Norwegians in the Civil War
KOPSENG, Torsten.
Born “Torsten Torstensen Kopseng” on 5 Apr 1825 in Sigdal, Buskerud, Norway, son of Torsten Kristensen Kopseng and Ingrid Kristoffersdatter Narum. He came to America on “Porsgrund”, sailing from Porsgrunn, Telemark, arriving in New York on 7 Jul 1848. He came to the Muskego settlement in Wisconsin and the next year moved on to Jefferson Prairie, Rock County, Wisconsin. Civil War: Enrolled 1861. Private. Said to have been in Andersonville prison. Discharged 1865. Post war: Moved to Iowa. Married on 24 Sep 1865 in Winneshiek County, Iowa, to Marthe Torstensdatter Berg (1837-1922). Eight children. Moved in 1878 to near Mayville, Traill County, North Dakota. Worked as a blacksmith. Died there in April 1898. Sources: (Ulvestad p303) (Naeseth ’48-469)