Nils Mikkelsen

  Research Notes:

Summary:

Nils Mikkelsen was the brother of my 2nd great-grandfather, Lars Mikkelson [born 1830]. Nils was born on 9 Aug 1836, possibly at the farm Sylen. At that time the farm was within the boundaries of Røros parish, although today the area would be within Engerdal parish, Hedmark Co. Engerdal became a separate parish around 1880. The farm Sylen is East of Femunden Lake [there are spelling variations of the lake], and based on Google Maps, it is close to the Swedish border [note ... the above sentence may not be accurate].

I have reviewed the Norway parish registers for a record of his birth/baptism, but he is not recorded for this date [similiar to his brother Lars]. He is recorded however, in the Røros confirmation record form 1852, and this record notes that his birth was on 9 Aug 1836. Is it possible that Nils was not baptised - it seems unlikely, But ?? [2 Feb 2025].

Nils most likely grew up on the farm Sylen which was very close to the Swedish border.

In 1855, Nils left Norway for North America. It appears that he first went to the Waterloo Ridge area of Allamakee Co, IA [see his sister Ingeborg Anna's obit] and then later to Otter Tail Co, MN. Lands records state that he obtained a homestead in Tordenskjold Twp with the patent issued on 24 Jun 1878. Very little additional information has been found. I have found no evidence that he married or had any children. It appears that he sold the homestead and moved to Clay Co, MN, likley to be near his brother Lars and Lars' family.

Nils died in 1883 in Clay Co.

written by Rueben D Grue, with last revision, 2 Feb 2025

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sogn

1. a. 1870 US Census, St Olaf Twp, Otter Tail Co, MN; NOT CONFIRMED, but likely
- ancestry p. 2 -- see copy of page under Lars Mikkelson (Syl)
- Nels Mikkelson, age 33 <1837>, born in Norway; family 19 - only person listed
- next family is Lars Mikkelson along with Berthe [sp] and family, including Berit

- previous source: www.worldconnect.rootsweb.com - Terrill Hayes; Aug 2009 - see Terrill Hayes Ancestry FT
BUT FT only records 1870 US Census
- Nils Mikkelson born abt 1837, (1870 US Census) ---- no other information about him
- 1870 Lars Syl Mikkelson and family was living in St Olaf Twp, Otter Tail Co and listed after his brother, Nils Mikkelson (my scan of the 1870 for Tordenskjold Twp listed Nils Mikkelson, age 33 <1833> and the next household (but very faint and very difficult to make out on genealogy.com, Feb/06) as Lars Mikkelson, Bertha (?) age 30, and children Ingeborg, Mikkel, Lars, Nils, Martin, Gertrude, Beret


b. 1860 US Federal [ 20 May 2013 ]

- not indexed on ancestry or 1860 Nordmen in USA on Norway Digitalarkivet
- not found on scan of Otter Tail Co or Douglas Co; or Renville Co - likely the area of what is now Grant Co, MN - Grant wasn't formed until 1868 or 1871, prior to this it was under Stevens Co, but Stevens Co wasn't formed until 1862 from Pierce Co and unorganized terrorties, however, Pierce Co was formed in 1853 from Dakota but dissolved and incorporated into the counties of Big Sioux, Davis and Renville; only Renville has a record in the 1860 Census
- also not found in Iowa .... Waterloo Twp, Allamakee

c. 1875 MN State
- not indexed or found on scan of Tordenskjold Twp (pages 142-149, ancestry)

2. family history - gives year and place of death; also indicates that he came to America before 1870 and was one of the first settlers in Hawley [ source ??? 20 Mar 2012 ] ????

3. source: www.jsenterprises.com/ottertail (MN Gen Web Network) NOT Confirmed 19 May 2013
- lists Nils Mikkelson's name "extracted from the original land records" for Tordenskjold Twp, Otter Tail Co, MN (may not be a relation) [ 20 Mar 2012 ] .

