OLSON, Porter C.

IL 36th Inf Co F. Residence: Newark, Kendall County, Illinois. Born 11 Apr 1832 in Niagara Falls, New York, son of Ole Olsen Hetletvedt, who came from Stavanger on the sloop “Restauration” in 1825. Lived in Orleans County, New York. Came to Kendall County. Civil War: Lawyer. Age 29. Unmarried. Blue eyes, dark hair, medium complexion, 5’7”. Enrolled 5 Aug 1861 at Newark. Mustered 20 Aug 1861 at Aurora, Illinois. Commissioned Captain. Commander of Company F. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. Promoted to Colonel on 11 May 1863. On 2 Jul 1863, he was in Officers Hospital at Nashville, suffering fever and diarrhea. Took part in the battles of Chickamauga and Mission Ridge. Porter Olson was killed in Battle of Franklin, Tennessee, 30 Nov 1864. He was struck by a musket ball in his breast near his heart. He was acting Brigadier General when he was killed. He is buried at Newark, near Millington, Illinois. Two brothers, James Webster Olson and Soren Luther Olson, were also enlisted in Company F of the 36th. Sources: (ILSA reel 3 p 70) (Ulvestad p252) (FLOM p59) (Naeseth vol 1) (Norlie, Olaf Morgan “History of the Norwegian People in America”, publ 1925, p133) (“History of Norwegians of Illinois”, by A. E. Strand, publ. Chicago, 1905; photo) (Wisconsin Cemetery Records) “Olson, Porter Chamberlain”