WI 15th Inf Co I. Residence: New Hope, Portage County, Wisconsin. Born “John Olsen Jomfruland” on 8 Apr 1839 in Turdal, Drangedal Parish, Norway, the son of Ole Olsen Vraalstad Jomfruland and Aashild Jonsdatter Sneeaas. He came to America with his parents and two brothers, Ole and Jørgen, on “Aeolus”, which sailed from Havre, France, and arrived in New York on 28 Aug 1843. They lived the first year in the Muskego, Wisconsin, settlement. In 1844 they moved to Ixonia Township, Jefferson County, Wisconsin, and in 1856, they moved to New Hope, where they were living when the war began. Civil War: Age 21. Unmarried. Enlisted for three years on 5 Nov 1861 at Scandinavia, Wisconsin, and mustered at Madison, Wisconsin, 20 Dec 1861. Private. Appointed Sergeant 1 Feb 1862. Was with the provisions transport from Stevenson, Alabama, in October 1873. Mustered out with I Company, 10 Feb 1865, at Chattanooga, Tennessee. Post war: He was married on 23 Nov 1867 to Mathea Johannesdatter Norde (1849-1909). Twelve children. He was living in 1894 in Scandinavia, Wisconsin, where he ran a lumber business. Died in Northland, Wisconsin, on 13 Dec 1907. Buried at New Hope Lutheran Cemetery, Iola, Wisconsin. Sources: (WHS Series 1200 box 76-11; red book vol 20 p126) (Buslett p612 photo) (Ager p121 photo; p316, e50) (Ulvestad p261,262) (Marwin Wrolstad, Scandinavia, Wisconsin.) (Gjertveit) (Wisconsin Cemetery Records) (Naeseth ’43-1637) ”Wraalstad, John” “Rolstad, John” “Roalstad, John Olsen”
