Civil War Soldiers Record Database

Ole Knudsen Flaaten was born in Næs, Hallingdal, Norway on April 30, 1838. He came to the U.S. in 1860.

Knudson joined WI 15th Infantry, Company A. The men of the company called themselves the “St. Olaf’s Rifles.” They were also known as the “Sailor Company” because of the large number of seamen in its ranks, and as the “Chicago Company” because so many of its members were residents of that city. The army listed him as living in Winneshiek County, IA, age 24, and unmarried. He enlisted for three years on January 8, 1862 in IA, and was mustered on January 27, 1862 at Madison, WI as a Private (Menig). He was taken prisoner at Stones River, TN on December 31, 1862, but escaped after three days and made it back to his regiment. He became sick, unfit for service, and was discharged from the service on November 17, 1863 at Chattanooga, TN. (One company muster out roll lists him as having been discharged on November 8, 1863 at St. Louis, MO.)

After the war, Knudson lived in Mabel, Fillmore County, MN. He married Astri Dybsjorde Johanneson at Trinity Lutheran Church, Spring Grove, Houston County, MN on September 24, 1864.  They had at least one child, a son named Brady in 1875 in IA. In 1886, he was living in Highlandville, Winneshiek County, IA. Astri died in 1891. Knudson remarried to Sophia Schartum at Caledonia, Houston County, MN on August 1, 1898. He wrote a book, ”Femtende Wisconsin”, about his adventures in the Civil War, and published it in 1898. He died in 1917 in Mabel and was buried in Big Canoe churchyard, near Decorah, Winneshiek County, IA. The stone reads “Flaaten, Ole K. 1838 – 1918”.

Sources: Series 1200: Records of Civil War Regiments, 1861-1900, Wisconsin Adjutant General’s Office, box 76-3; Walk; Det Femtende Regiment, Wisconsin Frivillige [The Fifteenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers], Ole A. Buslett (Decorah, IA, 1894), p.359; Oberst Heg og hans gutter, Waldemar Ager, 1916, Fremad Pub. Co., Eau Claire, WI, p.197, photo, p.292; Nordmaendene i Amerika, Martin Ulvestad, 1907, History Book Co., Minneapolis, MN, p.280; List of Ex-Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, living in Iowa, William L Alexander, Des Moines, IA, 1886, p.705; Wisconsin Cemetery Records”, Gards- og Slektshistorie for Nes i Hallingdal. Bergs- og Lifjerdingen. I., Terje Østro, 1979, p. 301, Buskerud fylke, Nes, Ministerialbok nr. 9 (1834-1863), Fødte og døpte 1838, side 91; U.S. Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, p.458; findagrave.com; Wisconsin Historical Society (picture); Minnesota Marriages Index, FHL Film #1316887; 1900 Census, Roll: 763, Page: 5B, Enumeration District: 0030, FHL microfilm: 1240763; 1910 Census, Roll: T624_697, Page: 12B, Enumeration District: 0029, FHL microfilm: 1374710.