Civil War Soldiers Record Database

Even Johannesen was born on June 4, 1837 in Ås parish, Akershus fylke Norway the son of Johannes Evensen Skoftestad and Bertha Olsdatter Kallerud. He came to America with his parents and two brothers, Ole and Anthon, on the Emilie, which sailed from Gothenburg, Sweden, and arrived in New York on August 12, 1840. The family came to Muskego, Racine County, WI. He was married to Mary (1842-1915). She immigrated in 1852. They had four children named Bertha (1869), Minnie (1873), Johnie (1877), and Hattie (1880). He worked as a farmer in Norway, Racine, WI. He also helped his uncle (Even Hansen Heg) publish Nordlyset, the first Norwegian language newspaper in the United States.

Skofstad joined the WI 15th Infantry, Company D. The men of the company called themselves the “Norway Wolf Hunters.” They were also known as the “Waupun Company” because so many of its members were from Waupun.

Even and Christen Hatlestad set up a “sutlershop” at the front in March 1863. After the war, he came back to Norway, WI. He died in 1909 and as buried in Norway Cemetery, Norway, Racine, WI. The stone reads “4 Jun 1837 – 3 Nov 1909”. His wife was buried in the same cemetery in 1926. He was an older brother of Albert Skofstad.

Sources: Wisconsin Cemetery Records; Norwegian-American Studies, publ. by NAHA, Northfield, Minnesota, vol. 32, p. 197; Norwegian Immigrants to the United States. A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843, Gerhard B. Naeseth, 2008, Anundsen Publishing Co., Decorah, IA, p. 98, ID 14; 1850 Census, Roll: M432_1004, Page: 146A, Image: 293; 1880 Census, Roll: 1443, Family History Film: 1255443, Page: 310A, Enumeration District: 158; and 1900 Census, Roll: 1813, Page: 8A, Enumeration District: 0030, FHL microfilm: 1241813; findagrave.com.