John W. Haussermann or "Judge" Haussermann (December 14, 1867 – July 11, 1965)[1] was an American colonial army officer and gold mine owner in the Philippines. Haussermann was born in New Richmond, Ohio and came to the Philippines in 1898 as a second lieutenant during the Spanish–American War.[2][3] After the war he remained in the Philippines and founded the gold mining company Benguet Mining Consolidated whose two largest gold mines (the Antamok Gulch and the Balatoc[4][better source needed]) supplied gold to the U.S. Department of Treasury.[2] The company is estimated to have lost $13 million due to the Japanese occupation during World War II.[5] Benguet Mining Consolidated was an important for its role as the defendant in the Perkins v. Benguet Mining Co. U.S. Supreme Court case of 1952.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/J.M._Elizalde%2C_Sergio_Osmena%2C_John_W._Hausermann.jpg/220px-J.M._Elizalde%2C_Sergio_Osmena%2C_John_W._Hausermann.jpg)
He served as Judge Advocate and Assistant Attorney-General of the Philippines, the former under governor-general William Howard Taft.[3][6]
After being forced to flee by the Japanese invasion, Mr. Haussermann began planning a trip back to the Philippines as early as October 1944.[7] He was finally able to fulfil this plan in 1948.[8]
His son, John William Haussermann Jr. (1909-1986) was born in Manila, and became a composer.[9]
References
edit- ^ "J. Haussermann, RP 'gold king,' dies at 98 [sic]". The Manila Times. AP. 13 July 1965. p. 1.
- ^ a b "Their Gold Mines are Their Ace in the Hole". Life. 13 February 1939. p. 58. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Talk on Philippines". Cincinnati Enquirer. 9 November 1925. p. 13. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ "Baguio Balatoc Mines". YouTube. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ Flynn, Terry (19 April 1946). ""Gold King" Still Jovial". Cincinnati Enquirer. AP. p. 8. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ "Agitators Responsible for Talk of Philippine Independence Judge Tells Forum". Cincinnati Enquirer. 11 November 1925. p. 13. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ "'Gold King' Plans Trip Back to Philippines". New York Times. AP. 21 October 1944. p. 6. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ "Mining: Return of the King". Time. 8 March 1948. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ Vallier, Nolan. "Haussermann, John (1909-1986)". University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved 31 October 2023.