CAPT. JAMES HESS was born in Findlay, Ohio, February 10, 1839, and is the fourth of the ten children born to John and Elizabeth D. (Sanderson) Hess, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Vermont, and of Welsh and English descent. John I-less was a brick mason; he was married in Huron County, Ohio, and in 1834 moved to Hancock County ; in 1852, he removed to Branch County, Mich., and in 1856 came to Big Creek Township, this county, and in the following year to this township, where he died January 1, 1873. James Hess never attended school, even for one day, but since his majority has acquired a sound knowledge of practical affairs; he learned the mason's trade from his father, and at the age of twenty-two, in April, 1861, enlisted in Company K, Tenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served a term of three months. In October, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Forty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until December, 1864, when lie was mustered out at Lexington, Ky., having been promoted through all the intermediate grades to a Captaincy, receiving his commission September 12, 1863, as Captain of Company G, Forty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He took part in the battles of Rich Mountain, New Madrid, St. Charles, Ark., Fort Pemberton, Grand Gulf, the Vicksburg campaign and the expedition up the Red River under Gen. Banks, and he it was who planted the first Federal flag on the ramparts of Fort Pillow. In the fall of 1874, be settled on seventy-four acres in this township. He was married, February 21, 1866, to Lottie E. Lawson, a native of Sweden, who has borne him three children- Lena, Mary D. and Clarrie W. Capt. Hess is a Freemason, and in politics, a Democrat.

Back to the White County Biographies Main Page