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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ROSSING, Torkild A.

WI 15th Inf Co E. Residence: Wiota, Lafayette County, Wisconsin. Born at the Rossing farm, Land Parish, in Norway, in 1840. Came to America with…

ROSSUM, Mads

WI 15th Inf Co E. Residence: Argyle, Lafayette County, Wisconsin. Born 1839 in Nord Fron, Norway. Civil War: Age 22. Unmarried. Enlisted for three years…

ROST, Nils

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ROLLINS, John

MN Hv Arty 1st Reg Co F. Residence: Mankato, Minnesota. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 38. Enrolled 28 Jan 1865. Mustered 4 Feb 1865.…

ROLLIS, C. J.

Residence: Stoughton, Wisconsin. Spanish-American War: Captain. Sources: (Ulvestad p256)
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ROLSTAD

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ROMBERG, Lars O.

IA 12th Inf Co G. Residence: Calmar, Winneshiek County, Iowa. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 24. Enlisted 16 Oct 1861. Mustered 5 Nov 1861.…

ROME, Ole H.

WI 15th Inf Co H. Residence: Rising Sun, Crawford County, Wisconsin. Civil War: Age 24. Enlisted for three years on 25 Jan 1862 at Madison,…

RON, Harve G.

WI 13th Inf Co G. Residence: Janesville, Rock County, Wisconsin. Born in Norway. Civil War: Farmer. Age 21. Unmarried. Hazel eyes, brown hair, dark complexion,…

RON, Ole

See HALVORSEN, Ole
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RONNE, ?

Residence: Elk Point, South Dakota. Indian War: Private. Killed in a Battle. Sources: (Ulvestad p326)

RONNE, Ole Pedersen

MN 2nd Inf Co E. Residence: St. Peter, Nicollet County, Minnesota. Born in Faaberg, Sondre Gudbrandsdalen, Norway, in 1841. Civil War: Age 70 (sic). Enrolled…

RONNING, Edwin

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RONNING, Elias

WI 5th Inf Co G. Residence: Upper Coon Valley, Vernon County, Wisconsin. Born in Vestre Gausdal, Norway. Civil War: Farmer. Age 20. Blue eyes, brown…

RONNINGEN, Christian

WI. Residence: Gjerpen, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. Born in Valders, Norway. Civil War: Private. Died of Disease in Louisville, Kentucky. Sources: (Ulvestad p326) “Ronningen, Christian Tostensen”

RONNINGEN, Hans

WI 15th Inf Co C. Born “Hans Andressen Rønningen” on 1 Jul 1835 in Bø?, Norway, son of Andres Jacobsen Rønningen and Kirsti Henrichsdatter. He…

ROOD, Andrew

WI 3rd Inf Co H. Born in Norway. Civil War: Farmer. Age 19. Gray eyes, light hair, light complexion, 5’6½”. Enlisted for three years on…

ROOD, Ever

WI 3rd Inf Co H. Born in Norway. Civil War: Farmer. Age 19. Gray eyes, light hair, light complexion, 5’7”. Enlisted for three years on…

ROLIGHEDEN, Lars Jensen

From Slemdal, Norway. Civil War: Private. Post war: Lived in Pine Lake, Wisconsin. Sources: (Ulvestad p325)