Dec 25

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from Karen’s Chatt!

 

Dec 22

Dear Mom & All–WWII Letters from Herb (part 11)

Below are some more letters that my dad, Herbert Miller, wrote home during his Army basic training at Fort McClellan, Alabama’s IRTC [Infantry Replacement Training Center] and when he was waiting to be shipped out to Europe in WWII. After finishing his basic training he came home on furlough in November 1944.

Herb home on furlough, November 1944.

It seems that my dad wrote a lot of letters. In addition to the letters to his parents, some other relatives and his girlfriend, he wrote quite a few letters to his sister Em and her husband Norval “Jack.” My aunt Em also saved his letters and I am grateful that her family gave me those letters a couple years ago.

My dad had been home on furlough in November 1944 and by the end of November he was in Fort George Meade, Maryland, getting ready to ship out for Europe. From the letter below we learn that Em and Jack drove my dad to Lima when his furlough was over and from there he went to the east coast.

Envelope postmarked Fort George Meade, MD, 30 November 1944, to Mr. & Mrs. Norval Weitz, Rockford, Ohio:

29 November 1944
Dear Em & Jack,
I haven’t got very much time to write tonight. Thought I would write you a few lines to let you know that I got here OK.

I want to thank you and Norval for taking me to Lima. You know it didn’t cost me a cent to get out here. I used my G.I. ticket for train, bus, and everything.

We received a part of our equipment—jungle [?] packs, gas masks, new liners, and steel helmets. They are using the jungle [?] packs over in Europe, too, so it doesn’t mean a thing.

I’ll probably be here a week at least. They don’t tell us anything.

Guess I’d better close.

Love,
Herb

Letter from Herb to Em & Jack, Dec 1944.

By the end of December 1944 he was in Belgium fighting in the Battle of the Bulge.

The next letter he wrote to Em and Jack is dated 31 December 1944, from Somewhere in Belgium. He was not allowed to say where.

To be continued in another blog post…

Right now, for the rest of this blog post, I am going to backtrack a little and do some catching-up.

I have my dad’s letters to Em in a different folder and I wasn’t as organized as I should have been when I started transcribing the letters he wrote to his parents. As a result, I did not transcribe and include the letters to Em and Jack with the letters he sent to his parents.

So today I am including some of the more interesting parts of those letters he wrote to Em and Jack during basic training.

It seems that Fred Betzel, Donald Hoblet, my dad, and some other locals were together at Fort Harrison, Indianapolis, Indiana, on 4 July 1944 for processing. They must have left Mercer County as a group and were together for at least their first seven days at Fort Harrison. At that time my dad was finished with his processing, waiting to get shipped out to his next destination.

In a letter to Em and Jack, dated 6 August 1944 from Fort McClellan, he mentions that he read in the Standard that Vincent Jolly was killed in action and was concerned about “Red” Linn, who was dating his sister Helen.

In another letter to Em and Jack, dated only “Sunday” he mentions that he wrote 8 letters since dinner and was getting tired of writing! [I don’t know how he had the time for all that letter writing along with his basic training!]

In the same letter: …The Army isn’t quite what I thought it would be but it isn’t so bad. We have ice cream every noon and iced tea or orange aid to drink. Today we got two bars of ice cream, iced tea, mashed potatoes, peas, chicken, and biscuits. So it was a good dinner.

You ought to see me with my ammunition belt on, gas mask on, steel helmet, and rifle with bayonet. If I could I would have my picture taken with the rifle. The rifle I got is a Winchester M-1, 9 shot automatic gas operated rifle. It weighs about 8 pounds….Talking about hot, it was 98 degrees in the day room and there was an electric fan in the room…

My dad absolutely loved ice cream. He told me that he acquired his love of ice cream when he was in the Army–that he wasn’t old enough to go out and drink beer with the other guys, so he ate ice cream instead.

From a letter dated 15 August 1944, from Fort McClellan: …I was sorta afraid of the M-1 rifle but really like to shoot it now. It is only practice now but I qualified for marksman. A lot of the guys are going around with black eyes and bruised cheeks where the butt of the gun hit them.

