Uproar at Groli Farm, Hattfjelldal; Christmas 1880: Part II

Part I of this saga saw Lars Nilsen Rued depart Hattfjelldal for Wisconsin, early, alone, and in secret on Christmas morning of 1880. This quite upended family festivities planned at Groli Farm, home of his father-in-law, Hemming Paulsen. Lars’ wife, Pauline Hemmingsdatter, stayed behind with their three surviving children.

Why the secrecy? Part II here, examines Lars’ life before emigration.

Lars Nilsen Rued (1842-1929)

Lars was born to Olia Pedersdtr of Brustad, Nord-Odal, and Nils Kjøstelsen of Nyhuus, on 2 October 1842, as told through his daughter, Gina.^{1 2} Nils was the son of wealthy man, and Olia, a poor servant girl. Nils’ family forbade marriage, so he wed another in 1848. Lars was denied an official father, when and where such was not forgiven in a child.

Gina’s account continues with added insights found in Norwegian records. Nils’ family wealth may only have been relative, compared to Olia’s plight. Census 1865 had his parents living under care of Nils’ brother, Peder.³ Each brother was noted as “Husmand med Jord”; that is, a renter of a small piece of land on a farm. Yet should just a census, question a life story? See Note A for further heritage information for Nils and Olia.

Olia worked from sunup to sundown, going from farm to farm making flatbread. Lars went along. Olia sickened and died around 1851. Lars was nine, when left to fend for himself. A kind farmer took him in, albeit he had to work hard to earn his keep – as would be expected.

In time, his father invited him to visit his family in their beautiful home, but Lars was embittered over his mother’s treatment. That damage done, he instead, packed his meager belongings and headed out of the area. He took odd jobs and fulfilled his army requirement in this period. Then, he wandered northward. Gina’s “in time” sounded levied at the boy, Lars. He may have returned to his birth area, before a final leave taking, in his early twenties.

From Odalen, Hedmark to Hattfjelldal, Nordland

Lars was still in Nord-Odal in 1865, yet married Pauline, in Nordland, by 1871.⁴ Census had him as Lars Nielsen at Rud Sondre; probably the origin of “Rued”.⁵ No document shows his entry to Hattfjelldal, or reason to choose it. However, Lars Gundersen arrived in 1871 and was recorded to live in Susendalen, home to Nerli and Groli Farms.⁶ He was a principal witness at the Rued wedding. This Lars was homed in Sor-Odal in 1865.⁷ He was in Vefsn, Hattfjelldal’s neighbor, by 1868, making history that would endorse Gina’s tale. Both Lars were listed as farm help, in 1865. See Note B for more on Lars Gundersen.

Gunder Dahlby, from Hedmark and with recorded entry too, wed Pauline’s Aunt Elen Oline of Nerli, early 1871.⁸ Gundersen married Beret Jensine Mikkelsdtr in 1872 and went to America that year.⁹ Dahlby followed in 1873. Those two were already prominent in Cumberland WI by 1880, when Rued arrived. Abiding ties had been established. Pauline’s brother, our great grandfather, Ole b. 1851, followed in 1882; destination Cumberland. They would all move on soon and prosper.

Gundersen’s knowns served Gina’s story, that her father had landed a good job with an English lumber firm. It would have been known locally as Engelsbruket. Its draw of many young Norwegian men suggests it paid much more than farm help. Indeed, Gundersen reported his position as forest officer at the birth of one of two daughters in Vefsn; that is, as a skovfoged, and as skovbetjent at his Hattfjelldal marriage.^{9 10} Their close association suggests Lars Rued also held such a position.

Gina told more of Rued’s Christmas “escape”. His first home about town had been Nerli Farm, by old Ole Hemmingsen. Ole was Pauline’s maternal grandfather, a stern army officer and farmer. (See photo in Part I). He was negative on the couple’s relationship. Her old audiotape failed at the moment of explaining. It could have been that his birth offended, or that his friend, Dahlby, had married Ole’s daughter and offed to Wisconsin, or that Lars and his two friends embraced the predatory Engelsbruket – or all three, and more.

Gina detailed that the elders, including Hemming Paulsen, continued their disdain for the innocent Lars. Lars was no idler. His response was to succeed in Hattfjelldal, then build his own sawmill and small log house. The latter may have been in nearby Hemnes at Stormo, where in September 1880 their Elen Olina was born.¹¹ Two children of young Ole Hemmingsen were born in Hemnes, in the same timeframe.

