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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HILLSTROM, John F.

WI 21st Inf Co I. Residence: Amherst, Portage County, Wisconsin. Born in Sweden. Civil War: Age 21. Farmer. Unmarried. Blue eyes, brown hair, light complexion,…

HILL, Edward

WI 15th Inf Co G. Residence: Beloit, Rock County, Wisconsin. Civil War: Married. Age 55. Enlisted as musician for three years on 26 Oct 1861…

HILGERSON, Henry

WI 13th Inf Co E. Residence: Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 27. Farmer. Unmarried. Blue eyes, white hair, light complexion, 5’7½”. Drafted.…

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…

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,…

HILLSTROM, David

WI 21st Inf Co I. Residence: Amherst, Portage County, Wisconsin. Born in Sweden. Civil War: Age 28. Farmer. Unmarried. Blue eyes, brown hair, fair complexion,…

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,…

HILLSTREAM, Andrew O.

IA 37th Inf Co F. Residence: Dubuque, Iowa. Born in Sweden. Civil War: Age 41. Enlisted 24 Sep 1862. Mustered the same day. Private. Discharged…

HILLESTADT, Edwin O.

MN 10th Inf Co D. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 18. Enrolled Aug 1862. Private. Post war: Moved from Minnesota to Fargo, Dakota Territory,…

HILTON, Nils H.

From Ullensaker, Norway. Civil War: Private. Wounded in the Battle of Stone’s River, Tennessee [31 Dec 1862-2 Jan 1863]. Post war: Died in Callender, Iowa,…
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HILLESTAD, Thom

Residence: Grant County, Minnesota. From Laerdal, Sogn, Norway. Spanish-American War: Sergeant. Sources: (Ulvestad p259)

HILLER, John Olsen

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

HILSEN, Einar

Spanish-American War: Private. Post war: Came back to Tacoma, Washington, but died a short time later. Sources: (Ulvestad p291)

HILLSTAD, Even A.

WI 38th Inf Co I. Residence: Albion, Dane County, Wisconsin. Born in Norway. Civil War: Farmer. Age 18. Blue eyes, black hair, light complexion, 5’3¼”.…

HEROM, Ole Olsen

From Toten, Norway. Civil War: Private. Sources: (Ulvestad p291)
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HERMANSON, Herman

IA 13th Inf Co A. Residence: Winneshiek County, Iowa. Born 6 Jan 1849 in Norway. Civil War: Age 18. Enlisted 21 Oct 1864. Mustered 21…

HERMANSON, John

IA 27th Inf Co B. Residence: Dorchester, Iowa. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 21. Enlisted 12 Aug 1862. Mustered 1 Sep 1862. Private. Mustered…

HERMANSON, Soren

WI 42nd Inf Co A. Residence: Scandinavia, Waupaca County, Wisconsin. Born in Norway. Civil War: Farmer. Age 30. Married. Blue eyes, light hair, light complexion,…