Jorand Christiansdtr Rukke (1841-1906)

Jorand Christiansdtr Rukke was born on 08 Apr 1838 in Nes, Buskerud, Norway as the third child of Christian Oleson Rukke and Ragnild Bjornsdtr Skolt. She had six siblings, namely: Ole Christianson, Ole Rukke, Björn Christianson, Kari, Randi Christiansdtr, and Margit. Jorand was baptized on 27 Jun 1841 in Nes i Hallingdal, Buskerud, Norway.

Did you notice that the baptism record lists her birthday as April 7th? The record actually says that she was born 7 Apr 1841 rather than 8 Apr 1838. Which is correct? Other documents, including her death record, list her birthday as 8 Apr 1838 and, as are shown later in this posting, there are other facts that support a birth year of 1838 rather than 1841. But, she did seem to change age through the years. Since her grave says 1838, we’ll assume that 1838 is correct. And, assuming that 1838 is correct, the baptism year was probably 1838 too.

Jorand moved from Norway to the United States in 1846 with her parents. They sailed on the ship Columbo from France to New York, arriving on 26 Aug 1846. From New York, they made their way to Wisconsin.

The 1846 ship record listed Joran as 3-years old. Hmmm? If she was born in 1838, she should have been eight, not three? But, if she was born in 1841, she should have been listed as a five-year old. The confusion continues.

The family first settled in Wisconsin. At the time of the 1850 Federal Census, they were living in Spring Valley, Rock County, Wisconsin. In America, she was sometimes called Jane, at least in the records.

In July 1850, when the census was taken, Jorand was listed as 10 years old. She had aged seven years in the four years the family had lived in Wisconsin.

When Jorand was a teenager, the family pulled up roots again and moved from Wisconsin, to previously unsettled land in Minnesota. They weren’t in Minnesota long before she married. When she was 19, she married Guttorm Hillson Wenaas, son of Hallstein Nilson Haugveie and Ingerid Torleivsdtr Imré, on 27 Jul 1857 in St Ansgar, Mitchell, Iowa. The couple had to go to Iowa to marry since there wasn’t a preacher around yet who could perform the nuptials in Minnesota.

Guttorm Hillson Wenaas and Jorand Christiansdtr Rukke had the following children:

1. Inger Randina Hillson was born on 05 Oct 1857 in Westfield, Dodge, Minnesota. She married Ole E Hensrud on 07 Jul 1877 in Blooming Prairie, Steele, Minnesota. She died on 01 Apr 1945 in Westfield, Dodge, Minnesota.
2. Helena Hilson was born on 31 Oct 1860 in Westfield, Dodge, Minnesota. She married Gustave S. Dahl on 19 Apr 1881 in Blooming Prairie, Steele, Minnesota. She died on 27 Aug 1949 in Steele, Minnesota.
3. Caroline Hilson was born on 04 Mar 1863 in Westfield, Dodge, Minnesota. She married Lars Olson Aldahl on 19 Nov 1885 in Blooming Prairie, Steele, Minnesota. She died on 16 Mar 1940 in Lansing, Mower, Minnesota.
4. Ragnild G Hillson was born on 24 Mar 1865 in Westfield, Dodge, Minnesota. She died on 10 Feb 1954 in Steele, Minnesota.
5. Christian G Hillson was born on 25 Dec 1866 in Westfield, Dodge, Minnesota. He married Emma Carolina Larson on 22 May 1895 in First Lutheran Church, Blooming Prairie, Steele, Minnesota. He died on 06 Jul 1945 in Steele, Minnesota.
6. Henry G Hillson was born on 26 Oct 1872 in Westfield, Dodge, Minnesota. He died on 25 Dec 1953 in Mower, Minnesota.
7. Marie Hillson was born on 08 Jan 1879 in Westfield, Dodge, Minnesota. She died on 14 Apr 1945 in Westfield, Dodge, Minnesota.
8. Thomas Bennett Hillson was born on 26 Jul 1880 in Westfield, Dodge, Minnesota. He married Caroline O Knutson on 27 May 1903 in First Lutheran Church, Blooming Prairie, Steele, Minnesota. He died on 20 May 1971 in Blooming Prairie, Steele, Minnesota.

Guttorm and Jorand settled in Westfield Township, Dodge County, Minnesota. They were recorded in the Minnesota Territorial Census in 1857.

The 1857 Census listed Jorand’s age as nineteen. That supports a 1838 birth year. But, it also lists their oldest daughter as being three months old on 23 Oct 1857, but she was born 05 Oct 1857, much less than three months before the census.

Jorand’s life revolved around raising her children and taking care of the farm house. Pioneer women had to work hard. But, she had extended family around and the Hillsons were active in what became known as First Lutheran Church in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota. So, hard labors were probably balanced with fun times surrounded by friends and family.

Jorand died on 16 Mar 1906 in Dodge, Minnesota at the age of 67 from complications of diabetes. She was buried on 22 Mar 1906 in First Lutheran Church Cemetery, Westfield, Dodge, Minnesota.

Where is she in the tree?

How can I learn more?

If you want to learn more about Jorand’s paternal roots, the Christianson book will be of interest.

The Christianson Family

Selected Sources:

Ancestry.com, Minnesota Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905 (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007), www.ancestry.com, LINE: 10, Roll: MN1857_1, http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1058&h=1147510&indiv=try.

Arkivverket Digitalarkivet (Norway), Jorand Christiansdtr Rukke; 27 Jun 1841; http://urn.digitalarkivet.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20051114010782.jpg; digital images, Arkivverket Digitalarkivet.

Jorand Christianson Hillson; 16 March 1906; “Minnesota, County Deaths, 1850-2001,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-38438-6950-42?cc=2185953 : accessed 24 March 2016), Dodge > Death register, 1887-1907, 1911-1945, vol B-C, E > image 145 of 406; county courthouses, Minnesota. and “Minnesota, County Deaths, 1850-2001,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-38438-6826-30?cc=2185953 : accessed 24 March 2016), Dodge > Death register, 1887-1907, 1911-1945, vol B-C, E > image 146 of 406; county courthouses, Minnesota.; Last accessed 23 March 2016. Family Search – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, discussion list (familysearch.org).