The Hirschy Newsletter

for descendants of Philip and Julianne (Frey) Hirschy
July 1998, No. 19

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LETTERS
1.2.4.7 Lucille Biberstein, Bluffton, IN. I have
really enjoyed reading the letters so very much.

3.6.3.5.2.2 Kathryn Ann Hoyt sent an
announcement of her marriage to Paul Daniel
Goossen on June 15. 1998. They are living at 4205
W. Atlantic Blvd., Coconu Creek, FL 33066.
God's blessings in the days and years ahead!

Kathryn and Paul Goossen
4.6.2.3.2.1 Rachel Elizabeth Hirschy, Coppel,
Texas sent an announcement of her graduation from
Coppel High School. Congratulations!

4.5.5.2.6.1 Heidi Michelle Boehr, Wichita, KS
sent an announcement of her high school
Homeschool Graduation sponsored by the Teaching
Parents Association. It was held in the Metropolitan
Baptist Church. Wichita. Congratulations!

4.5.6.1.4 Gil Hirschy has a change of address.
They now live at 12030 Thornapple Cove. Ft.
Wayne, IN 46845.

A letter came from Darlene Hildreth, 15 Nick
Lane, Dillon, MT. She is a subscriber to the Hirschy
Newsletter. I had not sent her sufficient information
earlier to let her know just how her family's Hirschy
ancestors linked with ours. Her husband Raymond
was a great grandson of Fredrick Louis Hirschy
who came to America about 1880. In that year
Fredrick married Cecile Wenger in Wayne Co.,
Ohio. Before long they came to Adams Co, Indiana.

In 1893 the family moved to the Big Hole
Basin near Dillon, Montana.
   Our family ties are quite distant for we need
to go clear back to Hans Hirschi and Anna
Lichti (see page 11 of the Genealogy) to come
to our common ancestor. That is 6 generations
back from me. I found their family information
in the village of Trub, Switzerland where our
Hirschy family is registered.
   Darlene wrote in April., "I just returned from
a genealogy seminar and took a course on
Mennonites. It was so interesting and went
hand in hand with the Hirschy book. So now I
am going to give a discussion on it in Dillon.
Neat huh!" The Hildreth family are members of
the Latter Day, Saints church.

OBITUARY 4.5.6.9 Bruce D. Hirschy, Decatur, IN,
b. Feb. 24. 1932, died May 21, 1998 in
Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, IN. He was
66 years of age. He was a life long resident of
Adams County, IN and a member of the
Pleasant Dale Church of the Brethren.
   Bruce was employed at U.S. Rubber for 9
years; was a self-employed truck driver for 10
years; worked 4 years at Riverside
Warehouse. Craigville; had 21 years of service
with Adams County Co-op, 13 of which he
was manager of the Decatur Agriculture
Center; and 8 years of LP Gas delivery.

GENEALOGY UPDATES    It was good to learn of more Hirschy
relatives that were not included in the
Genealogy. I received an order for a book
from Michelle L. Runyon. 9405 Dolan, Rd.,
Columbus, MI 48063. When I could not
locate her in the index I wondered who she
was. She had been told she was in the book.
   Unfortunately she and three brothers were
somehow not included when they should have
been. So while chagrined that their names were
missed. we do welcome them into the family.
They are:
4.8.3.1.7 Michelle L. Runyon
4.8.3.1.8 Keith Runyon
4.8.3.1.9 Brian Runyon.
Keith and Brian are twins. So there are two
sets of twins in that family.

James Hirschy of 4612 Calle de Retiro.
Oceanside, CA 92057 found my name on the
internet with information on the Hirschy family.
He soon saw that we did not have his family and
had only his middle name. He ordered a copy of
the Hirschy Genealogy and sent me the enclosed
information. He is still getting the full information
on his children and grandchildren and these will
be included at a later date. It was good to get
information on his family.
4.5.3.1.1 James William Hirschy, 11-19-1947
B. Van Alert, Ohio R. Oceanside, CA
M1. 09-05-1967 in Harriman, TN, Rosa Marie
Garner, b. Jan. 06, 1952 Oliver Springs, TN,
div. July 04, 1981 Harriman. TN.
M2. 01-13-1983 Adrian, MI, Susan Elizabeth
Cassell, b. Aug 28, 1948 Adrian, Michigan
Ed. Grad, Little High School, Littleton, CO. Oc.
U.S. Army 09-03-1965 - 10-31-19- was in Air
traffic control, retired as Staff Sergeant. Currently
in computer field., (repair, assembly, web page
setup/maintenance, BBS setup/maintenance, etc.)
Hobbies, working/playing on computers,
needlepoint and woodworking (instruments.)
Church - Lutheran.

