John Iverson was born at Hardanger, Norway in 1879. He came to Griggs County in 1904. Returned to Norway in 1907 but decided to settle here in 1910. His brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Gunder P. Aga, were living in Cooperstown (in the house owned by Del Bairds). They traded their house in town, because taxes were getting too high, for the 40 acres with small house and barn in Section 27, Washburn Township, owned by John E. (Lumberman) Johnson in 1908. In 1913 John purchased this plot from the Agas and they moved to Minnesota.

John's occupation, besides farming, was stonemason. He tells of laying the foundations for many of the buildings for residents living on both sides of the Sheyenne River in Washburn Township. In laying the foundations, it meant hauling and splitting the rock, mixing the mortar and all this work being done by hand and by himself.

He had three brothers and three sisters in his family. One sister, 94, is living near Chicago. All his brothers and sisters lived to approximately 90 years of age or older. When asked what contributed to the longevity of their lives, he smiled and replied - "Must have been all the smoked herring and potatoes they ate when youngsters".

In 1955 he sold his farm in Section 27 to return to Norway to make his home. After two trips back to Norway, he decided it didn't seem like home there any more so returned to Griggs County in 1958 and settled on a little plot of land in Section 23, Washburn Township where he is now living at the age of 96 years.

Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 484