WORLD WAR I

 TO INDIANA’S GOLD STARS

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” “How forcibly do these immortal words, utter by the Man of Galilee nearly two thousand years ago, bring home to us the patriotism and love of country of the three thousand three hundred and fifty-four sons and fifteen daughters of Indiana who laid down their lives for their neighbors and friends, for their country and civilization.”

Deaths in the War – According to the report by the Indiana Historical Commission complied from the U.S. Official Bulletin, there were 3,148 Indiana soldiers, sailors, marines and nurses who made the supreme sacrifice during the world war.  It was an Indiana boy, James B. Gresham, of Evansville, who was the first American to be killed in action after the United States entered the war, and from that memorable date, November 3, 1917, until the signing of the armistice on November 11, the names of Indiana heroes were carried in every casualty list.  The deaths of Indiana men and women with the colors were distributed as follows: Killed in action, 963; missing in action, 181; died from wounds, 363; died of disease, 1, 452; nurses who died in the service, 10.

JAMES BETHEL GRESHAM – Private

Son of Green and Alice (Dodd) Gresham; born August 23, 1893, McLean County, KY.  Moved to Evansville, Ind. in 1901.  Factory employee.  Enlisted in U.S. Regular Army April 23, 1914, Evansville, Ind.  Sent to Jefferson Barracks, Mo.; assigned to Company F, 16th Infantry.  Saw service on Mexican Border.  Enbarked June 14, 1917.  Killed in German raid near Artois, France, November 3, 1917.  Buried in American Cemetery, Bathelemont, France.  First Indiana boy killed in action.

 

Gold Star Honor Roll – WWI Men & Women

PERRY COUNTY, INDIANA

A Record of Indiana Men and Women who Died in the Service of the United States

and the Allied Nations in the World War. 1914-1918

BAUER, ALBERT BENEDICT – Private

Son of Charles and Barbara Bauer; born December 2, 1895, Anderson Township, Perry County, Ind. Farmer. Entered service September 5, 1917, Mt. Vernon, Ind. Sent to Camp Taylor, Ky. Embarked for overseas in June 1918; assigned to Company C, 120th Infantry, 30th Division. In combat service during September and October, 1918. Wounded in action; invalided to U.S., and died from wounds July 31, 1919, U.S. Hospital, Fox Hills, N.Y. Buried near Lamar, Spencer County, Ind. (burial: Saint Peter United Church Cemetery, Lamar, Spencer Co., IN)

BOLIN, EUGENE HAROLD –  Private

Son of Willis and Amy Bolin; born April 7, 1895, Cannelton, Ind. Farmer. Entered service May 27, 1918, Cannelton, Ind. Sent to Camp Taylor, Ky., assigned to 44th Company, 11th Training Battalion, 159th Depot Brigade. Transferred to Camp Beauregard, La.; assigned to Company M, 153rd Infantry. Sailed overseas August 6, 1918; assigned to Company D, 126th Infantry, 32nd Division. Killed in action October 4, 1918, near Gesnes, France. Buried in Gierges, France. (burial: Bolin Cemetery, Cannelton, Perry, Indiana)

BOLIN, JAMES CRAWFORD – Private

Son of Charles and Sarah L. Bolin; born May 8, 1890, Cannelton, Ind. Farmer. Entered service June 24, 1918, Pontiac, Ill. Sent to Camp Wheeler, Ga.; assigned to Company K, 121st Infantry. Transferred to Camp Mills, N.Y.; thence overseas, attached to the Thirty-first Division. Died of bronchial pneumonia October 12, 1918, Brest, France. Body returned to U.S., and buried in Cliff Cemetery, Cannelton, Ind.

BRUGGEMAN, ANTHONY – Private *No Picture

Son of Henry and Anna Kaus Bruggeman; born March 23, 1890, near Tell City, Perry County, Ind. Entered service August 26, 1918, Cannelton, Ind. Sent to Camp Sherman, Ohio; assigned to 21st Company, 6th Training Battalion, 158th Depot Brigade. Stricken with influenza, he died October 26, 1918, Camp Sherman, Ohio. Buried in St. Mark’s Cemetery, Perry County, Ind.