The Family of 2 Anna Hirschy Williman
   Julianna was the name given her when she was
born on April 28, 1823 near Le Locle, Canton
Neuchatel, Switzerland. In 1835 at the age of 12
she came to America with her mother and stepfather.
   Throughout her life in America she was known
as Anna. She may never have been to school for
when she applied for a government pension
following the death of her husband she made an
X for her name.
   In America Anna's family lived in Wayne Co.,
Ohio and it was there that she married Paul
Williman on May 16, 1848. She was 25 years of
age and he was 20. Shortly after their marriage
they settled in Liberty Township, Van Wert
County, Ohio. Paul's father Jacob Williman was
born Aug. 12, 1797 and died Oct. 11, 1889. He
married June 13, 1822 to Lydia Platz. She was
born Mar. 27, 1803 and died Feb. 7, 1873.
They lived in West Lebanon, Wayne Co., Ohio.
On August 21, 1837 Jacob Williman purchased
80 acres of land in the land

office in Lima, Ohio. It was the South West
quarter of Section two, in Township three, south
of Range two East. (Was this the farm Paul and
Anna had?)
   Paul may not have had any education either for
when he enlisted in the army he made an X for his
name. However. when Anna applied for the
pension she had a list of her children which the
record says was written by Paul. It could be that
both Paul and Anna were educated in German.
But this would not explain their making an X
instead of signing their names.
   The Hirschy family was Amish, and the
Williman family could have been Lutheran. In
marrying outside of her church, Anna would likely
have been shunned. But some members of the
family kept in touch with them.
   When Noah C. Hirschy started the Hirschy
Genealogy he knew where Anna, his aunt, lived.
After Noah died in 1924 his nephew Walter
Hirschy worked on the genealogy. On Jun 30,
1930 he wrote to Mrs. Robert E. Cook of
Hornell, New York, a greatgranddaughter of
Anna. This Mrs. Cook must have been a
granddaughter of Eliza Williman and Martin
Dunkle. Many descendants of this couple are not
yet known.
   Walter Hirschy died in 1934 in an auto accident
and never completed the Genealogy. Further
contact with descendants was not made until
nearly sixty years later.
   To Anna Hirschy and Paul Williman were born
eight children. They were:
2.1 John Jacob Williman, b. Feb 23, 1849
      d.after the death of his father.
2.2 Lydia Ann Williman, b. Oct 23 1850.
      d.Mar. 4, 1851
2.3 Eliza Charlotte Williman, b. Mar. 3, 1852,
      d.Mar, 21, 1927
2.4 Mary Ann Williman, b. June 9, 1854
      d.Jan. 9, 1860
2.5 Elizabeth Williman, b. Dec. 26, 1855
      d.Nov. 1, 1860
2.6 Mathilda Williman, b. Oct. 19, 1858
      d.likely in childhood
2.7 William Henry Williman. b. Jun 8, 1860
      d.May 30,1896
2.8 Lucy Ellen Williman, b. Jan 17, 1864
      d. Oct. 23, 1931
   Of the eight, only three lived to marry and have

children: Eliza, William and Lucy. Four died
young. Her first child, John Jacob was listed as
living on July 29, 1864. Anna was 40 years of
age when she bore her last child.

