Spanish - American Soldier - Private Albert L. Rollins

#11 Joseph Hesselschwardt, #12 E. Gleason (not on the roll)

#13 Albert L. Rollins  #14 Frank G. Korn

Albert L. Rollins, 21, of Defiance, enlisted into Company M, 6th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry for the Spanish-American War in 1898. He was the son of James A. and Elva Ann (Woodcox) Rollins. As it turned out, he made the military his career, primarily fighting in the Philippiines.

Albert re-enlisted a second time for a three year term in the infantry that took him until June 24, 1902. He enlisted a third time under Major Browne, again for three years. This enlistment gave his birthplace as Defiance, Ohio; he was 25. His description noted that he was 5'6" with blue eyes, light brown hair and a dark complexion. On his last enlistment, he became a Captain in the 1st Regiment, Company K. His military career ended on February 17, 1906, with a discharge at Cuartel de Espanila, Manila, P.I

After mustering out, he soon married Nora Eva Delap on April 8, 1907, in Denver, Colorado, but they first resided in Nevada, Missouri. She was only 16, and Albert was more than ten years older. By the Federal Census of 1910 in Rawdon, Ellis County, Oklahoma, they were renting a home there. With them, lived an eleven year old nephew, Edward L. Sawyer, born in Kansas.

They were in Harrison, Nemaha County, Kansas by the 1920 census.  Albert had become a partner in a farm with his father-in-law, George Delap, 57, and wife, Elizabeth, 55. with the children of Albert and Nora - Minnie A., 7, and Elvia A (Elizabeth)., 5.

The rambling family had moved on by 1930, back to Center, Vernon County, Missouri. Albert, now 54, owned a farm and lived on it, but he named house carpenter as his occupation. Their two children, Minnie - 18 and Elizabeth - 16, were home with them. Sadly, Albert and Nora divorced some time after this, probably around 1936 in Reno, Nevada.

Albert moved to California and died there on Friday, November 20, 1939. He had resided at Fort Wiley, Orville, California and died in the Veterans' Administration facility there. The obituary appeared in the Defiance Crescent-News on January 31, 1940:

"BURY FORMER RESIDENT WITH MILITARY HONORS

Albert L. Rollins, former Defiance resident who served in Company M during the Spanish - American War, was buried with full military honors in the Presidio of San Francisco, a (national) military cemetery, it was learned by relatives here today. Mr. Rollins died in the Fort Wiley Veterans Hospital in San Francisco on November 20, 1939.

Besides Company M, he also served in the 19th and 21st Infantry in the Spanish-American War and was a member of the U.S.W.V. and V.F.W. in Missouri.

Survivors include his daughters, Mrs. Perry Bedsoe, Orville, California and Mrs. H.L. Hood, Yuba City, Colorado, two grandchildren and a brother, F. D. Rollins, Nevada, Missouri; James Rollins, Defiance, his cousin and Mrs. Mitchell Moore, a niece."

San Francisco National Cemetery, The Presidio

The Presidio

Albert's wife, Nora remarried to George L. Ackerman on December 18, 1936. She was 44, and George was 58 years old. They also made their home in Orrville, California. The local newspaper, the Oroville Mercury Register, announced the Reno, Nevada divorce from Albert Rollins on December 1, 1936.

Nora Delap  Rollins Ackerman died on March 2, 1958, in Oroville at the age of 67. She was survived by her husband, George Ackerman and one daughter, Mrs. Betty (Elizabeth) Glidwell of Sacramento, California. (The Enterprise Record, Chica, California, March 3, 1958)

Nora was buried in Memorial Park Cemetery in Oroville, CA.

 
Dianne Kline, Researcher

An Old Settler - Robert Shirley, Sr. PART TWO/ Settling in at the Fort

 

The Shirleys settle in at Fort (Defiance) Winchester

"We reached Fort Defiance that afternoon to our joy and the great delight of our brother, Robert, who had been there several days. My parents were pleased to find Mr. William Preston, a gentleman of intelligence and of pleasing manners, in possession of the fort. He had been there most of the time since the war.

There were two good log houses in the fort, built for the officers, one of which Mr. Preston's family occupied; in the other my father's family found narrow but comfortable quarters.

