Civil War Soldiers Record Database

Johan Jenson was born in 1840 in Faaberg, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway, the son of Jens Bengtsen Hovland and Kirsti Larsdatter. He came to America in 1857. He joined the WI 15th Infantry, Company G. The men of the company called themselves the “Rock River Rangers.” The army listed him as living in Orford, Rock County, WI, age 18, a farmer, and unmarried. He had blue eyes, brown hair, light complexion, and stood 6’1”. He enlisted for three years on January 4, 1862 at Beloit, WI, and mustered at Madison, WI on January 5, 1862 as a Private (Menig). Jenson was with the provision transport from Stevenson, AL on October 13, 1863. He was promoted to Corporal (Korporal). He mustered out with Company G on January 13, 1865 at Chattanooga, TN.

Jenson re-enlisted for one year on February 13, 1865 at Madison and assigned to Hancock Corps (WI 1st Army Corps, 1st Company) as a recruit entitled to $100 bounty. He mustered on February 16, 1865. He mustered out on February 13, 1866 at Elmira, New York. He died in Goodhue County, MN (before 1907).

Sources: Series 1200: Records of Civil War Regiments, 1861-1900, Wisconsin Adjutant General’s Office, box 76-9, box 256-1,2,6; Regimental Muster and Descriptive Rolls, 1861-1865, Wisconsin Adjutant General’s Office, vol.20, p.102; Ole A. Buslett, Det Femtende Regiment, Wisconsin Frivillage [The Fifteenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers] (Decorah, Iowa, 1895), p.535; Oberst Heg og Hans Gutter, Waldemar Ager, 1916, Fremad Publ. Co., Eau Claire, WI, p.312; Martin Ulvestad, Nordmændene i Amerika, 1907, History Book Co., Minneapolis, MN, p.293; Lars Gjertveit, Bodo, Norway; “Fåberg og Lillehammer Utvandringe”, Fåberg Historielag 1986; Copy at NAHA. “Hovland, John”.