| Information | 1829: Born at Lier, Norway. 1840: Emigrated to Muskego, Wisconsin; 1849–1851: California Gold Rush miner. 1851–1859: Farmer, merchant, local official (town supervisor, county commissioner). Anti-slavery advocate. 1859: Elected Wisconsin State Prison Commissioner, first Norwegian-American in statewide office. 1861: Commissioned Colonel of 15th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry ("Scandinavian Regiment"). 1862–1863: Led regiment through major Civil War battles (Island No. 10, Perryville, Murfreesboro). Sept 19–20, 1863: Mortally wounded at Battle of Chickamauga; died age 33. Highest-ranking Norwegian-American officer killed in Civil War. |
