Joseph Hedges Roll and Anna Louise Larson
The Horse Soldier and His Swedish Bride
1854-1937

Joseph Hedges Roll and Anna Louise Larson

Joseph H. Roll

Joseph H. Roll, 83, veteran of Indian wars,¹ died unexpectedly Wednesday (May 26, 1937) at his home at 27 Hamilton street.² Mr. Roll had been gardening in the morning, apparently in good health. He died shortly after he came into the house. Mrs Roll died in 1930.³

Mr. Roll, who lived here 40 years, was a retired mason, having worked at his trade 57 years. He was born in Elizabeth. Surviving are a son, Gustavus A. Roll of Cranford; a daughter Mrs. Margaret Cremer of Ventnor; a sister, Mrs. Anna Stratemeyer of Roselle⁴ and five grandchildren.

Mr. Roll was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He served the Bricklayers, Masons, and Plasterers Union, Local 26, as secretary for many years.

Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Samuel P. Sutphen Home on Mountain avenue. The Rev. Frederick G. Willey will officiate.

The children of Joseph and Anna, left to right,
Joseph Smith Roll, Margaret Alice Roll, and Gustavus Adolphus Roll.

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1. Clipping from an unknown newspaper, about May 27, 1937. Joseph H. Roll enlisted in the United States Army as a private, Company D of the 2d. Regiment of Cavalry on the November 27, 1876. He was in the Northern Cheyenne and Sioux Campaign, fighting against the Sioux in Montana and Wyoming. Private Roll was replaced by telegraph equipment received from headquarters, Territory of Dakota, September 20, 1881, and discharged at Fort Ellis, Montana Territory, October 10, 1881. The discharge papers describe him as 27 years of age, 5 feet 6 3/4 inches tall, with fair complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair. Joseph was also a veteran of the Spanish-American War.

2. Sommerville, NJ.

3. Joseph married Anna Louise Larson (1856-1930) a native of Upsala, Sweden, in 1895 at Brevard County, Florida.

4. Joseph Hedges Roll and Anna Louise Larson had three children: Margaret Alice Roll (1902-1986), Joseph Smith Roll (1896-1935), and Gustavus Adolphus Roll (1898-1975).

The two photographs are from the collection of Frank Cramer of York, PA.

A Brief History of the 2nd Cavalry

The unit was formed in 1836 as the 2nd Dragoons, the second permanent mounted regiment in United States history. Duty stations included the Seminole Indian War in Florida and the Mexican War. They were stationed in the western territories where they protected settlers from hostile Indian and bandit attacks. The 2nd Dragoons also saw action in Kansas and Utah just prior to 1861.

In August of 1861 the unit was redesignated as the 2nd United States Cavalry. The 2nd Cavalry became a part of the reserve brigade of the Army of the Potomac. During the American Civil War the regiment participated in all major combat engagements of the eastern theatre including Bull Run, Peninsula Campaign, Brandy Station, Gettysburg, and Valley Campaign.

After the Civil War the regiment returned to the West where it was engaged in the Indian conflicts until 1880. The 2nd Cavalry also saw duty in the Spanish American War and served in France during World War I. With changes in modern warfare the 2nd Cavalry was dismounted and formed into a mechanized unit during World War II.

For more information on the 2nd Cavalry, see the
2nd Cavalry Association
http://www.dragoons.org/