Hunting for records of a John (Johannes) Gysler who was probably born in an area called Sandsver around 1840 or so. He served in the Scandinavian Brigade during the American Civil War with his enlistment date being Sept. 1862 in Chicago, Illinois so probably arrived in America somewhere around that time. I cannot locate a passenger manifest which has his name listed although; in an earlier search I had found a manifest with his name it seems to no longer be posted.
I don't know. Some 30 years ago I had some neighbours called Gysler, one of them being one of norways leading soccer goalkeepers (Ebbe Gysler) on the Oslo team "Frigg". Unfortunately they no longer live here, so I can't ask them about their inheritage...
All I know is that Johan Gulbrandsen Gysler was born in 1819. His brother was Abraham Gulbrandsen Gysler and his father was Gulbrand Gysler. I don't know when he came to the States, but you gotta figure he was at least 20 or above. A lot of Norsemen came through Quebec. You might check Canada as well as your other sources. You might also find his parish in Norway and see if anything is recorded in the parish books, like, 'left for America'. Johan lived in Chicago before the Civil War. There is an indication he may have left a family there. There was a 'Joseph Gysler' listed in the Chicago telephone books. It is an unusual surname. There may be a connection. Did he come over with a cousin and his cousin had progeny in Chicago? Food for thought.............
I found info on Johannes or "Old Gysler" finally. He arrived in Quebec, moved to Wisconsin, worked the pineries, moved to Chicago and joined the 15th Wis. in the Civil War. Was enlisted as a Sgt. Discharged in 1864 and finally died in Minnesota in 1890. Thanks for all the help.
Gysler family tree
Posted - 22/05/2002 : 19:17:04
