WAR OF LONG AGO

A 1948 edition of Waukon Newspaper, published sometime in the spring, noted that 50 years ago that year, Company "I" left Waukon to go off to the "wars to fight a wrong done this nation by the Spaniards. Of the company that traveled by horse team to Postville that day half a century ago to make train connections, only eight still remain alive in this community. Those Spanish war veterans who are still here today include Charlie Colsch, Royal Pratt, Claude Dean, Dory Stillwell, Albert Hagen, John Hager, John McGourty and Elmer Briar."

Charles Colsch is in the photo of the three Colsches in Spanish-American war uniforms, left to right: Nicholas, John and Charles. They were the sons of Nicholas Colsch Sr and Catherina Durst.  They were my cousins - contributed by Diana Diedrich

Nicholas Colsch obituary

Iowa News

The national guard regiments of Iowa have received new designations by an order issued by the governor the past week. They become the Fifty-third, Fifty-fourth, Fifty-fifth and Fifty-sixth regiments instead of the Forty-ninth, Fiftieth, Fifty-first and Fifty-second. The last numbers were those under which the regiments went into the Spanish-American war. After they returned the reorganization was effected as national guard companies and regiments instead of as volunteer soldiers of the government. The veterans asked that the names be changed. The matter hung fire for a year, but it has been reached finally. This permits the Spanish-American war veterans to retain their regimental identity separate from the similar organizations which are members of the local guards.

The Mail-Press, Strawberry Point, Clayton co. Iowa, December 18, 1902

Albert M. Stewart Camp, No. 6

Charter members: R. A. Nichols (Ross A. Nichols), Wm. S. Hart, J. H. Hager, Otto Gulrud, M. S. Jones, John Colsch, C. H. Stilwell (Cornelius Howe Stilwell), Calvin St. Stillwell, C. M. Powell (see also below), C. H. Dean (Claude Henry Dean), J. E. O’Brien (John Edmund O'Brien), B. W. Ratcliffe, R. J. Pratt, Chas. Colsch, Nicholas Colsch, Jr. & Robt. E. Hughes. Officers elected at first meeting: Camp Commander, R. A. Nichols; Senior Vice Commander, J. H. Hager; Junior Vice Commander, Otto Gulrud; Adjutant, Calvin S. Stilwell, quartermaster, Claude H. Dean; Officer of the Day, M. Scott Jones; Officer of the Guard, John Colsch. Present officers of the Camp (1916): Camp Commander, John E. O’Brien; Senior Vice Commander, Calvin S. Stilwell; Junior Vice Commander, A. W. Douglas (see also below); Adjutant, M. Scott Jones; quartermaster, Nicholas Colsch, Jr.; Officer of the Day, R. A. Nichols; Officer of the Guard, R. J. Pratt. Camp was named in honor of Sergt. A. M. Stewart, the first typhoid victim of Company I, Forty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, who died at Jacksonville, Florida, August 25, 1898.

~Past & Present of Allamakee County, 1913, chapter 20

Sp-Am Vets found in Allamakee co. Burial Grounds, by Dale Woodmansee

BRENTON, Helen B., Nurse
BRIAR, James Elmer
BROPHY, John J.
CASEY, John Jr.
GOEKE, Albert
Hager, John Henry (1871 Aug 30 - 1952 Jun 10, burial Oakland Main, Waukon)
JOHNSON, Carl A.
JONES, Melvin Scott, Co. A, MD (1863 Jan 20 - 1939 Feb 21, burial Oakland Main, Waukon)
LOGAS, Henry N.
MARTINDALE, Benjamin L. (obituary)
MEDARY, Charles T.
MILLER, Henry (obituary)
NICHOLS, Ross A. (1858 -1937 Oct 21, burial Oakland Main, Waukon)
O'BRIEN, John Edmund
PETERSON, Alonzo Lowe, Co. G, 49th Iowa Infantry, (obituary)
RAMSDELL, Herbert A., Co. A MA 6
REGAN, Daniel, Co. I, 349 Inf B164
ROACH, Edward M., Co. I, IA 49 Inf B110
RUMPH, Charles Frederick
STEFFEN, Ben A.
STILLWELL, Fred Granger
TILLOTSON, William Stanley
WHITE, George W.
WILLIAMS, Lonnie L.
WILLICH, William N.
WILSON, Benton

