Missouri Man Is Son of Civil War Veteran-- Part 1

From the Feb. 5, 2012 Southeast Missourian by David Silberberg.

Danny Demmy, Sr, executive director of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War knows of only 13 men remaining who fathers fought for the Union in the war.  They are between the ages of 84 to 101 and referred to as "Real Sons."

Hilbert J. Gramelspacher, 92, now lives in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.  His father was Joseph Gramelspacher born in 1848 in Jasper, Indiana.  He enlisted at age 16 in the 143rd Indiana Infantry regiments and would never talk about his war experiences.

He was just 11 when his dad died in 1931 at the age of 83.  His father showed him his rifle, but gave it to his sister and her children who now have it.  Hilbert, his sister and brother received a civil War pension until he was 16. That pension money got them through the Great Depression.

A Real Son.  --Old Secesh