Osmund Nelson (1834 - 1900)

Born 3 Feb 1834 in Evje, Aust-Agder fylke, Norway

Ancestors

Husband of Signe (Olsdatter) Nelson — married 7 Dec 1868 in Vestre Moland, Aust Adger, Norway

Descendants

Died 22 Dec 1900 at age 66 in Madelia, Minnesota, USA

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Biography

Timeline

1834 - Osmund was born in February 3, 1834 at Evje, Aust-Agder county, Norway.^[1][2]

1868 - Osmund Nielsen Egeland of Evje, Vestermoland married Signe Olsdatter Egelund of Evje on 7 December 1868.^[3][4][2] His father is listed as Niels Thomassen and her father is Ole Terjesen.

1869 - He was a day laborer in Vestre Moland, Aust-Adger, Norway in 17 October 1869 when his daughter Karen Tomina (Carrie) was born.^[5]

1872 - On 15 July 1872 a son, Terje Martinus was born to workman Osmund Nilsen (age 34) and Signe Olsdatter Egelund (age 40).^[4][2]

1879 - On 19 February 1879 a daughter, Anna, was born to crofter Osmund Nilsen and his wife Signe Olsdatter Egeland.^[6]

1880 - In June of 1880 we find workman Osmund Nilsen Egeland (1834), his wife Signe Olsdatter (1840) and three children: Karen Thomine (1869), Terje Martinius (1872) and Anna (1879) listed as emigrating to Amerika.^[7]

1900 - Osmund Nelson died 22 December 1900 of stomach cancer. ^[8]

Summary for Osmund Nelson^[9]

Osmund Nelson (Born in February 1835) married Signe Egelund (born in March 1840). Prior to emigrating from Norway, they had at least three children, Martin (born in July 1872), Carrie (born 17 October 1869^[10]) and Anna (born in February 1879). It is likely that they were all born in Lillesund, in Christiansund Stifit. Osmund came from landowning people, but due to the law of the land at that time (odelsrett – which includes elements of primogeniture) the oldest son had the right to inherit his father's estate, so Osmund tried his hand at several things including fishing.

The original family farm was called Fjelsta (Fjelstad) or mountain farm (about 40 miles north of Kristiansand) in Southern Christiansund Stift (modern-day county of Aust-Adger, Norway). For some time prior to emigrating they lived in Lillesund in Southern Christiansand Stift about thirty miles along the coast northeast of Kristiansand.

In search of better conditions in America, Osmund took his family & sailed on a steamer for America in 1880. They traveled via England, and during the trip Carrie, who was 11 at the time, became so extremely seasick that it was feared that she might die.

Upon reaching New York they boarded a train & went to Madelia, Minnesota, where they stayed with Uncle Siver Fjelstad for a short period until they homesteaded 160 acres about 4 miles south of Madelia, at what is presently the Durheim place. They lived in a dugout (sod hut) during the first winter on the homestead, and had some difficulty adjusting to the hardships of Minnesota. This was not too surprising as they had only $30 when they started farming & Osmund could speak little English. The first house was made in part from lumber that was obtained from work done to correct a derailment near the farm. This construction later resulted in Osmund being accused of stealing the lumber, a misunderstanding that took some time to clear up due to the language barrier.

The date of arrival in Minnesota can have been no sooner than the summer of 1880, as they are not included in the U.S. Census of 1880. The 1900 Census shows that Osmund lived to at least age 65 & Signe to at least age 60.

Osmund Nelson (also written Aasmund Nilson) died Dec. 22, 1900, of Cancer of Stomach. His nearest relative was listed as Siver Fjelstad.^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth records found on page 136 line 11 of the Minister's book for Evje, Aust-Agder county, Norway. Original can be viewed at: Kildeinformasjon: Aust-Agder fylke, Evje, Ministerialbok nr. A 4 (1816-1840), Fødte og døpte 1834, side 136-137. Permanent sidelenke: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:kb_read?idx_kildeid=9449&idx_id=9449&uid=ny&idx_side=-72 Permanent bildelenke: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20070525310089.jpg
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} See entry #48 in the Sexton's records for - Kildeinformasjon: Aust-Agder fylke, Vestre Moland, Klokkerbok nr. B 4 (1861-1872), Fødte og døpte 1872, side 111. Permanent sidelenke: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:kb_read?idx_kildeid=846&idx_id=846&uid=ny&idx_side=-119 Permanent bildelenke: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20060123010530.jpg
3. ↑ Item 24 on page 236 of the Vestre Moland minister's records indicate Osmund Nielson (age 34-/12) who was working at Egeland married Signe Olsdatter Egeland (age 29) on 7 Dec 1968 . An image of the original record can be found at: Kildeinformasjon: Aust-Agder fylke, Vestre Moland, Ministerialbok nr. A 7 (1859-1872), Ekteviede 1869, side 236. Permanent sidelenke: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:kb_read?idx_kildeid=843&idx_id=843&uid=ny&idx_side=-213 Permanent bildelenke: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20060123021058.jpg'
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} See entry #48 on the Ministerial records from Vestre Moland municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway - Kildeinformasjon: Aust-Agder fylke, Vestre Moland, Ministerialbok nr. A 7 (1859-1872), Fødte og døpte 1872, side 112. Permanent sidelenke: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:kb_read?idx_kildeid=843&idx_id=843&uid=ny&idx_side=-121 Permanent bildelenke: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20060123020966.jpg
5. ↑ Karen Tomina's (Carrie) birth is recorded at Vestre Moland, Norway on line 70 of the minister's book - Kildeinformasjon: Aust-Agder fylke, Vestre Moland, Ministerialbok nr. A 7 (1859-1872), Fødte og døpte 1869, side 94. Permanent sidelenke: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:kb_read?idx_kildeid=843&idx_id=843&uid=ny&idx_side=-103 Permanent bildelenke: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20060123020948.jpg
6. ↑ See entry #19 in the sexton's records for Vestre Moland in Aust-Agder county, Norway. Kildeinformasjon: Aust-Agder fylke, Vestre Moland, Klokkerbok nr. B 5 (1872-1883), Fødte og døpte 1879, side 69. Permanent sidelenke: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:kb_read?idx_kildeid=847&idx_id=847&uid=ny&idx_side=-72 Permanent bildelenke: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20060123010772.jpg
7. ↑ Far righthand entry # 14 on page 308 of the sexton's records for Vestre Moland - Kildeinformasjon: Aust-Agder fylke, Vestre Moland, Klokkerbok nr. B 5 (1872-1883), Inn- og utflyttede 1880, side 308. Permanent sidelenke: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:kb_read?idx_kildeid=847&idx_id=847&uid=ny&idx_side=-280 Permanent bildelenke: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20060123010980.jpg
8. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #88552785
9. ↑ Based on a 12/9/1975 write-up by his grandson Clifford Wiborg, with further input from his granddaughter Lila Helling, his grandson Oli Nelson & a relative, Reuben Fjelstad.
10. ↑ Birth recorded at Vestre Moland, Norway on line 70 of the minister's book - Kildeinformasjon: Aust-Agder fylke, Vestre Moland, Ministerialbok nr. A 7 (1859-1872), Fødte og døpte 1869, side 94. Permanent sidelenke: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:kb_read?idx_kildeid=843&idx_id=843&uid=ny&idx_side=-103 Permanent bildelenke: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20060123020948.jpg
11. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #88552785