Private Frederick Fellman

Frederick Fellman was born on January 29, 1834 in Switzerland. After learning the trade of milling from his father, he lived for several years in France. He immigrated to the United States in 1859. According to the 1880 History of Washington County Iowa, he enlisted in October, 1862, in Company B of the Fifth Iowa Cavalry. Strangely, the Official Roster is rather confused about his entry. First, it records his name as "Feldmann." However, numerous names in the rosters record minor variations in spelling. Second, though, it records him as serving in Company D rather than B. Finally, it records his enlistment date as December 26, 1864. This year is obviously incorrect, since the very same entry notes that he "transferred to Company D, Fifth Veteran Cavalry Consolidated" on August 8, 1864.

The sources agree that he served through the end of the war, being discharged on July 20, 1865. Fellman's 1880 biographical entry adds that he was "slightly wounded" by a shell at Pulaski, Tennessee.

Following the war, he returned to his trade, eventually purchasing his own mill. In September 1870 he married Mary Sehfrokey. They had a son named Frederick before she died. In July 1873 he married Anna Prosky. Three of their children survived: Anna, Mary and John.