IA 16th Inf Co I. Residence: Canoe Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa. Born “Pål Johanneson Spildø” on 4 Mar 1820 at Granvin Parish in Hordaland, Norway, a son of Johannes Pålsen Spildø and Anna Hansdatter Kolskar. He was married in 1845 to Anna Mikkelsdatter Røynestrand. They came to America with their seven children in 1859 and by 1860 had settled on a small farm in Winneshiek County. Civil War: Age 44. Blue eyes, brown hair, medium complexion, 5’8½”. He was drafted on 20 Oct 1864, at Decorah, Iowa, and was assigned to the Iowa 16th Regiment, reporting to that unit at Davenport, Iowa, on 5 Dec 1864. Private. Was in a hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, suffering acute rheumatism. Later he was in a hospital in Louisville, suffering from “fever”. Discharged from the service 6 Jul 1865 at Louisville, Kentucky. The Company’s muster roll for July 1865 shows that he had not been paid since the date of his enrollment and, in addition, that he was owed $23.25 on his clothing account. A family story is that he started for his home in Iowa, accompanied by some companions. The group stopped for the night, but he, anxious to get to his home, continued on walking. He was never heard from after that. Sources: (ISW-II p1135) (Great, great grandson Vernon Spilde, Decorah, Iowa)