The fort was all standing in good preservation excepting the barracks on the banks of the Auglaize. The bank was very steep and commanded a fine view of the low land on the opposite side of the river.

The block houses, the four large gates with sentinel boxes over them, were good, and the pickets were in good order and strong enough to be a protection even then.

The block house on the northeast corner of the fort had a good cellar that had been used for a magazine* during the war. From the cellar, an underground way led to the river, by which the soldiers could get water without being seen by the enemy. In the blockhouses at the end of the barracks, facing southeast, were two or three iron bound chests, full of written documents of the war, left by the army officers."

*Magazine - a safe, dry place to store ammunition and anything explosive

*The fort where they actually stayed was at the Fort Winchester location, built for the War of 1812 by General Winchester. It was on the Auglaize River banks but down the way. At the time, there was almost nothing left of the old Fort Defiance, shown above.

Ruth Shirley Austin went on to say:

"Only a few white people lived in the vicinity at the time of our arrival. Four French families were living in log cabins on the banks of the Maumee, and three American families on the Auglaize one mile above the fort - two of these by the name of Driver, one a silversmith, the other a shoemaker. Six miles below Fort Defiance, at Camp Number Three, there lived three American families, namely, Mr. John Perkins, Mr. Montgomery Evans and Mr. Hivel. Two of these families had looms and wove flax and tow linen. Every farmer's wife took her spinning wheel to the new country. There were no sheep in that area then. In 1824, my brother, James bought 3 sheep in Urbana and drove them to Defiance...

Much was told of their dealings with the Ottawa Indians with whom all was well nearly all of the time, except for times when drunkenness took over, especially with Chief Okonoksee.  One night in a drunken rage, the Chief killed both his son-in-law and grandson. This brought him contempt from all the neighboring chiefs who decided to take away his role as chief, A new chief was named, but the people still listened to the advice of Okonoksee.

Eventually this family moved to the Charloe area where they were well-known in Paulding County.

Further information on the Shirleys was printed in an article by Maryetta Bowyer in the Crescent-News of March 10, 1961 on page 8:

"One of the earliest families to live in Defiance was that of Robert Shirley Sr. who came to this area from Ross County, Ohio in 1821. They found it difficult to build a house with the supplies on hand, and so first living in one of the log houses at Camp Winchester.

The Shirleys had come to Ohio from Culpepper County, Va. in the Shenandoah Valley in the early 1800s. The family had lived in England, where they had been honored for their valor by knighthood.

An Old Settler - Robert Shirley Sr. - PART ONE/ The Trek to Defiance

 

An Old Settler in Defiance - Robert Shirley, Sr.

The story that follows appeared in The History of Defiance County 1883 and again in the Crescent-News on August 23, 1915. The story of Robert Shirley was presented by his daughter, Mrs. Ruth Austin, who was deceased by 1915 when it appeared in the newspaper. The old Fort Defiance referred to, actually Fort Winchester, was standing when they came to Defiance in 1821, and the Shirley family moved in there. They were one of the last families to live in one of the block houses.

"LIVED IN THE OLD FORT BLOCK HOUSES

Said Mrs. Ruth Austin, Deceased, Who Came to Defiance in 1822.

My father, Mr. Robert Shirley, Sr., moved with his family from Ross county, near Chillicothe, Ohio, to Fort Defiance in the spring of 1821. Our family numbered nine persons, namely my parents, Mr. Robert Shirley, Sr. and Mrs. Rachel Shirley, Sr., my brother(s) James, Elias and Robert; my sisters Mary and Nancy, myself (Ruth) and my baby brother, John Gilbert. My brother Nathan, the eldest of the family was at that time married and settled in Ross county. At the time of our removal, I was eleven years of age. I have a vivid recollection of the journey and of the wild appearance of the country.

Tecumseh, Shawnee chief

We started for Defiance in March, 1822, and arrived at our destination in April, having been three weeks on the way. The first place we saw Indians was at Wapakoneta. They were Shawnees and partly civilized. Mr. John Johnson was the Indian agent. Through his influence, the government established a blacksmith shop, and a store to supply the Indians, and appointed Mr. Broadax to superintend the work of teaching the Indians agricultural and mechanical pursuits. Some of the Indians lived in log cabins."