This week is going awful fast. Only twelve more weeks then my training will be over with. We got paid last Saturday night. My check was $21.58. I had a $25 bond taken out, $6.58 for insurance, and $1.50 for laundry. We signed the payroll tonight again so will get paid in 18 days…

From a letter dated 10 September 1944, from Fort McClellan: …I read in the Standard they had German prisoners working in the tomato factories. Do they have many guards watching them? There are a lot of them here. The other day I saw a truck load of German prisoners and one of them was driving the truck. They don’t have any trouble with them around here…

We have a new set of sergeants coming in. I talked to the sergeant who will be in charge of our platoon. He is really nice. Where do you think he is from? You guessed it—OHIO. He was in the Ohio 37th Division and has seen a lot of action. He said on those islands there was about one Marine to every six Infantry man. Tarawa was the worst battle up until the battle of Saipan. That was the worst so far. There is a news broadcast now. The Yanks have started in the Siegfried Line. It shouldn’t take so very long now. But I still say Japan will give up or be licked before Germany. I don’t look for the war with Germany to be over before the first of the year….

In a letter dated 11 October 1944 he mentions to Em and Jack how tough the Infantry is. He also mentioned that he heard that Don Hoblet was having a hard time of it, too.

Camp McClellan church bulletin, 1944.

Here are a couple other items I overlooked and did not include during his basic training:

A bulletin from the Sunday worship service on 16 July 1944, at the Eighth Regiment Chapel, I.R.T.C., Fort McClellan, Alabama:

In the area of the bulletin designated “Message—use this space. Write a letter home,” my dad wrote:

16 July 1944,
Dear Mom & All,
Well had or am having today off so went to church this morning. As you will notice on the front is the picture of the 8th Regt Chapel. The I.R. T. C. means Infantry Replacement Training. I received your letters yesterday and it is about time for [?]

I got Vernie and Kenny a t-shirt apiece but forgot to get Ann anything yet. So will get Ann something tonight and mail them tomorrow evening.

We had a little practice with our rifles the other day (Saturday morning). One guy dropped his rifle. Now he has to carry the gun around and sleep with it for a week. Will close and write more on stationery.

Love,
Herb

Note Herb wrote in Camp McClellan church bulletin, 1944.

My dad wrote about a point system, a gig system, in one of his letters and the family also saved the paper that explained the system:

Six Point Hutment Gig System
Headquarters 12th Training Battalion, Infantry Replacement Training Center, Fort McClellan, Alabama

Effective immediately the “Six Point Gig” system will be used in area and hutment inspections. A total “Gig” of 6 points of more for any week will result in restriction to the company area for the week and, or that man may be given extra duty for three successive evenings at the discretion of the Company Commander. The following key and point values will be used in this plan.

a—Dirty floor: 1 pt/man in hut

b—Shoes dirty or disarranged: 1 pts

c—Shelves or ledges dirty or disorderly: 2 pts

d—Poor police outside hut: 1 pt/man in hut

e—Bed improperly made or arranged: 1 pt

f—Bed unmade: 2 pts

g—Trash cans not emptied: 1 pt/man

h—Windows dirty: 1 pt/man

i—Equipment disarranged: 2 pts

j—Clothing disarranged or unbuttoned: 2 pts

k—Rifle rack dirty: 1 pt/man

l—Rifle I unlocked rack: 6 pts

m—Lights or radio on: 1 pt/man

n—Beverage bottle in or around huts: 6 pts/man in hut

o—Mop or broom hot hung properly: 1 pt/man in hut

Six Point Gig System, IRTC, Fort McClellan, AL, 1944.

Lastly, here is a 1949 Christmas card from one of his Army buddies, Larry Broderick, of Medford, Massachusetts:

1949 Christmas card from Herb’s Army buddy Larry Broderick, Medford, Massachusetts.

While we spend this Christmas in comfort, with our freedoms, let us remember what soldiers past and present went through and still go through for us,our country, and future generations.

Dec 19

Tombstone Tuesday–Frank E. Swander

Frank Swander, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Frank Swander, located in row 10 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

FRANK E
SWANDER
1889-1961

Franklin “Frank” Emil Swander was born in DeKalb County, Indiana, on 4 August 1889, the son of Emanuel and Frances (Strabie/Strabee) Swander. [1] The Swander family lived on a farm 2 ½ miles north of Garrett, Indiana. [2] This surname is spelled Swanders in many records.

