Mar 09

Dear Mom & All–WWII Letters from Herb (part 18)

My dad, Herbert Miller, was trained as a replacement troop during the fall of 1944 and by the end of that same year he was in Belgium fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. He had been assigned to Company L, 333rd Regiment, 84th Infantry Division, known as the Railsplitters.

Pfc Herbert M. Miller

I continue with the letters he sent home during that time, letters that his family lovingly saved all these years. And I am so grateful that they did.

I am transcribing the letters in the order they were written and I am now to May 1945.

The next letter, a V-Mail letter to his sister Emilene and her husband “Jack”, was typed and is easier to read than the hand-written letters.

V-mail envelope postmarked 26 May 1945, from Pfc Herbert Miller, to Mr. & Mrs. Norval Weitz, Rockford, Ohio. Inspected and passed by an Army examiner.

16 May 1945
Dear Emilene and Jack,

Decided to write a couple of letters this morning. There isn’t more to do. I received your letter that you wrote the 7th of May. That was the day before V-E Day. I also received a letter from Dorothy yesterday, the first letter I’ve received from her in about three weeks.

We can tell a little more about our location and some of the battles we were in. Did you see the German paratrooper knife that I sent home? I got that off of a paratrooper at a town by the name of Haerte [?] coming from the Ruhr to the Rhine River. That German flag has the name of the town on it. The German rifle I picked up on the other side of the Elbe River the day we set up with the Russians.

So Norval really likes his John Deere tractor. Dad said that he put in for a new John Deere tractor. I was wondering if he has it yet. I imagine it will take quite a while for the papers to come through. I imagine by the time you get this letter it will be about time to set out the tomato plants. Tomatoes always take a lot of work but they really pay off good if the weather is good.

The way your letter read you are going to quit your job and become a farmer. Can you drive the tractor yet? I would like to see you plow corn. I’ll bet you could really plow is out.

What are some of the names of the songs on the Hit Parade? Are there any good movies out now? I sure would like to see one. It has been quite a while since I have seen a show.

Guess I’d better sign off for now. Am feeling fine and hope you are the same.

Love,

Herbert

P.S. Please send a package of candy and [?]

Below are photos of some of the things my dad mentioned in this letter.

The Nazi flag, from the town of Dulken. He wrote the names of his Army buddies on the flag. I assume they were from Co. L, 333rd, 84th Division. Dulken is located in north Rhine-Westphalia, part of the municipality of Viersen.

Nazi flag from Dulken, Germany, with names from Co L, 333rd, 84th Div, Railspllitters.

Nazi flag from Dulken, Germany, with names from Co L, 333rd, 84th Div, Railspllitters.

Army buddies’ names on the Nazi flag:

S/Sgt. Larry Broderick
Pfc. Tommy Towbridge
Pfc. Dick Timmons
Pfc. Matt Trefun
Pfc. Herb Miller
Pvt. Frank Bailey
Pvt. John Groves
Pvt. John Proctor
Pfc. Ira Terry
Pvt. Max Trigillo
Pfc. Carrol Ketzenbuger

Photos of some 84th soldiers and Russian soldiers at the Elbe River:

84th & Russian soldiers at Elbe River.

84th & Russian soldiers at Elbe River.

84th & Russian soldiers at Elbe River.

German POWs & 84th, Elbe River.

The paratrooper’s knife. I could not locate the town of Haerte, where my dad said he got it:

V-E Day was 8 May and after that time he was able to write a little more information in his letters home. The division he was in, the 84th, the Railsplitters, was to be sent to the Pacific next and he probably would have gone there to fight had the war with Japan not ended.

