Eli Johnson (23 Dec 1843 – 23 Jan 1901) is listed as Alef or Ellef on early census records. Eli was his Americanized name.
Oliver Johnson (23 Dec 1843 – 1 Mar 1865) is listed as Oli or Ole early census records. Oliver was his Americanized name.
John’s younger brothers, Eli and Oliver, who were twins, sailed to America from Norway with John when they were just one year old.
These are the two boys who, with their parents’ names, tie the 1850 and 1860 census records together. The Engbert Johnson Family Register by Karen Hulford provides exact dates of birth.
Eli and Oliver served together in Company E, 8th Wisconsin Infantry.
 |
| John Johnson's siblings I believe this is Oliver, and Eli Johnson with one of their sisters, perhaps Edith. |
I believe the two boys in this photo, and the men in the two photos below, all from the old brown photo album are Oliver (with the thinner face) and Eli (with the more rounded face) Johnson. I believe the girl is one of their sisters, perhaps Edith who was three years younger than the boys.
 |
| I believe this is Eli Johnson |
 |
| I believe this is Oliver Johnson |
School Boy Farmers
Census records tell us that in July 1860, Oliver and Eli were 16 year-old boys, living with their parents and seven of their many siblings in Town of Dunn, Dane County, Wisconsin. Their father was a relatively wealthy farmer whose real estate valued at $4,346 and personal property valued at $500. No doubt Eli and Oliver worked on their father's farm, in addition to their school studies.
School Boy Soldiers
John Johnson enlisted in the Union army 19 Aug. 1861. Just one month later, Eli and Oliver followed him, no doubt wanting to follow their older brother's example as well as serve their country.
On 19 Sept. 1861, Oliver and Eli enlisted in the 8th Wisconsin Infantry, Company E for three years. They enlisted at Madison, Wisconsin, and mustered there the same day as privates.
When he enlisted, Oliver said he was a farmer, aged 20 years. In fact, Oliver and Eli were only 17 years old. Oliver was unmarried, had blue eyes, light hair, and light complexion. His height was 5 ft. 5 inches. Eli probably had a similar appearance.
On 19 Sept. 1861, Oliver and Eli enlisted in the 8th Wisconsin Infantry, Company E for three years. They enlisted at Madison, Wisconsin, and mustered there the same day as privates.
When he enlisted, Oliver said he was a farmer, aged 20 years. In fact, Oliver and Eli were only 17 years old. Oliver was unmarried, had blue eyes, light hair, and light complexion. His height was 5 ft. 5 inches. Eli probably had a similar appearance.
For the most part, the 8th Wisconsin Infantry fought in the western battlegrounds in Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Their regiment lost 55 men in battle and 221 men to disease.
From the National Park Civil War Website:
From the National Park Civil War Website:
Johnson , Eli
Johnson , Oliver
Oliver re-enlisted for three years on 23 Feb 1864 at Black River, Mississippi in place of someone who paid him to be a replacement, so the draftee would not have to go to war. That was a fairly common practice among wealthy families during the Civil War.
Oliver was paid a bounty of $402, which he most likely sent home to his parents. He mustered on 9 Mar 1864 at Vicksburg, Mississippi.
 |
| Eli Johnson Family. Probably taken early to mid 1880's. Photo courtesy of Karen Hulford. |
Eli Johnson (23 Dec 1843 – 23 Jan 1901)
Eli survived the war, raised a family (shown above), and is buried near his parents in the McFarland Cemetery.Oliver Johnson (23 Dec 1843 – 1 Mar 1865)
 |
| I believe this is Oliver Johnson, who died from disease 1 March 1865, just 5 weeks before the Civil War ended. |
Oliver died in the war, 1 March 1865, a little more than a month before the war ended (9 Apr. 1865)
Oliver became sick with fever and was taken to an army hospital. He died of disease at Adams U.S. Hospital (shown below), an army hospital in Memphis, Tennessee on 1 March 1865. He was 21 years, 2 months, & 7 days old, as shown on his gravestone.
Hospitals: Being an occupied city earned Memphis its status as a major medical center in the Mid-South. Wounded prisoners came by boat and wagon to be treated at hospitals that began to specialize as the war progressed.
Prior to the war the city had one hospital. By the end of the war, there were 15. The Union used the hotels and warehouses of Memphis as a "hospital town" with over 5,000 wounded Union troops being brought for recovery.
The Civil War was one of the "bloodiest" in history - with over 620,000 casualties. The overwhelming operation performed in hospitals was amputations.
More than 11 buildings, including hotels, factories, churches, and other buildings, were turned into hospitals.
Burial
Oliver may have been first buried in Memphis.
Ultimately, Oliver was buried at the Town of Dunn Burying Ground, a few miles southwest of McFarland, Dane County, Wisconsin.
The first picture of Oliver’s gravestone was taken by the findagrave.com contributor in the late 1990's. The second photo is how the stone looked in 2009.
Information about Oliver is from the Wisconsin Historical Society and found on findagrave.com (WHS Series 1200 box 39-14; red book vol 13 p88) (WLCW p40) I found this quote and reference to this document online, but not the actual document itself.