Civil War Soldiers Record Database

Ole Peterson was born in Norway. He married his wife, Mary, in Norway. They had two children in Norway before immigrating. They first lived in IL after immigrating, and then moved to WI.

Ole joined the WI 15th Infantry, Company I. The men of the company called themselves the “Scandinavian Mountaineers” but were also known as the “Waupaca Company” because so many of them were living in that WI county when they enlisted.

The army listed him as living in Jackson, La Crosse County, WI, born in Norway, age 36, a farmer, and married. He had blue eyes, dark hair, dark complexion, and stood 5’11”. He enlisted for three years on January 15, 1864 at La Crosse, WI, and mustered there the same day as a Private (Menig). He was a recruit that joined Company I at Strawberry Plains, VA on March 15, 1864. Peterson was sick in the camp hospital and sick in Keokuk, IA on June 28, 1864. He was temporarily assigned to the WI 24th Infantry and transferred to K Company of the WI 13th on June 10, 1865. He was sick at muster out.

In 1880, he and his family were living in Onalaska, La Crosse County, WI. His wife was Mary (born in Norway). They had several children, including Nellie (1858 in Norway), Ada (1864 in IL), Polly (1866 in IL), Bertie (1876), and Mena (1880). Ole was working as a hotel keeper.

Sources: WHS Regimental muster and descriptive rolls, 1861-1865, Wisconsin Adjutant General’s Office, vol.18, p.202; vol.20, p.134; Det Femtende Regiment, Wisconsin Frivillige [The Fifteenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers], Ole A. Buslett (Decorah, Iowa, 1894), p.605; Oberst Heg og hans gutter, Waldemar Ager, 1916, Fremad Pub. Co., Eau Claire, WI, p.316; 1880 Census, Roll: 1432, Family History Film: 1255432, Page: 420B, Enumeration District: 051.