Nils
Hansen Rustand was born on July 07, 1792 in Rustand, Aadalen, Norway. He was the
son of Hans Olsen Rustand & Kari Olsdatter
Storoydgarden
Kari Nubsdatter Viker was born on September 28, 1796 in
Viker, Aadalen, Norway. She was the daughter of Thor Nubsen Viker & Gjertrud
Andersdatter
Aaste Olsdatter was born Jan. 25, 1832 in Strandlieie, Aadalen,
Norway. She was the daughter of Unknown parents
THE FAMILIES OF NILS HANSEN RUSTAND VIKER
First marriage:
 | Nils Hanson Rustand & Kari Thorsdatter Viker | Nils Hansen
Rustand married Kari Thorsdatter Viker on July 30, 1815, in the Viker church.
Nils & Kari lived at Viker, which they leased after their marriage, and Nils
bought the Viker farm in 1824 and took the last name of Viker. Nils was a famous
hunter and trapper in Aadalen. Nils & Kari had 10 children, 8 of whom later
immigrated to America. Kari died in 1859 and Nils also came to America
in 1861, but he soon returned to Norway as he did not like what he considered
to be the primitive conditions there. Nils is listed at age 75 on the 1865 census
of the Skarrud farm in Buskerud, Norway. |
Children of Nils Hanson Rustand & Kari Thorsdatter Viker:
| Kari Nilsdatter | Kari Nilsdatter Viker was born Sept 15, 1815 at Viker, Aadalen, Buskerud, Norway. She married Fingal Paulson Enger on March 15, 1852 at the Viker Church in Aadalen, Buskerud Norway. Paul was a widower with two sons, and Fingal & Kari had 3 more children. On June 17, 1853 Fingar Paulsen Enger, Kari Nilsdatter, and his sons Jens and Paul left for Sondre Aurdal. This was to the Jobraaten farm, and they lived there a few years and I think this is where the children of Fingal and Kari were born. Information I have been given indicates that Kari & Fingal remained in Norway until their deaths, but I have not found them there on the 1865 or 1875 censuses at this time. Fingal died in 1867, probably in Norway. One of Fingal's sons from his first marriage, Paul Enger, emigrated to America and owned land in Moscow, Freeborn Co., MN that he later sold to Kari's brother Ole Nilson Viker. Kari Viker Enger died in 1890, probably in Norway. |
| Thor Nilsen Viker Sandvigen | Thor Nilsen Viker was born Jan 28,
1818 at Viker, Aadalen, Buskerud, Norway. Thor married Kari Andersdatter
Sandvigen on Sept 22, 1845, and they had 6 children on the Sandvigen farm.
The family is listed on the 1865 census of Sandvigen, Aadalen, Buskerud, Norway.
Kari died on February 28, 1889, and Thor is listed in the household of his married
daughter Tonetta on the 1900 census of Sandvigen, Aadalen, Buskerud, Norway. Several
of Thor's children and grandchildren emigrated to America, and settled in MN.
Most used the surname Sandvigen in the US. Thor Viker died on August 01, 1903
at Sandvigen, Aadalen, Buskerud, Norway Notes for Thor Nilsen Viker Sandvigen |
| Hans Nilsen | Hans Nilsen Viker was born July 29, 1820 at Viker,
Aadalen, Buskerud, Norway. Hans emigrated to America in 1850 on the ship Christiane,
along with his brother Ole and sister Gjertrud. He married Sigrid Olsdatter
Hiaseie Pikop about 1856 in MN and they had 9 children who settled in MN.
I have not found the family on the 1860 census at this time, but they are listed
on the 1870 census of Preble Twp., Fillmore Co., MN. Sigrid died in Sept 1871,
and on June 15, 1872 Hans married Maren Nilsdatter Lunde in Spring Grove,
Fillmore Co., MN. Maren was the widow of Hans' first cousin Ole Olson Rustand.
