Ole Iglerød was born the son of a farmer at Aremark in Østfold. He went to school in Fredrikshald. From 1808 to 1814, he served with the Norwegian Army in the Søndenfjeldske Infantry Regiment stationed at the Fredriksten Fortress. He participated, under the command of Andreas Samuel Krebs, in the skirmishes at Prestebakke and Berby in the valley of Enningdalen during the Dano-Swedish War (1808). He was involved in the Swedish–Norwegian War where he participated at the Battle of Kjølberg Bridge (1814). Wounded in battle, he was discharged from active service and returned to Aremark where he took over the family farm.