Frederick W. Cheever was a West Boylston resident in the late 1800s/early 1900s who came from a line of military men. He was descended from Revolutionary War Generals Hosmer and Norcross and his father served in the Civil War. Now, Frederick’s turn to serve came in 1898 with the outbreak of the Spanish-American War.
The Spanish-American War was a brief conflict which lasted about four months in 1898, from April to August, and began when the navy ship the USS Maine sank in Havana Harbor, Cuba. Though a brief and often forgotten war, the Spanish-American War established the United States as a global power. We also gained the territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines at the war’s conclusion, which sparked controversy over our role in global colonialism and continued expansionism.
But, for Frederick W. Cheever, the Spanish-American War was his long-awaited chance to serve his country, just as his family had done for generations. For his story, check out the newspaper clipping.
Want to learn more about the Spanish-American War?
Check out some books from our collection:
Or do some research using our database collection: galepages.com/mlin_c_beaman