Mar 06

Tombstone Tuesday–Fred J. & Anna (Huffman) Bollenbacher

Fred J & Anna (Huffman) Bollenbacher, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Fred J. and Anna (Huffman) Bollenbacher, located in row 9 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Anna
1879-1986

Fred J.
1874-1938

BOLLENBACHER

Fredrick Jacob “Fred” Bollenbacher was born in Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, on 7 February 1874, the son of Jacob (1937-1915) and Caroline (Schaadt) Bollenbacher. Caroline Schaadt (1843-1880) was the second of Jacob’s three wives. [1]

Fred’s mother Caroline died on 7 March 1880, probably from complications of childbirth. Fred’s widowed father Jacob resided with his 7 children when the 1880 census was taken on 5 June of that year. The Jacob Bollenbacher household in 1880: Jacob, 42; Phoebe, 11; Louisa M, 10; Adolph, 8; Frederick J, 6; Henriette C, 4; Emma, 2; Peter, 3 months. Jacob was born in Bavaria and was a farmer. [2]

Jacob Bollenbacher married Anna Barbara Huffman in Mercer County, Ohio, on 15 February 1900. [3]

Anna Barbara Huffman was born in Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, on 21 February 1879. Anna was the youngest of 4 children born to Ferdinand and Barbara (Schott) Huffman.

Anna was baptized at Zion Chatt on 30 March 1879 with Christ and Anna (Koch) Kessler serving as her sponsors. Anna was confirmed at Zion Chatt on 9 April 1893 by Rev. J.F.C. Soller. Her surname is sometimes spelled Hoffmann in Zion Chatt’s records.

Anna Huffman grew up in Liberty Township. The Ferdinand Huffman household in 1880: Ferdinand, 33; Barbara, 33; Mary, 11; Caroline, 9; George, 7; Henry, 1; Caroline, 65 [Ferdinand’s mother]. Ferdinand and Barbara’s 4 children are listed, but their fourth child, Henry, is a mystery. I wonder if this should have been Anna instead. She would have been 1 year old then. [4] 

In 1900 Anna, who was married by that time, lived with her parents when the 1900 census was taken on 12 June. Also in the household was her brother George and her paternal grandmother Caroline, the widowed mother of her father Ferdinand.  The Ferdinand Huffman household in 1900: Barbara, 53, head; Ferdinand, 53, husband; George, 36, son; Anna Bollenbacher, 21, daughter, married; and Caroline, 79, mother, widowed. [5]

By 1910 Fred and Anna Bollenbacher had been married 10 years and had 3 children in their household. Their household in 1910: Fred J, 36; Anna, 31; Mabel, 9; Ernest, 8; and Opal, 1. Fred was a general farmer. Anna had given birth to 4 children and 3 were living. [6]

In about 1916 Fred and Anna Bollenbacher and their 5 children lived on a 40-acre farm south of Chatt in about 1916. The land was located a little south of Frahm Pike and east of State Route 49. Fred was a farmer and a thresher who owned 2 horses and 3 cows and had an Indiana telephone, according to The Farm Journal Illustrated Directory of Mercer County, Ohio, 1916, 1921.

The Fred Bollenbacher household in 1920: Fred J, 45; Anna, 39; Mabel, 18; Ernest, 13; Albert, 8; Opal, 10; and Luther, 4. Fred was a farmer. [7] 

Fred & Anna (Huffman) Bollenbacher family, c1920. Front, Fred & Anna; Middle: Opal, Luther, & Albert; Back: Mabel & Ernest.

A big thanks to Christy for sending me the above photo of the Fred J. and Anna (Huffman) Bollenbacher family, taken about 1920. Christy is Fred and Anna’s great-granddaughter and she descends from their son Albert.

Fred J. Bollenbacher died 28 April 1938 in Liberty Township at the age of 64 years, 2 months, and 21 days. He was buried on the 30th. According to Zion Chatt’s records he was survived by his wife, 3 sons, 2 daughters, 6 grandchildren, 1 brother, 2 sisters, 3 half-brothers, and 3 half-sisters. Fred was a farmer and a thrasher. He took his own life by hanging due to ill health.

In 1940 Anna, a 61-year old widow, lived with her son Luther, age 24 and single, in the same house they had rented and lived in 5 years before. The census indicates that the house was not connected to a farm. Luther “Bun” was a general laborer, doing all sorts of odd jobs. [8]

Anna Bollenbacher, 107 years old, 1986.

I remember when Anna came to church and we had a 100th birthday celebration for her. She even worked in her garden in her last years. What a remarkable lady!

Anna (Huffman) Bollenbacher, 1979. 100 years old.

Anna (Huffman) Bollenbacher died of pneumonia and kidney failure in Coldwater, Mercer County, Ohio, on 6 December 1986, at the age of 107. She was buried on the 9th.

