The Life of Albert Cashier: A Transgender Civil War Veteran
October 21, 2022
EXPLORE
Transgender Movement
October 21, 2022
EXPLORE
Transgender Movement
Albert Cashier was born in Ireland in 1843 and immigrated to the United States with his family as a child. When the Civil War broke out, he enlisted as a man and served for three years until he was honorably discharged. After the war, he settled in Illinois and lived the rest of his life as a man, even though he was assigned a female at birth. He worked as a janitor and was active in his community. In 1911, he was hit by a car and hospitalized. While in the hospital, he was forced to wear women's clothing and was outed as transgender. He was later transferred to a mental institution where he remained until he died in 1915.
Despite the challenges he faced, Albert Cashier lived his life on his terms. He is an inspiration to transgender people everywhere who continue to fight for their rights and acceptance.
Early Life
Albert Cashier was born Jennie Hodgers in Clogherhead, Ireland in 1843. He immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of 10 and settled in New York City. Not much is known about his early life, but it is believed that he began presenting as male around this time.
When the Civil War broke out, Hodgers enlisted under the name Albert D.J. Cashier and served for three years until he was honorably discharged. He fought in over 40 battles during the war and sustained several injuries. He once said of his time in battle, "I just wanted to do my part like anyone else."
After the war ended, Cashier moved to Belvidere, Illinois and began living full-time as a man. He took on jobs such as janitor, farmhand, and clerk. He also voted, owned property, and paid taxes like any other man would at that time.
Life as a Veteran
The cashier lived quietly and kept mostly to himself. His neighbors knew him as a polite and kind man who was always willing to help out when needed. Little did they know that he was hiding a secret - he was transgender.
In 1911, when Cashier was 68 years old, he was hit by a car while crossing the street. He sustained several injuries and was taken to the hospital where he remained for several weeks. While there, doctors discovered that Cashier had been assigned female at birth after examining his medical records. They forced him to wear women's clothing and put him with female patients even though he identified as male. The experience was so traumatizing for him that he never spoke of it again.
Later Years and Death
After being released from the hospital, Cashier returned to Belvidere but kept mostly to himself after what had happened. In 1913, he fell on hard times and was declared indigent by the court system. As a result, he was committed to an all-male state mental institution where he remained until his death two years later in 1915.
Although his life ended tragically, Albert Cashier is remembered as an inspiration by many transgender people today who continue to fight for their rights and acceptance within society. His story reminds us that everyone deserves to live their truth regardless of what others may think or say about them.
Albert Cashier is an inspiration to transgender people everywhere who continue to fight for their rights and acceptance within society despite the challenges they may face along the way. Although his life ended tragically, he lived his truth until the end. His story reminds us that everyone deserves to be respected for who they are.
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