Spanish - American War and Philippine Insurrection Soldier - Pvt./ Corp. Joseph Hesselschwardt - Part 1

 

#11 Private Joseph Hesselschwardt
#12 E. Gleason (not on the roster)

Private Joseph Hasselschwardt repeated in his letters home that he loved the Army. His letters, sent to his cousins, George and Anna Hasselschwardt back in Defiance, helped reveal his personality, his adventures, and his love for the military.

Born in New Bavaria, Henry County, on November 4, 1872, to George and Theresa (Metz) Hesselschwardt, he was part of a large family. At the age of 25, he enlisted to participate in the Spanish-American War. It was a short service and he mustered out with his company in May, 1898. On June 23, 1898, he reenlisted for the Philippine-American War/ Philippine Insurrection.

Many of Joseph's letters are marked Cebu, the yellow area above.

In December of 1898, the Treaty of Paris was signed giving the U.S. power over the Philippines. This was not acceptable to most Filipinos, and in January 1899, the Philippine Nationalists declared independence. The fighting began on February 4, 1899, with the Battle of Manila. Many rules of war were broken by both sides. The Filipinos used guerilla warfare for the most part, wearing peasant clothes instead of uniforms, so they could not easily be detected, and depended on quick strikes. It was a challenge for the Americans. The war officially ended in 1902 when the Philippine Organizational Act was passed which allowed for an Assembly to be formed and granted the islands' independence. Two world wars stood in the way of actually accomplishing this, until 1942 when the Treaty of Manila under Theodore Roosevelt completed the independence plan.

Wounded American soldiers in the Philippines

Joseph reenlisted three times, beginning in June 1898 and his last between September 30, 1902, and September 2, 1905. He was not always in the Philippines during his last years; we know he resided in Vancouver, Washington in 1903 when he married Ida Diemer. He was 31 at the time, occupation Soldier, and she was 19 with a residence in New Bavaria. Ida was the daughter of Henry and Kate (Ritz) Diemer

"WILL WED IN THE WEST

Miss Ida Diemer, of New Bavaria, who has been visiting in this city (Defiance), left this morning for Vancouver, Washington, where early next week, she will be united in marriage to Joseph Hasselswerth, a former Defiance boy.

The groom is a cousin of George Hasselswerth, of this city. He has been in the service of the United States army for the past five years. He is now Corporal of his company. Mr. Hasselswerth was also a member of Company M, in the Spanish-American War."

The family moved back, probably when his enlistment ended, between 1905 and 1907. In 1910, their second and only living child, Evelyn, was two years old and had been born in Ohio. Their first son, George Heinrich Freidrich, died at the age of 3 and his birthplace is not known. The 1910 Federal Census enumerated them in Pleasant Township, Henry County, living next to Ida's widowed father, who worked in a factory, and two of her sisters who were still at home. Joseph worked as a teamster. In 1913, he applied for his military pension.

Now it was time to raise a family and that they did, having four daughters and five sons: George (deceased at 3), Evelyn, Marie, Paul (committed suicide in 1935 at 23), Leo, Lodema, Earl "Abe", Vero "Neal", Joan "Roni."

In September 1918, he was required to register for the World War I draft in Defiance at the age of 45. At that time, he was a laborer at the American Steel Package Company in Defiance. He described himself as tall with a medium build with dark brown eyes and black hair.

For at least 30 years, Joseph Hesselswardt and family lived at 119 Seneca Street in Defiance and attended St. John Catholic Church. Joseph, at one time, was vice-commander of the local V.F.W. He lived, worked hard and contributed in Defiance for the rest of his life  

Riverside Cemetery

"WAR VETERAN, 77, VICTIM OF STROKE

Defiance Man Fought in Cuba

Corporal Joseph Hesselschwardt, 77, veteran of the Spanish-American War, died Sunday at 5:07 p.m. at his home at 119 Seneca st. following a stroke and illness of several weeks.

Mr. Hesselschwardt served nine years in three enlistments in Co. M of the Sixth Ohio Volunteers and saw service in Cuba during the Spanish-American War.

Last employed at the American Steel Package Co, he retired 20 years ago.

Born in New Bavaria, Nov. 5, 1872, son of George and Theresa Metz Hesselschwardt, he married Ida Diemer of New Bavaria, in Vancouver, Washington, Nov. 18, 1903.

Surviving besides the widow are four daughters, Mrs. Dennis Kilpatrick (Evelyn), Mrs. Harold Boggs (Marie), Mrs. Ed Sontchi (Lodema), all of Defiance, and Joan, at home.; three sons, Leo, Earl and Verl, of Defiance; a sister, Mrs. Mary Hutter, Buffalo, N.Y. and six grandchildren. Two sons, Paul and Fred, preceeded him in death.

VFW Post No. 3360, of which Mr. Hesselschwardt was a member, will conduct military rites. Services will be held at St. John's Catholic Church Thursday at 9:30 a.m. The body is at Smith Brothers funeral home."

(The Crescent-News, October 9, 1950, p. 8)

Other Defiance newspapers added that the burial would be at Riverside Cemetery with the VFW commanders and chaplain in charge of military rites there. The firing squad consisted of John Feasel, Frank Donley, Frank Cleases, and Frank Smith. Serving in the Color Guard were John Seither and Sam Morgan, while the buglers were Fred Greiser and William Kimberly.

The pall bearers were Angus Cowle, Gale Hale, P. W. Ryan, Kenneth Smith, Charles Young, and A.B. Fullmer.

Riverside Cemetery, Defiance, Ohio

Ida Diemer Hesselschwardt lived on until February 1970, with her daughter, Joan, on Seneca Street. The Defiance Crescent-News reported on February 11, 1970:

"MRS. IDA J. HESSELSCHWARDT

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday for Mrs. Ida J. Hesselschwardt, 85, 119 Seneca. She died at 8:45 p.m. Tuesday in Defiance Hospital where she was taken earlier in the day by the rescue squad. She had been in failing health for the past 10 years.

Born Nov. 18, 1884, in New Bavaria, she was the daughter of Henry and Catherine (Ritz) Diemer. On Nov. 18, 1903, she and Joseph Hesselschwardt were married in Vancouver, Wash.  He died Oct. 8, 1950.

Mrs. Hesselschwardt was a member of St. John's Catholic Church.

Survivors include four daughters, Mrs. Harold (Marie) Boggs, Mrs. Evelyn Kilpatrick, Mrs. Lodema Sontchi and Miss Joan Hesselschwardt, all Defiance; three sons, Leo and Verl, Defiance, and Earl, Miamisburg; a sister, Mrs. John Hoffman, Toledo; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were two sons; three sisters, Mrs. Amelia Bartel, Toledo, Mrs. Kate Muir and Mrs. Mary Cutcher and a brother in infancy.

Services will be held in St. John's Catholic Church with Msgr. John J. Vogel officiating and burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery. Friends may call after 7 o'clock this evening in the Rupp Funeral Home, where the Rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. Thursday."

**As you have noticed, the spelliing of the surname changed throughout the years, but finally seemed to land on Hesselschwardt. It was found in many forms from Hasselwerth to Hasselschwardt

**Part 2 will contain some of Joseph's letters home, edited because they were lengthy. 

Dianne Kline, Researcher

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