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Who Was Albert D.J. Cashier?
Albert D.J. Cashier was assigned female at birth and named Jennie Irene Hodgers in Ireland on December 25, 1843. While very little information is known about Cashier’s early life, we know that at some point in childhood, Hodgers changed to traditionally male clothing and smuggled on a boat to America. Once in America, Jennie Hodgers was no more and went by Albert D.J. Cashier going forward. While the language regarding gender identities was not yet developed at that time, scholars believe Albert might have felt comfortable adopting the term “transgender.” As Cashier chose to present themselves to the world as a man, this essay will continue using “he/him/his” pronouns out of respect.
Albert D.J. Cashier, Civil War Soldier
Cashier enlisted in the United States Army in 1862 to fight in the Civil War. He served in the 95th Illinois Infantry. He fought in at least forty battles, including Vicksburg. His regiment was all honorably discharged in 1865 after losing many soldiers to death and illness. After the war, Albert continued to live life as a man and worked quiet jobs while collecting his soldier’s pension.
The Battle for Dignity
As he grew old and developed dementia, he was moved into the Watertown State Hospital for the Insane. When the hospital staff recognized Cashier was assigned female at birth, they forced him to wear women’s clothing, including dresses. While trying to adjust to wearing a dress, he fell and broke a hip.
Once the military found out that Cashier was assigned female at birth, they tried to stop his pension, claiming “fraud.” His military friends defended him and in the end, Albert D.J. Cashier was able to keep his pension. In the end, Cashier died following complications from the broken hip on October 10, 1915. Thanks to his friends, he was buried wearing his military uniform with military honors.
