Amanuensis Monday ~ George Haessig's Memories

(Amanuensis Monday is daily prompt, developed by John Newmark at Transylvanian Dutch. It encourages bloggers to transcribe family letters, journals, audiotapes, and other historical artifacts. An amanuensis is someone employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.)

A few years ago, I started my blog,  This Hoosier's Heritage, for several reasons. One of which was to meet new relatives that would help in our quest to keep our heritage alive.

I have been rewarded so richly in this area! One of my first "new cousins" was so kind as to share this paper written by her grandfather, George Philip Haessig, a couple of weeks before his death.

George Haessig's Letter

George Philip Haessig is the brother to my great-grandfather, Henry George Haessig. Their parents are Henry (aka as Heinrich, Henri) and Sophia Kuntz.

The Haessigs-(seated) Sophia Anna Kuntz Haessig, Heinrich (Henri) Haessig. Standing - (L. to R.) George Philip Haessig, Caroline H. Haessig, Henry George Haessig, Emile Salome Haessig, George Jacob Eperle (stepson).

George writes of rafting and sailing on the Mississippi River with his brother, Henry. In all of my years, this is one story I had never heard! Lol

I have transcribed this paper from George below, with only one exception. I added my logo over their exact address for privacy reasons, and fixed a date at the bottom. Otherwise, I have made no changes.

***********************

                                                          November 5, 1961

                                              Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner

On June 17, 1877 in the vicinity of Sunman, Indiana a son was born to Sophia Anna and Henry Haessig. He was named George Haessig. He spent his early life on the farm. He attended school through the seventh grade. As a young man he and his brother Henry went to Mississippi to work in a sawmill his half-brother Jake and his wife had purchased. In their spare time they built rafts and sailed the Mississippi. After two years they were needed back on the farm so the two boys came back hobo-style, stopping at homes on the way for meals.

George met Mary Schutte when he worked on her Uncle Fred’s farm, at Schutte Corners, later named Lookout, Indiana.  Lookout is a little town in southern Indiana made up originally of the Schutte family. Mary worked in Indianapolis.  They were married at Adams Lutheran Church in a beautiful wedding ceremony. Their attendants were Carrie Schutte and Henry Haessig.  They were married by Rev. Tessmer.

George and Mary had their first home near Sunman.  George had his own business in Lookout, Haessig’s Saloon.  They were very happy and had six children, two of which passed on while they were still small.

In 1927, they brought their children Belle, (Isabelle), Betty (Elizabeth), George and Charlie (Charles) to Indianapolis where they settled at **** South Meridian Street.  George Sr. worked at Patrician Art Metals, Watchel and was retired from Stewart Warners. Mary passed away in December 1944 during World War II. Charlie and Virgil, their son-in-law, served in the armed forces (Navy) in the war.  Virgil also served during the Korean War. Mary lived to see all of her children married and to know and love three of her granddaughters: Mary, Barbara and Judy. She is buried at Adams Lutheran Cemetery.

He lived with Belle and Virg in California, the last 10 years coming to Indiana for summers.  He has flown by jet, gone by train and come by car in many trips. He has also traveled in many states including Florida, Texas and all points west.  He lived for two years on an orange ranch within walking distance of San Juan Capistrano, California.

As we enjoy this Pre-Thanksgiving dinner before he takes off for California, let us give thanks for having such a wonderful father, grandpa and great grandpa.

Marriage dates of children:

Betty Haessig to Leo Gallagher    June 9, 1951

George Haessig to Alberta Gamstetter   October 24, 1933

Charles Haessig to Virginia Parish   February 18, 1944

Isabelle Haessig to Virgil Vaughn  November 7, 1936

This was written a couple of weeks before his death, November 21, 1961. He flew home to California on November 18, and was returned to Indiana on November 25, 1961.  He is buried at Adams Lutheran Church Cemetery, beside the love of his life, Mary Schutte Haessig.

Honor Roll Project- Gosport Cemetery, Indiana

A few years ago, I discovered a wonderful historical project that helps to honor the brave veterans throughout our country. 

I would love to share it with you, also.

