This post series has been inspired by the book "German Pioneers of Texas: A Brief History of Hardships, Struggles and Achievements" by D H Biggers*. The source gives almost all the names of Gillespie men who were killed in WW1 combat and vague information regarding those soldiers' deaths/where they perished. All the details regarding the men's place/dates of birth/death, their families, their war service, and copies of documents related to that, are the results of my research. Before I have finished this post, I knew the names only. Now, there is more. Glory to the fallen heroes!
Months ago, I wrote about my grandfather Antoni Dybowski who was killed in WW1. Since Memorial Day is coming, it is time to write about the men of Gillespie County who perished in the same war.
Lt. Louis John Jordan was the first one who lost his life overseas during the WW1 fights. He was 28 years old. I wrote more about him in this POST.
Other soldiers, citizens of Gillespie County
KILLED IN ACTION
were
Private Edmund Brinkrolf - born on 8 December 1893 in Fredericksburg, Gillespie, TX, to parents Anton Brinkrolf and Anna Fritz (1). Edmund was a farmer and lived in Harper. He was 24 when he enlisted in the Army on 5 June 1917 (2).
Edmund Brinkrolf was inducted at Fort Bowie, TX, on 27 May 1918 and served with Company C 141st Infantry (since 15 June). They were sent overseas on 26 June in the same year.
Private E Brinkrolf (serial number 1 492 708) perished in action a few months later, on 8 October 1918 (3). His body was mutilated and his legs shot off.
Awarded: World War I Victory Medal and the Purple Heart
William Lee Hime - born on 11 March 1894 in Willow City, Gillespie, TX, to Mr. Joseph B Hime and Miss Fannie Leonora Ricks. The family lived in Cain City, Gillespie, Will farmed together with his father.
Willie was registered on 5 June 1917 (4).
Awarded: World War I Victory Medal and the Purple Heart
Private 1st Class Alfred John Schlaudt - born 20 March 1896 in Fredericksburg, TX, to Christian P Schlaudt and Lisette Wiessemann.
Alfred was registered on 6 May 1917 (9).
He was enlisted in Fredericksburg on 7 October of the same year. At first, Private Schlaudt was assigned to 57th Company 15th Battalion 165th Department of Brigade. On 26 October, the man was transferred to Company B 144 Infantry. Alfred's serial number was 1 497 144. On 1 July 1918, Alfred John Schlaudt was commissioned Private 1st Class. A couple of weeks later, on 18 July, he was deployed overseas. Alfred John met his death day on 15 October 1918. He was killed in action in the Somme-Py (Sommepy-Tahure)/Gevy area, France (10,11).
Awarded: World War I Victory Medal and the Purple Heart
Private 1st Class Nolan William Tobin - born on 19 April 1898 in Blanco City, Texas to Mr. Robert Houston Tobin and Miss Teresa Ann (Weathers) Tobin. Nolan was enlisted into the National Guards on 28 June 1917 at Harper. Private Nolan was part of Company D 1st Infantry Texas National Guards (Company D 36th Division 141st Infantry). His serial number was 1 484 460. Nolan W Tobin was promoted to Private 1st Class on 2 September 1918. The man died of wounds on 20 October (which he received during the battle of Suippes/ France). On the day of his death Nolan Tobin was 18 years and two months old (12,13). He was buried at the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery, Fere-en-Tardenois, France.
Awarded: World War I Victory Medal and the Purple Heart
Private James Alfred Billo - born in Stonewall, Gillespie, TX on 22 February 1893, to John and Minerva Jane (Allison) Billo. On the day of his registration, 5 June 1917, James Alfred lived in Round Mountain, Blanco County, and was a laborer (14).
A few months later (on 7 August), Alfred was enlisted at Fort Sam Houston,Texas. At the very beginning of his military service, the man was assigned to Company D 2nd Texas Infantry (until 15 October 1917). Then, he served with Company G 141st Infantry with whom Private Billo (serial number 1 484 266) was sent overseas on 26 June 1918. The next reassignment (23 August 1918) made him a soldier of Company B 168th Infantry. 24-year-old Private James Alfred Billo was killed during the battle of Saint Mihiel, Mountfaucen, France (15, 16). His body was buried at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne, France.
Awarded: World War I Victory Medal and the Purple Heart
Private Max Ahrens - born in Cherry Spring, Gillespie, TX on 31 December 1894, to parents Heinrich Hermann Christian Ahrens and Sophie Katherine Moellering.On the day of WW1 registration (5 June 1917), Max lived at 42 Mason Route, Fredericksburg and was a farmer (17).