- 1884 Platt for Tordenskjold Twp does not indicate Nils Mikkelson on section 29, but if he was in Clay Co, that would make sense

- BLO patent issued 24 June 1878, Otter Tail Co, Sec 29, E½SW¼, NW¼SW¼, SW¼NW¼ ... Twp 132N, Range 41W
.... US Track Books, Vol 74, image 218 ..... Nils Mikkelsen, initial payment 2 Dec 1870, final 17 Oct 1876
- Sec 29 is just west of Simen T Grue's land on sec 28
But, 1884 Platt of St Olaf, sec 29 - not recorded
..... Note: according to Clay Co recorders office [an old data base], records that he died in 1883

Also: Nils is not recorded in the US Track Books, MN, Vol 74, image 24 - this should be the image for Sect 29, Twp 131N, Range 41W
[my 2nd Great-grandfather, Simen T Grue is recorded on image 218
[Land Converter website - dialogue box' can't convert' ????

4.
+++++++ Rørosboka, Vol 1, page 489. [ 19 May 2013 basic translation using google translate, Rueben D Grue ]

Nils Mikkelsen Syl, who left home at 18 years boy settled down in 1865 in Douglas County, Minnesota, where he was the first settler. The following year [there were] several [more]. Then there were only Indians around, and pioneering men had to suffer much pain and struggle very hard in the beginning.

- -- - however, age 18 in 1865 puts date of birth about 1847 - - so, either the year of leaving is wrong or age is a mistake OR this is someone else OR had left Norway earlier [see sister Ingebor Anna's obit], went to Iowa in 1857 and then to MN in 1865
- there is no record of someone by the name of Nils, born between 1846-1848 in Røros Miniesterialbok; or leaving Røros in 1865

BUT: leaving Røros for North America; Ministerialbok 2 Apr 1855, page 602, line 12
- Niels Michelsen Syl (born 2 Aug 1836) [ birth not recorded in Røros ] ..... leaving 2 Apr 1854
BUT: https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/2399/361

ALSO: Bygebok for Engerdal, vol 2 ... page 388 mid page
.. "1885" and .... then , re; Lars Mikkelsen Sylen ..... family leaving for America 1870 ..
and then, Lars' brother, "Nils Mikkelsen had emigrated to Iowa, USA, already in 1854. At Sylen there are even more interesting letters from this Nils, and it is probably he who makes his relatives at Sylen emigrate"



5. Birth, Røros Ministerialbok [ 17 May 2013 ]

- not recorded - 1836 -1838

b. Confirmation, 1852 Røros Ministerialbok 1845-1859, page 235, line 27
- Niels Mikkelsen Sylplads, born 9 Aug 1836; parents Mikkel Nielsen Sylplads and Ingeborg Larsdtr
- then, last column, vacination - 7 Sep 1837 ... [?] Döbt (bapitism) i Sårna i Sevrrig BUT not recorded in Swedish church records, 1836, Särna, Kopparberg Co, Sweden (starting p 140, ancestry.com)


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Ancestry.com [ first accessed, 21 Mar 2012, then again on 17 Mar 2013 ]

Public Member Tree 'Mathison/Nordeen Family Tree owner ckksbroom1' (last log in 21 Mar 2012 )

Wrong person:
Nels Edvard Mikkelson, born 3 Apr 1838, Korgen, Nordland, Norway and died 7 Nov 1930 in Richland Co, ND
- indicates a brother to Lars Syl Mikkelson and Ingeborg Anna Mikkelson (Ole Gudmundson) and a son to Mikkel Nilssen born 1797 and Ingeborg Larsdatter Syl, born 1797
- photos of Nels Edvard Mikkelson's grave, etc
- Nels' descendants
- also attached to this tree is the same 1870 US Census - St Olaf Twp, Otter Tail Co
- also attached from Quebec Passenger Lists; 1866 age 28

----- this is most likely incorrect -- based on:

Nordland - Hemnes Ministerialbok, 1826-1841, Født .... page 134-135, line 20
Niels Edvard, born 5 Apr 1838 [possible birth is 8 Apr 1838], bap 20 May 1838; parents Mikkel Petersen .... ? and Ingeborg Anna
- thus different parents
- looks like Korgen became a separate clerical district around 1877, but also sub parish, Korgen i Hemnes 1865-1950; prior to this Korgen area was likely included Hemnes clerical district

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Emigration - 1854, 2 Apr 1854, Røros, Sør-Trøndelag, Norway. ²¹²⁶ Leaving Røros parish for America