Ole Karl Jonsen from Nordal

I believe my ggGrandfather, Ole Karl Jonsen, was born 5-Jan-1811 in Nordalens præstgjeld in Møre og Romsdal. Although he was at least the seventh generation to live on Gjerde farms, in 1855 he apparently began selling and trading his ancestral land and moved his family to Grønningsæter, just up the road. Some family entries thereafter appear to be in Grytten præstgjeld. By 1900 his wife, Gurine Rasmusdtr, is listed in the Census as a widow, living as a føderådsenke with her oldest daughter, Inger Regine Olsdtr (by then married to Karl Fredrik Hansen). So I conclude that Ole Karl died before the 1900 Census. But I'm having trouble confirming the specific date -- and even more interesting the cause -- of his death. It seems suspicious to me that he abandoned Gjerde farms, given the deep family roots there. Of his seven surviving children, six emigrated after he moved the family, and all continued to use "Gjerde" as their gårdnavn in their dealings with emigration officials, years after the family moved. I wonder if this could indicate friction and animosity, children versus father? Did Ole Karl have some medical or psychological problem (alcoholism, for example) that caused him to self-destruct? Any advice on how I might pursue this inquiry?