The family next came to Fort Amanda and then to Fort Jennings. Ruth did not remember any buildings being at either place. They were entertained by a white family who lived at Fort Jennings, and, as she recalled, they were the last white people the family encountered until Fort Defiance.

"We were now truly in the wilderness. On one side was the river Auglaize, on the other, a vast wooded country with no road, only an Indian trail along the river. It required a man to go ahead with an ax in order to cut away trees that had fallen across the trail and to blaze the trees and often to cut through brush some distance in order to get a place to ford the streams tributary to the Auglaize.  The weather was unusually fine, so the family did not suffer much inconvenience in camping out."

Robert Shirley and two of his friends had originally planned to live at Fort Finley, so the previous summer in 1821, they took provisions there, including plows and seed corn and potatoes. Two older brothers, James and Elias, cleared some land there before returning home. James' horse got away and returned home without him, worrying the Shirley family greatly. James decided to visit Fort Defiance before going home and, "was so captivated by it... he persuaded his father to change the location of their home" to Fort Defiance. Now, on the journey to Fort Defiance, James was sent back to Finley to bring back the stored goods.

Pontiac, Ottawa chief

"Nothing of interest transpired after James left us for Fort Finley, until we came to Okonokee's village on the Auglaize, thirteen mlles above Fort Defiance, where Charloe now stands. These Indians were of the Ottawa nation, called by the whites, Tawas. They had here a reservation seven miles square. 

Okonokaee was chief, and the village was named after him. The Indians were all at home, it being the close of the hunting and sugar-making seasons. Many came out to see us. They were civil and manifested a curiosity to see the big horses and the big wigwam on wheels....

This was a great day with them, being the day of their yearly feast and dance to celebrate... The next morning, we started early in the hope of finding fire, but were disappointed; so at noon we stopped and unloaded the wagon until we reached the chest and got the flints when we soon had a fire made.

My eldest sister quickly prepared nourishing food for our dear mother, who was almost overcome by her fast of thirty hours and her care of her nursing baby, ten months old. After we were all refreshed by a good dinner, we started on. When the sun was getting low, we came to a little stream that was difficult to cross."

About that time an Indian came down the path on foot and helped them cross safely and get back to the trail. There they camped for the night and invited the Indian to dine with them. He warned them of the wolves and the rain to come. "He then took a brand of fire and, making a circuit, set fire to several dry logs to protect us from wolves, and then left for his village." At that point, the Shirleys were only three miles from the end of the journey which they reached the next forenoon.

Their son, Robert Jr., had been there several days ,waiting on them at Fort Defiance.

To be continued...

Dianne Kline, Researcher

Luther M. Crowl of Hicksville Looked for Greener Grass

 

Go West, Young Men!

It was a trend in the mid-1880s for farmers to sell their Ohio lands to move west to Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and other mid-American states. Land was cheap there, but why leave the fertile farms of Ohio?

In September, 1884, Hicksville resident, Luther Crowl, put his small farm up for sale near Hicksville.

"Two and one-half (2 1/2) acres of land, large house in good repair, well of never-failing water, good cellar, cistern in kitchen, new barn, over thirty large apple trees of choice varieties, pears and small fruits. This is one of the finest locations in town, situated on South-West High Street near Antwerp road. Will sell cheap on long time. 

Enquire of Luther Crowl"

When asked why farmers were leaving, the answer given to one newspaper writer agreed that Ohio had good farms, but more land was needed to provide for the large families of sons who followed. 

"They must be provided for. Our sons must have a home. We cannot afford to buy each one a farm here.  Out west, we can purchase a large tract of land cheaper than we can here and divide it up, and we might as well go with our children. Then it is easier farming there."

Usually, the head of the family would head west first, perhaps taking along another family member to help. Land would be purchased and prepared for the arrival of the rest of the family or even extended family. Luther Crowl's first land purchase was in Colby, Thomas County, Kansas.

"Luther Crowl started for Colby, Kan. where his mother and he and his brother have taken up 480 acres of government land. The rest of the family go this week.

It is in the north-western part of the state, in a rapidly developing country and they feel that they are entering the golden gate of prosperity..."

(The Hicksville News, April 9, 1885)

A later paper clarified that Edward Crowl and Frank Sollenburger had accompanied Luther Crowl to Kansas.

