"Came to the US along with his two brothers, Thorbjørnsen and Ole." Source: from a letter written by Ivar's nephew Bjarne Emil Feet (1896-1986)

He left Kvinnherad for North America in May 1873 according to Digitalarkivet: Digitsed Parish Registers - Kvinnherad for those who were moving out. Iver Johannesen Mehl (20) and his brother, Lars Johannesen Mehl (17) were traveling with Iver Iversen Mehl (21), Ole Christoffersen Mehl (19), Halvor Sigfussen Klette (29) and Ole L. Hatterberg (21). They were numbers #14-19 for the year 1873.

Iver J. Mehl (21), a farmer came to the US aboard the Peter Gibson. He was traveling with his brother, Lars J. Mehl (17), and Iver I. Mehl (21), Ole Chr. Mehl (18), Ludvig J. Mehl (22) & Ole L. Hatteberg (21). They arrived in New York on the 26th of June 1873. They travelled in steerage and were all listed as farmers.

He took "Johnson" as his last name. Interesting that his children retook the Mehl name as their last name.

Ivar Johnson (25 Norway) appears in the 1880 United States Federal Census (01 June 1880) for Dix Township, Ford County, Illinois (page 2, dwelling 13) along with his brother's, Knute Johnson (29 Norway, farmer) and Lars (23 Norway, farmer). A Ole Johnson (20 Norway - farmer) and Anna Lewison (15 Norway - servant) are also living with them. His brother, Ole Johnson (35 Norway) and his wife, Annie Johnson (30 Norway) and their two children, Carl Johnson (3 IL) and Annie Johnson (1 IL) are living next door (dwelling 12). The Johnson brothers were farmers.

He married Julia Hanson 18 January 1884 in Ford County, Illinois.

Iver Johanson Mehl was naturalized on 16 September 1884 at the County Court at Morris, Grundy County, Illinois (Vol. 3, page 35, #400). Witnesses were Helge Gjertson and Sam Knudson.

Iver M. Johnson (41 Norway) and Julia Johnson (30 Illinois) and children, Joseph Martin Johnson (8 Illinois) & Anna H. Johnson (0 Iowa) had moved to Hamilton, Hamilton County, Iowa by the 1895 Iowa State Census.

Ivar Johnson (46, Dec 1853 Norway) is found in the 1900 United States Federal Census (09 June 1900) for Hamilton Township, Hamilton County, Iowa (sheet 4B, dwelling 74). He and Julia Johnson (35, Oct 1864 Illinois) have been married 16 years and have two children, Martin Johnson (13, Sept 1886 Illinois) and Hazel Johnson (5, July 1894 Iowa). Her parents, Henry Hanson (63, May 1837 Norway) and Anna Hanson (54, May 1846 Norway) are living with them. Iver immigrated in 1872 and was a naturalized citizen. He was a farmer.

He was "I. M. Johnson Mehl" on his daughter's marriage record in 1917.