Fred and Anna are buried close to their son Luther, who died in 1983.

Fred and Anna had the following children:
Mabel E (1900-1989), married Lester Kaylor
Clarence R (1902-1904)
Ernest W (1906-1971), married Mabel Howell
Opal Marie (1909-1998), married Blaine Laffin
Albert Frederick (1911-1974), married Lillian Deitsch
Luther Carl “Bun” (1915-1983)

 

[1] Jacob Bollenbacher (1837-1915) had three wives: Louisa Friedericka Becker (1848-1864); Caroline Schaadt (1843-1880); and Magdalena Distler (1856-1923).

[2] 1880 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 188, p.473B, dwelling 48, family 50, Jacob Bollenbaugh; Ancestry.com; NARA microfilm T9, roll 1048.

[3] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” FamilySearch.org, Fred J Bollenbacher & Anna Barbara Huffman, 15 Feb 1900; Mercer County Marriages, Vol. 8, p.111; FHL microfilm 914957.

[4] 1880 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 188, p.472C, dwelling, family, Ferdinand Hoffman; Ancestry.com; NARA microfilm T9, roll 1048.

[5] 1900 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 85, p.9A, dwelling 164, family 169, Ferdinand Hoffman; Ancestry.com; FHL microfilm 1241304, NARA microfilm T623, roll 1304.

[6] 1910 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 119, p.4A, dwelling & family 60, Fred J Bollenbaugher; Ancestry.com; FHL microfilm 1375227, NARA microfilm T624, roll 1214.

[7] 1920 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 140, p.9B, dwelling 177, family 191, Fred J. Bollenbacher; Ancestry.com; NARA microfilm T625, roll 1418.

[8] 1940 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 54-22, p.8A, line 1, Anna Bollenbacher; Ancestry.com; NARA microfilm T627, roll 3114.

Mar 02

1908 German Lutheran Mission Feast, Schumm, Ohio

Below is a nice picture postcard of the 1908 German Lutheran Mission Feast in Schumm, Ohio.

German Lutheran Mission Feast, Schumm, Ohio, 1908.

The postcard is postmarked Schumm, Ohio, 13 October 1908.

There are young and old alike gathered and everyone is certainly dressed in their Sunday best—the ladies in beautiful long flowing white dresses and the gents in their suits, ties, and hats.

I wonder where this Mission Feast was held? It was probably held near Zion Lutheran Church in Schumm. Could it have been held on the Schumm homestead farm, just north of the church? The photo was taken in a very wooded area. I wonder if there was a wooded area near the church over a century ago?

The Mission Feast was probably held weeks, if not months before the card was sent in October. It would have taken some time to develop the photos and make the postcards.

The postcard is addressed to Adam Sauer, Pekin, Illinois. The name John is at the end of the message. The writing is difficult to read and I do not see a surname there. There are some Sauer-Schumm connections but I am not 100% sure how this Adam Sauer is connected. [1]

Back of German Lutheran Mission Feast postcard, 1908.

I cannot read what is written on the back because unfortunately I do not know enough German to make out the message.

Despite the lack of information about the postcard it is still a very nice photo with a Schumm connection and a Schumm postmark. I would appreciate any additional information about the family mentioned on this postcard or the event pictured here.

This postcard makes me think of the upcoming Schumm reunion which will held this year on Sunday 5 August at Zion Lutheran Church. The 2018 reunion will be the 43rd gathering of the descendants of John George Schumm. The reunion is held every other year and attracts well over 100 Schumm relatives.

 

[1] A possible connection from information in Anna (Meisinger) Sauer’s obituary:  Anna (Meisinger) Sauer (1855-1935), had a brother Adam Meisinger living in Pekin, Illinois, at the time of Anna’s death in 1935. Anna (Meisinger) was married to John Sauer (1855-1900) and they had 9 children that survived to adulthood. Anna and John Sauer attended Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm, and both are buried in Zion Schumm’s cemetery. Anna (Meisinger) and John Sauer had a son Adam, per Anna’s obituary, and Adam was enumerated in the 1900 census with his parents and his 8 siblings. Adam Sauer was born in 1887 and he might have been staying with his uncle Adam Meisinger in Pekin, Illinois, in 1908. Adam Sauer would have had a connection and an interest in Zion Schumm. Anna and John Sauer also had a son named John Jr and he may have sent the postcard. Also of interest is another child of John and Anna (Meisinger) Sauer–Maria (Sauer) Schumm (1886-1975), who married William Jacob Schumm (1883-1967), and they had children Elsie, Irma, and Milton Schumm.

