Source: Progressive men of Minnesota. (Shutter, Marion Daniel, 1853-ed.) Minneapolis, The Minneapolis Journal (1897) Submitted by Diana Heser Morse

Dr. Christian J. B. Hirsch, of New Ulm, Minnesota, is a native of Norway, one of those who came to America as a young man and cast in his lot with his adopted country, fighting her battles and participating in the beneficial results of the war. Dr. Hirsch was born on August 29, 1842. His father was a physician in the employ of the government. Until he was sixteen years of age he was tutored by a lieutenant of the army. He then tried the life of a sailor for two years, but gave that up and returned to Christiania where he attended the university for three years. In 1863 he left for the United States in a sailing vessel. He stopped at Chicago, and during the following year enlisted in Company D, Eighty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, joining his regiment in East Tennessee, where it was then stationed. His corps started with General Sherman of the "march to the sea," but after the battle of Atlanta was detached to pursue General Hood, who was threatening Nashville. After the battles of Nashville and Franklin they followed up the remnants of the Southern army until they scattered. They next went to East Tennessee to help in the final operations against Lee, and after the surrender of that famous fighter the regiment went to Texas, where Dr. Hirsch was finally mustered out of service in August, 1865. By this time the young Norwegian had been enough of war and of the fighting qualities of the Americans to convince him of their energetic character. He had also had an opportunity of seeing a good deal of the country. Upon being discharged from the service he went back to Chicago and entered Rush Medical College, from which he graduated with honor in 1868. A year previous he had been married to Miss Cammilla M. Thrane, a daughter of Marcus Thrane, the leader of the Liberal movement in Norway in 1849. With his young wife Dr. Hirsch settled in Dane County, Wisconsin, where he practiced medicine for nine years. He then moved to Baldwin, Wisconsin, where he lived for one year. He was afterwards in Zumbrota, Minnesota, for a year; in Lake Mills, Iowa, for two years, and Blue Earth City, Minnesota, for three years. In the latter place he was part owner in a drug store and lost all his books and instruments in a fire which burned the store and his office. It so happened that his insurance was small and covered only the drug stock. The next two years were spent in travel in North Dakota. Dr. Hirsch next settled in Black River Falls, Wisconsin, where he remained for four years, after which he moved to New Ulm, in 1890. Since establishing himself in New Ulm he has built up a large practice. Dr. and Mrs. Hirsch have had ten children, six girls and four boys, and have lost one child, a girl. The doctor belongs to the Brown County Medical Association and the Mississippi Valley Medical Association.

Christian J B Hirsch