It is called The Honor Roll Project, and it is "an effort to transcribe and photograph military honor rolls. The transcribed names make the soldiers available for search engines, so that descendants and family members can find them on the internet." This description was taken straight from The Honor Roll website (Honor Roll Project), and is exactly the reason that I am so enthused about doing what I can.

When I explained to my husband about this project, he was on board also for helping me as much as possible. He is always on the lookout with me as we are traveling down the road.

Recently, as we were driving through Owen County, a Veterans of Foreign Wars monument near the road caught our attention.

Near the little town of Gosport, on State Highway 67 in Owen County, is the small Gosport Cemetery. 

Immediately upon turning into the Gosport Cemetery, you will notice the following Veterans of Foreign Wars monument.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Monument, Gosport Cemetery

Note: I have transcribed the names exactly as I read them on the monument. You will notice there are a few places where the nameplates are broken and indecipherable. In those places, I transcribed what I could, and left (???) where I could not.

Front side of monument

FRONT - 5 Unknown Soldiers ~ Wess Acuff ~ James M. Alexander ~ Jesse L. Alexander ~ George L. Ancil ~ Eli Anderson ~ Frank W. Anderson ~ Johnathon Andrews ~ Albert Arganbright ~ Dr. Harvey Asher ~ Joe Asher ~  George R. Baker ~ Isaac Baker ~ Robert w. Barnes ~ Frank Beaumont ~ William Blankenship ~ Richard Boyd ~ James C. Bracken ~ John Brasier ~ Wiley Brasier ~ John Breeden ~ John Brewer ~ John J. Brewer ~ John W. (?????) ~ T(?????) ~ Alf(???..wn) ~ Dr. Archie Brown ~ David L. Brown ~ Tighman Brown ~ Ross Brown ~ William Brown ~ William Burk ~ T.P. Burt ~ David Buskirk ~ James (Matt) Buskirk ~ James Whit. Buskirk ~ Thomas Buskirk ~ Wm. Gene Carter ~ Eli Cash ~ John William Cassell ~ Robert H. Cassell ~ Robert H. Cherry ~ Joel Childers ~ Ben Chrissman ~ William Corrie ~ Dave M. Cowden ~ John A. Cradick ~ F.M. Cravens ~ William W. Creager ~ Harrison Criss ~ E.W. Cromwell ~ J.M. Cromwell ~ William Cromwell ~ Hiram Crouch ~ James Crouch ~ John Crouch ~ William Dagley ~ Clarence Davis ~ James Davis ~ Samuel Davis ~ William Dietrick ~ Adam Dittemore ~ Bert Dittemore ~ Bernard W. Donahue ~ Lewis Dowdy ~ Hershel L. Ducker ~ Ray Dunagan ~ Bob Dunn ~ Harley Otis Dunning ~ Ernest Dusenbery ~ William Dusenbery ~ Gaylord Edwards ~ Wilbur F. Edwards ~ Wm E. (Bill) Felton ~ George C. Fritch ~ James Fritts ~ Herman S. Fox ~ James W. Fox ~ Harry E. Frye ~ John Gillaspy ~ Thomas F. Gillaspy ~ Alfred Glover ~ Dean Goss ~ Ephriam Goss ~ Fred Goss ~ John W. Graham ~ David C. Gray ~ John Green ~ James T. Greer ~ Joseph Gregory ~ James Grimsley ~ Hiram Grounds ~ James