In 1900 the Swander family lived in Richland Township, DeKalb County, and the family consisted of: Emanuel M, 39; Frances S, 37; Herman E, 13; Frank L, 10; Clyde M, 7; Arthur, 4; and Jonathan Swander, 87,who was Emanuel’s father. Emanuel was reportedly born in Indiana and Frances and Jonathan were both born in Pennsylvania. Emanuel and Frances had been married 14 years and Frances had given birth to 4 children, who were all living. Emanuel was a farmer. [3]

The Emanuel Swander family lived in Richland Township in 1910, likely on the same farm. Their household in 910: Emanuel, 49; Frances, 47; Herman, 23; Frank, 21; Clyde, 17; and Arthur, 14. This enumeration indicates that that Frank’s mother Frances had given birth to 5 children and that 4 were still living and that everyone in the household was born in Indiana. [4]

Frank married Laura Schott in Celina, Mercer County, Ohio, on 27 January 1914. Frank was 24 years of age and worked for the railroad. Laura was 25 years of age and was born in Chattanooga, Ohio. She was the daughter of Michael and Margaret (Kühm) Schott. Frank and Laura were married by Rev. F.G. Reitz, an Evangelical Lutheran pastor in Celina. [1]

In 1914 Frank worked as a brakeman for the Pennsylvania Co Railroad in Fort Wayne. He and Laura lived at 1215 Taylor in the city. [5]

Frank and Laura had a son a year later, Glen Franklin, who died of a cerebral hemorrhage injury at birth or shortly thereafter on 26 November 1915. He was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and is buried at Lindenwood Cemetery there. [6] This was the only child the couple had.

In February of 1917 Frank suffered a serious injury while at work on the railroad.

PENNSY BRAKEMAN INJURED
When he was thrown to the ground last evening, from the top of a freight car he was riding, Frank E. Swanders, 27 years of age, and a brakemen for the Pennsylvania, sustained a broken left leg, just above the knee and numerous bruises about the head and body. The string of cars he was standing upon was violently broken in two at the Lafayette street crossing, with the result that the jolt hurled Swanders from the top of the car. Although rendered unconscious by the fall, the unfortunate man regained his senses when removed to the Lutheran hospital. AT noon today he had shown marked signs of recovery. He lives at 2421 Winter Street. [7]

Newspaper accounts indicate that he had a lengthy hospital stay and he eventually lost his left leg.

Frank registered for WWI Draft in June 1917. He was Caucasian; married; born in Garrett, Indiana, on 4 August 1889; lived at 2421 Winter St, Fort Wayne; was slender, tall, not bald, and had brown hair and eyes. He worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad in Fort Wayne. It is also noted that he had lost his left leg. Hand-written on his draft card–Note: Frank E. Swander sick in hospital-card turned in by W.A.J. Schott. The draft card was signed by W.A.J. Schott. [8] This was likely Laura’s brother. Frank was rejected for military service. [9]

In 1920 Frank worked as farm laborer in Noble County, Indiana. He and Laura were the only two people in their household. Frank was 30 and Laura 31. [10]

In 1930 Frank, 41, and Laura, 43, lived in Fort Wayne, where Frank was a tool keeper for a steam railroad. They owned their own home on East Rudisill Blvd and they had a radio. There were no children in their household. [11]

Frank and Laura moved to DeKalb County, north of Fort Wayne sometime between 1930 and 1935. The Frank Swander household in 1940: Frank, 50; Laura, 51; and Walter Schott, 47, single. Walter was Laura’s brother. Frank was the manager and operator of a filling station and Walter was an attendant at the filling station. Frank and Laura had lived in same house 5 years before the census but Walter had lived in Cincinnati 5 years before. [12]

Frank’s wife Laura (Schott) Swander died of pancreatic cancer on 22 June 1943 in DeKalb County. [13]

Frank married Edith (Haifley) Keller in DeKalb County on 11 March 1946. This was the second marriage for both and Edith was divorced. Frank operated a grocery store and Edith worked in a factory. [14] They owned and operated the grocery store south of Auburn for years.

Frank Swander died on 18 June 1961 at Souder Hospital in Auburn, DeKalb County, Indiana. He died from a coronary occlusion which he had suffered two days before. He had suffered with atherosclerotic heart disease for 9 years. His death certificate notes that he lost his left leg in 1917. His wife Edith was the informant for information on his death certificate. He was 70 years of age and his occupation was retired grocer. He lived at 320 W. 18th Street in Auburn. [15]

Frank Swander, Native Of Near Garrett, Dies
Frank E. Swander, age 70, who operated the country grocery store at Hopewell for 27 years, died at 8:35 p.m. Sunday in the Dr. Bonnell M. Souder hospital in Auburn.

