Frederick Molstad Simerson was born January 8, 1839 on the Molstad Gaard where his parents, Simon Hansson Faråsen and Alis Fredriksdaughter Erickson from Jentland had moved on October 12, 1833. He was baptized in the Veldre Church. When he was 27 years old, he married Pernille Larsdatter Braten who was born May 18, 1836. She was 30 years old. They were married in 1866 and in 1867 they left for the USA. 

They boarded a sailing vessel. After 12 stormy weeks at sea, they landed on the east coast of America. They came on west as far as Trempealeau County, Wisconsin. They stayed here for two years and it was here that their first son was born, Simon, on August 15, 1868. In the early spring of 1869, in crudely built covered wagons, drawn by oxen, they and three other families from Norway (the C.B. Johnsons, Hans Hansons and C.M. Johnson) left that county. They traveled to La Crosse, crossed the Mississippi River and after eight long hard days of travel, arrived at their newly purchased land in the Belmond, Iowa township. 

These four families lived in their covered wagons on the C.B. Johnson farm all summer while they hurriedly dug wells and built sheds and houses before winter set in. The Simerson's first home was a cave-like dug-out on a corner of their land. According to Grandfather Frederick, it was so comfortable that they lived in it for 8 years. After they had five of their six children, Grandmother Pernille moved into her first frame house in 1877, where her sixth child was born. They were farmers but Frederick preferred carpenter work, building many houses in Belmond and on the many farms in that area. 

During the terrible diphtheria epidemic little Ole Simerson, age 2 years, died suddenly of the dread disease. According to the articles of the local newspaper, The Belmond Harold, they lost two more. The following are the articles: 

April 13, 1881 -- Diphtheria again! Mr. and Mrs. Simerson, living west of Hickory Grove, lost a seven year old son Friday night from diphtheria. Little Johannes was sick only a short time. On Wednesday he had attended school. On Thursday he was taken sick and Friday night he died. The disease worked so rapidly that nothing could be done for him. Dr. Galer was summoned, but he could not help him. The afflicted parents have the sympathy of all. 

April 27, 1881 -- Sad indeed! Again death has entered the home of Mr. and Mrs. Simerson of Belmond Township. Another of their children, a little girl, Ida, age 5 years, died of diphtheria. This is the third child that has been taken. Two others are very sick and may not live. The children are buried in the corner of the Simerson farm under a tall stately evergreen tree. 

Of the marriage three children survived: * Simon, who married Anna Johnson. They had four children: Ruth, Florence, Harold and Alvin. * Ludvig who married Gena Schonhood. They were married only about three years when she died of cancer. * Augusta who married Ole Wold. They had eight children.