The Hemnes couples became tighter. Lars had a decade over Ole, which Gina read as a big brother type of relationship. Lars was increasingly intrigued that class distinction had no sway in America, and saw it as the best opportunity for his growing family. As September 1880 slid into December, a pact between them, including Ole’s wife, Beret Has Mathisdatter, kicked into high gear. They kept it quiet as told in Part I. Yet, class struggle was not all that drove secrecy.

The Rued Children of Norway; Scarlet Fever and Pine Tar

Rueds had five children in Norway: Hans Peter in 1872; Ole Gunerius, 1873, Christoffer Norman, 1875, Ole Gunerius, 1877 and Elen Olina in 1880.⁴ Ole Gunerius of 1873 was taken by scarlet fever. Christoffer Norman lies in Cumberland WI, an 1882 victim of dysentery amid family travels.

Christoffer’s very sad tale tells in a subsequent Part, but Gina’s lament for wee Ole is here. Christoffer was newborn when scarlet fever hit. A pine tar drink was deemed remedy, made from virgin pine that covered the area. Gina spared how it was made palatable to young children, but measured the dose to a cup for ill, nursing Pauline. Fever, with vomiting and rash raged through the night, then waned for most, but Ole succumbed on the second night.

Christmas escape amid secrets: two versions.

Part I left off with Lars stealing away Christmas morning after his capital needs were met. There are two versions to this money prompt; one told to Gina by her father, the other, by her eldest brother, Hans Peter. The first sounds true; the second, truer than the first.

Part 1 had Lars simply building an emigrants’ cache of money, clothing and eats. He was lured by America’s Homestead Act that would provide 160 acres of land, gratis, but for its development. Hard working Lars knew he could make good, and also that he could get extra jobs through Dahlby, that would enable him to send for his family, in short time.

Hans Peter provided a different angle. Tough times had come to Norway, partly from the Little Ice Age causing crop failures and famine across Europe. Population increased as well, with broad increases seen in emigration.

Lars had become indebted. Punishment for not making good was jail; more stringently applied to those of his class, or birth. He and Pauline sold off, to net as much cash as possible, but it was never to be enough. To take jail, would satisfy no one. America seemed the only path forward. This speaks to a fragility in the cash cache they were building and secreted at Ole’s home. It was difficult to separate out any amount to lay aside for the trip, amid pressure to pay debtors.

Somehow, the two versions do not seem mutually exclusive, with both having Lars arrive at the docks Christmas morning, on route from Trondheim to New York, via Liverpool. That Lars was a good man who left himself penniless in England, to find his way in America will follow, in an upcoming Part.

Notes and Sources

Note A: Nils Kjøstelsen of Nyhuus 1815-1895, Lars Nilsen Rued’s father was in Census 1865 of Romedal (source 3). As Niels Kiøstelsen Nyhuus, wed Oline Olsdatter in 1848: Church Book (CB) of Romedal Parish 1847-1851. It shows his birth in Stormoen in 1815 and his father as Tjöstel Nielsen. His father, as Kjøstel Nielsen Nyhuus (1784-1868) and his mother, were in Census 1865 at Nyhus plads, Stormoskog, Nord-Odal, with their son, Peder Kjøstelsen. Further information was not reliably found for Lars’ mother, Olia Pedersdtr of Brustad, Ostmoen, except that a Finn Pedersen witnessed and remarked in the final column of Lars’ birth record. Maybe he was her brother.

Note B: Lars Gundersen was first noticed in this story as witness in Lars Nilsen Rued’s wedding in Dec 1871. He had arrived in town from Odalen, Jan 1871, apparently via Vefsn, where he fathered two daughters (1868 and 1870). He married in town in 1872, and emigrated that year. His marriage record disclosed his father as Lars Gundersen, such that he may have been born Lars Larsen. Aggregate information led to the 1865 Census below of Sor-Odal – as well, the fact that a number of family trees exist on Ancestry.com that claim this Lars Larssen wed Beret Jensine Mikkelsdtr as Lars Gundersen. Data supports that notion, except for a probable bookkeeping matter: birthdate given for Lars Gundersen at marriage is 1850-10-11(on two separate citations), whereas Lars Larsen was born 1850-10-17 and baptized 1850-11-10. Now, here is a version of Lars Larsen birth record to father, Lars Gundersen from the Church book from Grue parish 1847-1858 (0423P). One must look carefully, for it was misinterpreted as for a babe named Kare Hansen. Thus, his birth date of 17 could have been 11. https://media.digitalarkivet.no/view/8877/55 and https://www.digitalarkivet.no/en/census/person/pf01038037004643

