Jacob Olson

Jacob Olson

Jacob Olson (1839-1897) served in Company K of the 15th Wisconsin Infantry in the Civil War. He was enlisted December 10, 1861, for a three year term of service. Jacob was mustered into service as a Private on February 11, 1862, at Camp Randall, Dane County, Wisconsin. At that time he was listed as 31 years old and married. His residence was recorded as Freeborn County, Minnesota. He left there on March 2, 1862, with his company and regiment to join the war. From then until August 1862, he was listed as present with the 15th. Consequently, he would have participated in the successful siege of Island No. 10 on the Mississippi River in the Tennessee, and the surprise raid on Union City, Tennessee, in March and April, 1862. On June 11, 1862, Private Olson was noted as being sick. He was left behind at Island No. 10 to recover, but his health continued to deteriorate. That summer, Private Olson was determined to be unfit for service and on August 16, 1862, he was honorably discharged from the Army at Island No. 10 due to disability.

Jacob Olson was married to Anna Hansdatter (1835-1870) and had five children: Clara, Lena (1855-1905), Ole (1858-1946), Hilda (1861-1923), and Berthena (1866-1960). After the death of his wife, Anna, Jacob married Olena Thomasdtr Helgerson (1824-1917) in November of 1871. Olena was the widow of Peder Helgeson (Jacob and Peder had served together in Company K). Jacob and Olena had no children together; they raised their combined eight children. Jacob Olson died November 27, 1897, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Photograph and information submitted by Jacob Olson's great great granddaughter, Connie Julien.

Jacob Olson, November 1871