John was a Private in Company A, Twenty-third Illinois Infantry Volunteers. He was 44 years old when he mustered into he service on March 8, 1864 in Greenland, Va for a term of three years. It is believed this was his third term, as his service record indicates that he was a veteran when he enlisted in Chicago in March, 1862. His official military record states that he was..." wounded and take prisoner at Winchester, Va on July 24, 1864. Not been heard from since." There are signed affidavits by John's company commander and a fellow soldier stating they saw and assisted with John's burial in Kernstown, Virginia. Records show that he was a carpenter, 5 feet, 6 3/4 inches tall, with hazel eyes, dark hair and sandy complexion, that he was born in Prussia. According to his great grandson, still living in Wilmette in 1995, Private Fiegen was married to Elizabeth Hoffman and by 1862 the couple had had 10 children, not all of whom lived. Their home was on what is now Illinois Road, Wilmette, and was then called Reinwald Avenue in the Grose Point area which was incorporated as Gross Point Village in 1874, and annexed by Wilmette in 1924. He served as "Constable of the territory of New Trier" prior to the Civil War. In 1865 a "Stephen Fiegen" witnessed the signature of Maria Fiegen as she applied for a widow pension. Perhaps Stephen was John's father or brother. Church affiliation: St. Joseph's Catholic Chruch in Wilmette, Illinoi
John was a Private in Company A, Twenty-third Illinois Infantry Volunteers. He was 44 years old when he mustered into he service on March 8, 1864 in Greenland, Va for a term of three years. It is believed this was his third term, as his service record indicates that he was a veteran when he enlisted in Chicago in March, 1862. His official military record states that he was..." wounded and take prisoner at Winchester, Va on July 24, 1864. Not been heard from since." There are signed affidavits by John's company commander and a fellow soldier stating they saw and assisted with John's burial in Kernstown, Virginia. Records show that he was a carpenter, 5 feet, 6 3/4 inches tall, with hazel eyes, dark hair and sandy complexion, that he was born in Prussia. According to his great grandson, still living in Wilmette in 1995, Private Fiegen was married to Elizabeth Hoffman and by 1862 the couple had had 10 children, not all of whom lived. Their home was on what is now Illinois Road, Wilmette, and was then called Reinwald Avenue in the Grose Point area which was incorporated as Gross Point Village in 1874, and annexed by Wilmette in 1924. He served as "Constable of the territory of New Trier" prior to the Civil War. In 1865 a "Stephen Fiegen" witnessed the signature of Maria Fiegen as she applied for a widow pension. Perhaps Stephen was John's father or brother. Church affiliation: St. Joseph's Catholic Chruch in Wilmette, Illinoi
