Civil War Database

This extensive database contains information on the lives and service of Civil War soldiers who were born in Norway.

The data was compiled from research conducted between 1997 and 2003 by Jerry Rosholt, a journalist and later producer for NBC Nightly News. In addition to the database, Rosholt served as guest historian a major exhibition on Norwegians in the Civil War at Vesterheim and authored a companion volume. Ole Goes to War: Men from Norway Who Fought in America’s Civil War, by Jerry Rosholt, is available through Vesterheim’s Museum Store.

Database Sources – a list of sources of the information and explanation of abbreviations listed at the end of the entries.

Abbreviations & Database Clues – includes more information about how to use this database.

Soldiers’ Names – includes more information about rural Norwegian naming customs and the name changes that often occurred after emigration to the United States.

Send additions or edits to the database to info@vesterheim.org.

 

Acknowledgments

Vesterheim’s Norwegians in the Civil War project was made possible through the generous support of Hamlet and Suzanne Peterson, Rochester, Minn., and a grant from Humanities Iowa and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The companion volume Ole Goes to War: Men from Norway Who Fought in America’s Civil War, by Jerry Rosholt, was made possible through a gift from the Government of Norway in honor of Vesterheim’s 125th Anniversary.

We are grateful to The Edwin E. and Janet L. Bryant Foundation of Stoughton, Wisc., for their generous grant in support of the online database.

Additional support for sharing the research of Jerry Rosholt comes from Darlene Rosholt, Gerald R. Sime, Donald and Faye Aamodt, Robert Rosholt, Robert Sande, Dirk Rosholt, Greg Rosholt, and Sons of Norway Nordic 1-502.

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HODNAFJELD, W.

Civil War: Private. Post war: Worth County, Iowa. Sources: (Ulvestad p291)
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Iowa

HJORTH, Jacob M.

IL 132nd Inf Co I. Residence: Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Born in Norway. Civil War: Painter. Age 31. Unmarried. Blue eyes, light hair, light complexion,…

HOBERG (?), Johan

Indian War: Private. Post war: From Nicollet County, Minnesota. Sources: (Ulvestad p291)

HOAG, Peter H.

WI 5th Inf Co I. Residence: Wiota, Lafayette County, Wisconsin. Civil War: Farmer. Age 20. Gray eyes, black hair, dark complexion, 6’ 1”. Enlisted for…

HOFF, Johan J.

WI 15th Inf. Residence: Lower Coon Valley, Hamburg Township, Vernon County, Wisconsin. Born 18 May 1845 at Vardal, Oppland, Norway, son of Johannes Johnsen Skonhovd…

HOFF, Peder J.

WI 15th Inf. Residence: Lower Coon Valley, Vernon County, Wisconsin. Born 23 Apr 1840 at Vardal, Oppland, Norway, son of Johannes Johnsen Skonhovd and Anne…

HIMLE, Nils

See ELLICKSON, Niels H.
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HIRSCH, Christian J. B.

IL 89th Inf Co D. Residence: Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Born in Norway. Civil War: Sailor. Age 21. Hazel eyes, light hair, fair complexion, 5’11”.…

HOAG, Jacob

WI 2nd Inf Co F. Civil War: Private. Killed in the fight at Dabney’s Mills, Virginia, on 6 or 7 Feb 1865. Sources: (Quiner p…

HOFF, Christoffer

WI 15th Inf Co B. Residence: Christiana, Dane County, Wisconsin. Born 28 May 1825 in Norway. Civil War: Age 39. Married. Enlisted for three years…

HIMOE, Stephen Oliver

WI 15th Inf. Residence: Lawrence, Kansas. Born “Sven Olaus Mathiassen Himo” in Overhalla, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway, 10 Mar 1832, a son of Mathias Lorentsen Himo and…

HOFF, John R.

WI 22nd Inf Co B. Residence: Rock County, Wisconsin. Born 8 Oct 1843 in Rollag, Nummedal, Norway, a son of Nils and Mari Carlson. Came…

HILL, John N.

IL 4th Cav Co I. Residence: Earl, La Salle County, Illinois. Born in Norway. Civil War: Farmer. Age 23. Unmarried. Blue eyes, brown hair, fair…

HILL, Ole

WI 34th Inf Co I. Residence: Fish Creek, Wisconsin. Civil War: Age 25. Unmarried. Enrolled 10 Nov 1862 at Fish Creek. Mustered 15 Dec 1862.…

HILL, Peter O.

IL 4th Cav Co I. Residence: Earl, La Salle County, Illinois. Born at Hille in Stjerneroen, Norway. Civil War: Farmer. Age 27. Unmarried. Blue eyes,…

HILLER, John Olsen

Civil War: Private. Post war: Lived in Crawford County, Wisconsin. Sources: (Ulvestad p291)

HILL, Horace

WI 15th Inf Co G. Residence: Beloit, Rock County, Wisconsin. Civil War: Married. Age 50. Enlisted for three years as musician 26 Oct 1861 at…

HIMLE, Nelson

WI 12th Inf Co G. Residence: Rudolph, Wood County, Wisconsin. Born in Norway. Civil War: Unmarried. Age 29. Lumberman. Blue eyes, brown hair, dark complexion,…

HILLESTAD, Soren

WI 22nd Inf Co H. Residence: Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin. Born in Denmark. Civil War: Unmarried. Carpenter. Age 34. Blue eyes, brown hair, light complexion,…

HILLESTAD, Ole O.

From Lærdal, Sogn, Norway. Civil War: Private. Post war: Lived in Grant County, Minnesota. Died in 1894. Sources: (Ulvestad p291)