Fries J Osmundson
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| Name at Enlist | Fries J Osmundson |
| Birth Name | Jeremias Frederik Friis Osmundsen |
| Other Names | Jeremias Fries; Jeremiah F.; Osmundsen; Osmonson |
| Lived | 5 Jan 1841 – 3 Sep 1926 |
| Birth Place | Farsund, Vest-Agder |
| Birth Country | Norway |
| Resident of Muster-In | Norway Township, Racine County, WI |
| Company at Enlistment | C |
| Rank at Enlistment | Private |
| Muster Date | 2 Dec 1861 |
| Cause of Death | Chronic myocarditis, bronchitis |
| Death Location | Waterloo, Alamakee County, IA |
| Burial Location | Big Canoe Lutheran Cemetery, Winneshiek County, IA |
| Mother | Anna Karine Jeremiasdatter Fulland |
| Mother Lived | 1 Feb 1808-10 Apr 1893 |
| Father | Osmund Reierson Gauksem |
| Father Lived | 21 Jan 1806-8 Mar 1875 |
| Immigration | 1853 |
| Spouse | Margith Ellingsdatter Fosshaugen/Margaret |
| Spouse Lived | 16 Mar 1848-24 Feb 1923 |
| Married On | 17 Jul 1869 |
| Marriage Location | Winneshiek Co, IA |
Jeremias Frederik Friis Osmundsen was born on January 5, 1841, in Farsund parish, Vest-Agder fylke. The family moved to Avaldsnes parish, Rogaland, in 1844 and left there for America in 1853. In 1860, they were living in Norway, Racine County, WI. His brother, Bernt, also served in C Company.
Osmundsen joined the WI 15th Infantry, Company C. The men of the company called themselves the “Norway Bear Hunters,” but they were also known as the Color Company because the regimental Color Guard was attached to their company.
The army listed him as living in Norway Township, Racine County, WI, age 22, and unmarried. He enlisted for three years on November 28, 1861, at Waterford, WI, and mustered on December 2, 1861, at Madison, WI, as a Private (Menig). On June 3, 1862, Jeremias Osmonson was reported to be on sick furlough from Cincinnati, OH. He was discharged from the service for disability at Cincinnati on June 20, 1862. He later served in the U.S. Navy between 1864 and 1865.
After the war, he relocated to Waterloo, Allamakee County, IA, where he married Margaret and farmed. They had at least seven children, including: Edward Olai (1870-1959), Anna Marie (1871-1945), Berent Friis/Ben (1873-1946), Ragnild/Rachel (1875-1958), Elisa Mathilde/Lizzie (1878-1971), Henriette Daemalia (1880-1968), and Margith/Margaret (1885-1902). Jeremiah died on September 3, 1926, and is buried in Big Canoe Lutheran Cemetery, Decorah, IA.
Sources: Series 1200: Records of Civil War Regiments, 1861-1900, Wisconsin Adjutant General’s Office, boxes 76-5, 77-3; Regimental muster and descriptive rolls, 1861-1865, Wisconsin; Adjutant General’s Office, vol. 20, p. 48; Det Femtende Regiment, Wisconsin Frivillige [The Fifteenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers], Ole A. Buslett, 1894, B. Anundsen, Decorah, IA, p. 425; Oberst Heg og hans gutter, Waldemar Ager, 1916, Fremad Pub. Co., Eau Claire, WI, p. 299; Civil War Pension Index, Roll #T288_257; List of Ex-Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, Living in Iowa, by William L. Alexander (Des Moines, 1886), p. 705; 1860 Census, Roll: M653_1427, Page: 786, Image: 404, Family History Library Film: 805427; 1870 Census, Roll: M593_374, Page: 348A, Image: 700, Family History Library Film: 545873; 1880 Census, Roll: 326, Family History Film: 1254326, Page: 477A, Enumeration District: 019, Image: 0036; 1910 Census, Roll: T624_390, Page: 2A, Enumeration District: 0179, FHL microfilm: 1374403; 1920 Census, Roll: T625_476, Page: 5A, Enumeration District: 19, Image: 1207; Norwegian Immigrants to the United States. A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume Five 1850, Blaine Hedberg and Gerhard B. Naeseth, 2004, Anundsen Publishing Co., Decorah, IA, p. 265, ID 3369.