Guillen ~ Thomas Guy ~ Andrew L. Hale ~ John Hale ~ Robert Hale ~ Leon Hall ~ Glen Hall ~ Robert James Hall ~ Ron Hall ~ William Hammond ~ Don D. Hancock ~ Keith Joe Harlan ~ William Richard Harrigan ~ Alva Hart ~ William Hatfield ~ Col. B.F. Hays ~ Jesse A. Hays ~ Oscar Hendricks ~ James Henry ~ F.M. Hollick ~ John Hollick ~ Stanley Hollis ~ Thomas Holmes ~ Fred Houston ~ John V. Howell ~ Lewis E. Hubble ~ Frank Hunsicker ~ William Hutchings ~ William James ~ James Jennings ~ James John ~ John S. Johnson ~ Phillip Johnson ~ Thornton Jones ~ Rev. William N. Jones ~ Raymond S. Kaylor ~ Lawrence I. Keaton ~ Virgil Keelan ~ Lawson Keeler ~ John Keely ~ Edwin B. King ~ Joshua Kelly ~ Mortimer King ~ Coy Knoy ~ Harvey Laughlin ~ Roy Legge ~ William Lemon ~ William Lenning ~ Oscar E. Lighter ~ Pierce E. Lingle ~ Eugene Long ~ Barnabas Lukenbill ~ Jacob Lukenbill ~ Willliam Lundy ~ Elijah A. McCarty ~ Charles McClung ~ Fred McCullough ~ Arthur A. McDole ~ Isaac McGinnes ~ Dr. J.H. McNutt ~ James Madison ~ John Maple ~ George Marksbury ~ Hugh Anthony Marre ~ Fielding Marsh ~ Frank Martin ~ Jacob Massey ~ James B. Miller ~ Andrew Modrell ~ George Modrell ~ Robert Modrell ~ Jack Moon ~ Abner Morehead ~ David Morgan ~ James Lewis Morgan ~ Stephen Montgomery ~ Raymond E. Morton ~ Leo Mulligan ~ John Mullin ~ Hiram Murphy ~ Charles Myers ~ David Myers ~ Knarf S. Newby ~ Dale D. Newlin ~ James D. Newton ~ Wayne M. O'Hara ~ Dr. H.G. Osgood ~ William Painter ~ F.M. Partin ~ Orley O. Payton ~ Joshua Larkin Ratliff ~ James Richardson ~ Wilbur Roberts ~ J.R. Robinson ~ Andrew Rogers ~ Charles Rogers ~ Marcus Rogers ~ William Rogers ~ James Rose ~ A.J. Sanders ~ Lawrence E. Schoeman ~ William Seay ~ Cornelius Sinclair ~ Delana Eck Sinclair ~ Strange Sinclair ~ Francis Lee Sink ~ Herman Sink ~ Hubert Sink ~ James F. Sink ~ Homer David Smith ~ Howard Ross Smith ~ Lawrence Smith ~ R.C. Smith ~ John Soth ~ Cyrus Spillman ~ William Steele ~ William H. Steele ~ Richard Stemper ~ Harold Stewart ~ Harry Sthair ~ Luther Sthair ~ Harold Stierwalt ~ Thomas Stierwalt ~ Samuel Stierwalt ~ William E. Stines ~ Charles E. Stouder ~ Frank Stucky ~ Dr. J.M. Stucky ~ Frank Swain ~ Montgomery Taylor ~Willie Taylor ~ George Terry ~ Roy Leon Thacker ~ J.A. Thompson ~ J. Wes Thompson ~ Ray Thompson ~William Thompson ~ Combs Craig Truax ~ Frank Vickery ~ ?????? (For 1 or 2 people) ~ James Vickery ~ Elsa Wagoner ~ Harry Steven Wall ~ John Walters ~ Bert Wampler ~ Clint Wampler ~ Robert Guy Wampler ~ George C. Wampler ~ Kiah Wampler ~ Miller A. Wampler ~ J.V. “Bun” Wampler ~ Jess Wampler ~ Ritter Wampler ~ Ralph Watson ~ Jesse Watson ~ Herbert “Humpy” Weiss ~ Dr. Eli Whitaker ~ Orien Whitaker ~ Renos White ~ Barton Wilson ~ Emsley Wilson ~ John Wineiger ~ O. Wilhite ~ G.W. Wooden ~ Jerry Wooden ~ Hershel Wright ~ James A. Wright ~ Clarence Young

