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"The following account was written in 1927 by Peter (Peder) Williamson. It was written in the Norwegian language for publication in 'Norske Pioneers Historie of Minnehaha County from 1866 to 1896.' [southeast South Dakota] It reads in English as follows:
'I was born in Lee County, Illinois, in 1861 where my parents had already lived for a few years. When I was six years old I moved with my parents to Ridgeway, Iowa. Here I learned to drive oxen. Dick and Dime were well broke so when they came to a corner then I would only have to command, whoa, back up, go - then they came around so sure and steady that it was a pleasure to plow with them.
'Also at this time I was preparing myself for confirmation as I read for the preacher. Because I was going out wets this year, 1876, I was confirmed alone. Pastor Lysnes asked me, 'What shall you do out west?' Herd cattle, I answered. 'Well, then you will have plenty time to read in the New Testament,' he said. I promised him that I would do this and I can say that I tried to keep this promise.
'So we went together with many other families and left Ridgeway and Cresco this year (1876). We had many troublesome happenings on the way. The trails were poor but things still went forward. The worst thing that happened was when we got near Jackson, Minnesota, where we got into a Roverkule (band of rustlers) who took eight head of cattle from us. From that time on we kept watch night and day until we reached our destination.
Now it was my job to go out to herd cattle and sheep. This went well but it took a lot of patience. The sheep were very lazy when it was warm and it took a lot of work to hold the cattle away from the many small fields of grain that were here and there. One day I met a Telemark woman and I thought she said 'You should have a whipping' (juling). Then my heart started hopping in me for I was afraid that maybe the cattle had been over in her grain fields. But a little later I got a better understanding of what she had said. She had said, 'You are a smart boy' (juling). This was a difference in Telemark and Hardanger dialect. So I met her often with kaka (cake) for me. Her name was Kari Rollag.
'One day I and another boy (cousin John A. Johnson) were down near Tokheim Creek herding when we decided to take a bath. However, when we were splashing around in the water we heard hollering and crying and then saw two young girls come running over the prairie. They were out driving their oxen and had gotten stuck down in the creek bottom. They wanted help. Yes we would help them but first we had to get our clothes back on. This did not take long but by that time the oxen had either gotten a rest or didn't want to stand longer so with a good slap they took off again. These were the Joiness (Albert Thompson) girls who we soon got acquainted with. Three of the youngest Thompson children died and were buried at sea.
'So time marches on and I soon find myself grown up. On the 25th of September, 1887 I was married to Anna Pederson Aker. We did not take any wedding trip until the 12th of January, 1888 and this came very near to being our last trip in this life. They who were here remember well that day. This was the worst blizzard in man's memory. The morning of ths day was quite cold but later in the morning it warmed up so the weather was right for about a three mile drive to visit my wife's brother Peder L. Aker and his wife Anna (Jordahl). They lived a little east of the Ullensvang Church. As the weather warmed up the snow came down very heavy. In a short time the terrific wind struck. We got the team hitched up and started for home but the storm became practically impossible.
'Finally we became stuck in a large snowdrift with the northwest wind at a rage. The horses were not able to go any longer against this storm. Night and darkness came upon us and we thought we were not too far from our home. So I thought I should walk ahead against the storm to try to find our home. I soon lost my directions and didn't know where I was. I began to holler with my loudest voice but because of the roaring wind my young wife could not hear me. Finally I thought I could hear a little voice, but from what direction I could not tell. Luckliy I found my way back. By now the horses were very tired and nervous so we turned around and went with the storm. We finally arrived back at a neighbor (Tokheim) three miles away. We were very glad and are thankful to this day. Here we got a hearty welcome and stayed until the storm was over."
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