HANSMEIER, SIMON. - Among the old time residents of Cass County, Illinois, whose personality still keeps fresh in mind the recollections of the Civil war, and make them especially interesting characters to the patriotic element of a later generation, is Simon Hansmeier, who is widely known, and well liked wherever his acquaintance extends.
Simon Hansmeier, agent of the Beardstown Overland Bridge, is a native of Prussia, Germany, where his birth took place September 13, 1842. With his parents. Henry and Louisa (Hauer) Hansmeier, he came to American when but six years old. The family located in St. Louis, Mo., in 1848, when the cholera was prevalent there and the mother died of the disease. The father, with his children, Fred, Henry, August and Simon, then went to Wisconsin, where he married again, one daughter being the issue of the second union, who left home when she became of age, and was never afterwards heard from.
At the age of fourteen years Simon Hansmeier came to Beardstown, Ill., and was employed by farmers until the commencement of the Civil war. On August 6, 1862, at Beardstown, he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which was part of the Army of the Mississippi, and served until the end of the war. For a long time the regiment to which he was attached was in pursuit of Gen. Price and then came the battle of Jackson, where he was engaged. He fought at the Siege of Vicksburg, and on June 10, 1864, was captured by the Confederates at the battle of Guntown, Miss., and was thrown into Andersonville prison, where he suffered incredible hardships until the close of the war. When he released, by reason of his weakened condition through filthy surroundings and hunger, he was carried out on a stretcher. His torture often from thirst had been beyond description, but after a time in their imprisonment, a fine bubbling spring burst forth, between the dead line and the stockade, which was hailed by the feverish soldiers as a direct act of Providence. It afforded an ample drinking supply, and saved many lives. After the close of the war Mr. Hansmeier returned to Beardstown, and on recovering his strength applied himself again to farming.
On January 10, 1866, Mr. Hansmeier was married to Mary Cremps, a daughter of Casper Cremps. Six children resulted from this union, as follows: Henry, of Canton, Ill.; Emma (Mrs. John Ruple), of Beardstown; John, of Peoria; Frank, of Canton, Ill.; Tillie, at home with her father, and George, of Beardstown. The family residence is at No. 407 West Fourth street, Beardstown, to which place the father moved in 1888 on quitting farm work, although until 1904 he combined farm and team work. After that he served for one year on the Beardstown police force, and then was appointed agent of the Beardstown Overland Bridge. He is a member of the G. A. R., McLean Post, No. 97, of Beardstown, in which he officiates as junior vice commander.
The family are members of the Fourth Lutheran church of Beardstown. The father and his wife, son and daughter are all fraternally affiliated with the K. & L. of H. Mr. Hansmeier is highly respected, and has a wide circle of friends throughout Cass County.