Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-02-20

JOHN r. FESLER,
CIVIL WAR HERO,
DIES SUDDENLY
Father of Gubernatorial Aspir-
ant Succumbs Soon After
Reaching Hospital.
COMMANDER OF THE 9TH

Civil war veterans of Indianapolis to-
day are mourning the death of Col. John
r. Fesler, 81, who died yesterday after
noon at the Robert W. Long hospital Of
cerebral hemorrhage. Col. Fesler was
widely known as regimental COM
msnder In the war and as assistant sd
jutant general of the Indiana depart
ment, Grand Army of the Republic.
which post he held for a number of
years.
Funeral services will be held at
o'clock Saturday afternoon at the late
residence, S3S Fletcher avenue, and will
be simple.
Col. Fesler's son, James w. Fesler, a
candidate for the republican nomination
for governor of Indiana, received news
of his fathers death at Princeton, Ind,
and returned to Indianapolis today.
Other children who survive are Bert FEES
Ter, Duluth, Mimi; Emil Fesler, Saiden,
Ala, and Mrs. Winifred Lance, S3S
Fletcher avenue.
MOVED TO HOSPITAL
ONLY YESTERDAY.
Death came to Col. Fesler Unexpectedly.
He had been living at the Hotel English
and was prevailed upon by relatives to go
to the hospital only yesterday morning.
He became I'll after reaching the hospital
Col Fesler's career as soldier was,
in many respects, remarkable. He entered
the army as captain of Company &,
9th Indiana Volunteers at Morgantown.
Ind. There was much disloyal sentiment
In the vicinity in which the company
was recruited and feeling ran high on
both sides. Once during the war Col.
Fesler and other officers OF the 9th
signed a resolution Offering to bring the
regimen. to Indiana to suppress what
they termed a disloyal legislative body,
meaning the Indiana legislature.
FOUGHT IN MANY
GREAT BATTLES.
When he was 81 years old Col Fesler
was promoted to command of the regi-
ment. Previous to his promotion all the
commissioned officers of Company g were
Feslers and kinsmen OF the commander
Col. Fesler commanded the Twenty
seventh In the battle of Gettysburg and
participated In numerous other battles
including the battle of Charlottesville.
Winchester, Va. May "a. 1852; Cedar
Mountain, Va. Aug. o. 1862; Antietam,
Nd, Sept H. 1862, and Shermau's entire
campaign up to and including the siege
OF Atlanta.
In Fox's "Regimental Losses" a
standard historical work, the Twenty
seventh Indiana is placed as nineteenth
among 600 fighting regiments listed ac-
cording to their losses In battle. -.
THREE GENERATIONS
OF WARRIORS.
The parents Of Col Fcsier came TO In
diana from Ohio. They were originally
Nirginians. His father was black
smith for time and later a merchant.
The colonel married Miss Harriet Elsa
aud they made their home for many
years at SIS Fletcher avenue. Mrs. Fes-
Ter died in June. 1910.
John W. Fesler Jr., a grandson Of
the colonel, a veteran OF the world war.
visited Indianapolis recently and three
generations Of the family. each OF which
had fought for the country, we're as
sembled. James W. Trsler was I'm the
Esvy during the Spanisb-AmerIcan war.
Col FeS'cr was madr assistant t,,'''-
tant general If the Indiana G. A. r.
In 1906 by f. Il. Brown. then commander.
He held the place for several years For
a number Of years he was president 81
the Twenty -"eventh Indiana Eegimentai
association. lie was n member Of the
Fletcher Place NJ T. church