Spanish-American War Veterans from Allamakee county

BRIAR, James Elmer, served as bugler in a Waukon company during the Spanish-American war and is now engaged in farming in Buford, North Dakota. b. 1875 Aug 24 d. 1964 Oct 19, burial Oakland Main, Waukon. ~sources: biography of his father, Past & Present of Allamakee County, 1913 and Allamakee co. Burial Grounds, by Dale Woodmansee
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CRAWFORD, R.T., enlisted as a private soldier in the Spanish-American war, was advanced, and at the close of the Cuban war was mustered out. Soon after this he was commissioned a second lieutenant of the Provisional Volunteer Army, and assigned to the 32d Regiment, with which he went to the Philippines. He served his term, and when he was expecting his discharge he received instead a commission as captain in the regular army. He accepted the position, and shortly afterward lost life, on the island of Samar, while attempting to save his men from drowning. He succeeded in saving most of the, but the exertion was too great for even his remarkable physical strength, and he went down. ~Past & Present of Allamakee County, 1913, chapter 20
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DOUGLASS, Alexander W.; served first as corporal and later as lieutenant of militia. ~Past & Present of Allamakee County, 1913, biography

A. W. DOUGLAS, delegate from Albert M. Stewart Camp, United Spanish War Veterans, to the State Convention held at Fort Dodge last week from Sunday to Wednesday inclusive, returned home Thursday. He said there was a good attendance and the delegates were splendidly entertained by the Fort Dodge people. Martin B. Andelfinger, Mayer of Dubuque, was elected State Commander and that city was selected as the place for holding next year’s State Convention, which pleases the local vets and will make it convenient for all of them to attend next year’s State convention. ~Allamakee Journal & Lansing Mirror, June 26, 1929, Waukon column - contributed by Ann Krumme
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EELS, Harry L. (obituary)
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FAEGRE, Gerhard, private Spanish-American War, post war, lived at Waterville, Iowa. The Fægre family was from Honefos, Norway.
~source - Vesterheim
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GORDON, Benton W. (obituary)
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HAGEN, Albert G., enlisted as private in Company I, Forty-ninth Iowa Volunteers. He accompanied his regiment to Jacksonville, Florida, but there was taken ill with typhoid fever, and after spending seven weeks in the hospital at that city was brought back to Iowa and received an honorable discharge. ~Past & Present of Allamakee County, 1913, biography

Governor Shaw is advised of the discharge from the service of the United States of Private Albert Hagen, now at Waukon, Co. I, Forty-ninth Iowa. ~Des Moines Daily News, February 24, 1899
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HAGEN, Edward G., enlisted on the 19th of December, 1895, joining the United States army, becoming a member of Troop F, Fourth United States Cavalry, and spending three years at Boise Barracks, Idaho. He then reenlisted and went to the Philippine Islands, there participating in the following battles: Markeno Road, August 12, 1899; San Isidro, October 19, 1899; Aragat, October 12, 1899; Bangabon, November, 1899; Cebul, December 10, 1899; and Biacnabato, December 12, 1899. The period of his service in the Philippines extended from July 25, 1899, to August 28, 1901. Returning to the United States, he was located at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, until finally discharged at the end of nine years' service. He enlisted as a private, was made corporal on the 5th of June, 1899, promoted to the rank of sergeant on the 31st of October, 1900, and became quartermaster sergeant in 1901. ~Past & Present of Allamakee County, 1913, biography
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HART, William S. served during the Spanish-American war in the United States Volunteers as a member of the Forty-ninth Iowa Regiment and took part in the subsequent military occupation of Cuba. The greater part of his United States service was spent on detail duty as judge advocate, general court martial, Second Division, Seventh United States Army Corps, under General Fitzhugh Lee, at Jacksonville, Florida, and at Marianao, Cuba. ~Past & Present of Allamakee County, 1913, biography

