On the banks of the Upper Iowa river many Indian graves were found. The bodies were buried in a sitting position, with the head sometimes above the ground. A forked stick put up like a post at each end of the grave held a ridge pole on which leaned thin boards, placed slanting to each side of the grave. Thus each grave presented the appearance of the gable of a small house. Of this party Simonson, Opdahl, Abrahamson, and Quale settled in Springfield, the rest in Decorah and Glenwood Townships.[433] Most of the members of these parties had come to America several years before, as Opdahl in 1848 and Tostenson in 1847; three of them, as we know, Rudi and the two Johnsons, had immigrated in 1839. [433] The eastern two-thirds of Winneshiek County clear to the Minnesota line in a few years became extensively settled by Norwegians. A small party from Jefferson Prairie, Wisconsin, including Tore P. Skotland and his brother Endre P. Sandanger, Ellef and Lars Land, natives of Ringerike, also came the same summer; these secured claims around Calmar. The first list of landed assessments in Winneshiek County[434] records the names of Jacob Abrahamson, Knud Guldbrandson (Opdahl), Ole Gullikson (Jevne), Egbert Guldbrandson (Saland), Erik Clement (Skaali), Halvor Halvorson (Groven), O. A. Lomen, Ole Larsen Bergan, Mikkel Omli, Tollef Simonson (Aae), T. Hulverson, and Ole Tostenson.