Back side of monument

BACK - Duane Anderson ~ Wm T. Applegate ~ Carol V. Asher ~ James O. Brewer Sr. ~ Ralph F. Burns ~ Willard E. Burton ~ Robert M. Bush ~ Norbert R. Caywood ~ Henry C. Childers ~ C.M. “Dubbie” Dittemore ~ Kenneth F. Hooker ~ Ritter W. Jones ~ Luffman Hoskins ~ Cecil McGinnis ~ Marvin E. Mullin ~ E.E. Bud Mullin ~ Alex F. Murphy ~ Jonnie Peralta ~ William N. Rogers ~ James Arthur Shultz ~ James E. Seigle ~ Ralph S. Sink ~ Homer Donald Smith ~ James R. Smith ~ Clifford R. “Pat” Swinney Sr. ~ Carl “Bill” Sullivan ~ Donald P. Williams ~ Lyman E. Wood ~ Donald Woodruff ~ N.S. Chrisma ~ Alfred Clover ~ Jonathan Edwards ~ James Ennis ~ James Gregory ~ James M. Gregory ~ Ed Haltom ~ James R. Hart ~ T.H. Hollick ~ Wm. R. Johnson ~ Losson Keelen ~ Thomas Keelen ~ Fred G. Kelley ~ H.N. Lukenbill ~ Wm. J. Miller ~ Thomas Minnick ~ James H. Quillin ~ Odessa M. Rodgers ~ Wm. Paul Rush ~ F. Campbell Stucky ~ John M. Styer, Jr. ~ Philip Tackett ~ Emanuel Teague ~ Edward Combs Truax ~ J.M. VanBuskirk ~ Thomas VanBuskirk ~ S.W. Vickery ~ R.S. Waltz ~ Ralph E. Wicker ~ ????? ~ Claude Jr. Baker ~ John W. Brewer ~ James C. Brown ~ Gene Carpenter ~ Jay I. Chandler ~ George E. Chrisman ~ William D. Coffey ~ Nicholas W. Cooper ~ Larry G. Dittemore ~ Norman Gene Glidden ~ Paul O. Harris ~ Floyd Jones ~ Clarence Keefover ~ Elmer Van Lighter ~ Oscar “Bud” Lighter ~ William C. Marley ~ Fred R. Miller ~ Robert L. Moore ~ Frank W. Morgan ~ Donald E. Pettijohn ~ Marvin L. Powell ~ Ellsworth Pruett Jr. ~ George A. Reid Jr. ~ David Rush ~ Danny R. Shepherd ~ C.E. Spoonamore ~ Howard N. Sterrett ~ Richard F. Whitaker ~ Harold Hall ~ Fred L. Arnett ~ Robert Bonnes ~ Glenn O. Brown ~ Joe H. Clark ~ Earl Wilson Clouse ~ William Creager ~ John Culross ~ Kenneth Dunning ~ Richard L. Felton ~ Albert Fishel ~ Jess Harris ~ Eddie Haulk ~ James R. Hunt ~ Jesse Lawrence ~ L. Stanley Lynch ~ Marcus Jones ~ Noah E. Moore ~ Dwight Mullin ~ Gerald Navel ~ William C. Riley ~ Leslie D. Ringler ~ Ronald Robertson Sr. ~ Richard H. Seigle ~ Charles W. Sink ~ R.C. “Riley”Smith ~ Edward C. Truax ~ Charles Williams ~ Robert L. Woods ~ Frank C. Arganbright ~ Thomas Bault ~ Edgar Wimpy Cheeseman ~ Hershel R. “Dick” Collier ~ Lawrence “Bud” Culross ~ Frank Forthoffer ~ Harold G. Haase ~ Ralph L. Holler ~ Julian T. Jones ~ Stanley Lambert ~ Howard L. Morgan ~ Steven Melton ~ George W. Nichols ~ Dorrell C. Roach ~ Joseph W. Schwartz ~ Richard “Dick” Sink ~ Guy A. Stewart ~ Gerald G. Steele ~ C. Connelly Stouder ~ Ronald V. Torgerson ~ J. David Wampler ~ Albert Marley ~ Larry Shelly ~ Robert Wall ~ Ned Smith ~ (4 empty spots: not used yet????)

Happy Blogversary to me!

Looking at my posts yesterday, I realized that This Hoosier's Heritage began three years ago on March 23, 2019. It seems hard to believe that I have been blogging here for that long!