Mr. Swander and his wife moved to Auburn 18 months ago after selling the country grocery seven miles south of Auburn. The late residence is at 320 West Eighteenth Street, Auburn.

The body was removed to the Gerig Funeral Home in Auburn. Memorial services by the Loyal Order of the Moose of Auburn were conducted at the funeral home at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

The body remained at the funeral home until it was removed at 11 a.m. Wednesday to the St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Auburn to lie in state until final rites were conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday.

The Rev. George Schuette, pastor of St. Mark’s Church, officiated at the services with burial in the Lutheran cemetery at Chattanooga, O., 15 miles southwest of Van Wert, O.

Mr. Swander died following an illness extending over the past six years. He had been admitted to the hospital June 10. His death was attributed to a complication of diseases.

A native of DeKalb County, he was born north of Garrett Aug. 4, 1890, son of the late Emanuel Swander and Frances Strebee Swander.

His first wife preceded him in death. In a ceremony performed March 9, 1946, at Fort Wayne, he married Edith Haifley.

She survives with two stepchildren, Harold Keller of Butler and Eloise Funk of Rt. 1, Grabill; two brothers, Clyde Swander of Rt. 1, Pleasant Lake, and Arthur Swander of Rt. 2, Wolcottville and three step-grand children.

Two brothers preceded him in death.

Mr. Swander was a member of the St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Auburn, the Auburn Moose Lodge, and the Legion of the Moose. [16]

Frank is buried next to his first wife Laura. Frank’s second wife Edith (Haifley) died 7 February 2003 in Auburn, Indiana, and is buried in Riverside Cemetery, St. Joe, Indiana. [17]

Neither Frank nor Laura is listed in Zion Chatt’s death and burial records. The only time the couple is mentioned in Zion Chatt’s records (besides Laura’s baptism and confirmation) is when Laura’s niece Lorina Irene Schott was baptized in 1920. Both Frank and Lora were her baptismal sponsors.

 

[1] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” database with images, FamilySearch, Frank E. Swanders & Laura Schott, 27 Jan 1914; Mercer County Marriages, Vol. 10, p.709; FHL microfilm 914959.

[2] Garrett Clipper, Garrett, Indiana, “George J Clark and John Cain Impersonated Officers?” 31 May 1917, p.8; Newspapers.com.

[3] 1900 U.S. Census, Richland, DeKalb, Indiana, ED 62, p.8A, dwelling 173, family 182, Emanuel M Swander; Ancestry.com; FHL microfilm 1240367, NARA microfilm T623, roll 367.

[4] 1910 U.S. Census, Richland, DeKalb, Indiana, Ed 82, p.13A, dwelling & family 267, Emanuel Swander; Ancestry.com; FHL microfilm 1374358, NARA microfilm T624, roll 345.

[5] Fort Wayne, Indiana, City Directory, 1914, p.1200, Frank Swanders; Ancestry.com; U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995.

[6] Indiana, Death Certificates, 1910-1919, Roll 2, no.821, Glen Franklin Swanders, 26 Nov 1915; Ancestry.com; Indiana State Board of Health, Death Certificates, 1900-2011, Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Indianapolis, Indiana.

[7] Fort Wayne Daily News, Fort Wayne, Indiana, “Pennsy Brakeman Injured,” 28 Feb 1917, p.7; Newspapers.com.

[8] World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Allen County, Indiana, Board 3, Frank E Swanders, 5 June 1917; Ancestry.com; WWI Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, NARA, Washington DC, M1509, roll 1503886.

[9] The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, “Rejected,“14 Aug 1917, p.5; Newspapers.com.

[10] 1920 U.S. Census, Swan, Noble, Indiana, ED 146, p.1B, dwelling & family 20, Frank Swanders; Ancestry.com;  NARA microfilm T625, roll 459.

[11] 1930 U.S. Census, Fort Wayne, Allen, Indiana, ED 45, p.28A, dwelling 57, family 60, Frank E Swander; Ancestry.com; FHL microfilm 2340310, NARA microfilm T626, roll 575.

[12] 1940 U.S. Census, Jackson, DeKalb, Indiana, ED 17-8, p.11A, line 35, frank Swander; Ancestry.com; NARA microfilm T627, roll 1036.

