Civil War Soldiers Record Database

Ole H. Olson was born in Norway on December 6, 1844 (or 1845). He joined the WI 15th Infantry, Company F. The men of the company called themselves “KK’s Protectors” in honor of the 15th’s first Lieutenant Colonel, Kiler K. Jones. “F” was also known as the Valdres Company because a large number of its members hailed from the Valdres region of Norway.

The army listed him as living in Cato, Manitowoc County, WI, age 19, and a farmer. He had blue eyes, light hair, light complexion, and stood 5’6”. Olson enlisted for three years on February 18, 1864 at Manitowoc, WI, and mustered at Madison, WI on March 16, 1864 as a Private (Menig). He had a bounty of $300 of which $60 paid at muster. Olson joined Company F on April 26, 1864. During the Atlanta campaign, he was hospitalized for chronic diarrhea and rheumatism, and sent to Cumberland hospital in Nashville, TN where he stayed until about September 1, 1864. He was promoted to Corporal (Korporal) on October 1, 1864. On January 13, 1865, he transferred to Company H at Whiteside, TN, then temporarily assigned to WI 24th Infantry, and then transferred to I Company of the 13th on June 10, 1865. In October 1865, he was sent to the division hospital at Victoria, TX. Olson was discharged from the service November 24, 1865 at San Antonio, TX.

After the war, he married Christina and lived in Norman County, MN. Together, they had at least six children, including: Matilda (1870), Oscar (1872), Christina (1875), John (1879), Otis (1881), and Ida (1884). In some records, the children as listed as being born in MN while another says they were born in WI. In 1880 and 1890, they were living in the town of Mary. On September 1, 1888 he applied for a pension, claiming he had suffered from chronic diarrhea and rheumatism ever since his service days. In 1895, they were living in the town of Ada. He died on November 2, 1896.

Sources: WHS Regimental muster and descriptive rolls, 1861-1865, Wisconsin Adjutant General’s Office, vol.20, p.84, p.90; Letter, Kathleen Myers; Det Femtende Regiment, Wisconsin Frivillige [The Fifteenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers], Ole A. Buslett (Decorah, Iowa, 1894), p.514,515; Nordmaendene i Amerika, Martin Ulvestad, 1907, History Book Co., Minneapolis, MN, p.265; Oberst Heg og hans gutter, Waldemar Ager, 1916, Fremad Pub. Co., Eau Claire, WI, p.308; 1880 Census, Roll: 629, Family History Film: 1254629, Page: 293B, Enumeration District: 196, Image: 0191; MN 1885 Census, MNSC_35, Line 40; MN 1895 Census, Roll #V290_79, Line 1; 1890 Veterans Schedules, Roll: 25, Page: 1, Enumeration District: 257.