OLESEN, Sigri (Sarah) Gundersdatter 1838-1913

GUNDERSDATTER, GUNDERSEN, REISAETTER, OLESEN, WILLIAMS, PETERSDATTER

Posted By: Deidre Badker (email)
Date: 5/26/2013 at 07:58:02

Sigri (Sarah) Gundersdatter was born March 8, 1838 at Rollag, Buskerud, Norway to Gunder Gundersen and Liv Pedersdatter, the eighth of their nine children. Her siblings were: Birgitte, Gunder, Joran, Peder, Joran, Knud, Peder and Erick.

Sigri was baptized June 3, 1838 at Rollag, Buskerud, Norway. Birth/baptismal records found in Norwegian Digital Archives on-line for Rollag, Buskerud, Norway 1831-1856, pg 52, entry # 16: Sigri Gundersdatter; Father: Gunder Gundersen, mother: Live Pedersdatter. Baptismal Sponsors: Halvor Pederson Bekjordens, Helge Paulsen Hvammer; Gudbrand Thor Bradt; Erick Gunnerson Skarjimoen Eiel and Sigri Jensdatter Bekjorden (Not sure of spellings).

She was confirmed June 13, 1852 at Rollag, Norway. Confirmation record found at Norwegian Digital Archives for Rollag, Buskerud, Norway 1831-1856, pg 126, entry # 5: Sigri Gundersdatter, born March 8, 1838, to Gunder Gundersen and Liv Pedersdatter, from (can't deciper).

Sigri left Buskerud, Norway to emigrate with her parents to Mitchell County, Iowa in the spring of 1858 (May or June). Emigration record found in Norwegian Digital Archives for Rollag, Buskerud, Norway 1847-1860, page 369, entries # 59-81: Gunder Gundersen age 63 Bjerkjerden (sp?); Liv Pedersdatter age 61; Sigri Gundersdatter age 20; Erick Gundersen age 16.

Found in the 1860 census living at St Ansgar, Mitchell, Iowa, single, 22 years old: Peter Gunderson 30, Gunder Gunderson 66, Leave Gunderson 64, Edward Gunderson 18, Sarah Gunderson 20.

She had a son named Hellek Pedersen Benson (born March 1861) before she married William, not sure if she was married to Hellek's (Helleck's) father.

Sigri married (Vigliek) William Reisaeter Olesen on March 10, 1866 at (probably First Lutheran Church at St Ansgar,) Mitchell County, Iowa.

They had 5 children: Laura Gurina Williams; George Ole Wilhelm Williams; Gustav Moller Williams; Peter Williams and Carl Williams. (children used the surname Williams, a shortened version of Williamsen.)

In the Rock Creek Lutheran Church record book, Sarah is referred to in 1874 as Sigrid Gundersdtr and in 1876, as Siri Gundersdtr.

Found in the 1870 - 1900 censuses at Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa:
1870: William 50, Sarah 30 and Alex (Helleck) 9, George 1 , Laura 2 and a Henry Andersen age 30 working as a hired man.

1880: William Olieson 63, Sarah Olieson 41, George Olieson 11, Millard Olieson 8, Laura Olieson 13, Peter Olieson 5, Carl Olieson 2, Halleck Peterson 19.

1885: William Olson 60, Sarah Olson 47, Laura Olson 18, George Olson 15, Gust Olson 13, Peter Olson 10, Carl Olson 6.

Found in 1895 census owning 79 acres of land in Section 26 of Rock Grove, Floyd, Iowa, NE corner, schoolhouse located on property. Husband had died in January of same year.

Found in the 1900, 1905 censuses at Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa:
1900: Peter Williams 25, Sarah Williams 62, Laura G Williams 33, Carl Williams 22.

1905: Sarah Olson, Peter Williams.

Found in the 1910 census living at Fisher, Polk, MN, widowed: Peter Williams 35, Carl Williams 32, Laura G Williams 42, Sigrid Williams 72.

Sigri died November 10, 1913 at her son's home near Fisher, Polk, Minnesota and was returned to Iowa to be buried at the Rock Creek Lutheran Church Cemetery at Meroa, Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa.

Obituary from Osage Journal/Mitchell County Press, November 19, 1913:
Sigrid Williams was born in Norway, March 8th, 1838, where she was baptized and confirmed. She came to this country with her parents in the summer of 1858 and settled near St. Ansgar, Iowa where she lived for eight years. In the spring of 1866, she was united in marriage to William Olson Reisetter, who at that time had his home in the Rock Creek settlement near Norwegian Lutheran church. From that time on, she has lived on this place with exception of the last five years when she lived near Fisher, Minnesota. She had six children, one son, George, died in the prime of manhood. Her husband died 19 years ago. Four sons and one daughter survive her. Helleck lives at Edmore, North Dakota. George Moller (Millard) resides on the home farm; Peter, Carl and Laura lived with their mother near Fisher, Minnesota. Ten grandchildren and four great grandchildren also survive her. She died at the home near Fisher, Minnesota on November 10th, at the age of 75 years, 8 months, 2 days.

In the afternoon November 11th, a service was held at the home in Minnesota, conducted by Rev. A. Peterson, of Fisher. She was brought home to Rock Creek for burial. Her children arrived at Osage with the remains on Wednesday evening, November 12th. The funeral services were held at the home and in the Rock Creek Lutheran church, Friday afternoon, November 14th. All her children were present.

Those who attended from the distance were her sister-in-law, Mrs. Erick Gunderson, Gustav Gunderson of St. Ansgar and their sister, Mrs. Beck from Meltonville, Iowa. Mrs. Williams was laid to rest beside her husband and son in the Lutheran cemetery near the church.

Sigri has 2 Find A Grave Memorials: #43029394 and #99561780.

(Censuses transcribed as found without fixing spelling errors.)

Born Sigri Gundersdatter, her father used Gundersen as his surname.
After marriage to Vigliek (William) Reisaetter Olesen, she is found a Sarah Olsen, Sarah Williams, Sarah Olieson. Her children with William used the surname Williams.