Knute Kjemhus
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| Name at Enlist | Knute Kjemhus |
| Birth Name | Knud Stenersen Kjemhuus |
| Other Names | Knudt |
| Lived | 22 Dec 1838 – 23 Jan 1924 |
| Birth Place | Veggli in Rollag parish, Buskerud fylke |
| Birth Country | Norway |
| Company at Enlistment | B |
| Rank at Enlistment | Private |
| Muster Date | 1862 |
| Death Location | Lake Park, Becker County, MN |
| Burial Location | Christ Lutheran Cemetery, Cottonwood, Lyon County, MN, Plot: lot 2, block 8, grave 7 |
| Mother | Kari Tollevsdatter Kjontvedt |
| Father | Stener Halvorsen Kjemhuus |
| Immigration | 1854 |
| Spouse | Oline Stevens |
| Spouse Lived | 31 Aug 1850- 2 Jan 1915 |
| Married On | 5 Jun 1868 |
| Marriage Location | Minnesota |
Knute Kjemhus was born in Veggli, Buskerud, Norway on December 22, 1838, a son of parents Stener Halvorsen Kjemhus and Kari Tollevsdatter (born Kjontvedt). He came to America in 1854 and lived in IL. In 1859, he went to Fillmore County, MN. In 1860, he went to Norway and returned in 1861.
He joined B Company of the MN Heavy Artillery 1st Regiment. In 1862, he volunteered and was assigned to the WI 15th Infantry, Company B serving from 1862 to 1863 as a Private (Menig). The men of the company called themselves the “Wergeland Guards” in honor of Henrik Wergeland, the famous Norwegian writer and poet.
Kjemhus fought at Nashville, TN. He was seriously wounded in the Battle of Chattanooga, TN, and was given an honorable discharge due to his wounds. Later he enlisted in the 1st MN Heavy Artillery, and serving there from October 1, 1864 to July 26, 1865. He became a Sergeant (Sersjant).
After the war in 1867, Kjemhus filed for a homestead northwest of Cottonwood in Yellow Medicine County, MN in Sannes. He married Oline Stevens on June 5, 1868. They had ten children, seven of whom were living in 1900. They included Steiner (1869), Jens R. (1871), Caroline H. (1873), Rebecca C. (1875), Henry C. (1877), Maria O. (1879), Anne (1881), and Helmer (1888). In 1905, they had relocated to Lucas, Lyon County, MN. Oline died on January 2, 1915. Knute moved in with his daughter, Rebecca, and her family. He was living with them in 1920 at Lake Park, Becker County, MN. He died on January 23, 1924 at Lake Park. Both he and his wife are buried in Christ Lutheran Cemetery, Cottonwood, Lyon County, MN.
Sources: 1890 Civil War Census; Allard E Stevens, Granite Falls, Minnesota; Article by Margit Bergseid, in “Numedalslaget Aarbok No. 14” Pub. 1928. p108; Nordmaendene i Amerika, Martin Ulvestad, 1907, History Book Co., Minneapolis, MN, p.301; Unidentified handwritten obituary; findagrave.com; 1880 Census, Roll: 638, Family History Film: 1254638, Page: 558B, Enumeration District: 296, Image: 0622; 1900 Census, Roll: 798, Page: 6B, Enumeration District: 0278, FHL microfilm: 1240798; MN 1905 Census, MNSC_133, Line 2; 1920 Census, Roll: T625_823, Page: 4B, Enumeration District: 18, Image: 908, Rollag parish register #I7, born and baptised, p. 67, #I8, in- and out-migrated, p. 357, digitalarkivet.no.