NY 81st Inf Co G. and US Navy. Residence: Chicago, Illinois. Born at Larvik, Norway on 28 Jan 1843. Came to America in July 1863. Civil War: Sailor. Blue eyes, brown hair, light complexion, 5’4”. Enlisted in the US Navy for a year and was assigned to the U. S. Ram “Avenger”, an ironclad steamer gunboat on the Mississippi river, from 29 Feb 1864 to 14 Mar 1865. After his one year service, he enlisted at Mansfield for one year on 13 Apr 1865 in NY 81st Inf Co G and served until the end of the war. Private. Mustered out with Company G on 31 Aug 1865 at Fort Monroe, Virginia. Post war: He went back to Chicago and ran a cigar store. Married in 1869 to Jennie Bredenbeck. In 1878, they moved to Benson, Minnesota. He was Sheriff of Swift County for eight years. Died Feb 1922. Sources: (Obituary, Benson, Minnesota, 28 Feb 1922, submitted by Murray C Lawson, Mason City, Iowa) “Olsen, Otto J.” “Orson, John”