CONNOR, WILLIAM THOMAS – Corporal

Son of James T. and Laura Pate Connor; born January 7, 1895, Breckenridge County, Ky. Moved to Indiana in 1895. Laborer. Enlisted in U.S. Regular Army April 1, 1915, Evansville, Ind. Served on Mexican Border in 1916. Honorably discharged July 30, 1917. Re-enlisted June 24, 1918, Cannelton, Ind. Sent to Camp Sherman, Ohio; assigned to Headquarters Company, 364th Infantry. Overseas in September, 1918. Died of pneumonia October 30, 1918. Buried in Grave No. 284, American Cemetery, Bazoilles, Vosges, France. (burial: Cliff Cemetery, Cannelton, Perry, IN)

COONEY, FORREST LEE – Corporal

Son of  Benjamin F. (deceased) and Emma Cooney; born May 18, 1893, Hawesville, Hancock County, Ky. Moved to Perry County in 1907. Laborer. Enlisted in U.S. Regular Army December 21, 1914, Evansville, Ind. Sent to Jefferson Barracks, Mo.; assigned to Company G, 9th Infantry. Transferred to Headquarters Company, 47th Infantry. Overseas in May 1918; assigned to Fourth Division. Killed in action September 29, 1918, Argonne Forest. Buried in American Cemetery, Senoncourt, Meuse, France.

(Burial Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington Co., VA)

FISHBACK, MICHAEL – Corporal

Son of William (deceased) and Amelia Ford Fishback; born December 6, 1896, Cannelton, Indiana. Miner. Enlisted in U.S. Regular Army July 26, 1917, Murphysboro, 111. Sent to Jefferson Barracks, Mo. Transferred to Ft. Benjamin Harrison, Ind.; assigned to Company H, 28th Infantry. Embarked for overseas October 31, 1917. Killed in action May 27, 1918, Battle of Cantigny. Buried in Grave No. 42, Sec. A. American Cemetery No. 176 Villers Tournelle, Somme, France. (Burial: Saint Michaels Cemetery, Cannelton, Perry, IN)

GARRISON, OLIVER CLYDE – Private

Son of Thomas and Martha Taylor Garrison; born May 3. 1898, Tell City, Perry County, Ind. Saddle maker. Entered service July 27, 1918, Cincinnati, Ohio. Sent to Camp Jackson, S. C.; assigned to Battery C, 308th Field Artillery. Transferred to Camp Stuart, Va. Overseas in October 1918. Died of pneumonia November 26, 1918, “Somewhere in France.” (Burial place unknown) (Burial Deer Creek Baptist Cemetery, Tell City, Perry, IN)

GILLILAND, WILLIAM DAVIS – Private

Son of William H. and Martha Harding Davis Gilliland; born March 31, 1892, Rome, Perry County, Ind. Farmer. Entered service March 9, 1918, Cannelton, Ind. Sent to Camp Greene, N. C.; assigned to Company H, 59th Infantry. Went overseas in May 1918; assigned to the Fourth Division. Killed in action October 22, 1918, in the Argonne Forest. (Burial place unknown.)(Burial: Suresnes American Cemetery, Suresnes. Departement des Hauts-de-Seine, Ile-de-France, France)

GOFFINET, ERNEST – Corporal

Son of Jean Baptiste and Teouline Goffinet; born August 15, 1893, Mills Shoals, 1ll. Moved to Perry County, Ind., in 1899. Baker. Served on the Mexican Border, 1916. Re- enlisted March 24, 1917. Sent to Camp Shelby, Miss. Overseas in September 1918; assigned to Company M, 307th Infantry, 77th Division. Died of typhoid fever, March 21, 1919, Camp Hospital No. 108, Allerey, France. Buried in American Cemetery, No. 84, Grave No. 429, Allerey, Seine et Loire, France. (Burial: Saint Marys Catholic Cemetery, Tell City, Perry, IN)

GROTHAUS, WILLIAM – Private

Son of Henry and Mary Louise Wellman Grothaus; born September 27, 1896, Main, Perry County, Ind. Living in Medicine Lake, Mont., when he was called into service September 14, 1918. Sent to Camp Lewis, Wash.; assigned to 2nd Company, 1st Training Battalion, 166th Depot Brigade. Transferred to Fort Stevens, Ore., where he died of pneumonia October 8, 1918. Buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, near Bristow, Perry County, Ind.

HUBERT, JOHN WILLIAM – Private, U.S.M.C.

