- Little Chute Historical society, autobiography of John Wilems;
Hello, my name is John Willems. I was born in Gemert, Noord Brabant Netherlands in 1843. I am the second oldest of 4 children born to Johannes and Ardina (Van Dommelin) Willems.
In 1850, on board the Ship Tushina, my family and I sailed to America from Holland. My brother, Anton, was born on board ship. We arrived in Little Chute the summer of 1850. It was said that our mother could have died on board ship, possibly in child birth, although there is no record of this, because when our father died in 1855, we became orphans. My father is more than likely buried in the old St John Cemetery which is now under the present church, as this cemetery was not created until 1858. We had only been in Little Chute for 5 years when he died! All of us kids were separated and relocated all over the Fox River Valley. In 1860, my sister, Harriet and I were located in Appleton where we are both servants to another family.
By 1861, the Civil War broke out. Being 18 years old, I decided to enlist. On September 26, 1861 I traveled to Camp Randall . I served with the 12th Volunteer Regiment, Company F, in Kansas, Tennessee and Louisiana before eventually arriving in Mississippi for the battle of Vicksburg. I wrote many letters home during this time. Many of which are still around. (Show the one in the case.) My sister Harriet saved many of the letters; and they eventually ended up in the position of her grandson, Joseph Hietpas, a past commander of the Jacob Coppus American Legion here in Little Chute. In my letters, I asked about family and friends, everyone's health and asking to make sure money I was sending home had arrived. I wrote my last letter home on July 2, 1863.
The battle of Vicksburg would be my last battle. My company was positioned just south of the main attack as this map shows. It lasted from May 25 - July 4 1863. Just after the Confederate soldiers surrendered, I was sent to a company hospital where I died of an unspecified disease. A soldier in my company wrote this letter to my sister, Harriet. It is dated July 17, 1863. It reads:
"The solemn and awful duty dissolves upon me to inform you of the death of your brother. He died in the hospital near Vicksburg on the 16th of July. I have not yet learned of what disease he died of. But his sickness was of short duration. I was with him most every day after he was taken sick until he died. He was a good boy and a boy I thought a great deal of. He was liked by everyone in the company. My friend this is a painful task for me to perform therefore I must be brief. I have some money of his which I will send to you the first opportunity. Any other particulars you wish to learn of him, write to me and I will inform you to the best of my ability. No more at present. Yours with respect, Lewis W. Bunker, Co F, 12th Reg Wis Vol."
I was temporarily buried near the company hospital. After the war, I was moved to the present location in the Vicksburg Cemetery. This is a photo of my gravesite as it can be seen today. I have the honor of being the first war causality from Little Chute.
Thank you for listening to my story.
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1843 - 1863 (20 years)
Immigration
