Vincent Heisserer

Great-great-nephew, Larry Heisserer

Private Vincent Heisserer Company E, 18th Illinois Volunteer Infantry (U.S.). Vincent Heisserer was born January 21, 1834 in Shirrhein, Alsace-Lorraine now France). He emigrated to America with his parents and four brothers and two sisters. His parents were Antoine and Catherine (Hahn) Heisserer. He left for America from the port of LeHavre, France on August 15, 1847 and arrived at the New Orleans Port of Entry October 20, 1847. They were at sea 56 days. They passed Cape Girardeau, Missouri November 1,1847 because they didn't know where Benton, Missouri was and overshot and landed in St. Louis. Antoine Heisserer and Andrew Pfefferkorn left their families near the ship and went and rented a house. While they were out in the city, Joseph Georger happened to see the women and children sitting on the levee taking care of the bedding and clothing. Recognizing them by their dress as being from his old country home, he inquired where they were from and sure enough they were from Alsace. He said that they were neighbors and waited for the men to return. He informed them that they had gone 165 miles too far. They went back to the captain of the same boat and contracted to have him take them back down the Mississippi and let them off at Commerce, Missouri. They settled on a farm near New Hamburg, Missouri. One of the anecdotes that has been passed down was that Vincent and his younger brother, John were shanghaied into the Confederate Navy - taken off the street from where they happened to be. They had no extra clothes with them , not even shoes on their feet. They pretended to go along with this arrangement but decided in their own minds to get out of this situation as quickly as they could. The boat stopped at a fueling station for a short time. They asked the Captain for permission to get off the boat long enough to buy a pair of shoes. The Captain told them to hurry up as they'd be leaving in a short while. The brothers hid in a cave along the Mississippi River banks. They arranged with their brother, Nick, to bring them food so they could hide out during the day and travel at night. When Nick was returning from one of his daily trips to bring his brothers food, he was stopped by two Confederate soldiers on horseback who asked if he had seen or heard of two deserters suspected to be in the area. Nick said that he lied like a trooper and was told by the soldiers that they would be very hard on anyone who harbored or helped them if they got caught. Years later Nick told the story that he was so scared he almost "messed his pants." He wondered what would have happened had they caught him delivering the food. Both brothers intended to join the Union Army. 

Vincent did join the Union Army on May 28, 1861 at Anna, Illinois, enlisting in Company E of the 18th Illinois Infantry. He was honorably discharged June 11, 1864. He was 5-feet,9-inches tall with brown hair and blue eyes. Vincent fought in the Battle of Shiloh , Fort Donelson , served in Kentucky and Tennessee. 

The 18th Illinois Infantry was commanded by Colonel Michael Kelly Lawler, who was appointed Brig. Gen. of Volunteers, commanded 2nd Bde/14th Divn/XIII Corps in Vicksburg campaign, Port Gibson, Champion's Hill, Big Black River Bridge, served in Louisiana and Texas in the Dept. of the Gulf. 

Vincent was self-taught. He earned his education by reading and studying at home. After the war, Vincent returned to his farming and mercantile business Benton, Missouri, where the Benton Hotel stood. He was elected county treasurer and served for sixteen years. He was appointed county judge and served out the unexpired term. He served as Director of the Benton Bank until age prevented him. He helped to finance the first flour mill in Benton and also aided the last flour mill. He helped Louis Houck promote his railroad through Scott County. He was regarded as one of the best wheat binder mechanics.

He married Anna Katrina Dirnberger on November 20, 1864 and had twelve children-one died in infancy. They were Mary Louisa (Tenkhoff), Willaim, Crescentia (Miller), Anna (Mier), Julia (Burger), Michael, Ludovica(Proffit), Coletta became Sister Mary Olivia, Theon, Ida died in infancy, Coena (Dohogne) and Zeno. His wife died December 31, 1908. Vincent died on November 2, 1926.. Both are buried at St. Lawrence Catholic Church Cemetery in New Hamburg, Missouri.

His father and brother-Antoine and John, respectively are memorialized on the American Immigrant Wall of Honor at Ellis Island that was erected in 1992. 

Larry Heisserer salheisss@juno.com, the great-great nephew of Vincent Heisserer, is a civil engineer with the Construction Assistance Division of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality. He lives in Bryant, AR with his wife, Sherri Lynn, and youngest son, Daniel. His oldest son, Jason, is graduated and teaches at a highschool in St. Louis.