Erik Steensby
Database Record Change Request
| Name at Enlist | Erik Steensby |
| Birth Name | |
| Other Names | Stensby, Stensbye, Christophersen |
| Lived | 16 Nov 1821 – |
| Birth Place | Ullensaker, Akershus |
| Birth Country | Norway |
| Resident of Muster-In | Norway Township, Racine County, WI |
| Company at Enlistment | C |
| Rank at Enlistment | Private |
| Muster Date | 2 Dec 1861 |
| Burial Location | Jefferson Prairie Cemetery, Clinton, WI |
| Mother | Guro |
| Father | Kristoffer |
| Immigration | 30 Mar 1854 |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Pedersdatter |
| Spouse Lived | 1822- |
| Married On | 24 Oct 1847 |
| Marriage Location | Ullensaker, Akershus, Norway |
Erik Christopherson Steensby was born to Kristoffer and Guro on November 16, 1821 in Ullensaker, Akershus, Norway. He married Elizabeth Pedersdatter on October 24, 1847 in the same location. They had 2 children before immigrating: Gurina Marie (1848) and Caroline Dorthea (1850). They immigrated on March 30, 1854. They then had 2 more children: Christian (1856 in WI) and Anne (1859).
Erik joined the WI 15th Infantry, Company H. The men of the company called themselves “Heg’s Rifles” in honor of the 15th commander, Colonel Hans C. Heg. They were also known as the “Voss Company” because of a large number of them who were from the Voss region of Norway.
The army listed him as living in Norway Township, Racine County, WI, age 41, and married. He enlisted for three years on October 31, 1861 at Waterford, WI, and mustered at Madison, WI, on December 2, 1861 as a Private (Menig). He served on military police duty on December 20, 1862. On March 16 and 26, 1863, he was sick in hospital at Murfreesboro. He mustered out with Company C at January 1, 1865 at Chattanooga, TN. After the war, he was buried in Jefferson Prairie Cemetery, Clinton, WI.
Sources: WHS Regimental muster and descriptive rolls, 1861-1865, Wisconsin Adjutant General’s Office, vol.20, p.50; Det Femtende Regiment, Wisconsin Frivillige [The Fifteenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers], Ole A. Buslett (Decorah, Iowa, 1894), p.429; Nordmaendene i Amerika, Martin Ulvestad, 1907, History Book Co., Minneapolis, MN, p.330; Oberst Heg og hans gutter, Waldemar Ager, 1916, Fremad Pub. Co., Eau Claire, WI, p300; Hedberg; 1860 Census, Roll: M653_1427, Page: 840, Image: 458, Family History Library Film: 805427; Norway Digital Archives.