VIKER, Maren (Lunde, Nielsdatter, Rustand) 1830-1877

NIELSDATTER, LUNDE, HAUGERUD, RUSTAND, ENGER, PAULSDATTER, BJERKHAGE, SOLBERG, VIKER, NILSEN

Posted By: Deidre Badker (email)
Date: 8/17/2013 at 22:15:43

Maren Lunde Nielsdatter Solberg Rustand Viker

Maren Nilsdatter Lunde was born April 1, 1830 at Nes Aadalen, Buskerud, Norway to Niels Aslesen Lunde and Ragnhild Paulsdatter Enger. Maren married Ole Olsen Bjerkhage Solberg in Norway June 10, 1851. They had a son, Gabriel Olsen Lunde (born June 3, 1853 Bjerkehagen, Gausdal (Gulbrandsdalen) Buskerud, Norway) Gabriel's obit says his father died when Gabe was very young. (Gabriel's obituary found at this website).

Maren and Gabriel signed out of the church at Gulbrandsdalen, Norway to emigrate to America on August 1, 1865; Maren is listed as unmarried. She left with an uncle, Lars Nilssen Bjerhage, age 29, (she was 35, son Gabriel was 12) and an uncle, Mathias Amundson Teigum, age 21. Found on the ship's list S.S. Ottawa leaving London on August 16, 1865 and arriving at Quebec September 1, 1865. Maren and Gabriel located at Scandinavia, Wapaca Co, Wisconsin. They moved to Hayward, Freeborn, MN in 1866 where relatives lived.

Maren met and married Ole the Older Haugerud Rustand in 1867 probably at Minnesota. Ole had just bought a farm in Meroa, Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa, adjoining land owned by his brother Ole the Younger Haugerud Rustand.

Ole and Maren may have had two children. The first, according to a gravestone found at the Rock Creek Lutheran Cemetery says a baby was born 1868 and died 1868. The second child of Maren and Ole the Older's was Niels Julius Rustand (born August 1869 and died December 1869 or January 1870) both at Meroa, Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa. Niels is listed in the 1870 Census Mortality Schedule along with his father.

From the 1870 US Federal Census Mortality Schedule - Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa:
Family #48: Ole Haugerud age 6/12 (6 months), male, white, born in Iowa, died in February from pneumonia. (Family #48 is Ole the Younger Rustand Haugerud and wife Maren (Ask).
Family #61: Ole Rustand, age 48, male, white, born in Norway, died in February which is incorrect, he died in December 1869, farmer, died from consumption.
Family #61: no name Rustand age 6/12 (6 mos) male, white, born in Iowa, died January. (Family #61 is Ole the Older and Maren (Lunde).

Ole the Older Haugerd Rustand died December 29, 1869; his funeral was held on New Year's Eve and was very large.

The family can be found in the 1870 census at Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa: Ole Rustand 48, Mary Rustand 42, Gabriel D Lunde 17, Ashley Lunde 46, Susan Lunde 25, Nels Lunde 9. (Conflicting information as Ole died in December 1869. The last 3 names are relatives who had recently emigrated and were staying with Maren before moving to Otter Tail, Minnesota.)

After Ole the Older's death, believe Maren sold his land and moved back to Minnesota. Maren married a Hans Nilsen Viker of Buskerud, Norway on June 15, 1872 at Spring Grove, Fillmore, Minnesota. Hans was a cousin of Ole the Older Rustand and a widower with several children. (Hans' first wife, Sigrid Olsdatter Hiaseie Pikop had died 1871.) Maren and Hans had no children together and were only married seven years.]

Maren Olsdatter Lunde Solberg Rustand Viker died 1877 in Minnesota. Maren is either buried at the Rock Creek Lutheran Cemetery, Meroa, Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa or in Minnesota, cannot verify where.

More details of the Haugerud family can be found at this website; search "Haugerud".