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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WOODY, John

IL 9th Cavalry. Unassigned Recruit. Residence: Pocahontas, Bond County, Illinois. Born in Norway. Civil War: Carpenter. Age 34. Blue eyes, light hair, light complexion, 5’5”.…

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)

WOLD, Ole

WI 15th Inf Co G. Residence: Clinton, Wisconsin. Civil War: Age 48. Married. Enlisted for three years on 21 Oct 1861 at Beloit, Wisconsin, and…

WOLD, Ole

From Hedemarken, Norway. Civil War: Private. Was also a member of the Settlers “Home Guard” in the Indian wars in Texas. Later, he lived in…
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WOLD, Lars T.

IA 12th Inf Co G. Residence: Decorah, Winneshiek County, Iowa. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 34. Enlisted 19 Oct 1861. Mustered 5 Nov 1861.…

WOLD, Joseph

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

WULFSBERG, Einar

MA Hv Arty 2nd Reg Co G. Born “Frantz Einar Wulfsberg” in Drammen, Norway, on 21 Dec 1841. He was a son of Jacob Wulfsberg…

WROLSTAD, Lars Jorgensen

See JORGENSEN, Lars
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WROLSTAD, Jörgen Olsen

See OLESON, George
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WROLSTAD, John Olson

WI 15th Inf Co I. Residence: New Hope, Portage County, Wisconsin. Born “John Olsen Jomfruland” on 8 Apr 1839 in Turdal, Drangedal Parish, Norway, the…

WRIGHT, William W.

US 4th Cavalry. Civil War: Enlisted 11 Mar 1864. Enlistment credited to Scandinavia, Waupaca County, Wisconsin. Private. Sources: (WHS Series 1200 box 258-5)

WRIGHT, Lewis J.

WI 15th Inf Co G. Residence: Beloit, Rock County, Wisconsin. Civil War: Age 18. Unmarried. Enlisted for three years on 2 Jan 1862 at Beloit…

WRIGHT, Chrathan (?) S.

US 4th Cavalry. Civil War: Enlisted 11 Mar 1864. Enlistment credited to Scandinavia, Waupaca County, Wisconsin. Private. Sources: (WHS Series 1200 box 258-5)

YOUNG, John

IA Lt Arty 1st Battery. Residence: Des Moines, Iowa. Born in Denmark. Civil War: Age 24. Enlisted 26 Jun 1864. Mustered the same day. Private.…

YOUNG, James

WI 15th Inf Co G. Residence not shown. Civil War: Age 21. Enlisted for three years on 15 Jul 1863 at Mississippi River Island No.…

YESSON, Alexander

WI 24th Inf Co A. Residence: Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 24. Teamster. Unmarried. Brown eyes, dark hair, light complexion,…