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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HOLVERSON, Peter B.

See HALVORSON, Peter B.
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HOLVERSON, Knudson

MN Hv Arty 1st Reg Co H. Residence: Carver, Minnesota. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 29. Enrolled 6 Feb 1865. Mustered 16 Feb 1865.…

HORGERSON, Matthias

WI 11th Inf Co K. Residence: Winchester, Winnebago County, Wisconsin. Born in Norway. Civil War: Farmer. Age 29. Blue eyes, light hair, fair complexion, 5’7”.…

HOPPERSTAD, Helge J.

From Vik, Sogn, Norway. Civil War: Private. Post war: Died in Freeborn County, Minnesota. Sources: (Ulvestad p292)

HOMMANBERG, Nels E.

From Valders, Norway. Civil War: Private. Post war: Died in Milnor, North Dakota, in 1888. Sources: (Ulvestad p292)

HOLVERSON, Raynard

IL 36th Inf Co F. Residence: Newark, Kendall County, Illinois. Born in Norway. Civil War: Farmer. Age 21. Unmarried. Blue eyes, dark hair, fair complexion,…

HOLVERSON, Arna

WI 46th Inf Co I. Residence: Adams, Green County, Wisconsin. Born in Norway. Civil War: Farmer. Age 27. Married. Blue eyes, brown hair, sandy complexion,…

HOLVERSON, Andrew

IA 12th Inf Co G. Residence: Highland, Iowa. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 22. Enlisted 16 Oct 1861. Mustered 5 Nov 1861. Private. Missing…

HOLUM, Bottolf

Civil War: Private. Post war: Lived for a time in Goodhue, County, Minnesota. Sources: (Ulvestad p292)

HOLVERSON, Gunder

WI 19th Inf Co B. Residence: Minnesota. Civil War: Age 23. Enlisted for three years on 6 Feb 1862 at La Crosse, Wisconsin. Mustered 4…

HOLT, Andrew O.

Civil War: Private. Post war: Died in Waushara County, Wisconsin. Buried in Holden, Mt. Morris, Wisconsin; stone reads “26 Nov 1837 – 2 Feb 1899”.…

HOLMSEN, C. S.

From Krogstad, Akershus, Norway. Civil War: Private. Post war: Lived at 239 Grand Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. Sources: (Ulvestad p292)

HOLST, Jacob

MN 3rd Inf Co F. Residence not shown. Born in Germany. Civil War: Age 35. Enrolled 27 Feb 1864. Mustered 2 Mar 1864. Private. Died…

HOLT, O. O.

See OLSON, Olie
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H

HOLT, Hans E.

From Kongsvinger, Norway. Civil War: Private. Post war: Lived in Jamestown, Kansas. Sources: (Ulvestad p292)
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Kansas

HOLT, Ed

WI 15th Inf Regimental Staff. Negro. Civil War: Servant. Brown eyes, black hair, dark complexion, 5’9”. Employed as a servant to Lieutenant Colonel Ole Johnson.…

HOLMSTROM, John

MN 2nd Inf Co I. Residence: Glencoe, McLeod County, Minnesota. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 40. Drafted. Mustered 2 Nov 1864. Private. Discharged from…

HOLSTAD, Herman A.

MN 3rd Inf Co D. Residence: Red Wing, Goodhue County, Minnesota. Born in Hadsel, Norway. Civil War: Age 37. Enrolled 3 Oct 1861. Mustered 4…

HOLSTIENSON, Jens

WI 37th Inf Co G. Residence: Menomonie, Dunn County, Wisconsin. Born in Sweden. Civil War: Age 27. Farmer. Married. Blue eyes, light hair, light complexion,…

HOLO, Butler Olsen

Born in Indre Sogn, Norway. Civil War: Sergeant. Post war: Lived in Pembina County, North Dakota. Later, moved to Brown, Manitoba, Canada. Sources: (Ulvestad p259)…