WI 15th Inf Co A. Residence: Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Born “Andreas Torkelsen Fidje” on 27 Jul 1825 at Bakke Parish in Lister and Mandal, Vest-Agder, Norway, son of Torkil Aanesen Birkeland, a well-to-do farmer, and Karen Sophie Johnsdatter Sandsmark. Andreas had seven years of experience in the Swedish-Norwegian army. ame to America with his wife and two children, on “Hercules”, which sailed from Farsund, Vest Agder, and arrived in New York on 18 Jul 1849. They came to Chicago, where he became a cooper, and later a policeman. In 1857, after his wife died, he went back to Norway to Lyngdal, Vest Agder, for a year. On 7 Jul 1858, he married Christine Friedriche Smith (1837-1912). Seven children. Civil War: Age 34. Married. On 27 Sep 1861, he was authorized by Wisconsin Governor Randall to recruit a company of troops, which he soon did, becoming its captain. Appointed Captain 11 Nov 1861. Commissioned 12 Nov 1861. Mustered 22 Dec 1861 at Madison, Wisconsin. He tired of life at war and resigned 14 Oct 1862. Post war: Became a policeman in Chicago after the war; eventually went to Fort Dodge, Webster County, Iowa, where he ran a cooper business. He died 18 Oct 1881 in Rogers Park, Illinois. Sources: (WHS Series 1200 box 76-3; red book vol 20 p14) (Buslett p338) (Lonn p260) (Ager p290) (Ulvestad p256) (Gjertveit) (Meeker) (Lovoll, Odd S. “A Century of Urban Life”, publ. by NAHA, 1988, p84) (Naeseth-Hedberg ’49-1424) “Torkelsen, Andreas” “Torkilsen, Andrew” “Torkildsen, Andreas”