 The Hicksville News, April 19, 1885, noted:

"Last Sunday evening Mrs. Mary Crowl, her youngest son, and her mother, Mrs. Holabaugh, and Sadie, wife of Luther Crowl, started for Colby, Kansas, where they expect to make their future home.

As a token of the high esteem in which they were held by their friends and classmates, about eighty in number, accompanied to the depot to bid them good bye and give them their best wishes.

May success accompany them in their new home. They will be missed in church and Sunday school, where they were efficient and faithful workers whose example is worthy of imitation. May others by raised up to take their place."

In May of 1887, that dream was over and Luther Crowl had other ideas for success. 

Hicksville News, May 19, 1887 --

"Luther Crowl of Thomas County, Kansas, arrived Sunday morning and is spending some weeks visiting friends and relatives, now. He has disposed of his interests in Thomas County and contemplates purchasing property in Independence, Missouri and engaging in carpentering."

 Luther's mother had died in Thomas County, Kansas in 1886. After that, Luther returned to Hicksville, saying that he and his family would now make their permanent home there. He purchased a lot from Sarah Scott's estate, his wife's mother who died in 1908, and "commenced work to build a two story dwelling for himself..."

In the 1900 Federal Census, they were enumerated back in their hometown of Hicksville. Luther, 42, worked as a carriage maker, and he owned a mortgaged farm. Sadie, 39, took care of the children: Earl, 12, born 1887 in Ohio; Owen, 11, born 1888 in Ohio and Marie, born 1898 in Ohio. 

Luther did leave Hicksville, however.  He procured a job for several years in South Bend, Indiana, as a mechanic in a Singer factory. Whether he ever went to Missouri or not is unknown., But the wanderlust hit again and soon it was reported that Luther and his family were heading for Portland, Oregon. He was always looking for greener pastures.

"Luther M. Crowl, 1031 Saerman Ave., several years a mechanic at the Singer factory, left today with his family for Portland, Oregon."

The South Bend Tribune, April 8, 1911

In the 1920 Federal Census of Anselmo, Marin County, California, Luther Crowl, 62, a builder in an auto factory, and Sarah A Crowl, 59, owned a mortgaged home on Butterfield Road. All of their children were with them. Earl, 32, was an electrician; Owen, 31, was a baker in a bakery; and Marie, 21, was a forewoman in a tobacco factory. It seemed that they had finally found their forever home.

They were still there for the 1930 census, and Luther worked as a carpenter again. Sarah, 69, and Owen, 41, divorced and a restaurant worker, completed the family. In 1935, Luther and Sadie celebrated their 50th anniversary. The local paper noted their marriage in Hicksville, Ohio, and their move from Oregon to California in 1918.

Luther died in 1938, an acclaimed citizen of Anselmo, California, located north of San Francisco.

"LUTHER M. CROWL

One of the best known of San Anselmo citizens died Tuesday last and was laid to rest Saturday afternoon following funeral services at the Guy W. Jenness & Co. Chapel.

He was Luther M. Crowl, 80 years old, and for twenty years a San Anselmo resident. Mrs. Sadie Ann Crowl, the widow survives him, as do two sons, Earl W. and Owen S. Crowl; a daughter, Mrs. Marie Young; a granddaughter, Betty Young, and two grandsons, Donald Young and Jean Crowl. All of these are San Anselmo residents, with the exception of the last named, whose home is at Long Beach."

Sadie followed him in death on February 18, 1940, at the age of 79, as reported in the San Anselmo Herald.  No burial place could be determined.

Dianne Kline, Researcher

Related Obituaries:

The mother of Luther Crowl who followed him to Kansas, Anna M. Crowl:

"DIED. Anna M. Crowl was born near Gettysburg, Pa. June 14th, 1829, and died in Thomas county, Kansas, May 14, 1886. Last April a year ago she settled some six miles northwest of Colby, where she resided until her death.

She was not seriously ill but a few days, and as she laid in a state of deep stupor for four days previous to her death, of course, she did not fully realize her condition, but as she had been a consistant christian in health, we feel assured that she died the death of the righteous. The writer preached at her funeral at the residence of her son, Luther Crowl.