[13] Indiana, Death Certificates, 1943, Roll 7, no.18142, Laura Swanders, 22 June 1943; Ancestry.com; Indiana State Board of Health, Death Certificates, 1900-2011, Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Indianapolis, Indiana.

[14] “Indiana Marriage, 1811-2007,” FamilySearch.org, Frank E   and Edith L Keller, 11 Mar 1946; DeKalb County Marriages, Vol. 38 , p.511, FHL microfilm 1863340.

[15] Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011, Year 1961, Roll 8, Frank E Swander, 18 Jun 1961; Ancestry.com; Indiana State Board of Health, Death Certificates, 1900-2011, Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Indianapolis, Indiana.

[16] Garrett Clipper, Garrett, Indiana, “Frank Swander, Native of Near Garrett, Dies,” 22 Jun 1961, p.1; Newspapers.com.

[17] Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011, Year 2003, Roll 3, Edith L Swander, 7 Feb 2003; Ancestry.com; Indiana State Board of Health, Death Certificates, 1900-2011, Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Dec 15

Dear Mom & All–WWII Letters from Herb (part 10)

Below are some more letters that my dad, Herbert Miller, wrote home while he was at his basic training at Fort McClellan, Alabama. It was late in the fall of 1944 and he was in Company A, 12th Battalion, 8th Regiment there. He was nearly finished with his basic training and would soon come home on furlough to the Miller farm in Mercer County, Ohio.

Herb Miller, U.S. Army veteran, WWII.

In these letters my dad mentions his brother Vernie, his uncle and aunt Bob and Bernice (Brewster) Dudgeon, and his cousin Murlin Miller.

Today’s first letter was addressed to both his parents but the salutation was just Dear Mom.

Postmarked from Fort McClellan, AL, 1 Nov 1944, addressed to Mr. & Mrs. Carl Miller, RR#1, Willshire, Ohio, from Pvt. Herbert Miller:

29 Oct 1944
Dear Mom,
It’s Sunday morning and all is going along pretty good. We pulled into this here area Thursday night and have had every day off since then but we have been having night problems every night. Last Thursday we ran the artillery problems. We fired a lot of tracers and a lot of artillery was flying around. As a result they started a forest fire. We started fighting the fire at 2:00 and it was 3:30 [?] when we got it under control. There were close to 1000 men fighting the fire. I would say there were about 20 acres of timber burnt and then there were a lot of fields which were covered with grass that was burnt.

Only about another two weeks before I’ll be home sometime in three weeks. I imagine Don Hoblet will be home about the same time. Since he is in I.R.T.C. at Texas and the training is practically the same.

Don’t send any more boxes or anything like that.

We don’t get any candy, [?], or cookies, cakes & pies out here and everything is done tactically. That is you don’t smoke after dark. No loud talking or singing and when you eat you have to stay five yards apart.

I don’t get much chance to write letters out here. So am going to write all I can this morning.

It sure will be good to get home again. It’s been almost 4 months since I have been in the Army. I haven’t heard from Dale or Murlin. I wrote to Murlin a couple of times but he never answers.

I hope you are all OK. Am feeling fine. Will close for now.

Love,
Herb

Herb’s cousin Murlin Miller, WWII era.

My dad mentions Central Soya in Decatur in the next letter. His dad Carl worked there. He also mentions the Luther League, the youth group at Zion Chatt, where the family attended church.

Postmarked from Fort McClellan, AL, 2 Nov 1944, addressed to Mr. & Mrs. Carl Miller, RR#1, Willshire, Ohio, from Pvt. Herbert Miller:

1 Nov 1944
Dear Mom & All,
It’s Wednesday noon and we have today off as far as training is concerned. We had a night problem last night and have today off. We have been having inspections and everything else. I received your stationery today. Sure was glad to get it.

Well we have only two more weeks out here on maneuvers. I don’t know the time and date I’ll be home but it won’t be so very long.

The sun is shining pretty bright now but about 12:00 tonight it will be plenty chilly. Friday night we start the hike back to the Fort. It isn’t a very hard march, only 21 miles and 8 hours to make it in.

Last night in the night problems about half of the 4th platoon played hooky. So today the 4th Platoon isn’t enjoying the day off.

I’ll bet that was really a swell Halloween party the Luther League had. I sure would have liked to be there. I’ll bet Vernie looked comical in his outfit. That fire over at Decatur at the Central Soya Co. was really destructive. Dad wasn’t on that shift was he?