Second Lieutenant Wm. S. HART was born in Allamakee County, Iowa in 1866, receiving his education in the public schools, and later graduating in law from Iowa State University, teaching school as a means to this end. At the age of twenty-three he was elected clerk of the District court of Allamakee County, serving one term and a part of the second, resigning to take up the practice of law. Joined Company I as private in 1889, and, serving through the various grades, became Captain in 1895. At the reorganization of the Company in 1897 he re-enlisted as private, but was made Second Lieutenant soon thereafter, and was mustered into the United States service as such. He is an intelligent and capable officer. ~source- Historical and Biographical Souvenir of the 49th Iowa U.S. Volnteer Infantry. Illustrated with scenes of camp life.", Co I 49th Iowa   Spanish-American War Centennial Website

Forty-Ninth Regiment Infantry Iowa Volunteers was mustered into the U.S. service June 2, 1898 at Des Moines, left Des Moines for Jacksonville, Fla. on June 11, 1898, when it was moved to Cuba, where it is now (March 1st) in service. Company I - Second Lieut William S. Hart, Waukon, date of commission May 19, 1898. ~source- Iowa Official Register -1899, Official Roster of the Officers, Iowa Volunteers - Spanish American War
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HOESLY, Samuel served with the First Wisconsin Volunteers during the Spanish-American war. At that time he was stationed at Jacksonville, Florida, under the command of General Lee, and in all he served eight years with the Wisconsin National Guard.
~Past & Present of Allamakee County, 1913, biography
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MAY, Paul Davis spent one year as purser of the USS Tacoma during the Spanish-American war. For three years he had charge of over three hundred miles of telegraph and telephone lines as a member of the United States signal service in the Philippines and he was for three years government clerk and storekeeper in the Panama canal zone. ~Past & Present of Allamakee County, 1913, biography
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MEDARY, Charles T. Charley Medary, drummer in the 1st Regt. Band of Florida, will likely be the first Waukonite to see service in the Spanish-American war. ~Lansing Journal, April 1898
Medary, Charles - Mustered into service as a Private in Company L on May 23rd [April 25th?], 1898; transferred to the Regimental Band on June 17th, 1898; transferred to Company G, no date; mustered out of service on January 27th, 1899. ~source- Spanish-American War Centennial Website
b. 1869 May 23 d. 1954 May 19, burial in Oakland Main, Waukon ~Allamakee co. Burial Grounds, by Dale Woodmansee
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MILLER, Alex. It is already predicted that the Spanish-American War will end by the 4th of July or possibly at latest Sept. 1st. A $500,000,000 bond issue has been proposed. Admiral Geo. Dewey won a big victory last week over the Spanish fleet at Manilla. Alex Miller, Lansing boy on the battleship Baltimore, was in this fight. ~Lansing Journal, April 1898
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NICHOLS, Ross A. - R.A. Nichols enjoyed a brief visit one day last week from Ed L. Hall of Indianapolis, Indiana, who came over from Rockford, Illinois, for a chat with his old comrade of Spanish war days. Mr. Hall was a corporal in Captain Nichols company. ~Waukon Republican and Standard, May 24, 1933 - contributed by S. Ferrall

