Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1922-04-20
Obituary
Henry w. Erswell

TlSHiJ w. Ei swell
Henry Window Erswell the eighth
child of the family of eleven, of Char
les and Mary Erswell was born in
an old log cabin in the town of North
Royalton, near Cleveland, Ohio, Aug.
: II. 1912. His childhood was spent near
the homestead, losing his mother
when a small boy. Not having a
chance for much schooling, he work
ed for farmer, also picked and sold
hickory and hazel nuts to get cloth
ing and then made his home with his
sister until 1858 when he came to
Sank county, working near Lodi. Re
turning at the time of the Civil war.
on May 2, 1862, he enlisted in Co. c.,
123 Ohio Reg. at Strongville, Ohio.
His company was composed of lot
men, his oldest brother being in the
same. company and 20 other families
were represented with brothers, or
fathers and son. After several months
drilling he served in IL battles, was
first captured at the heavy battle
at Winchester, Va. held rs days at
o.
Maryland, exchanged prisoners, sent
to Harper's Ferry, captured and held
104 days at Libby, at which time
starvation could not have been much
nearer. After being exchanged back
to his regiment he was sent to Lynch
berg, and on the retreat from there,
himself and partner were taken sick.
When able to tramp he escaped at
night, returned to his regiment and
was captured at High Bridge, Va, held
four days, until Lees surrender, then
sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, and was
honorably discharged in June, 1865.
During the war two furloughs were
granted, one being for best packed
knapsack and the other for the ninth
cleanest gun for 80 days. Instead of
taking leave of absence he trans
ferred his time to married man with
wife sick at home.
After the service he took up the
trade of brewer. but learning of the
downcast of such life, decided to work
in mill and later came to Wiscon-
sin.
Returning to Ohio in 1869, he was
married to Ida Hutoka Lovejoy, Sept.
Is, 1869, then coming by railroad to
Kilbourn. from there by stage to the
town of Freedom, locating on a farEi
where they made their home for 50
years. In the fall of 1901 they moved
to the present home, and after the
erection of a flag pole it was known
as the Banner Home, where his wife
preceded him in death three years
ago. His life was continued at the
home until sunset, April 8, 1922,
when his last call came making his
age 70 years, z months and % days.
During a period of five years, he
underwent three perilous operations
and for the past year and half en-
dured continuous pain. Bravely he
bore all, no words of complaining, al
ways feelings that others were suffer
ing more, and never were clouds sc
dark but what he saw sunshine and
often friends heard him singing or
passing jokes.
He was a great reader and historian
also made geology a life study; was
a lover of music and nature, was
generally known as "a Bee Hunter
and by children as "The Rooster
Man" He took as his teachings:
'Do unto others as you would have
them do unto YOU" and he lies like
a warrior taking his rest with his
Stars and Stripes around him.
CARD OF THANKS
We wish to extend. our heartmost
thanks to all the dear neighbors and
friends far and near, who so kindly
assisted us in every manner possible
during the sickness and death of our
dear father. to Herman Voll for offer
ing words of comfort, also to the
doctors, to John McGuan, Louie Shultz
Rollo Tobler, L. Edwood, DR.. and Mrs.
G. w. Snyder, Miss Olga Reinking,
Miss Mary Meade, to those who rem
dered and arranged cars for convey
ance; the G. A. r., w. r. G. the sons
of Veterans and sons of Veterans
Auxiliary; Skillet Creek Farmers club
Badger and Ladies club; to all others
who sent flowers, to those Who as
sisted in arranging them and to the
friends not being able to be with us
who sent letters of sympathy.
Miss Mabel Erswell