Happy Blogversary to me! 🎂🎂🎂

What is ironic about catching this genealogy blogging anniversary a few days late is that I missed it because of a genealogy-related vacation! Lol

I had just gotten back from vacation, and was getting caught up back at work. Also, trying to sort out all the wonderful information that I had found in Illinois.

Looking forward, I hope to keep telling the stories of my ancestors. I enjoy learning their stories, but also want to share them with their descendants. I believe it is just as important to know where you came from, as it is to discovering your path in life.

This Hoosier girl is proud of her heritage, and excited to learn even more! Come follow me, to learn more about my ancestors, history and more!

Blacksmithing ~ A Lost Art

I am aware that I am getting this post about an old occupation in a little late for Labor Day, but at least it is still in the month of September.

I recently rediscovered this article from the Herald-Tribune, the local paper for the Batesville, Indiana area.  Although, I could not find a specific date that it was published, I can say that it is somewhere in the year 1964.

George Washington Hillman is my great-grandmother's brother. I never knew him, because he passed away before I was born. After reading this article, I really wish that I had gotten the chance to meet him!

He was the only brother to several sisters.  As my great-grandmother recieved training in a typical female occupation at the time, teaching; her brother also recieved training in a typically male profession.  

He learned the trade of blacksmithing as a young man of 20, and worked for the next four years, in Moores Hill, Indiana.  When the United States entered World War I, he did not abandon his occupation.

He joined the U.S. Army as part of the Rainbow Division, where they put his blacksmithing skills to good use. He not only shod horses himself for the cavalry, but he was also a supervisor of four other men.

Returning home from the war, he didn't break stride in his chosen career path. Although, within a 20 year time period, he moved his shop from Moores Hill, to Sunman, and finally to Negangard's Corner, he never stopped blacksmithing.

Through the 1920-30's, shoeing horses was the main income in his blacksmithing shop. However, there were still wagon wheels to be repaired, and tools and plowshares to be sharpened.

He spent many years in the 1940's at some of the major racetracks in the U.S. Not for the betting, but for shoeing horses.  Although it was the same work that he had been doing for decades, racehorses provided a new challenge to him.  Racehorses and workhorses both put a lot of wear on the shoes, but in completely different ways.

When this article was written, Uncle George was already 71 years old.  He estimated that he had shod about 100 animals in the previous year.

My husband has taken up learning the art of blacksmithing, and I think he would have really enjoyed meeting my great-uncle George, also.  I could just see them now, sitting and talking about the tricks of the trade!

A Hoosier Contribution to the Honor Roll Project Part IV

Near the end of October, I introduced you to the Memorial Recreation Park located in Batesville, Indiana.  By contributing these blog posts to the Honor Roll Project (https://honorrollproject.weebly.com),  the names of the veterans become transcribed and are much easier for family members to search on the internet.

The links to the other three posts regarding this memorial can be found at the bottom of the posting.