(Thomas County Cat, Colby, Kansas, May 20, 1886)

The mother of Sarah (Sadie) Scott Crowl, Sarah Ann Menear:

"Sarah Ann Menear, daughter of William and Mary Ann Menear, was born near Gettysburg, Adams Co., Pa, August 28, 1826. With her parents when two years of age, she was removed to Dillsburg, York Co., Pa. where she resided until 25 years of age.

She was united in marriage to Matthew K. Scott of Fredricksburg, Wayne Co. O. September 27, 1849. In a carriage drawn by two horses, the devoted groom took his bride from near Gettysburg, over the Allegheny mountains to Fredericksburg, O, nearly 400 miles to their new home.

In 1850, they moved to Hicksville, Defiance Co., O. about 58 years ago. To this union were born 9 children, Wm. M. who died Jan. 1, 1880; C. C. Scott of Dayton, Ohio; Mary A. Farnham, Edgerton, O.; J. D. Scott, Nappanee, Ind.; G. R. Scott of Hicksville, O.; Sadie Crowl, South Bend, Ind.; Jesse Scott, who died Dec. 18, 1907; F. Scott, Toledo, O.; and J. L. Scott of Portland, Oregon. 

Matthew K. Scott, her husband, died April 17, 1874. She was of a family of 14 children, having seven brothers and six sisters. One brother and two sisters are all that remain of the large family.

After her marriage, while residing in Wayne Co., O., she united with the Presbyterian church. On removal to Hicksville, she became one of the charter members of that church in our city. In 1865, she identified herself with the church of the United Brethren in Christ in Hicksville and remained a most worthy and honored member until passing to the church triumphant.

Sister Scott was a woman of unusual ability and possessed of rare qualities of mind and heart. Even in temperament, careful and considerate in all that she did, her example was most worthy and her life a model one. Coming to this vicinity nearly 60 years ago, she surely shared in the privations of pioneer life...

For the last sixteen years she has visited among her children but had her home much of this time with her eldest daughter, Mrs. Farnham of Edgerton, O. at whose residence she departed this life, Oct. 5, aged 82 years, 1 month and 7 days. She leaves seven children, 23 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren ... Burial in Forest Home Cemetery."

(The Tribune, Hicksville, Ohio, October 15, 1908, page 1)

Excerpts of Letters Home from Joseph Hesselschwardt, 1899 - 1900

 

TO THE PHILIPPINES

Defiance Daily Crescent, August 25, 1899, page 1

"George Hesselschwardt is in receipt of the following letter from J. S. Hesselschwardt, who was a member of Company M, who has joined the regular army and is now enroute to the Philippines.

"SUNDAY, JULY 30th, '99, and on the ship.

MY DEAR COUSINS:

George and Mary, I take the pleasure once more to address you a few lines to let you know that I am well and improving on my trip so far. I am about two thousand miles from 'Frisco,' Cal., out on the dark blue sea and we expect to land at Honolulu by Monday night and so I will finish my letter after I get there...

George, tell the Co. M boys that I send my best to all, and that we get plenty to eat and I have drawn my second set of clothes and my bill for both suits is only $4.40, and that we wear tan shoes and cream colored shirts, and Oh, but we swell up. George, the news is scarce, for there is nothing to see but sky and sea...

The name of the boat we are going over on is Tartar and she is a nice, old rocking chair, you bet...  

The steamship, Tartar

The Defiance Daily Crescent, December 27, 1899

"BEER.  The Soldiers in the Philippines Have It On the Firing Line

Defiance County Boy Tells of His Experience Battling in Our New Possession.

He Likes Army Life.

Cebu, P. I. October 12, 1899

Dear Cousins George and Mary Hesselschwardt,

You must excuse me for not writing sooner, but I had a very bad arm caused by being vaccinated, but it is all right now... We are on our post and guard duty all the time, .. I thank you as ever so much for the papers you sent me.

George, it is nice to be a soldier in the Philippines. We have both Anhauser Busch and Schlitz beer, right out on the firing line.

On Sept. 27th, I lined myself up for my first battle; it did not seem like going to battle when we lined up, but the farther on the hills we got, it more it cheered us, for we knocked those cities all to glory...We line up at St. Nickle's church and started for the mountain on (a hunt for the enemy). I was picked as one of Company H sharpshooters and the first capture we made, we got ten bushels of rice and $29.60 in cash, and three bolo knives, and a box of silverware worth about $200.

