RUSTAND, Ole Olsen Haugerud 1824-1869

OLSEN, RUSTAND, HAUGERUD, LUNDE, TORGRIMSDATTER

Posted By: Deidre Badker (email)
Date: 8/17/2013 at 13:09:26

"Ole the Older"

Ole the Older Rustand Haugerud (or Haugerud Rustand) (named because his brother was also named Ole and went by Ole the Younger) was born Oct 16, 1824 at Haugerud, Aadalen, Buskerud, Norway to Ole Hansen Rustand Haugerud and Guri Torgrimsdatter Holte, the fifth of their seven children.

Ole was confirmed on August 23, 1840 at Aadalen, Buskerud, Norway. Confirmation record found at Norwegian Digital Archives on line for Viker in Adal, Buskerud, Norway 1840-1861, page 128, entry #5. Ole Olsen Rustand age 15 1/2.

Ole emigrated to America in 1851 with his 2 brothers, Erik and Ole the Younger and can be found in 1853 living at Newburg, Mitchell, Iowa on their father's farm. Brother Erik left for Australia to look for gold. Brother Ole the Younger left for California to also look for gold. Ole the Older stayed in Iowa to help his father. In the fall of 1857, Ole the Older left in search of his brothers. He went to Liverpool, England where he boarded a ship for Melbourne, Australia on October 14, 1857. He wrote back that the trip was a horrid experience. He did arrive and wrote home about Australia, November, 1858, a very discouraging letter. He found his brother Erik and both worked in the gold mines, sometimes together, sometimes separately. Ole the Older mined gold for about 8 years and in reading his letters, his life and health while there was not very pleasant. He returned to Iowa about March 1866.

He bought 153.35 acres of land in Meroa, Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa from Levor Olsen Lindelien for $4461. His farm sat north of his brother's (Ole the Younger) who had returned to Meroa in 1860.

Ole the Older began using the surname Rustand to distinguish himself from his brother Ole the Younger. He married Maren Nilsdatter Lunde 1867 probably at Mitchell, IA. but perhaps in MN. They had a son Niels Julius born August 1869.

Tragically, both Niels and Ole the Older died before the year 1869 ended. Ole died December 29, 1869. He and Niels were buried at the Rock Creek Lutheran Cemetery, Meroa, Cedar, Mitchell, IA.

Find A Grave Memorial# 53267894 with photo

(Notes: An extensive, detailed story written about Ole and his ancestry can be found on the Mitchell County, IAGenWeb site; search - Haugerud.

There is some confusion about son Niels' death date and there may possibly have been another baby Haugerud for Ole and Maren born February 6, 1868, died September 17, 1868.)