MN 2nd Inf Co E. Residence: New Ulm, Brown County, Minnesota. Brother of Civil War soldier Sever C. Rukke. Born in Rukkedalen, Hallingdal, Norway, 4 Dec 1840, seventh in a family of twelve children. The family came to Rock County, Wisconsin, sailing from Drammen on the “Skulda”, reaching New York on 16 Jul 1845. They moved to Linden, Brown County, Minnesota, in 1857. Civil War: Age 21. Enrolled 5 Jul 1861 at St. Peter, Minnesota. Mustered the same day. Private. Promoted to Corporal. Wounded at Chickamauga, Georgia. Wounded in the storming of Missionary Ridge on 24 (25?) Nov 1863. In hospital at Evansville, Indiana, for six months. Discharged from the service 4 Jul 1864, expiration of term. Post war: Nels was married in 1868 to Guro Odegard, who was born in Norway 9 May 1850. They had eight children. The family moved from Minnesota to Griggs County, Dakota Territory, in January 1881. Nils died in 1902 in Cooperstown, North Dakota. Sources: (MINN p82) (MCIW p134, 684) (1885 Census, Dakota Territory) (Ulvestad p265) (North Dakota Institute for Regional Studies) (Naeseth ’45-638) “Rukke, Niels”