Maren died before 1880, and Hans is listed as widowed on the 1880 & 1900 censuses
of Preble, Fillmore Co., MN. Hans Viker died Sept 5, 1900 in Preble Twp., Fillmore
Co., MN. Notes for Hans Nilsen Viker |
| Gjertrud Nilsdatter | Gjertrud Nilsdatter Viker was born April 10,
1822 at Viker, Aadalen, Buskerud, Norway. She emigrated to America in 1850
on the ship Christiane with her brothers Hans and Ole. Gjertrud married Knut
Chrispenson on March 4, 1851 in Rock Co,. WI and they had 3 children. They
are listed on the 1860, 1870 & 1880 censuses of Newark, Rock, Wisconsin. In
1860 they are listed Canude Christenson, in 1870 under Knute Christianson. Also
Gjertrud is listed under the name Jane in 1870 and Annie in 1880. Knut died in
1888, and Gjertrud is listed as widowed and living next to her married son Nils
& family on the 1900 census of Newark, Rock Co., WI. Gjertrud Viker Chrispinson
died March 7, 1909 in Rock Co., WI. Notes for Gjertrud Nilsdatter Viker Chrispenson |
 | Nub Nilsen | Nub Nilsen Viker was born Feb 8, 1824 in Viker, Buskerud, Norway. He was christened March 1, 1824. Nub married Live Eriksdtr Holte Wiger on May 20, 1851 in Norderhov, Buskerud, Norway. Nub & Live emigrated to America soon after their marriage in 1851, and they had 7 children. According to birthplaces of their children, they were in Wisconsin in 1852 & 1854, but had moved to Minnesota by 1855. I have not found them on the 1860 census at this time. They are listed on the 1870 census of Preble, Fillmore Co., MN. According to a biography of their son Erick, the family moved to Becker Co., MN in 1872. I have not found them on the 1880 census at this time, but three of their children married in Lake Park, Becker Co., MN in 1879, 1880 & 1885 so I assume they were in Becker Co., MN at that time. At some time between 1880 to 1894 Nub & Live moved to Clay Co., Minnesota. Their children settled in MN and Canada. Several of them used the spelling Wiger. Nub Nilsen died on Dec 6, 1894 in Hitterdal, Clay Co., MN. Live died on March 06, 1915 in Ulen, Clay Co., MN. |
 | Anne Nilsdatter | Anne Nilsdatter Viker was born April 11,
1826 at Viker, Buskerud, Norway. She married John Christianson on Oct.
18, 1847 in the Viker Church in Norway. They had 6 children, several of whom went
by the surname Skalet. Only one of their children stayed in Norway - the rest
all came to America. John and Anne emigrated to America in 1884, following their
sons Christian & Nils, who emigrated in 1873. Their two daughters came here,
also, not sure what year. Their son Ole emigrated in 1886. Anne Viker Christiansen
died July 22, 1906 at the home of her daughter Karen in Nielsville, Polk Co.,
MN. Her tombstone gives her name as Annie Christianson. The Family of John Christianson & Anne Nilsdatter Viker Notes for Anne Nilsdatter Viker Christianson Tombstones of John & Anne Viker Christianson |
| Ole Nilsen | Ole Nilsen Viker was born September 16, 1828 at Viker, Buskerud, Norway. He died young, before he was one year old. Ole Viker died May 21, 1829 at Viker, Buskerud, Norway. |
 | Ole
Nilsen (the Elder) | Ole Nilsen Viker was born Feb
10, 1830 at Viker, Buskerud, Norway. According to a biography of his daughter,
Ole was in the Norwegian Navy before emigrating to the US in 1850 on the ship
Christiane with his brother Hans and sister Gjertrud. He married Margit Nubsdatter
Onsgaard on Dec 19, 1853 in Beloit, Rock Co., WI. Margit had a son from a
previous marriage, and she and Ole had 5 more children. They lived in WI and IA
for a few years, but moved to MN by 1857. Ole and Margit lived in Brown (later
Watonwan), Fillmore, Mower, Polk and Freeborn Counties in MN. Also according to
his daughter's bio, he served in the Civil War on the Union side for several years.
Ole is sometimes known as Ole Viker the Elder, as he had a younger brother also
named Ole Nilsen Viker who lived to adulthood - both also emigrated to the US.
