Sidsel Nelson

Sidsel Gulliksdatter was from Eikerbakke in Øystre Slidre, Valdres. She was confirmed May 9, 1841.

Sidsel and Torstein farmed at Kvie, Høre, Valdres from about 1846 to 1861. They emigrated with their children Torsten, Gullik, Berit, Marit, Sidsel, Nils, and Kristoffer in April 1861 (Vang parish register). On April 14, 1862 Torsten sold his holdings at Kvie and Bunde for 1500 spesidaler (Frøholm, Valdres Bygdebok I C, 146, 152). An account by another Valdres emigrant shows why the family may have chosen to leave that year: "There was almost continuous rain the entire summer [of 1860] so grain did not ripen and that unripe grain which was harvested, rotted. The little stream Reina became a torrent the whole summer and the Begna overflowed its banks flooding low lying farms. All bridges over the the Reina in upper Reinli and the bridge over Storebrofossen were destroyed, likewise grist and saw mills. The earth was so full of water that its crust lay and quivered, ready to slide from the steep hillsides and into the Begna. In Vang the mountainside slid and threw 13 farms into the Vangsmjøsa. The next spring I left for America." (Narvestad and Narvestad, Valdres Samband 1899-1974, 26)

Tosten and Sidsel first lived near Scandinavia, WI, where daughters Anna and Sophie were born. In the US they used the name Nelson. In 1870 they were living in Scandinavia, and in 1880 in Helvetia twp (US census). The agricultural schedule of the 1870 census shows that Tosten had improved 30 of his 80 acres. The farm was valued at $1200, he owned implements and machinery valued at $110 and livestock valued at $120: 2 milk cows, 2 other cattle, 8 sheep, and 4 swine. He grew wheat, rye, corn, and oats.

Tosten and Sidsel later moved to Mayville, Dakota Territory. Tosten, Sidsel, and three children joined Mayville Lutheran Church in 1885.

Tosten died January 18, 1887. Beginning in 1890 Sidsel received a veteran's widow's pension of $8 per month. In 1900 she was living with her daughter Betsy and son-in-law Jacob. Sidsel died January 24, 1901. Her probate record shows that she owned a one-third interest in the SW quarter of section 2 of Twp. 156 and Range 63 (Cleveland Twp.) in Ramsey Co.