• Stille, John W.
• Stille, Robert R.
• Stirn, Ralph C.
• Straber, Eldo G.
• Strobel, Earl W.
• Stroehlein, Ernst D.
• Stroehlein, John A.
• Struewing, Leroy
• Stultz, Joseph W.
• Suding, Edward G.
• Suttman, Alois T.
• Suttman, Herman J.
• Suttmiller, Benedict L.
• Suttmiller, Cornelius J.
• Suttmiller, Frank J.
• Taylor, Joseph E.
• Tekulve, Anthony W.
• Tekulve, Charles
• Tekulve, Clifford
• Tekulve, Frank A.
• Tekulve, Robert
• Terry, Robert W.
• Thackery, Oscar M.
• Thalheimer, Francis O.
• Thalheimer, Wilfred B.
• Thie, Elmer E.
• Thie, Emil W.
• Thie, Lawrence
• Thie, Raymond
• Thielbar, Rollin A.
• Thielbar, Sylvanus J.
• Thielking, Allen F.
• Thielking, Russell W.
• Thomas, Elijah
• Thomas, Millard
• Thomas, Roscoe
• Timmerman, Robert E.
• Timke, Clifford L.
• Truitt, Jesse E.
• Tucker, James L.
• Tufts, Charles
• Tufts, Grace C.
• Tufts, Homer
• Tufts, John C. Jr.
• Tunny, Charles J.
• Tunny, Thomas E.
• Turner, Harold F.
• Vaught, Milford T.
• Vaught, Samuel C.
• Venable, James H.
• Venable, William P.
• Vierling, Clifford E.
• Vierling, Harry P.
• Vierling, Meredith A.
• Voegele, Austin
• Voegele, Francis X.
• Voegele, James M.
• Voegele, John
• Voegele, Lawrence N.
• Volk, Hugh R.
• Volz, Charles H.
• Volz, Harry C.
• Waechter, Irvin J.
• Wagner, Albert J.
• Wagner, Alfred F.
• Wagner, Gilbert M.
• Wagner, Maurice A.
• Wagner, Paul F.
• Wagner, Ralph J.
• Wagner, Roy
• Wagner, Roy T.
• Wagner, William R.
• Wagner, Urban
• Wahman, Joseph
• Wahman, Robert H.
• Walke, Adelbert R.
• Walke, Bernard
• Walke, Clarence A.
• Walke, Ernest J.
• Walke, Lee F.
• Walke, Francis A.
• Walke, Ralph J.
• Wallpe, Raymond S.
• Walsman, Alfred R.
• Walsman, Everett C.
• Walsman, Howard J.
• Walsman, James A.
• Walsman, Paul
• Walsman, Robert
• Walterman, George M.
• Walterman, Paul W.
• Walterman, Robert R.
• Walters, Vernon J.
• Wanstrath, Louis J.
• Wanstrath, Norman A.
• Webb, Charles H.
• Webb, Clarence
• Webb, Emerson
• Weber, Walter S.
• Weberding, Robert J.
• Weigel, Anthony G.
• Weigel, Gerard A.
• Weigel, Leon M.
• Weigel, Robert M.
• Weigel, Romilda
• Weigel, William F.
• Weisenbach, Paul P.
• Weisenbach, Raphael F.
• Wells, Norvin C.
• Wenning, Bernard A.
• Wenning, Edwin C.
• Wenning, Everett J.
• Werner, Francis R.
• Wernke, Alfred G.
• Wernke, John M.
• Wernke, Raymond I.
• Wernke, William
• West, Russell L.
• Westerfeld, John L.
• Westerman, Henry, Jr.
• Westerman, Robert
• Westerman, Robert W.
• Westerman, Wallace W.
• Westerman,William H.
• Westrick, Joseph J.
• Wettering, Carl
• Wettering, Harry J.
• Wettering, Leo F.
• Wheeler, Alfred W.
• White, Wilbur L.
• Wilhelm, Joseph J.
• Williams, John A.
• Williamson, Louis L.
• Wilson, Ernie
• Wilson, Holt, Jr.
• Wilson, Kenneth
• Winsor, Kenneth M.
• Winsor, Robert H.
• Wintz, Clarence A.
• Wintz, Urban G.
• Wirth, Wallace W.
• Wirth, Lawrence J.
• Wissel, Albert A.
• Wittenberg, Floyd R.
• Wittkamper, Harold C.
• Wolf, Maurice T.
• Wolter, George F., Jr.
• Wolter, Harry L.
• Wonning, John E.
• Wormer, Leroy E.
• Wortman, Estol C.
• Wren, Earl
• Wright, Carl E.
• Wurtz, Malcolm J.
• Yeager, Forrest
• Yeager, Raymond J.
• Yohler, James E.
• Youngman, Charles
• Youngman, Cleo J.
• Yorn, Louis F.
• Yorn, Melvin E.
• Yorn, Willard W.
• Young, Alvin V.
• Zimmerman, Harold E.
• Zimmerman, Harry E.
• Zwiege, Raymond C.

Part I 
http://thishoosiersheritage.blogspot.com/2017/10/a-hoosier-contribution-to-honor-roll.html.

Part II
http://thishoosiersheritage.blogspot.com/2017/12/a-hoosier-contribution-to-honor-roll.html

Part III 
http://thishoosiersheritage.blogspot.com/2018/01/a-hoosier-contribution-to-honor-roll.html