Son of John L. and Susan Rhodes Hubert (deceased); born June 11, 1895, Apalona, Perry County, Ind. Farmer. Enlisted in U.S. Marine Corps May 28, 1917, Cannelton, Ind. Sent to Parris Island, S.C. (Assignment not given.) Died of disease April 3, 1918, U.S. Marine Hospital, Evansville, Ind. Buried in St. Augustine’s Cemetery, Leopold, Perry County, Ind.

KRIEG, ALBERT – Private

Son of Thomas and Josephine Krieg; born August 10, 1889, St. Marks, Perry County, Ind. Farmer. Entered service May 6, 1918, Cannelton, Ind. Sent to Camp Taylor, Ky.; assigned to Company E, 22nd Engineers. Transferred to Railway Operation Casual Battalion; later to Development Battalion. Died of influenza-pneumonia October 15, 1918, Camp Taylor, Ky., Buried in St. Mark’s Cemetery, Perry County, Ind.

MARSHALL, JOHN SIDNEY – Private

Son of Charles P. and Julia Reed Marshall; born October 16, 1894, Cannelton, Ind. Farmer. Entered service May 24, 1918, Cannelton, Ind. Sent to Columbus Barracks, Ohio. Transferred to Fort Snelling, Minn.; assigned to 36th Infantry. Transferred to Del Rio, Tex.; assigned to Troop L, 313th Cavalry. Sent to West Point, Ky.; assigned to Battery F, 69th Field Artillery. Died of pneumonia October 17, 1918, Camp Taylor, Ky. Buried in Cliff Cemetery, Cannelton, Indiana

MURRAY, JAMES FRANCIS – Private

Son of Patrick (deceased) and Sarah Gray Murray; born January 5, 1895, Cannelton, Ind. Employee of U.S. Hame Company, Tell City, Ind. Entered service September 7, 1918, Cannelton. Sent to Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind.; assigned to Development Battalion, No. 1. Transferred to Company B, 1st Provisional Engineers. Died of pneumonia October 13, 1918, Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind. Buried in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Cannelton, Indiana

MYERS, HARRY G. – Private

Foster-son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Underhill; reared on a farm near Uniontown, Perry County, Ind. Enlisted in U.S. Regular Army in 1916; sent to Columbus Barracks, Ohio. Saw service with General Pershing on the Mexican Border. Overseas in June, 1917, with the First Division. Killed in action November 18, 1917. (Burial place unknown.) The Harry G. Myers Post of the American Legion, Cannelton, Ind. is named in his honor.(Burial: Sigler Cemetery, Perry, IN)

NELSON, EDWARD GEORGE – Private

Son of Andrew and Mary Nelson; born October 8, 1889, Cannelton, Ind. Entered service June 24, 1918, Cannelton, Ind. Sent to Camp Sherman, Ohio; assigned to 19th Company, 5th Training Battalion, 158th Depot Brigade. Embarked for overseas September 2, 1918; assigned to Company C, 334th Infantry. Contracted pneumonia and died October 21, 1918. (Burial place unknown.)(Burial: Oise-Aisne American Cemetery, Fere-en-Tardenois, Department de l’Aisne, Picardie, France)

PAULIN, GEORGE R. – Private

Son of Peter and Catherine C. Paulin; born March 28, 1889, Uniontown, Perry County, Ind. Entered service June 24, 1918, Rockport, Ind. Sent to Camp Sherman, Ohio; assigned to 19th Company, 5th Training Battalion, 158th Depot Brigade. Contracted pneumonia and died October 7, 1918 Camp Sherman, Ohio. Buried in Siberia Cemetery, Perry County, Ind. (Burial” Saint Martin Catholic Cemetery, Siberia, Perry, IN)

RAU, HILMER PHILLIP – Private

Son of John and Bertha Nieper Rau; born December 18, 1895, Cannelton, Ind. Machinist. Entered service June 24, 1918, Cannelton, Ind. Sent to Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce Training School. Transferred to Camp Hancock, Ga.; assigned to 6th Casualty Company, 12th Provisional Regiment. Transferred to Camp Upton, N.Y. Overseas in October, 1918. Contracted pneumonia while on board transport, and died October 23, 1918, Brest, France. Body returned to U.S., and buried in Cliff Cemetery, Cannelton, Indiana

