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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OLSEN, Nils

From Vossevangen, Norway. Civil War: Private. Post war: Lived in Newcastle, Nebraska. Sources: (Ulvestad p318)

OLSEN, Nils

From Bergen, Norway. Civil War: Private. Post war: Died in Granby County, Illinois, in 1892. Sources: (Ulvestad p318)

OLSEN, O. J.

From Voss, Norway. Civil War: Private. Post war: Lived in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. Sources: (Ulvestad p318)

OLSEN, Olaus

See SONJU, Olaus Olsen
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OLSEN, Olaus

From Rannestad, Norway. Civil War: Private. Post war: Lived at Rushford, Minnesota. Sources: (Ulvestad p318)

OLSEN, O. R.

From Skaanevik, Norway. Civil War: Private. Post war: Died in Minnesota (before 1907). Sources: (Ulvestad p319)

OLSEN, Nils K.

From Roraas, Norway. Civil War: Private. Post war: Died in Crookston, Minnesota, in 1905. Sources: (Ulvestad p318)

OLSEN, Ole

WI 14th Inf Co G. Residence: Mosinee, Marathon County, Wisconsin. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 37. Farmer. Blue eyes, brown hair, light complexion, 5’4¼”.…

OLSEN, Ole

WI 14th Inf Co G. Civil War: Age 24. Private. Sources: (WHS Series 1200 box 70-9)

OLSEN, Ole

Civil War: Private. Marine Soldier in the Civil War: Post war: Became postmaster in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where he died in 1905. Sources: (Ulvestad p318)
Tags:
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OLSEN, Ole

IA 38th Inf Co E. Residence: Winneshiek County, Iowa. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 23. Enlisted 15 Aug 1862. Mustered 24 Sep 1862. Private.…

OLSEN, Ole

WI 25th Inf Co K. Residence: Bergan, Vernon County, Wisconsin. Born in Norway. Civil War: Farmer. Age 26. Married. Blue eyes, brown hair, dark complexion,…

OLSEN, Ole

WI 22nd Inf. Born in Norway. Civil War: Farmer. Age 20. Gray eyes, light hair, flush complexion, 5’6”. Substitute for Engebret Swansen of Coon, Vernon…

OLSEN, Ole

See BERGEN, Ole Olsen
Tags:
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OLSEN, Ole

WI 12th Inf Co C. Born 15 Jan 1842 in Nissedal, Norway. Civil War: Age 20. Enrolled for three years on 11 Nov 1861 at…

OLSEN, Olavus C.

Residence: Neenah, Winnebago County, Wisconsin. From Christiania (Oslo), Norway. Civil War: Sergeant. Post war: He went to Sioux City, Iowa. Sources: (Ulvestad p260)
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Iowa

OLSEN, Ole

WI 33rd Inf Co E. Residence: Spring Valley, Rock County, Wisconsin. Born in Norway. Civil War: Farmer. Age 22. Unmarried. Gray eyes, dark hair, light…

OLSEN, Mathias

From Næs, Hedemarken, Norway. Civil War: Private. Post war: Died in Brown County, Minnesota, in 1886. Sources: (Ulvestad p318)

OLSEN, Neri

From Ovre Telemarken, Norway. Civil War: Private. Post war: Died in Iowa (before 1907). Sources: (Ulvestad p318)
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Iowa

OLSEN, Nels

WI. Civil War: Private. Died in the war. His son “Oley Nelson, Slater, Iowa”. Sources: (Unknown descendent)
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