WI 34th Inf Co C. Residence: Port Washington, Ozaukee County, Wisconsin. Born “Knud Olsen Stende” on 25 Sep 1834 at Vang, Oppland, Norway. He came to America with his parents and siblings on “Concordia”, which sailed from Bergen on 12 May 1849 and arrived in New York on 10 Jul 1849. They came to the Port Washington settlement. Civil War: Cooper. Age 28. Married. Blue eyes, red hair, sandy complexion, 5’5½”. Drafted. Enrolled for nine months on 26 Nov 1862 at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mustered on 3 Dec 1862 at Milwaukee. Private. Served as Regimental mail carrier. Promoted to Sergeant 6 Mar (or May) 1863. Mustered out with his company on 8 Sep 1863 at Milwaukee. Re-enlisted for three years on 12 Feb 1864 at Milwaukee. Re-enlistment credited to Addison, Washington County. Re-mustered 27 Feb 1864 at Camp Washburn, Milwaukee. Bounty paid $60 (portion of amount due). Assigned to WI 35th Inf Co K. Promoted to First Sergeant on 27 Feb 1864. Transferred to Company C on 9 Mar 1864 as acting Second Lieutenant. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant on 19 Aug 1864 at Little Rock, Arkansas. Re-mustered as an officer of Company C on 16 Sep 1864. Sick at Brownsville, Texas, in December 1864. Sick at Duvall’s Bluff in February 1865. Detached for duty in the Ambulance Corps on 3 Mar 1865. Mustered out on 15 Mar 1866 at Brownsville, Texas. Commissioned First Lieutenant on 17 Mar 1866. Commissioned Captain on 10 Apr 1866. Post war: He was married on 14 Mar 1860 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Anna Rosa Birler (1838-1898). Nine children. The Olesons moved to St. John’s, Michigan, in 1887, and to Washington State in 1887. He died in Detroit, Michigan, 3 Mar 1917, and is buried in Mt. Rest Cemetery, St. John’s, Clinton County, Michigan. Sources: (WHS Series 1200 box 157-12; red book vol 39,40) (Naeseth-Hedberg ’49-1325) (Descendant Larry Cartwright, Grand Rapids, Michigan) “Olerun, Newton”
