Hugelheim - John
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal August 4, 1916
Mace, July 28 – John Hugelheim, 81 years old, a native of Germany and a resident of this place for more than 45 years, died at his home here at noon today after a prolonged illness with complication sof age. Mr. Hugelheim had lived in Mace longer than any other resident, it is thought, and he was known not only throughout Walnut Township but all of Montgomery County. For years he had followed the blacksmith trade. Mr. Hugelheim was the son of George and Katrina Hughelheim and was born at Hessen Kessel, Germany July 19, 1835. He came to NY May 19, 1853, and there engaged in the blacksmith business for two years, having learned the trade in Germany. From NY he went to Philadelphia, where ehe joined the regular army in 1857 and was sent to New Mexico. His five year period in the regular army expired in 1862 and he then enlisted in the Second NJ Cavalry, serving under General Sherman. On March 12, 1863, Mr. Hugelheim was married to Rebecca McGuire in Philadelphia. They came to Mace in 1870. Four children were born to them: Mrs., Theodore Johnson of Waynetown, Mrs. RE Dice of Indianapolis, George A. Hugelheim of Crawfordsivlle and David B. Hugelheim of Linnsburg. Mrs. Hugelheim died in March 1912. Mr. Hugelheim was again married in October 1914 Emma V., Wells of Lafayette, becoming his wife. She survives, together with the four children and one brother and one sister of the deceased. Mr. Hugelheim was a faithful member of the Methodist Church of years. He belonged to the K of P lodge and was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He bore the highest respect of the many persons throut the county who knew him. Funeral services had not been arranged this afternoon.
Source: Same different article
John Hugelheim the third child of Goerge and Katrina Hugelheim, was born in Germany near Hessen Kessel July 10, 1835. At the age of six years he was placed in school, attending 11 ½ months of each year until 14 years of age. According to the custom of the Lutheran Church of which his parents wer emember, he was then confirmed and kept under the training of his pastor until 17 years of age. He then moved away from Hessen Kessel on March 9, 1853. Not satisfied, however, with the old world and heeding the call of the new, he came to the US May 19, 1853, a little over two months after leaving Hessen Kessel and landing at NY while yet a lad of 17. According to the custom that every German boy should learn a trade, he had taken up that of a smith and this trade he naturally followed after coming here. For two years he made his home in NY then moved to Philadlphia, remaining at the latter city near three years. Then in 1857 he joined the regular army of his adopted country and was stationed in New Mexico. There he followed the routine of army life until war broke out with the Navajo Indians, when he too part in the campaign against them. Altogether he wa sin the regulars for a period of five years, being stationed in Santa Fe, Las Vegan and many other cities of that section. Thus he found himself a member of the strong arm of the government when the trouble of secession arose and was immediately thrust into the conflict. His experiences were varied as a member of the union army. In the fall of ’61 he came near making a pilgrimage to one of those places from whence so few travelers hoped to return, namely Andersonville or Liby Prison, but escaped in a miraculous way. In company with 2 or 300 Union Soldiers he was captured by the Confederates. While being marched under guard at night, he with three others escaped and hid in the bushes at the side of the road. When the column had passed by, the four started for the north. Their situation was truly desperate. Without food and surrounded by enemies they wer eon a desert near central Texas. They tramped two days without anything to eat. Then on the second day the little party divided in search of food, two going one way and two another. Mr. Hugelheim and his comrade were fortunate enough to find a supply but they had yet a 185 miles to go and were without water. But undaunted they set out with their faces to the north. On the second day his companion gave out and he continued alone until 24 miles further on he found some springs. He never saw his companion again. After two days and nights travel from the springs he reached a Spanish settlement and was taken from there to the headquartesr of the Union army in that section. While the subject of hyphenated Americans is before us it might well be worth while to think of the incident just described as giving us a picture of what this German youth suffered and endured for the land of his choice. In 1862 he was mustered out as a regular with the expiration of his time and returned to Philadelphia. Here on March 12, 1863 he was happily married to Rebecca McGuire. Shortly afterward at the call of Father Abraham he again entered the service of his country, this time enliste din the 2nd NJ Cavalry under the command of General Sherman,. He served in the army until the close of the war, when after being mustered out he returned to his family and his trade. In March of 1870 Mr. Hugelheim or “Johnny” as he is familiarly called here, came to Mace and became our “village smith.” The next year his family followed him. While in the east, two of his children, Irene Dice and Mary S. Johnson were born. The remaining two, George A. and David B. Hugelheim were born in Mace. For many years jOhnny and his family continued to reside here together. Then on March 27, 1912, there came that sorrow of which only those can tell, who have lost wife or mother. Mrs. Hugelheim had passed to her reward. As the children had established homes for themselves Johnny lived alone and kept house for himself. His home during this time always had the latch string out for the minister or others who might care to call. On Oct 4, 1914 he was married to Emma V. Wells at Lafayette and he and his wife made their home in the old home place. Here they have lived ever since. Feb 22, 1916, Johnny was taken sick with a complication of diseases. It was thought by his friends to be of so serious a nature at the time as it afterward proved to be. We missed him from his accustomed places and soon we began to know that we would probably never see him there again. There has been a slow but sure decline ever since and but for his remarkable vitality he would have left us long ago. Human nature cannot hold out forever even with such a constitution as he possessed and the end came last Friday, July 28, 1916 at 12 o’clock. Johnny was a member of long standing in the Knights of Pythias lodge o fMace, joining here in 1880. He was a member of the GAR as already stated, the Methodist Church. His religious convictions wer ein result of his early training in the Lutheran Church. With whatever else he might have been associate dhis church held the greatest claim upon his life. Resigning himself a few weeks before his death, he called in his pastor and requested that the church have the final word in the last service at the grave, saying, “I want nothing ahead of the church.” In the midst of his suffering among the very last words that he uttered werem “Hide me, O my Savior, hide.” As a patriot little need be said. Anyone who would reenlist for the period of the civil war after completing five years in the regulars would need no more proof. Perhaps he did not understand the US at that time as well as some who had spent their life here but he heard the call for the preservation of his adopted country and he answered the best he could. He went back a second time voluntarily and laid his life on the altar of his country in such a life deeds count for more than words. Besides the children already mentioned, the deceased is survived by his wife, Emma V. Hugelheim, one brother and a sister, Conrad and Martha Hugelheim… Roy J. Hicks.