Norwegian Chickasaw County Residents

Who Served in the Civil War

The Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa, also known as The National Norwegian-American Museum & Heritage Center, maintains a Civil War Database, which can be found at this link . According to the museum's web-site, the ". . database contains information on Civil War soldiers born in Norway, plus many born in Sweden and Denmark. It also includes information on men serving in other American wars, from the Revolutionary War (two men, so far) to the Second World War."

Four Chickasaw County residents were identified in this database, all from the Civil War. Their names and biographical information are reproduced below. Please go to the full Vesterheim site to search for others not included here.

NameCivil War and Biographical Data
HANSON, EDWARDUS 16th Inf Co H. Winneshiek County, Iowa. Born 18 Dec 1844 at Haukedalen, Norway, son of Hans Eriksen and Anne Maria Gulbrandsdatter. Emigrated to Decorah, Winneshiek County Iowa in 1853. Civil War: Age 18. Blue eyes, light hair, fair complexion, 5’6”. Enlisted 24 Feb 1862. Private. Wounded at Chickamauga. According to his 1879 pension record, he still carried a musket ball in his arm. Discharged from the service 24 Feb 1865 at Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. Post war: Married Martha Knudsdatter 17 Mar 1866 at Decorah, Iowa. Nine children. Lived in Winneshiek and Chickasaw counties in Iowa. Carpenter. Moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he died 25 May 1890 of pulmonary consumption. Age 45. Buried in Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis. His widow, receiving pension, returned to Decorah. She died 26 Jul 1929 and is buried in Lutheran Cemetery, Decorah. He was younger brother of Augustus Hanson; see his entry for battles. Sources: (Ulvestad p288) (DGA) (Winneshiek County Marriage Records) (e-mail, Norman Hjelmeland, Des Moines, Iowa. hjelhawks@aol.com) “Hansen, Edward” “Hanson, Edwin”
JOHNSON, PETERWI 15th Inf Co C. Residence: Rochester, Racine County, Wisconsin. Born "Peder Johannesen Ellestad" on 27 Jan 1844 at Vestre Slidre, Oppland, Norway, son of Johannes Nilsen Ellestad and Gro Pedersdatter Qvale. He came to America with his parents and three brothers on "Statsraad Vogt", which sailed from Bergen and arrived in New York on 3 Jul 1848. They came to Blooming Grove Township, Dane County, Wisconsin. Civil War: Enlisted 15 May 1864. Discharged 1 Apr 1865. Post war: Became a farmer in Jacksonville Township, Chickasaw County, Iowa. Married 24 Jun 1870 to Martha Atlesdatter Ylvisaker (1848-1924). Eleven children. Peter died at New Hampton, Chickasaw County, 28 Mar 1923, and was buried in Crane Creek Lutheran Cemetery, Chickasaw County. Sources: (WHS Series 1200 box 79-1; red book vol 20 p 46) (Buslett p 419) (Ulvestad p299) (Ager p298) (Unidentified obituary) (Meeker) ancestry.com) (Naeseth '48-265)
PRASTHAN, OLE L.IA 13th Inf Co E. Residence: Chickasaw County, Iowa. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 22. Enlisted 31 Oct 1864. Mustered 31 Oct 1864. Private. Mustered out 21 Jul 1865, Louisville, Kentucky. Sources: (ISW-II p668)
THOMPSON, PETERWI 7th Inf Co D. Residence: Union, Rock County, Wisconsin. Born in Norway 18 Mar 1838. Civil War: Farmer. Age 23. Enlisted for three years on 10 Aug 1861 at Stoughton, Wisconsin. Mustered 26 Aug 1861 at Madison, Wisconsin. Private. Wounded in battle of Gainesville. Discharged from the service 5 Sep 1864 at Madison, Wisconsin, expiration of his term of service. On 14 Jan 1867, then age 28 and living in Pleasant Springs, Dane County, Wisconsin, he applied for additional bounty of $100 and this was granted. Married Carrie Christenson on 26 Oct 1868. Ten children. They eventually lived at Ionia, Chickasaw County, Iowa. He applied for and was granted a pension. He died 10 May 1915. Sources: (WHS Series 1200 box 259-3; red book vol 12 p64) ("The Grov/Grove Family from Norway to America", by Sue Marvelyn Butterfield Picard, printed privately, 1986.)


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