WI 47th Inf Co D. Residence: Sugar Creek, Walworth County, Wisconsin. Born “John Olsen Vale” on 6 May 1818 at Holla, Norway, son of Ole Johnsen Vale and Anne Olsdatter Brenne. He came to America on “Salvator”, which sailed from Porsgrund and arrived in New York in July 1843. He came to Sugar Creek Township, Walworth County. He was married on 13 Apr 1846 to Anne Olsdatter Grønstein (1824-1911). Eight children. Civil War: Farmer. Age 44. Married. Blue eyes, light hair, fair complexion, 5’6”. Enlisted for one year on 7 Feb 1865 at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and mustered there the same day. Bounty $100, $33.33 paid. Private. Discharged in 1865. Post war: He moved to South Dakota. Died at age 72 on 6 Jul 1890 at Elk Point, South Dakota, and is buried there in the Elk Point City Cemetery, section 2, block 4, lot 18, grave 3. Sources: (WHS Series 1200 box 188-5; red book vol 52) (SDSHS WPA Veterans Cemetery Records, Union County) (Ulvestad p317) (Naeseth ’43-307) “Olsen, John”
