First on the list of things to do for the settlers was to build some sort of shelter. These appeared on the scene in all sizes, shapes, and forms. Some of them lived in tents or in the covered wagons until some sort of suitable shelter could be erected. Some lived in dugouts on the side of a hill, if there were any. These temporary shelters had to be replaced with something more substantial that could withstand the rigors of the weather, especially in the winter.
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 51