1 Lars Nilsen Rued (Rud) was born 1842-10-02: CB (Church Book) from Nord-Odal Parish 1839-1950 (0418P) https://media.digitalarkivet.no/view/9139/21 to Nils Kjøstelsen of Nyhus and Olia Pedersdtr of Brustad østmoen

2 Gina Rued Plocker, b. Wisconsin, daughter to Lars Nilsen Rued and Pauline Hemmingsdatter, left audiotape of their experiences, circa 1959. It is now in poor repair. Her cousin, Matt Hemmingsen, b. Norway, son to Ole Hemmingsen and Beret Mathisdatter, left memoirs circa 1954. Together they helped form this series.

3 1865 census for Nord-Odal for Peder Kjøstelsen and his parents Kjøstel Nielsen and Rønnau Pedersdatter. Census District 006 Rural residence: 0018 Stormoskog, Nyhus (plads).

4 CBHP (Church Book from Hattfjelldal Parish) 1865-1878; Marriages, for Lars Nilsen Rud b. 1842 Odalen, on 1871-12-26 to Pauline Hemmingsdatter. Births and Baptisms of same book, for their children Hans Peter b 1872, Ole Gunerius Larsen b. 1873-11-16 and d. 1875-10-31, Kristoffer Normand b 1875-10-22, Ole Gunerius b. 1878-12-28.

5 Lars Nielsen: Census 1865 Nord-Odal. District: 007 Deel af Garvig, Berg og Knapper

6 Lars Gundersen: Arrival in Hattfjelldal CBHP 1860-1878 (1826P), Innflyttar. Columns: 11 Jan 1871. Age 20. Illegible-arb (type of work; illegible). Fra Vefsn (Suden? Odalen). To reside at Susendalen. (See Source 10 for events in Vefsn. No competing Lars Gundersen from anywhere, let alone Odalen, appeared as output of search in the time period.) See Note B, source 7, 9, 10.

7 1865 census for Sør-Odal. Lars Larssen b. 1850 Grue Prjg. (father: Lars Gundersen, mother: Johanna Sivertsdatter) Domicile: Søndre Odalen: Dalslien. See Note B, sources 6, 9, 10.

8 https://marileewein.com/2022/09/14/our-dahlby-family-first-others-in-cumberland-wi/

9 Lars Gundersen 1872-08-05 wedding and emigration: CBHP 1860-1878 (1826P) a) Brudgrom Lars Gundersen b. 1850-10-11 Odalen, Domicile: Susendalen and b) Utflyttar 1872 Lars Gundersen and Beret Jensine Mikkelsdtr. (CBHP 1865-1878: also gave Lars b. 1850-10-11 Odalen on wedding report.)

10 CBVP (Vefsn Parish) 1866-1879 (1824P) Births and Baptisms: Lars Gundersen a) 1868: Skovfoged Lars Gundersen and Pigen (unwed) Serena Johnsdtr at residence Kjortskarmo for Maren Jorgine. b) 1870: Lars Gundersen, domicile Odalen and Serine Johnsdtr (unwed) for Lena Karine. Both infant records were marked with a cross. Since the mark was used for wed and unwed births alike, it probably indicated death of the infant soon thereafter. Serena/Serine was born 1830-09-07, in item b. She did not yield to further search and may have died as well. If 1830 is correct, she was “an older woman”. Lars Gundersen was reported as a “gift mand” (married man) in both uegte births. (See source 6 – no competing Lars Gundersen from Odalen, or elsewhere, appeared to be in Vefsn, in the time period)

11 Elen Olina (Larsdatter) born 1880-09-22. Church Book for Hemnes Parish 1887-1893. [In Wisconsin as Ellen O Rued. Died Ellen Wallin/Wallen]. Note to those who swear by documentation: Elen Olina was not listed in Pauline’s utflyttar, nor was she with family in the next available US Census: 1900. She was quite alive; a servant elsewhere in town.