Paul Williman and the Civil War    The Genealogy (p. 122-) tells part of the story
of the Civil War. Here we add some additional
details.
   We wonder what motivated Paul Williman to
enlist in the Army for a three year term of service
on September 29, 1863. He was 35 years of
age. Having married at the age of 20 did he feel
he had missed out on the excitement of his youth?
He had registered for the draft but may not have
been called. Did he choose to enlist rather than
wait to be drafted because be would be paid $60
as a bounty and $2 as a premium for enlisting?
Was this a chance to see other parts of the US
that he could not afford to travel to? Or, was
theirs an unhappy marriage and this was a way to
escape? We can only wonder.
   Paul's enlisting must have been very difficult for
Anna. She and Paul had a hard life. With only a
small farm it was a trial to make a living. They
had been faced with a lot of sorrow in that four of
the seven children born to them had died.
   Now Anna was six months pregnant with her
eighth child when Paul enlisted. How did Paul
expect Anna to manage the farm while he was in
the Army? Their oldest son, John Jacob was 14
years of age and was probably considered old
and strong enough to do the farm work. (He did
not die in infancy), Baby Lucy would never see
her father.
   Then, too, Anna did not have any of her
relatives close by to give her support. Her
marriage outside her church cut her off from the
rest of the family at the time of her marriage. It is
doubtful that there was any communication with
them. If she could not sign her name, she could
not write a letter.
   Paul enlisted in Company K, 46th Regiment of
Ohio Volunteers under Captain Alexander and
the command of Colonel Wolcott. He was
mustered into service in Columbus, OH on
October 15, 1863. Opposite is a record of his
enlistment.
   By May of 1864 the Army of the Ohio in which
Paul Williman was serving had entered Georgia
and it was one of three armies commanded by
General Sherman. The largest of the three was
the Army of the Cumberland made up of 60,000
men led by Thomas. The next in size was the

Army of Tennessee made up of 30,000 led by
James B. McPherson. The Army of the Ohio
contained slightly more than 17,000 and was led
by John M. Schofield.

   General Sherman was on the offensive and was
interested in taking as much of the enemy's
territory as possible, To this end he would have
one or two of the armies attack the main
Confederate army led by Johnston while the other
of his armies made a flanking movement in an
attempt to cut off the retreat of the Confederate
army. To counteract this threat, General Johnston
continued to give up territory to meet the new
threat.
   As the Confederate army retreated southward
they took a stand just north of Marietta on
Kennesaw Mountain, Little Kennesaw to the
south, and a rise now known as Cheatham hill.
During this time Sherman shifted his men, had
them probing and feinting to determine the best
strategy of attack. The weather was bad as it had
begun to rain turning the dust to mud.
   It must have been while Sherman had his troops probing the ridges of Kennesaw Mountain that Paul Williman was hit by a shell and killed. He died on June 15. 1864. Sherman did not make his main attack on the Confederate positions until twelve days later. In that attack he lost over

3.000 men killed and wounded. The Confederates
lost around 500 men in that battle. Realizing that a
frontal attack would be too costly, Sherman ordered
his men to discontinue the attack and attempted
another flanking movement that forced Johnston to
remove his men from Kennesaw Mountain to the
village of Smyrna, five miles southeast. General
Howard reflected on the battle at Kennesaw
Mountain: "We realized now, as never before, the
futility of direct assaults upon entrenched lines
already well prepared and well manned." Paul
Williman was one of the casualties that taught the
Yankees that lesson.
A record in the Company Descriptive Book has
this record of his death, "Killed instantly by a piece
of shell while charging on the enemy at Little
Kennesaw Mountain June 15,/64." (1864)

A Casualty Sheet made some years later gives his
place of death as Noon Day Creek. This was near
by but not likely the actual place.
The map below shows the movement of the
Union armies in the area of Kennesaw Mountain.

From James M. McPherson. Battle Cry of
Freedom. Oxford University Press, 1988. p. 46.