Guess I’d better close. Can’t think of anymore to write.

With Love,
Herbie

Herb, home on furlough, November 1944.

My dad apparently wrote October instead of November as the date on the next letter.

Postmarked from Fort McClellan, AL, 7 Nov 1944, addressed to Mr. & Mrs. Carl Miller, RR#1, Willshire, Ohio, from Pvt. Herbert Miller:

5 Oct 1944 [5 Nov 1944]
Dear Mom & All,
Today was Sunday. It is now about 8:00 in the evening. Only 6 more days to go till my training cycle ends. Tomorrow they are going to tell us where we are going next. This infantry training doesn’t necessarily mean I’m going to be an infantry man. I could get in heavy weapons or air corps or anything.

I imagine the crops are all in and it is getting pretty chilly out.

You asked about my birthday present. You don’t need to get me anything. If you really want to the cigarette lighter would really be swell.

I went down to the main PS but they didn’t have any pillow cases. I’m going into town some night this week and get them.

I received a letter from Bob & Bernice the other day but didn’t get it answered yet.

It’s a little chilly tonight so I built a fire in the stove. It is just as warm as toast in here now.

I made that 24 mile hike OK. It was pretty tiresome walking 8 hours straight.

Guess I’d better close. I’m feeling fine and hope you are the same.

With all my love,
Herbie

There is a big gap, 10 days, between that last letter and the next one. He wrote home quite often and he was supposed to find out where he would go after basic training the next day. It had to be shocking news that he was going overseas to fight and he surely wrote home about it. Or was he not allowed to write home with that news? I wonder how much they told him about where he was headed and how much he was allowed to tell. And I  wonder, if he did write letters home during that time period, what happened to them.

Last letter from Herb while in Alabama.

That is what some family member wrote in pencil on the envelope postmarked from Fort McClellan, AL, 15 Nov 1944, addressed to Mr. & Mrs. Carl Miller, RR#1, Willshire, Ohio, from Pvt. Herbert Miller:

15 Nov 1944
Dear Mom & All,
It’s Wednesday night and everything is coming along ok. I have all my clothes packed. I couldn’t take everything with me so I had to send a box home. The only thing I’ll beat the box home—or should.

I ship out tomorrow morning sometime. So I ought to be home Friday evening sometime. But I don’t know the exact time I get there. There is a boy from Rockford whose folks are coming to Lima or wherever he is going. We go to Cincinnati first and from there will take the quickest or the first train north and he is going to call his folks from Cincinnati.

I bought both of my grandmothers a present. I wanted to get them something for Christmas and I saw something nice in Anniston.

It’s not much use for me to write a long letter because I’ll be home pretty shortly.

Love,
Herb

Be seeing youins soon.

My dad headed home on his furlough on 16 November and he thought he would be home by the following day. Depending on when he had to leave again he would was probably home for about 10 days, give or take.

The family took a lot of photos while he was home on furlough.

Herb on furlough, with parents, November 1944.

Herb on furlough, with siblings, November 1944.

Herb on furlough, with brothers Vernie & Kenny, November 1944.

Herb on furlough, with sister Helen, November 1944.

Herb on furlough, at Zion Chatt with Fred Betzel and Donald Hoblet, November 1944.

Herb, home on furlough, November 1944.

Herb, home on furlough, November 1944.

A few others from Zion Chatt were home on furlough about the same time:

Carl Ripley, WWII era.

Wesley Kallenberger, WWII era.

Wesley Kallenberger, WWII era.

From the next letter we know he was in Fort George Mead, Maryland, by 1 December.

Postmarked Fort George Mead, MD, 1 Dec 1944. To Mr. & Mrs. Carl Miller, RR #1, Willshire, Ohio. His return address indicated Co. A, 22nd Battalion, 6th, Regiment.

1 Dec, 1944
Dear Mom & All,
It is Friday evening about 5:10. We have retreat in about a half an hour. We didn’t have anything today except making up different kinds of ? rolls.

I sold that other cigarette lighter. They guys really like that kind of lighter.

It’s about 9:15 now. This evening right after chow I went over to the PX & bought me some Christmas cards and am mailing 15 out tomorrow. I have a lot more ready to send but guess I don’t want to fill up the mail room.

