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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WILSON, Ole

WI 6th Inf Co G. Residence: Bradford, Rock County, Wisconsin. Has no parents, sisters or brothers; “Smith Oleson my uncle”. Civil War: Farmer. Unmarried. Age…

WOLD, Hans

IL 9th Cav Co L. Residence: Not shown. Born in Norway. Civil War: Painter. Age 19. Hazel eyes, brown hair, dark complexion, 5’6¼”. Enlisted for…

WOLD, Egerbert

IL 36th Inf Co A. Residence: Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Born in Norway. Civil War: Saddler. Age 31. Blue eyes, dark hair, dark complexion, 5’5”.…

WOGENSON, James

WI 22nd Inf Co H. Residence: Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin. Born in Denmark. Civil War: Carpenter. Age 24. Unmarried. Blue eyes, light hair, light complexion,…

WISTE, Ole W. Olsen

WI 15th Inf. From Valders, Norway. Civil War: Private. Died in Andersonville Prison. Sources: (Ulvestad p340)

WISTE, Christ A.

Spanish-American War: Private. Lived at Red Lake County, Minnesota. Sources: (Ulvestad p340)

WINNESS, M. B.

IL 24th Inf Co E. Born in Norway. Civil War: Blacksmith. Age 28. Unmarried. Blue eyes, light hair, ruddy complexion, 5’5”. Enlisted for three years…

WINKERMAN, Benjamin

IL 28th Inf Co F Re-organized. Residence: Not shown. Born in Norway. Civil War: Farmer. Age 22. Blue eyes, light hair, light complexion, 5’6½”. Enlisted…

WINGER, Mathias I.

WI 30th Inf Co F. Residence: Martell, Pierce County, Wisconsin. Born 24 Mar 1831 in Østre Gausdal, Oppland, Norway, son of Torger Nilsen Revoldsrud and…

WINGAARD, Ole V.

WI 15th Inf Co K. Residence: Decorah, Winneshiek County, Iowa. Born 27 Oct 1836 in Christiania, Norway. Came to America and to Decorah, in 1860.…

WING, Hansten

From Hardanger, Norway. Civil War: Private. Died at Worden, Minnesota, in 1882. Sources: (Ulvestad p340)

WING, Halsten

MN 3rd Inf Co D. Residence: Red Wing, Goodhue County, Minnesota. Born in Hardanger, Norway. Civil War: Age 42. Enrolled 3 Oct 1861. Mustered 4…

WINDHEIM, Eilef

US Army. Born in Norway about 1892. Came to America in 1914. First World War: Enrolled. Discharged. Post War: Filed second papers for naturalization in…

WILSON, William C.

IL 37th Inf Co H. Residence: Morristown, Henry County, Illinois. Born in Norway. Civil War: Farmer. Unmarried. Age 24. Gray eyes, brown hair, light complexion,…

WILSON, William

WI 15th Inf Co F. Residence: Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. Born “Ole Halvorsen” on 19 Dec 1824 in Bamble, Telemark, Norway, son of Halvor Olsen Bergseie…

WOOD, John

LA 14th Inf Co A. CSA. Born in Sweden. Civil War: Sailor. Age 40. Unmarried. Enlisted 6 Jun 1861 at New Orleans, Louisiana. Private. Wounded…

WONG, Lewis

WI 33rd Inf Co A. Residence: Belmont, Lafayette County, Wisconsin. Born in Norway. Civil War: Farmer. Age 18. Unmarried. Gray eyes, light hair, sandy complexion,…

WOLLUM, Ole P.

WI 44th Inf Co F. Residence: Iola, Waupaca County, Wisconsin. Enlistment credited to New Diggings, Lafayette County. Born in Norway. Civil War: Farmer. Age 43.…

WOLDEN, William

Civil War: Sources: (Notebook compiled by Burr Oak Cemetery Ass’n, Winneshiek County, Iowa, 1996)
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WOLDEN, Ole P.

From Nordre Land, Norway. Civil War: Private. Lived at Spring Grove, Minnesota. Sources: (Ulvestad p340)