Simon Christensen Roland

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=109795557

Baptismal record: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20070603630165.jpg

ROLAND, Simon - Minnesota 2nd Cav Co E. Civil War: Residence: Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minnesota. Born in Norway. Age 29. Enrolled 19 Dec 1863. Mustered 31 Dec 1863. Private. Served in Indian and Civil wars. Discharged from the service with his company, 2 Dec 1865. Sources: (MINN p727) (MCIW p559)

The family of Gulbrand Torstensen & Berte Christensdatter, unfortunately arrived in Minnesota (1861) shortly before the start of the 1862 Dakota War (former known as the Sioux Uprising). By the time of the 1865 Minnesota census Gulbrand & the oldest son, Christian Gulbrandsen, are not to be found in the records and Berte has remarried to Simon Roland, a settler from Fåberg, Oppland, Norway.

It is likely that Gulbrand & Berte’s destination was to her brother, Iver Christenson, in Rosendale Township, Watonwan County, Minnesota. What happened to Berte’s first husband remains a mystery, but a clue to what happened to her oldest son, can be found in an excerpt regarding the war, from the book, “History of Blue Earth County…” By Thomas Hughes 1909.

“…Marauding bands of Indians made their appearance throughout the settlements very early in the spring. On April 16, 1863, a small Scandinavian settlement on the south branch of the Watonwan (river), twenty-one miles beyond Madelia, was raided by them and Ole Erickson (Boxrud), a member of Co. E, 7th, Minn., Christopher Gilbrantson (a boy twelve years old), Gilbrand Palmer, Gabriel Erlingren and Ole Palmerson were killed; and Jas. Small of Co. E, 7th Minn., Mrs. Torgeson, Simeon Roland, wife and a child were wounded.”

In another source [Minnesota Bounties on Dakota Men During the U.S.-Dakota War, by Colette Routel 2013], of the same event states, “…While most of the Dakota had been expelled from the State of Minnesota, a few returned in the spring of 1863 and continued raids on Minnesota settlers. In mid-April, a group Dakota went on an expedition to the south branch of the Watonwan River (just west of Madelia, Minnesota), to acquire horses. They traveled to a nearby home that was being temporarily occupied by two members of Company E, 7th Minnesota Volunteer Regiment. The Dakota attacked the occupants, killing a soldier and wounding another soldier and a civilian. The survivors fled to a nearby stockade known as Fort Union, where the other members of Company E were located. Upon learning of the attack, Lieutenant Hardy sent soldiers to collect nearby settlers and bring them to the stockade, where they could be more easily protected. In that vein, two soldiers were sent to the nearby home of Swenson Roland. But while escorting the Roland family to the stockade, the soldiers spotted a group of Dakota and left the family to pursue them. The Rolands were attacked not long afterwards. Their twelve-year-old son was killed and three family members were wounded. That same day, three civilians fishing and trapping within a few miles of Fort Union were also killed, presumably by Dakota. Colonel Miller, commanding at Mankato, dispatched two companies under Lieutenant-Colonel William Marshall to give chase, but they were unable to overtake the Dakota party.

This versus includes a note, that Hughes’ account was “wrongly identifying” the twelve year old boy killed and the Marion P. Satterlee, “Authentic List of the Victims…” lists him correctly, as Christian Roland. The confusion clearly comes from Christian Roland being the son of Berte and her first husband Gulbrand. Born in Norway with the name Christian Gulbrandsen and the last name changed to Gilbrantson in America and changed again to Roland, after his mother’s marriage to Simon Roland.

The book “A History of the Great Massacre by the Sioux Indians, in Minnesota…” by Charles S. Bryant & Abel B. Murch 1864, gives a more detailed description of the attack: “…Swenson Roland, a Norwegian, resided, in the spring of 1863, in Town 105, Range 32, in the county of Watonwan, Minnesota. His family was composed of his wife and three children. Christ, the eldest, was a boy twelve years of age; the second a boy of three years and the third an infant two weeks old on the 16th of April. A detachment of Company E, 7th Minnesota Volunteers, Captain Thomas G. Hall, of twenty-five men, under command of Lieutenant Lewis Hardy, had been stationed, during the winter, on the south branch of the Watonwan River. The stockade, which was known as Fort Union, was one and a half miles from the farm of Mr. Roland. Early on the morning of the 16th day of April, before daylight a party of Sioux Indians made their appearance in the neighborhood of this stockade. They first went to the stable of a settler named Lawrence and stole a horse belonging to the Government. They then proceeded to the house of a settler who was absent from home. There were staying at this house two soldiers from the fort. They attacked the house and killed one of the soldiers while yet in bed and wounded the other and the woman of the house and then ran. The two wounded persons made their way, as fast as their condition would permit to the stockade. Two soldiers were dispatched to the house of Mr. Roland by Lieutenant Hardy, to bring his family into the fort. They left home about six o clock, Mr. Roland carrying his two guns and the babe. When about half way to the stockade, seven Indians were seen on a road to the south of them, who at once endeavored to cut them off. The soldiers left them and hastened on and Roland and his family were left alone. Very soon the Indians came near and commenced firing upon them, wounding Mr. Roland in the thigh at the first fire. Having his child in his arms, he was unable to use his guns and so did not return their fire, but hastened on. The eldest boy they killed, shooting him with both bullets and arrows. Overtaking Mrs. Roland, they beat her over the head and chest with their guns, breaking some of her ribs. The little boy they also beat over the head with clubbed guns and left the mother and child for dead. Lieutenant Hardy, sent out a squad of men to their relief, who assisted them in and brought in the dead body of the oldest boy. Mrs. Roland and the young child lived but with scars, which they will carry to their graves. Mr. Roland received a simple flesh wound, from which he soon recovered.”

1865 census Simon Roland, Barta Roland, Karen Roland, Thurston Roland, Christian Roland & Iver Christian are living at Butternut Valley Township, Blue Earth County, Minnesota, United States.

1870 census Simon Rollin (36yrs Norway), Bertha Rollin (42yrs Norway), Carrie Rollin (17yrs Norway), Tustin Rollin (10yrs Norway), Christian Rollin (7yrs Minnesota), Rollin & Carl M. Rollin (2yrs Minnesota) are living at Butternut Valley Township, Blue Earth County, Minnesota, United States.

1875 census Simon Roland (1835 Norway), Berthi Roland (1828 Norway), Torston Roland (1859 Norway), Christian Roland (1863 Minnesota), Christoffer Roland (1869 Minnesota), Mary Roland (1803 Norway) & Ingeborg Olson (1810 Norway) are living at Butternut Valley Township, Blue Earth County, Minnesota, United States.

1880 census Simon Rowland (47yrs Norway), Bertie Rowland (54yrs Norway), Toston Rowland (20yrs Norway), Christian Rowland (17yrs Minnesota) & Christopher Rowland (12yrs Minnesota) are living at Butternut Valley Township, Blue Earth County, Minnesota, United States.

1885 census Simon Roland (53yrs Norway), Bertie Roland (59yrs Norway), Thos Roland (25yrs Norway) & Caroline Pugh (16yrs Norway) are living at Butternut Valley, Blue Earth County, Minnesota, United States.