WI 27th Inf Co H. Residence: Vermont Township, Dane County, Wisconsin. Born 5 Dec 1843 at Sondre Aurdal, Hedalen, Valdres, Oppland, Norway, the son of Gulbrand Olsen Kongsbakke and Anna Olsen. Came to America with his parents in July 1861 to Black Earth, Wisconsin. Civil War: Age 18. Farmer. Light (sic) eyes, light hair, fair complexion, 5’8½”, stout build. Enlisted for three years on 15 Aug 1862 at Vermont. Mustered 25 Oct 1862 at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Bounty $100, $75 still due at muster out. Private. Sent first to Columbus, Kentucky. Took part in the Little Rock, Arkansas, campaign and in battles at Okalona, Prairie d’Anne, Jenkins Ferry and Pine Bluff, all in Arkansas; and at Spanish Fort, Alabama. Was at Vicksburg, Mississippi. On 27 Oct 1864, he was listed as absent sick at Little Rock, Arkansas. On 30 Oct, he returned to duty. Absent sick in general hospital at New Orleans on 17 Feb 1865. On 5 Apr 1865, G. Gilbertsen is shown as joining the regiment from being absent sick at New Orleans General Hospital. Mustered out with company on 29 Aug 1865 at Brownsville, Texas. Post war: About 1868, he got a soldier’s claim in Swift County, Minnesota. On 19 Jul 1871 he married Mary Lien (Lee), who had been born 15 Feb 1851 in Norway. Twelve children. They moved to Grant County, Minnesota, in 1875, purchasing land in Erdahl township. Gilbert died 3 Jul 1924. His widow died 23 Mar 1942. Sources: (WHS Series 1200 boxes 129-10,17; 130-10, 131-14; red book vol 32) (“History of Douglas and Grant Counties, Minnesota”, by Constant Larson, publ 1916, B.F.Bowen & Co, Indianapolis.) (Ulvestad p283) (Letter, Dolores Barron, Minnetonka, Minnesota) (Letter, grand nephew Maurice Ranum, Mt Horeb, Wisconsin) “Gulbrandson, Gulbrand”.