However, just to complicate things, there was another Adam Sauer in the Schumm area at the same time. He married Magdalena Dietrich in 1883. They also attended church at Zion Schumm but he was about a generation older than the other Adam Sauer born in 1887.

Because of the Pekin, Illinois, connection, I believe this postcard was likely sent to the son of John and Anna (Meisinger) Sauer.

Feb 27

Tombstone Tuesday–Luther C. Bollenbacher

Luther C. Bollenbacher, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Luther Carl Bollenbacher, located in row 9 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Luther Carl “Bun” Bollenbacher was born in Chattanooga, Ohio, on 31 December 1915, the son of Fred and Anna (Huffman) Bollenbacher.

In about 1916 Fred and Anna Bollenbacher and their 5 children lived on a 40 acre farm south of Chatt in about 1916. The land was located a little south of Frahm Pike and east of State Route 49. Fred was a farmer and a thresher who owned 2 horses and 3 cows and had an Indiana telephone, according to The Farm Journal Illustrated Directory of Mercer County, Ohio, 1916, 1921.

The Fred Bollenbacher household in 1920: Fred J, 45; Anna, 39; Mabel, 18; Ernest, 13; Albert, 8; Opal, 10; and Luther, 4. Fred was a farmer. [1] 

Luther was confirmed by Rev. Albrecht at Zion Chatt on 24 March 1929. Zion’s confirmation records indicate that he was baptized at St. Paul but they do not specify whether it was St. Paul Lutheran or St. Paul UCC.

Below is the 1929 Confirmation Class at Zion Chatt. Luther is the boy in the back row on the far right side. The others in the class: 1) Morris Huffman, Bernice Becher, Rev. J.A. Albrecht, Pauline McGough, Waldo Brandt.  2) John Albrecht, Herb Brandt, Vernon Caffee, Elihu Davison, Werner Becher.  3) Reginald Fisher, Paul McGough, Charles Strabel, Luther Bollenbacher.

1929 Zion Chatt Confirmation Class with Rev. Jacob Albrecht.

Luther’s father Fred died in 1938.

In 1940 Luther, age 24 and single, lived with his 61 year-old widowed mother in the same house they had rented and lived in 5 years before. The census indicates that the house was not connected to a farm. Luther was a general laborer, doing all sorts of odd jobs. He had completed elementary school through the 8th grade. [2]

Luther worked as a mechanic at Johnson’s Garage and never married.

Luther died at Mercer County Hospital in Coldwater, Ohio, on 31 August 1983, at the age of 67. He was buried on 2 September and Dick and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Luther Bollenbacher had the following siblings:
Mabel E (1900-1989), married Lester Kaylor
Clarence R (1902-1904)
Ernest W (1906-1971), married Mabel Howell
Opal Marie (1909-1998), married Blaine Laffin
Albert Frederick (1911-1974), married Lillian Deitsch

Luther’s mother, Anna (Huffman) Bollenbacher, died in 1986 at the age of. 107. Fred and Anna are also buried in row 9 of Zion’s cemetery, not far from their son Luther.

 

[1] 1920 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 140, p.9B, dwelling 177, family 191, Fred J. Bollenbacher; Ancestry.com; NARA microfilm T625, roll 1418.

[2] 1940 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 54-22, p.8A, line 1, Anna Bollenbacher; Ancestry.com; NARA microfilm T627, roll 3114.

Feb 23

Dear Mom & All–WWII Letters from Herb (part 17)

My dad, Herbert Miller, was trained as a replacement troop during the fall of 1944 and by the end of that same year he was in Belgium fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. He had been assigned to Company L, 333rd Regiment, 84th Infantry Division, known as the Railsplitters.

US Army, 84th Division, 333rd Company, Infantry. WWII, Battle of the Bulge.

I continue with the letters he sent home during that time, letters that his family lovingly saved all these years. And I am so grateful that they did.