He is listed on earlier records as Ole Nelson, and later records as Ole Wiker
or Viker. Ole Viker died Dec 22, 1910 in Moscow, Freeborn Co., MN. On his
tombstone his name is listed as Ole Wiker, but his granddaughter Cornelia always
pronounced and spelled the name Viker. The Family of Ole Nilson Viker Records for Ole Nilson Viker Notes for Ole Nilson Viker |
 | Gunhild Maria "Mary" Nilsdatter | Gunhild
Maria Nilsdatter Viker was born Feb 29, 1832 at Viker, Buskerud, Norway. In
her obituary she is called Mary Haugen. She married Elling Knutsen Haugen
on April 27, 1852 in Norderhov, Aadalen, Buskerud Norway, and they are listed
on the IGI as emigrating to America on the same day. They had 9 children. Elling
& Maria settled first in Beloit, Rock Co., Wisconsin. I have not found them
on the 1860 census at this time. In 1862 they moved to Mower county, MN. They
are listed on the 1870 census of Racine, Mower Co., MN (post office Hamilton,
Fillmore Co., MN.). In the the spring of 1880 they moved to Lyon Co., MN. They
are listed on the 1880 census of Eidsvold, Lyon Co., MN. Elling died in 1890 &
Maria is listed as widowed and living next to her married son Nels & family
on the 1900 census of Eidsvold, Lyon Co., MN. Gunhild Maria "Mary"
Nilsdatter Viker Haugen died June 8, 1918 in Eidsvold Township, Lyon Co., MN Notes for Gunhild Maria "Mary" Viker |
|
Ole Nilsen | Ole Nilsen Viker was
born June 14, 1834 at Viker, Buskerud, Norway. He emigrated to America in
1851, and settled in Fillmore Co., MN. Ole married Guri Christoffersdr Erickson
about 1866 in MN, and they had 7 children. The family is listed on the 1870 &
1880 censuses of Preble, Fillmore Co., MN. Ole died Feb 28, 1896 in Spring
Grove, Fillmore Co., MN. The children used the spelling Wiger for their surname. Notes for Ole Nilsen Viker the younger |
| Iver Nilsen | Iver Nilsen Viker was born May 10, 1837 at Viker,
Buskerud, Norway. I'm not sure when he came to America. He married Guri
Paulsdatter Norstebo on Feb 12, 1862 in Highland Prairie, Fillmore Co., MN.
Guri had 2 children from previous relationships, at least one of whom was still
alive. Ivere & Guri had a son, Nels, on May 20, 1862. Iver enlisted in the
Civil War and family story is that he was captured and held in Andersonville Prison
while in the War, although this has not been documented. He died of consumption
and chronic diarrhrea contracted while in the service of the United States. Iver
died Sept 3, 1863 at Little Norway Township, Fillmore County, MN and is buried
at the Highland Prairie Cemetery at Peterson, Fillmore County, MN. Guri remarried
Lars Hanson Staaland, and they had 2 more children. Lars & Guri are listed
on the 1870 & 1880 census of Norway, Fillmore Co., MN. Lars died on Nov 8,
1898, and Guri is listed as widowed on the 1900 census of Norway, Fillmore Co.,
MN. Guri died on December 10, 1916 in Melville, Sweet Grass Co., Montana, probably
at the home of her married daughter Kari (Staaland) Rein. Notes for Iver Nilsen Viker |
Second marriage (? not sure if they were ever officially married):
| Nils Hansen Rustand Viker & Aaste Olsdatter | Sometime between 1865 to 1870, Nils began living with a widow, Aaste Olsdatter. Aaste was listed at age 32 on the 1865 census of the Braaten farm, Aadalen, Buskerud, Norway with her husband Gudbrand Olson & their 3 young children. Her husband froze to death while out hunting sometime between 1865 to 1870. Aaste had two children born in 1870 & 1872 who were christened with Nils named as the father; Nils was in his 80's at that time. Nils Hansen died March 18, 1873 at Branden, Brandbu, Buskerud, Norway. |
Children of Nils Hanson Rustand Viker & Aaste Olsdatter:
| Ole Nilsen | Ole Nilsen was born Feb 2 1870 at Skarrud in Norway. At the christening widower Nils Hansen Viker was given as father. Ole was later a famous man in the parish. He went under name "Aasteola", and was in his youth Ådalens best speed skater. |
| Gabriel Nilsen | Gabriel Nilsen was born May 18, 1872 at Skarrud in Norway. At his christening Nils Hanson Viker was named as being his father. |
 | Viker portrait?? | This unidentified portrait was found in the attic of the farm belonging to the grandson of Ole Nilsen Viker (born 1830). It is probably a portrait of Ole and Margit Viker, or one of Ole's siblings. Margit was 11 years older than Ole, and to me this woman looks like she could be older than the man in the portrait. If anyone recognizes the couple in the portrait, please let me know!!! |