   As a Civil War widow Anna applied for a
pension July 29, 1864. In the application she
mistakenly gives her date of marriage to Paul
by a Justice of the Peace as June 15. 1844.
Her maiden name is spelled Anna Hershe.
What is new information is that Anna's oldest
son, John Jacob is named as among the
surviving children in the application.
   Nothing more is known about John Jacob
after that single notation. He would have been
eligible for pension benefits for only one year
as he turned 16 the year after the application.
Thus his name does not appear in later
documents. It would be interesting to know if
he died or whether he left home after his
mother remarried and he was no longer
needed to run the farm. It is possible that there
are descendants living some place in the United
States.
   On Oct. 22. 1864 the Adjutant General's
Office in Washington D.C. acknowledged the
receipt of her application. No. 10,218. Her
pension likely began after the October date.
On July 19, 1867 Anna appeared before the
court to give the correct information on her
marriage. She certified that "she was married
to the same Paul Williman at Wayne County in
the State of Ohio on the 16 day of May AD
1848, that she knows the above facts by
reason of a private record of the same now in
her possession and which has been under her
control ever since that time. "
   After a year and a half as a widow. Anna
married Noble Baltzel. a widower with three
children, on Dec. 3, 1965. This date is in the
Probate Court records. The 3 was misread at
some point as an 8. This is a correction to the
date given in the Genealogy. His children were:
Abraham, Almeda and Michael.
   Anna reapplied for a pension just for her
children. A guardian, Charles Copeland, was
appointed for them. This was likely mandatory
to protect the children's rights. A document
made April 7. 1866 when Copeland appeared
before the Judge of the Probate Court has a
birth date for Lucy very much in error. Anna
was present.
   In the second entry Lucy's birth date is given
as Jan 17, 1854. It should be 1864. A likely
clerical error, having just previously, written
1852 for Eliza.
   On July 8, 1867 Anna had to appear again

to give the correct dates. On this occasion after
giving the correct dates the record reads, "She
further swears that the above dates are taken
from the family record kept by her late husband
and herself and that she knows them to be true.
And that any statements contrary to the above
that she may have made were so made from her
own recollection being absent from any data
whereby to refresh her recollection. She further
swears that she has no pecuniary interest in the
claim of her said children for a pension." Was the
clerk refusing to take the blame for miswriting the
year?
   The above shows the problems a person with
no education in English confronts when
depending on others who were making hand
written documents. Anna was only 49 years of
age when she died Sept. 27, 1872. Her life was
difficult and required many adjustments.

Emily Snyder Williman
   Clarence W. Williman 2.7.3 was married to
Emily Louisa Snyder on Oct. 18, 1910. Emily
wrote poetry and some time before her death on Oct. 14, 1967 she published ten of them in a
booklet entitled "Poems of Inspiration" Here are
two of them.
Memories To some this tree is but a sillouette
Against an evening sky.
To me it speaks of happiness
That dwelt in a house close by.

One morning it raised it's once leafy arms
And clapped it's hands for joy
Because it heard us whisper
God bless our new born baby boy.
      Dedicated to our son Charles (2.7.3.1)

God's Blessing To us happy lovers
live has been so meet.
God gave us children
To make our life complete,

Our fifth baby, a son
Only five months we did share.
God took him to heaven
New he smiles on us there.

As years came and went
He continued to bless
And five more children
Were added to our nest.

We guided them with prayer
And the help of His Hand.
Now all are married
Their families are grand.

When this life is over
And we meet on heavens shore.
We will have a blessed reunion
Where we shall part no more.

   The fifth child she mentions was Walter who
was born Apr. 14, 1920 and died Oct. 23, 1920.
They had a total of ten children. Though Walter
died young, he was just as important in her
memory as those that lived.
   The poem was written some time after the birth
of Ned Duane on Aug. 10, 1933.

Charles Clark Williman 2.7.3.1    On Oct. 11, 1990 the following article
(shortened) appeared in the Times-Bulletin of
Van Wert, OH. It was written by Barb
Thompson.
   Many titles come to mind for this particular
column....and some fairly catchy ones at that. I
could call it "'The Lighter Side of Darkest Africa,"
"Halfway House To Heaven" or "How Do You
Pet a Rhinoceros?" Obviously, the answer to that
last one is, "very carefully!")
   But temptation aside, I'll keep it simple and call
this tale "CHARLIE ON SAFARI." Many of us
consider Charlie Williman a Van Wert institution.
I know that Charlie wouldn't mind my revealing
that while enjoying his 80th year, he decided that
he finally owed it to himself to take a few weeks
off and realize a dream he's long had.
   So, Aug. 23, he and his daughter Sue Young of
Elm St., boarded a plane for the 17-hour flight to
Kenya, Africa. They. were looking forward to a
three-week visit with former Van Werters, the
Leon Habeggers (Charlie's daughter, Kay). The
Habeggers have served the past two years in the
mission field there.
   Wouldn't you know Charlie's airliner was