The soldiers were not allowed to write about any information that would give their position or battle plans. Their letters were read, censored, and approved by and army examiner. As a result, the letters say pretty much the same things again and again. He wanted to know about the farming back home and was very appreciative of the packages with food items. It is no surprise that the home baked goods he received were so tasty because my aunts were all very good bakers.

Many of the letters from early-mid 1945 were the small V-Mail letters. My dad mentions his siblings Em, Vernie, and Ann, as well as Em’s husband Norval. The letters below were all written in Germany

Envelope postmarked 11 April 1945, from Pfc Herbert Miller, to Mr. & Mrs. Carl Miller, RR #1 Willshire, Ohio. Inspected and passed by an Army examiner.

1 April 1945
Germany
Dear Mom & All,

The mail just came in so I decided to answer a few letters.

Today is Easter Sunday. Went to church this morning. The chaplain really had a good sermon.

The other day I received two boxes of candy bars from Em and Norval and today received another box from them, cookies, cake, popcorn, candy and nuts. They sure were good.

I imagine school is almost out by now. Say, Kenny is doing pretty good in school, so are Ann and Vernie

Tell Vernie and Kenny that if they work real hard I’ll try and bring them a present or send them one.

I never did get to send the flag or knife home. I’ll send them as soon as I can.

Well, it won’t be long until chow. I’m getting pretty hungry. We had creamed chicken for dinner and fried eggs, sunny side up, for breakfast.

The Red Cross comes around every once in a while. I sure am glad to see them come. They have donuts and coffee and the Red Cross girls are the only American girls I’ve seen over here.

Has the preacher’s house been started yet? That sure was a tough break for them.

Can’t think of any more to write so I’d better close for now. Am feeling fine and hope you are the same.

Love,
Herbie

Note by kmb: This letter contains some information and gives a time period concerning the parsonage at Zion Chatt. The parsonage was a frame structure that apparently burned in the spring of 1945. A brick structure was rebuilt and is the same house occupied by our minister at Zion Chatt today. From this letter we learn that it was probably rebuilt in 1945 or 1946.

V-Mail, envelope postmarked 3 May 1945, from Pfc Herbert Miller, to Mr. & Mrs. Norval Weitz, Rockford,  Ohio. Inspected and passed by an Army examiner.

20 April 1945
Germany
Dear Em & Jack,

I’m sorry I haven’t answered your letters sooner. I have been pretty busy.

I imagine you have the spring work well started and on the way. How does Norval like his John Deere tractor? I never had a John Deere. Maybe he can show me how to drive one of them when I get home.

I’ve been receiving packages and letters regular. But the newspapers aren’t coming through. But I can’t expect to get all of my mail just now.

I sent mom a double bouquet of flowers for Mother’s Day. I didn’t get to send her any for Easter. I sent Dorothy some for Easter and that was all I could get then.

Must close, will try and write more later.

Love,
Herbie

Note by kmb: Below is a photo of the bouquet my dad sent to his mother for Mother’s Day 1945.

Flowers from Herb in Germany, May 1945.

V-Mail, envelope postmarked 6 May 1945, from Pfc Herbert Miller, to Mr. & Mrs. Carl Miller, RR #1 Willshire, Ohio. Inspected and passed by an Army examiner.

26 April 1945
Germany
Dear Mom & All,

I just came in from the holes [?] and they said we could write letters, so I’ll try and write a couple tonight.

The weather is getting pretty nice again. It was pretty rainy here for a while.

I received the box youins sent and the one that long fruit cake was in. Boy, that was really good. The best I ever tasted. Could you send another just like it. All the guys in the squad thought it was delicious. Those crackers and dried beef and cheese were good. The K-rations have crackers in them but very seldom do you get any salted crackers. I’m going to put in another package. I don’t know why, but everybody over here likes fruit cakes. I used to crave ice cream but I don’t even care for it any more.

Must close for now. Am feeling fine and hope that you are the same.

Love,
Herbie

P.S. Please send a package.

Note by kmb: My dad eventually got his taste for ice cream back. As long as I can remember he absolutely loved ice cream. We always had some in the house and he and I enjoyed experimenting with creative toppings.