Rasmus Nielsen Fossum

Utreist med/Emigrated on: "CLAUS THOMMESEN", departed from Skien May 25th to New York. Arrived Aug 11, 1849 with 158 passengers.

Utreist til/Emigrated to: Cato Township, Manitowoc Co., Wisconsin

Rasmus Nielsen was born Aug 20, 1817 on Orekaasa under Oterholt in Gjerpen by parents Niels Eriksen and Kirsti Jansdatter, who married in Gjerpen May 8, 1811. Niels Eriksen lived at Orekaasa at the time of his marriage.
In 1835 the family lives in a house belonging to Fossum Ironworks, where Niels Eriksen worked as a hammersmith.
In addition to Rasmus, also his two brothers Erik (age 15) and Jan (age 8) lives there.

On May 6, 1842 Rasmus gets married to Inger Gundersdatter, age 26, from Siljan. Her parents were Gunder Aslaksen Afsøla, born 1792 on Søntvedt and Ingeborg Andersdatter. They married in 1815. Gunder’s father was Aslak Gundersen, (1768-1846) and mother, Inger Knudsdatter Rød, married 1791. Aslak’s parents were Gunder Aslaksen Søntvedt, (1722-1801), married in 1766 the widow Marte Halvorsdatter.

In 1845 Rasmus Nielsen and wife Ingeborg Gundersdatter lives on a place under Venstøp Anden.
They then have the son Niels, born Aug 8, 1842.  

 Robert Bjerke in his book “Manitowoc-skogen” writes the following about Rasmus:
”Signed the letter of call 1852. Farmer in Cato 1860.” The son Niels married April 7, 1866 Anne Østensdatter, daughter of Østen Nielsen Dale and Ingeborg Johnsdatter. Anne was born March 1, 1845 Østre Slidre.


2003 - Skien Genealogical page - by Jan Christensen