Tomorrow we test our gas masks in the gas chamber and we have from 1:00 Saturday morning until 5:30 Monday morning off.

I can’t think of much more to write so will close. Am feeling fine and hope youins are the same.

Love,
Herbie

The postmark is different on the next envelope: Postmarked from U.S. Army Postal Service 8 Dec 1944, addressed to Mr. & Mrs. Carl Miller, RR#1, Willshire, Ohio, from Pvt. Herbert Miller. His return address is different now, too: Pvt. Herbert Miller (35845400), Co. G, 3rd Platoon, APO 15665 c/o Postmaster, New York, NY. He was probably getting ready to ship out and go overseas. Someone, likely a family member, wrote on the envelope in pencil, Herbs paper in here. I wonder what paper that was?

7 Dec 1944
Dear Mom & All,
Just a half an hour to go till chow. Sure am getting hungry. We eat breakfast at 6:00, dinner at 11:00 and chow at 4:00. They are giving out some passes tonight, but I don’t feel like going to town tonight. I’m in the mood to see a show again.

They really have a swell library here. After the show last night I went over and read awhile.

I thought I would see Slim Ault or Eugene Case but didn’t see them at Meade or in fact haven’t seen them since my furlough.

I think I’ll sign up for an allotment and send some of my money home each pay day.

I can’t think of any more to write so had better close.

Love,
Herbie

My dad always loved to read. I guess it must run in the family and the love of reading was passed down to me.

Dec 12

Tombstone Tuesday–Laura B. (Schott) Swander

Laura B. (Schott) Swander, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Laura B. (Schott) Swander, located in row 10 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Laura B.
Swander
1888-1943

Lorina “Laura” Barbara Schott was born in or near Chattanooga, Ohio, on 23 July 1888, the daughter of Michael (1855-1940) and Margaretha (Kühm) (1855-1942) Schott. Her father was born in Washington Township, Mercer County, Ohio, and her mother was born in Schillersdorf, Elsass.

Laura was baptized 29 July 1888 with George and Barbara Kühm serving as witnesses. The church records do not indicate if Laura was baptized at home or at the church. Laura was confirmed at Zion Chatt on 5 April 1903.

In 1900 Laura, age 11, lived with her parents and 5 of her siblings on the family farm in Liberty Township, Mercer County. The family in 1900: Michael, 44; Maggie, 45; Elizabeth E, 21; Fredrick C, 19; Mary K, 13; Laura B, 11; Albert W, 6; and Maggie O, 5. [1] 

In 1910 Laura lived with her brother August Schott (1879-1961) and his family on Taylor Street in Fort Wayne. Their household in 1910: August M, 30; Almeda, 29; Pauline, 5; Velma, 1; and Laura, 21, single. Laura worked as a winder at a knitting mill and her brother August was a chauffeur for and express wagon. [2] 

Laura married Frank Emil Swander in Celina, Mercer County, Ohio, on 27 January 1914. Frank’s name is spelled Swanders in their marriage record on several other records. Their marriage record gives quite a bit of information about the couple. Frank, age 24, was born in Indiana on 4 August 1890, the son of Emanuel and Francis (Strabie/Strabee) Swander. Frank worked for the rail road at the time they married. Laura, age 25, was born in Chattanooga, Ohio, and was living there when they married. The record names her father as Michael Schott and her mother as Margaret King. They were married by Rev. F.G. Reitz, Evangelical Lutheran pastor in Celina. Laura was 25 and Frank was 24. [3]

In 1920 Frank worked as farm laborer in Noble County, Indiana. He and Laura were the only two people in their household. Frank was 30 and Laura 31. [4]

In 1930 Frank E, 41 and Laura B, 43 lived in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where Frank was a tool keeper for a steam railroad. They owned their own home on East Rudisill Blvd and they had a radio. There were no children in their household. [5]

Frank and Laura moved to DeKalb County, north of Fort Wayne sometime between 1930 and 1935. The Frank Swander household in 1940: Frank, 50; Laura, 51; and Walter Schott, 47, single. Walter was Laura’s brother. Frank was the manager and operator of a filling station and Walter was an attendant at the filling station. Frank and Laura had lived in same house 5 years before the census but Walter had lived in Cincinnati, Ohio, 5 years before. [6]

Laura’s father Michael Schott died 20 January 1940 and her mother died two years later, on 13 August 1942. They are both buried in row 9 of Zion Chatt’s cemetery. According to her parents’ obituaries Laura and Frank were living in Auburn, Indiana.

