The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1918-12-05
Henry John Hesterman, Aged
27, Killed in Action on
November End.
NOTICE GIVEN FRIDAY
Letter Written October 28th,
Received BY Parents Just
Before Sad News.

Henry John Hesternan, aged q
years, member of Co. A, 1863 Infantry
American e. F., the only son of Mr.
and Mrs. Henry Hesterman of this city
was killed i'll action in France on the
End day of November. This sad news
was received here last Friday evening
and cast gloom over the entire COM
munity.
The bereaved parents had heard
nothing from their soldier son until
just few days before the sad news
was received, when a fine letter writ
ten on the 2Sth day of October came
to hand. They felt so proud of their
son that the letter wGs read in many
homes in this city which felt con
siderable pride in the fact that he was
one of the many young men from this
immediate section that was doing his
utmost on foreign soil to make the
world safe for humanity.
Henry Hesterman YVES born at Mer-
rill, Wisconsin, and came to Idaho
with his parents something over 10
years ago. For the past several years
and up to the time he was called to
the colcrs he was engaged In the laun7
dry business, in company with his bro
ther-in-law, Madison Meyer, being the
owners and operators OF tie Electric
Laundry. He was model young man
and close applicant to business.
Besides the aged parents, who have
the sincere sympathy of tie community
he is survived by three sisters, to-wit /:
Mrs. Ed. Ficke of Garfield; Mrs. Mad
ison Meyer Of Grangeyille, and Miss
Freda Hesterwan of Seattle, AS soon
as the news of the brothers death was
received Mr.. and Mrs. Ficke and Miss
Freda journeyed at once to the home
to comfort the stricken parents.
Below we reproduce the last letter
written to the parents:
France, October 2S, 1918.
Dear Folks Here l am again try
ing to write. l have very comfort
able place to write just now. I'm sure
you would laugh if you could see me
ana what I'm calling a comfortable
place. I've let down the back board of
a dog wagon so it makes good desk
and then | got a fine big German
milk stool for seat, so I'm at ease in
fine style, under this matched roof.
l was up quite early this morning as
l was awakened by the big cannon.
- '''A''N 4 IL NdiiihS lOI bltdhIdSL anu
have Il little time l thought it best
to spend it this way as it might be a
month before | get chance again |
have written letters several times and
then couldn't mail them, and had to
carry them around until they were
worn through
Gee! I've been over a lot of coun-
try over here in the last three months.
a fNsssf -1,....,s
were so shot to pieces that a pile of
stone was all that was left, but now
that the Germans are moving back so
fast we find lots of nice big cities
that have been hit with only few
shots and hardly any damage done.
There are surely some pretty places.
all are of brick and look like our big
house at Merrill. When we are on the
road it seems like we are in a town
all the time rs the country is so thick
iy settled and when we feel hungry
at any time on our marches we can
get a turnip or carrot almost any time.
and we see many odd things Yesterday
l saw horse and a COW hitched up to-
gether to a wagon; another man was
blowing with his milk COW, and then
at night sat down and MIXED her lust
the same.
1T is surely surprising how soon the
people move back to their homes after
they are retaken from the Germans
Some carry what few things they own
In this world on their backs, some have
a small wagon, like this one I'm using
for writing desk, drawn by a large
dog, some have cow or horse
left to pull their wagon, and in this
way they bring everything they own at
one time. And how glad they are when
they find that their places are not
damaged, and how quickly the re-
pair and fix up those that have been
damaged.
We see IA lot Of big breweries and
sugar factories in these towns, also
places where they weave cloth and mats
ont OF flax straw. The Germans re-
treated quite fast over this country
we are In now, and / guess ii looked
too good, even to them, to destroy
We'll, must get to work again 80
will have to quit now. wish you
would write soon and often; the last
lew mail days l only got letters from
Aiice-they never fail, and l want to
say letter helps. l received another
Globe yesterday; that makes the fourth
since I've been over here"