Henry L. Haff Spanish-American War Collection

Johannes Hendrik Ludvig Haff was born March 12, 1866, in Copenhagen, Denmark to Lars and Charlotta (née Trolle) Haff. In April 1880, Haff served as a “boy” on the Bark Esperanse out of Copenhagen, making stops in the Baltic Sea and in the English Channel. He then served in the Danish Navy, possibly on either or both the Fyen 1885 and 1886. He immigrated in either 1884 or 1885 and naturalized as a United States citizen in Chicago on October 13, 1894. He married Antonia Michelson on August 24, 1891, with whom he would have three children.

Haff enlisted as a seaman on April 26, 1898, at the Naval Recruiting Station in Chicago. That year, he transferred between several ships including the USS Franklin, the USS Suwanee, the USS Sterling, the USS Vermont, and the USS Celtic. Haff was honorably discharged on October 6, 1898, as directed by the Bureau of Navigation, and received $14.93 pay due. Following his discharge, Haff resided in Chicago and was self-employed as a bicycle shop owner, caterer, watchman, along with other various occupations.

On July 29, 1913, Haff was awarded the Spanish Campaign Medal for “participation in engagements and campaigns deemed worthy of such commemoration in recognition of services on board the Suwanee.” He was also awarded the West Indies Naval Campaign Medal, 1898, on October 22, 1914, for having “participated in the engagements in the waters of the West Indies and on the shores of Cuba during the war with Spain and deemed of sufficient importance to deserve commemoration.”

Haff died on December 28, 1945, at the Hines Veterans Hospital in Chicago, and was interred at Irving Park Cemetery, Chicago.

View the Archival Collection Finding Aid.