Bolo knives

At about 2;30 p.m. we halted to camp for the night at the foot of the hills and put out our outpost. At 8:30 p.m. we had our first (enemy). Company H got him. He was shot three times and then he was finished off with the butt of a gun by Private Warner of Deshler. Company H did a search for more (enemy), but could not find any, so we went to bed and at 5:30 a.m. we had our breakfast and at 6:30, started for the top of the hill and at 9 a.m. were fired upon and then the battle began.

The first shot just missed my left ear and the second one went over the top of my head, and I saw the (enemy) and returned the salute, and I never saw him since... in the next four days we captured seven horses, four large guns and thirty-seven rifles and forty-eight bolo knives...

The company then marched to Cebu, after taking seven lives and wounding seventy-nine. Seventy seven of the enemy were captured. Hesselschwardt's estimate was that 980 Army men were against 15,000 of the enemy. They continued to fight the guerillas in the hills and did not lose a man, but they had two wounded, one shot in the leg and the other caught in a trap where a stick entered his leg.

The Defiance Daily Crescent, December 27,1899

"LETTER FROM THE PHILIPPINES

SOLDIER WRITES OF CONDITIONS AS THEY EXIST.

REMOVAL OF THE CANTEEN CAUSES FAR MORE INJURY TO THE SOLDIERS AS STRONG NATIVE DRINK IS USED

At this point, Joseph Hesselschardt was still on Cebu Island, where he was enjoying good health. The Philippine Nationalists continued to create trouble for the army, cutting telegraph wires, stealing horses, and threatening peaceful citizens to join the rebellion or be killed.

Joseph has ten months yet to serve,but felt he might be 8 months there and then home for the rest. To re-enlist would bring him a $250 bonus,if he didn't go home, so he was weighing that decision. But he commented that "the money must be paid first as promises have not been holding good of late."

The closing of the csnteen had affected soldier morale for the soldiers no longer had their beer, but instead some native drink which was much stronger and made the soldiers drunk,rebellious, and prone to trouble. 

The Crescent-News, December 18, 1900

FIGHTING IN THE PHILIPPINES

A LETTER FROM J.S. HASSELSWERTH, WHO SAYS THE

WAR IS NOT OVER

American Soldier Camps Nightly Fired Upon.

The Service is Nothing Like a Summer Picnic Occasion.

Describes Their Troubles.

Elpardo, Cebu, P.I.

October 30, 1900

My Dear Cousins, George and Maria:

I have the pleasure once more to write you a few lines in regard to my good health and soldiering in the Philippines.

I have read in some papers that the people of the United States think that the war in these islands is about all over with. But we boys here don't think so. We are doing more fighting here in one month than we did all together last year. But we still hold our own. My company is one of the best and when we come along, the (enemy) is always kicking his last.

It is dangerous here now that a man is not safe to lay his rifle down or he will hear bullets all around him, and at night, they come down out of the hills and fire into our camp, and then fly to the hills again. But we have caught them a few times and made it quite interesting for them.

One night they fired into our camp at half past 8. Some of us had gone to bed. We soon got up again, and that next morning we went up to the hill where the (enemy) had been firing from and we found seven dead (men).  Of course, we didn't do any shooting, but we could see that Mr. Kragjorgensen had wished them all goodbye. 

The Krag-Jorgensen rifle used by the American Army in the Philippines

The next night we received an order that they expected an attack at a town about seven miles west of Elpardo. We quickly started and kept off the main road so no one could see us. We got lost, but it was lucky that we did, for if we hadn't, we would have got there too soon, and this way we arrived in time to come up from behind and we opened up on them from the opposite side. When the smoke cleared away, we were all able to march back our seven miles. But twenty-three (enemies) did no more fighting from that night on. They are too slick for us with their guns. They always get away with them some way. We can never find them.

My company is one of the luckiest in the Philippines. We have lost but three men since we left the state of Pennsylvania. One of them died of heart diseas, another had consumption and died on the transport Tartar while in Manila Bay. The other one died in Manila from the effects of whiskey. The rest of us are able to do our duty. In the last month we have had but very little rest..."

Joseph was one of the prolific writers about the war; more of his letters can be found by searching Newspaper Archives. He kept his family in Defiance informed, and thankfully, lived to come home and marry in 1903.

Dianne Kline, Researcher

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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