Soon, on 7 October, Max was inducted into the Army and assigned to 57th Company 165th Department of Brigade. His serial number was 1 493 454. Then, after 26 October, Private Ahrens was transferred to Company M 143rd Infantry. On 18 July 1918, Max and his Army unit were deployed overseas. About a month after that (from 23 August) he served with Company M 9th Infantry. They took part in the battle of Champagne and Saint-Mihiel. Max Ahrens lost his life in action on 3 October 1918 (18, 19).
Max's body was interred at the the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne, France.
Awarded: World War I Victory Medal and the Purple Heart
To be continued:
- WW1 Honor Roll Call - Part 2 - Died from Combat Related Conditions
- WW1 Honor Roll Call - Part 3 - Died in Training Camps
Other Posts dedicated to Gillespie County heroes:
Resources:
- *"German Pioneers of Texas: A Brief History of Hardships, Struggles and Achievements" by Don H. Biggers, Gillespie County Edition, Press of the Fredericksburg Publishing Co., 1925,
- HonorStates.org,
- Findagrave.com
1. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3ZT-NGM : 20 February 2021), Edmund Brinkrolf, 08 Oct 1918; citing certificate number 40373, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,073,348.
2. "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZXV-GGG : 23 February 2021), Edmun Brinkrolf, 1917-1918.
3. "Texas, World War I Records, 1917-1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV18-JGHT : 9 March 2021), Edmund Brinkrolf, 27 May 1918; citing Military Service, Bowie, , Texas, United States, Texas Military Forces Museum, Austin.
4. "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZXZ-KWB : 23 February 2021), William Lee Hime, 1917-1918.
5. "Texas, World War I Records, 1917-1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV18-VS6D : 9 March 2021), William L Hime, 05 Jul 1917; citing Military Service, Fredericksburg, , Texas, United States, Texas Military Forces Museum, Austin.
6. "United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPRX-M6F9 : 23 October 2019), William Lee Hime, 15 Oct 1918; citing Military Service, NARA microfilm publication 76193916 (St. Louis: National Archives and Records Administration, 1985), various roll numbers.
7. "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3GC-5L2 : accessed 9 April 2021), Henry Schneider in household of Heinrich Schneider, Justice Precinct 1 (south part) Fredricksburg town, Gillespie, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 31, sheet 4A, family 69, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,638.
8. "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZXZ-2XJ : 23 February 2021), Henry Schneider, 1917-1918.
9. "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZXZ-2DG : 23 February 2021), Alfred John Schlaudt, 1917-1918.
10. "United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:W7R6-Y6W2 : 26 October 2019), Alfred John Schlandt or Schlaudt, 15 Oct 1918; citing Military Service, NARA microfilm publication 76193916 (St. Louis: National Archives and Records Administration, 1985), various roll numbers.
11. "Texas, World War I Records, 1917-1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV18-JTQJ : 9 March 2021), Alfred J Schlaudt, 07 Oct 1917; citing Military Service, Fredericksburg, , Texas, United States, Texas Military Forces Museum, Austin.
12. "Texas, World War I Records, 1917-1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV18-JTLB : 9 March 2021), Nolan W Tobin, 28 Jun 1917; citing Military Service, Harper, , Texas, United States, Texas Military Forces Museum, Austin.
13. "United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:W752-R23Z : 26 October 2019), Nolan William Tobin, ; citing Military Service, NARA microfilm publication 76193916 (St. Louis: National Archives and Records Administration, 1985), various roll numbers.
14. "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZ6B-KSJ : 23 February 2021), James Alfred Billo, 1917-1918.
15. "Texas, World War I Records, 1917-1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV18-J1ZJ : 9 March 2021), Alfred Billo, 07 Aug 1917; citing Military Service, Fort Sam Houston, , Texas, United States, Texas Military Forces Museum, Austin.
16. "United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPZG-RQ9L : 17 October 2019), Alfred James Billo, ; citing Military Service, NARA microfilm publication 76193916 (St. Louis: National Archives and Records Administration, 1985), various roll numbers.
17. "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZXZ-VJC : 23 February 2021), Max Ahrens, 1917-1918.
18. "Texas, World War I Records, 1917-1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV18-JLL2 : 9 March 2021), Max Ahrens, 07 Oct 1917; citing Military Service, Fredericksburg, , Texas, United States, Texas Military Forces Museum, Austin.
19. "United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPZ6-KL3C : 17 October 2019), Max Ahrens, ; citing Military Service, NARA microfilm publication 76193916 (St. Louis: National Archives and Records Administration, 1985), various roll numbers.
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