Forty-Ninth Regiment Infantry Iowa Volunteers was mustered into the U.S. service June 2, 1898 at Des Moines, left Des Moines for Jacksonville, Fla. on June 11, 1898, when it was moved to Cuba, where it is now (March 1st) in service. Company I - First Lieut Ross A. Nichols, Waukon, date of commission April 26, 1898 ~source- Iowa Official Register -1899, Official Roster of the Officers, Iowa Volunteers - Spanish American War
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O'BRIEN, John Edmund served in Company I, the Waukon company, Iowa National Guards, under Captain Gibbs, Nichols and Stewart. In 1898, a few days after the declaration of war with Spain, he went to Pensacola, Florida, and with Paul D. May, enlisted in the United States Navy for one year as carpenter's mate, first class. He served on the United States ships Tacoma, Lancaster and Cassius, under commanders Sutherland, Very-Perry, and Lieutenant Waters of Commodore Remy's fleet. At his own request and through Senator Allison's influence he received his honorable discharge at Norfolk, Virginia, at the close of the Spanish-American war. ~Past & Present of Allamakee County, 1913, biography
b. 1864 Sep 14 d. 1947 Jun 20, burial in Oakland Main, Waukon ~Allamakee co. Burial Grounds, by Dale Woodmansee
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PARSONS, Frank B. Born in Postville, Iowa, December 20, 1878; educated in grammar schools; Spanish War veteran; was deputy and chief deputy and provincial treasurer in the Philipine Islands, 1901-1916; appointed Vice-Counsul at Tampico January 31, 1918.
~Biographical Register, United States Dept of State, US Govt. Printing Office, 1919; pg 149 - contributed by S. Ferrall

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POWELL, Clarence Mosteller, served his country during the Spanish American War, as a army hospital corps medic in Florida.
~Powell Family Album, by Gayle Little
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RUPP, Frank N., Corporal, 49th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Company I, died September 15, 1898, of typhoid fever at his home, Waukon, Iowa, aged 25. ~source- Spanish-American War Centennial Website
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STEWART, Albert Gallatin, made an excellent record in the Iowa National Guard, attaining the rank of colonel, and later commanding the Waukon company during the Spanish war. Served as captain of Company I., Forty-ninth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, from the opening of the war till May 13, 1899, when he was mustered out with the regiment and honorably discharged.
~Past & Present of Allamakee County, 1913, Chapter 14 & biography

Forty-Ninth Regiment Infantry Iowa Volunteers was mustered into the U.S. service June 2, 1898 at Des Moines, left Des Moines for Jacksonville, Fla. on June 11, 1898, when it was moved to Cuba, where it is now (March 1st) in service. Company I - Captain Albert G. Stewart, Waukon, date of commission April 26, 1898. ~source- Iowa Official Register -1899, Official Roster of the Officers, Iowa Volunteers - Spanish American War
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STEWART, Albert M., son of Col. A.G. Stewart, served with Co. I, 49th Iowa regiment. Albert M. Stewart camp, No. 6 United Spanish-American War Veterans was named in his honor. He was born November 1, 1879 and died August 25, 1898, burial is in Oakland Main cemetery, Waukon. obituary
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STILLWELL, Cornelius Howe, born at Waukon, November 4, 1874, attended the public schools, became a member of the Iowa National Guard and went to the front in 1898 as a soldier in the Spanish-American war. He is now a member of Albert M. Stewart Camp of the United Spanish War Veterans. He was married at Waukon, January 19, 1910, to Mary Clark Spencer, and is now engaged in contracting and building at Waukon, making a specialty of iron and cement bridges and road work. ~biography of his father, Past & Present of Allamakee County, 1913
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TRUMBULL, Frank C., Private, 49th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Company I, died September 23, 1898, aged 29.  He enlisted  at Waukon, Iowa, and died at Boscobel, Wisconsin. ~source- Spanish-American War Centennial Website
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WILLIAMS, Lonnie L., Rossville cemetery gravestone inscription: Co D Tenn Inf. Spanish-American War; stake/marker USA-Cuba-Philipines-Porto Rica, Sp-Am War Veteran, 1898-1902 ~gravestone reading by S. Ferrall, April 2009