scheduled to refuel in (of all places) Saudi
Arabia. During this brief stop, Charlie stood to
stretch and was quickly put in his place by glares
of Saudi guards who had boarded the plane for
security purposes.
   After that, it was back to 39,000 feet and 500
mph and on to Kenya...an African nation located
about halfway down the eastern coast and
specifically on to Sweetwaters Tented Camp, a
government-built and operated rhino sanctuary
ranch, located just a few miles from the Equator.
   Sweetwaters is a 32-square mile (22,000
acres) electrically fenced-in game reserve for
wildlife. Here, Charlie and Sue roamed at will
among elephants, buffalos, giraffes, rhinos, zebras
and a host of plains game.
   All of the tourist tents overlook a flood-lit
watering hole which the animals frequent regularly
and Charlie marveled at the size of the African
elephants...so much larger than their Indian
cousins....the kind we watch in our circuses and
zoos. Camel rides were also a daily option.
   Charlie tells of leisurely walking one day down
a path when he rounded a bend and saw 40-50
monkeys walking the same path toward him.
When they reached him, they divided in the
middle and watched on the sidelines as he
walked through. Then they continued on their
way.
   One 17-year-old rhine, weighing almost two
tons, is the camp's pet and shared several
snapshots with our travelers. It 's commonplace
to sleep out on the plains in sleeping bags among
the wildlife. Since they're not disturbed. there's no
tendency on their part to bother mankind.
   As much as he delighted in the animals, Charlie
was most impressed with the people. He
preached to over 200 on one occasion and says,
"Never have I felt so much of Gods love as I did
in those primitive surroundings. "
   Having been a Van Wert butcher for 35 years.
he felt right at home when he was handed a
cleaver by a native meatman. He proceeded to
cut the meat, American-style.
   Everyone lives off of their gardens and one of
the primary dishes is one of rice, maize, beans
and mashed potatoes....all cooked together.c Carrots are a staple and the natives also raise
their own coffee, tea and bananas. There are very
few sweets but folks do take a "chi-break" often,

chi being very, much like hot chocolate.
   The elderly are highly respected in Kenya and
once, when he and Sue were about to be seated
in an eatery, the waiter rushed forward to help
Charlie with his chair....and left Sue standing.
   "Mzee" is the native word for "old man" and
when "Jambo, sona" ("Hello, nice day") was
added to it, Charlie was on the receiving end of
some pretty pleasant greetings.
   Leon and Kay Habegger run a dormitory for
boys at Rift Valley Academy in Kijabe. Kenya,
where the emphasis is on Christian training and
teaching. Leon also oversees the maintenance of
56 buildings.
   The academy's 220-bed hospital (built in 1980)
carries a daily charge of two dollars for room and
treatment. (Now. that's probably the most
amazing fact I've mentioned so far.)
   There are two Habegger grandsons...Terry,
who is in police work in Columbus, and Jamie.
Prior to his trip, Charlie questioned Jamie's to
return to Kenya, following ordination from his
Texas college.
   "But now I understand," he says "I've come to
think of Kenya as a 'halfway house to heaven'
because of the love and compassion that they all
have for each other."
   So, Charlie returned Sept. 13 and is back with
his "Used and Abused Furniture"...enriched by
eight or so ebony souvenir elephants (no
ivory)...one, weighing over 20 pounds... plus
another eight or so gnarled canes, expertly carved
by native tribesmen. He's a contented man.

PUBLICATION INFORMATION    The Hirschy Newsletter is published four times
a year. Cost is $5.00 for four issues.
   The editor is David L. Habegger,
6929 Hillsboro Ct., Ft Wayne, IN 46835-1818.
   E-mail is DLHabegger@aol.com
If you have material you would like to submit for
publication, send it to the editor.

For Your Consideration "Ask now about the former days,
   long before you time...
Ask from one end of the heavens to the other."
Deut. 4:32

The enlistment record of Paul Williman. The ink for his name in the middle of the page has
faded. However, the X he made for his name is plain.

The application for a pension made by Anna Williman. Note that she made an X for her signature
at the bottom of the page. Note also that she names four children that were born to her and Paul.
The record states that Paul was killed near Merietta (Marietta), Georgia. Kennesaw Mountain is
just north of Marietta.

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