Idaho County ID Archives Obituaries.....Hesterman, Henry John November 2, 1918
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Chris Cornett cc1952_70@msn.com December 1, 2007, 9:13 pm

The Grangeville Globe, Grangeville, ID; December 5, 1918
LOCAL PEOPLE
BEREFT OF 
ONLY SON

Henry John Hesterman, Aged
27, Killed in Action on
November 2nd.
_____

NOTICE GIVEN FRIDAY
_____

Letter Written October 28th,
Received By Parents Just
Before Sad News

  Henry John Hesterman, aged 27 years, a member of Co. A, 363 Infantry, 
American E. F., the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hesterman of this city was 
killed in action in France on the 2nd day of November. This sad news was 
received here last Friday evening and cast gloom over the entire community.
  The bereaved parents had heard nothing from their soldier son until just a 
few days before the sad news was received, when a fine letter written on the 
28th of October came to hand.  They felt so proud of their son that the letter 
was read in many homes in this city which felt considerable 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 was born at Merrill, Wisconsin, and came to Idaho with his 
parents something over 15 years ago.  For the past several years and up to the 
time he was called to the colors he was engaged in the laundry business in 
company with his brother-in-law, Madison Meyer, being the owners and operators 
of the Electric Laundry.  He was a model young man and a close applicant to 
business.
  Besides the aged parents, who have our sincere sympathy of the community, he 
is survived by three sisters, to-wit: Mrs. Ed Ficke of Canfield; Mrs. Madison 
Meyer of Grangeville, and Miss Freda Hesterman 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 28, 1918.
    “Dear Folks;---Here I am again trying to write.  I have a very comfortable 
place to write just now.  I’m sure you would laugh if you could see me and 
what I’m calling a comfortable place.  I’ve let down the back board of a dog 
wagon so it make a good desk and then I got a fine big German milk stool for a 
seat, so I’m at ease in fine style, under this thatched roof.  I was up quite 
early this morning as I was awakened by the big cannon so while I’m waiting 
for breakfast and have a little time I thought it best to spend it this way as 
it might be a month before I get a chance again.  I 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 country over here in the last three months.  
At first everywhere we went the towns 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 a 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 as the country is so thickly 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 I saw a horse and a cow hitch 
up together to a wagon; another man was plowing with his milk cow, and then at 
night sat down and milked her just the same.
  “It 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 a writing desk, drawn by a large dog, some have a cow or a 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 repair and fix up those that have been damaged.
  “We see a lot of breweries and sugar factories in these towns, also places 
where they weave cloth and mats made out of flax straw.  The Germans retreated 
quite fast over this country we are in now, and I guess it looked too good, 
even to them, to destroy.
  “Well, I must get to work again so will have to quit now.  I wish you would 
write soon and often; the last few mail days I only got letters from Alice---
they never fail, and I want to say a letter helps.  I received another Globe 
yesterday; that makes the fourth since I’ve been over here.”
  


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