ROHL, WILLIAM E. – Private

Son of John F. and Eva Sprinkle Rohl; born April 27, 1894, Branchville, Perry County, Ind. Entered service July 23, 1918, Cannelton, Ind. Sent to Camp Taylor, Ky.; assigned to 49th Company, 13th Battalion, 159th Depot Brigade. Transferred to Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, Field Artillery Replacement Draft. Died of pneumonia October 11, 1918, Camp Taylor, Ky. Buried in St. Croix Cemetery, Perry County, Indiana

RUTHERFORD, STEPHEN EDWARD – Apprentice Seaman

Son of Stephen and Anna Kerwick Rutherford; born January 24, 1894, Cannelton, Perry County, Ind. Farmer. Enlisted in U.S. Navy in December 1917, Indianapolis, Ind. Sent to Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Ill. Contracted pneumonia, and died January 28, 1918. Buried in Cliff Cemetery, Cannelton, Indiana

SCHAEFFER, MICHAEL WILLIAM – Private

Son of Frank and Minnie May Schaeffer; born August 15, 1891, Bristow, Perry County, Ind. Farmer. Entered service September 19, 1917, Cannelton, Ind. Sent to Camp Taylor, Ky.; assigned to Company G, 335th Infantry. Transferred to Camp Sevier, S. C.; assigned to Company H, 335th Infantry; thence to Company K, 120th Infantry, 30th Division. Embarked for overseas May 17, 1918. Killed in action September 29, 1918. (Burial place unknown.)(Burial: Troy Cemetery, Troy, Perry, IN)

SCHERZER, ALBERT J. – Private

Son of John and Grovina Sanders Scherzer; born February 14, 1891, Evanston, Spencer County, Ind. Moved to Troy, Perry County, in 1902. Entered service September 19, 1917, Cannelton, Ind. Sent to Camp Taylor, Ky.; transferred to Camp Sevier, S. C.; assigned to Company F, 120th Infantry, 30th Division. Died of pneumonia November 29, 1918. Buried in St. Sevier Cemetery, near Rouen, France.(Burial: Troy Cemetery, Troy, Perry, IN)

SCHROEDER, HENRY – – – – Private

Son of William and Recena Goatley Schroeder; born October 12, 1888, Cannelton, Ind. Entered service August 25, 1918, Cannelton, Ind. Sent to Camp Custer, Mich.; assigned to 320th Auxiliary Remount Depot. Died of pneumonia October 13, 1918, Camp Custer, Mich. Buried in Deer Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Perry County, Ind

SEIM, WILLIAM WALTER – Private

Son of John B. and Anna Katherine Lautner Seim; born December 3, 1891, Tell City, Perry County, Ind. Automobile mechanic.  William married Anna Donehue on 21 Feb 1917. Entered service February 21, 1918, Lansing, Mich., where he was employed. Sent to Camp Dodge, la.; assigned to Company A, 47th Infantry. Embarked from Camp Mills, May 10, 1918. Died August 2, 1918, Evacuation Hospital No. 6, from wounds received in action. Buried in American Cemetery No. 361. Cheirry, Aisne, France.(Burial: Oise-Aisne American Cemetery, Fere-en-Tardenois, Departement de l’Aisne, Picardie, France).

SHALLEROSS, ALFRED H. – Private

Son of James Crutcher and Eva Powers Shalleross; born June 8, 1896, Cannelton, Ind. Assistant manager, American Cannel Coal Company. Entered service October 15, 1918, Cannelton, Ind. Sent to Motor School, Winona Lake, Ind. Contracted influenza while acting as nurse to comrades, and died October 24, 1918, Warsaw, Ind. Buried in Hawesville Cemetery, Hancock County, Ky.

