IL 53rd Inf Co G. Residence: Mission, La Salle County, Illinois. Born “Eivind Salvesen Helle” on 7 Apr 1843 at Kristiansand, Vest Agder, Norway, son of Salve Tellefsen Helle and Inger Eivindsdatter Ryssestad. He, his parents and two siblings came to America on the “Magnolia”, which sailed from Havre, France, and arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana, on 17 Nov 1845. His parents both died by 1850 and the children were taken in by Sam and Anna Pearson. Civil War: Farmer. Age 18. Unmarried. Black eyes, light hair, fair complexion, 5’8”. Enlisted for three years on 22 Feb 1862 at Mission. Mustered 15 Mar 1862 at Chicago, Illinois. Private. Discharged from the service for disability on 24 Oct 1862 at Keokuk, Iowa. Enlisted again on 24 Dec 1863 at Ottawa, Illinois, giving Ottawa as his residence. Mustered on 3 Jan 1864 at Springfield, Illinois. Private. Assigned to Company I of the Illinois 53rd. He was mustered out on 22 Jul 1865 at Louisville, Kentucky. Post war: Married on 18 Apr 1871 to Adeline Amelia Nilsdatter Hersdal. He died 17 May 1915. Buried at Norway, Illinois; stone reads “1843 – 1915”. Sources: (ILSA reel 5 p36,46; reel 47-9 p36,46) (Ulvestad p329) (Wisconsin Cemetery Records) (Hedberg) (Naeseth ’45-1393) “Solven, Eivind” “Solvin, Avin” “Helle, Eivind Salvesen”
