MN 5th Inf Co F. Residence: Rochester, Minnesota. Born “Nils Evensen Lian” on 9 Jul 1825 at Nore, Buskerud, Norway, son of Even Nilsen Lian and Margit Knudsdatter. He came to America with his widowed father and a sister on “Columbo”, which sailed from Havre and reached New York on 29 Aug 1846. They went to Rock Prairie settlement, Rock County, Wisconsin, where his father died a few months later. In 1856 he moved to Amherst Townhip, Fillmore County, Minnersota. He married on 19 Sep 1857 a widow, Gunhild Thorstensdatter Nobben. Seven children. Civil War: Age 40. Blue eyes, light hair, 5’10”. Drafted. Mustered 17 Nov 1864. Private. Fought in the battle of Nashville. Became sick at Eastport, Mississippi, suffering dysentery. Discharged from the service with his regiment, 6 Sep 1865. Came home as a skeleton, suffering the effects of chronic diarrhea. Post war: He died 6 Aug 1872 from ulceration of the bowels, due to his wartime dysentery. His widow, Gunhild, died 14 Jun 1923 at age 90. Both are buried at Highland Cemetery, Highland, Minnesota. Sources: (MINN p255) (MCIW p292) (1890 Veterans and Widows Census, Minnesota, No.123, roll 22) (Great grandson Lester Eklund, Sauk Rapids, Minnesota) (Ulvestad p279) (Naeseth ’46-1365) “Evans, Nils”