Laura (Schott) Swander died at Sacred Heart Hospital in Garrett, DeKalb County, Indiana, on 22 June 1943. She was 55 years, 10 months, and 30 days old and died of pancreatic cancer which had metastasized. She had suffered with the disease for 1 year. Wellman’s Funeral Home in Fort Wayne was in charge of the arrangements and her brother Michael Schott of Fort Wayne was the informant for her information on her death certificate. Laura was buried on 25 June. [7]

Frank and Laura had at least one child who died at birth. Glen Franklin Swander died of a cerebral hemorrhage injury at his birth on 26 November 1915. He is buried at Lindenwood Cemetery, Fort Wayne. Glen Franklin’s death certificate indicates that he was born in Fort Wayne, that his father Frank was born in DeKalb County, and that his mother Laura was born In Mercer County. [8]

Laura (Schott) Swander’s obituary:

Cancer Claims the Life of Mrs. Laura Swanders, 54
Services for the late Mrs. Laura Swanders of Hopewell Corners, Jackson Township, DeKalb County, will be held at 1 o’clock Friday afternoon at the Wellman Funeral Home in Fort Wayne and at 1:30 at Grace Lutheran Church on South Anthony Boulevard in that city. The Rev. F. H. Holtmeyer will officiate. Burial will be made in a cemetery at Chattanooga, O.

Mrs. Swanders, who was 54 years of age, died at 5:35 Tuesday morning at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Garrett, where she had been a patient for more than nine weeks. The cause of death was cancer of the pancreas and Mrs. Swanders had been ill since last fall.

Surviving are the widower, Frank Swanders; one sister, Mrs. Otto Bullenbacher of Chattanooga, O., and two brothers, Walter A. and August Schott of Fort Wayne. Mr. and Mrs. Swanders moved from Fort Wayne to DeKalb County twelve years ago. Their only child died in infancy. Mrs. Swanders was a member of Grace Lutheran Church. [9]

Frank Swander died in 1961 and is buried next to his wife Laura.

Neither Frank nor Laura is listed in Zion Chatt’s death and burial records. In fact, the only time the couple is mentioned in Zion Chatt’s records (besides Laura’s baptism and confirmation) is when Laura’s niece Lorina Irene Schott was baptized in 1920. Both Frank and Lora were her baptismal sponsors.

 

[1] 1900 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 85, p.9B, dwelling 173, family 178, Michael Schott; Ancestry.com; FHL microfilm 1241304, NARA microfilm T623, roll 1304.

[2] 1910 U.S. Census, Fort Wayne Ward 6, Allen, Indiana, ED 47, p.2A, dwelling & family 31, August M Schott; Ancestry.com; FHL microfilm 1374352, NARA microfilm T624, roll 339.

[3] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” database with images, FamilySearch, Frank E. Swanders & Laura Schott, 27 Jan 1914; Mercer County Marriages, Vol. 10, p.709; FHL microfilm 914959.

[4] 1920 U.S. Census, Swan, Noble, Indiana, ED 146, p.1B, dwelling & family 20, Frank Swanders; Ancestry.com;  NARA microfilm T625, roll 459.

[5] 1930 U.S. Census, Fort Wayne, Allen, Indiana, ED 45, p.28A, dwelling 57, family 60, Frank E Swander; Ancestry.com; FHL microfilm 2340310, NARA microfilm T626, roll 575.

[6] 1940 U.S. Census, Jackson, DeKalb, Indiana, ED 17-8, p.11A, line 35, frank Swander; Ancestry.com; NARA microfilm T627, roll 1036.

[7] Indiana, Death Certificates, 1943, Roll 7, no.18142, Laura Swanders, 22 June 1943; Ancestry.com; Indiana State Board of Health, Death Certificates, 1900-2011, Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Indianapolis, Indiana.

[8] Indiana, Death Certificates, 1910-1919, Roll 2, no.821, Glen Franklin Swanders, 26 Nov 1915; Ancestry.com; Indiana State Board of Health, Death Certificates, 1900-2011, Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Indianapolis, Indiana.

[9] “Cancer Claims the Life of Mrs. Laura Swanders, 54,” Garrett Clipper, Garrett, Indiana, 24 Jun 1943, p.1; Newspapers.com.