SIMS, SIDNEY – Private

Son of Zedmond and Minnie Sims (both deceased); born October 30, 1900, Tell City, Perry County, Ind. Farmer. Enlisted in Company I, 2nd Infantry, Indiana National Guard (Company I, 152nd Infantry), Tell City, Ind., April 20, 1917. Sent to Camp Shelby, Miss. Embarked for overseas May 2, 1918; assigned to Company C, 102nd Infantry, 26th Division. Killed in action November 6, 1918, in the Argonne Forest Drive. (Burial place unknown.)(Burial: Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, Lorraine, France)

SMITH, WAVERLY – Private

Son of F. Ernest and Stella Dering Smith; born November 1. 1891, Bristow, Perry County, Ind. Farmer. Entered service March 9, 1918, Cannelton, Ind. Sent to Camp Greene, N. C.; assigned to Company H, 59th Infantry. Embarked for overseas May 5, 1918; attached to the Fourth Division. Killed in action September 4, 1918. Buried in American Cemetery, Fismes, Aisne, France. (Burial: Bristow Cemetery, Bristow, Perry, IN)

STEPHENS, EDWIN – Private

Son of Joseph and Mary Jane Stephens (both deceased); born August 10, 1895, Tell City, Perry County, Ind. Farmer. Entered service September 19, 1917, Cannelton, Ind. Sent to Camp Taylor, Ky.; assigned to Company K, 335th Infantry. Overseas in May 1918; assigned to Company B, 120th Infantry, 27th Division. Killed in action September 29, 1918. (Burial place unknown.) Survived by widow, Mary Taylor Stephens, Tell City, Ind. (Burial: Somme American Cemetery, Bony, Departement de l’Aisne, Picardie, France)

UNDERHILL, LOUIS E. – Private

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel Underhill; born May 2, 1892, near Doolittle Mills, Perry County, Ind. Farmer. Entered service June 24, 1918, Cannelton, Ind. Sent to Camp Sherman, Ohio; assigned to 12th Company, 5th Battalion, 158th Depot Brigade. Transferred to Company C, 334th Infantry; thence to 2nd Development Battalion. Died of pneumonia October 8, 1918, Camp Sherman, Ohio. Buried in Underhill Cemetery, Perry County, Indiana

VOGEL, JOHN W. – Private

Son of John F. and Savannah Vogel; born October 27, 1897. Cannelton, Ind. Farmer. Enlisted in U.S. Regular Army February 24, 1917, Salt Lake City, Utah. Sent to Ft. Douglas, Utah; assigned to Company M, 35th Infantry. Transferred to Headquarters Company, 18th Infantry. Overseas in June 1917; attached to the First Division. Killed in action June 9, 1918. Buried in American Cemetery, No. 176, Villiers Tour- nelle, France, Grave No. 186, Sec. 6.(Burial: Bony, Departement del’Aisne, Picardie, France)

WALTERS, CLIFTON – Private

Son of Anderson and Lilly Walters; born April 7, 1899, Tell City, Perry County, Ind. While enrolled as a high school student, he volunteered his services, and enlisted in U.S. Regular Army April. 12, 1917, Ft. Thomas, Ky. Attached to 13th Recruiting Company, Field Artillery, unassigned. Stricken with pneumonia, he died May 11, 1917, Ft. Thomas, Ky. Buried in Lilly Dale, Perry County, Indiana

WEGENAST, FRED ANDREW – Corporal, U.S.M.C.

Son of William and Millie Wegenast; born October 28,1897. Rome, Perry County, Ind. Employee of Belknap Hardware Company, Louisville, Ky. Enlisted in U.S. Marine Corps April 17, 1917, Louisville, Ky. Sent to Parris Island, S. C.; assigned to 18th Company, 5th Regiment, 2nd Division. Embarked for overseas August 7, 1917. Died June 9, 1918, Paris, France, from wounds received at Belleau Woods. Buried in Cemetery of American Red Cross, Military Hospital No. 2, Paris, France.(Burial: Wegenast Cemetery, Rome, Perry, Indiana)

WHEATLEY, MILES E. – Private

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Wheatley; born April 21, 1894, Tell City, Perry County, Ind. Entered service May 27, 1918, Cannelton, Ind. Sent to Camp Taylor, Ky.; assigned to 44th Company, 11th Training Battalion, 159th Depot Brigade; later transferred to Camp Beauregard, La. Embarked for overseas August 31, 1918; assigned to Battery F, 140th Field Artillery. Died from accidental causes March 18, 1918. Buried in Cemetery, at Camp Du Valdohon, France(Burial: Terry-Wheatley Cemetery, Tell City, Perry, IN)

WINCHELL, JUDGE EARL – Sergeant, U.S.M.C.

Son of Richard S. and Anna Hendershot Winchell; born July 10, 1893, Tell City, Perry County. Ind. Farmer. Enlisted in U.S. Regular Army February 26, 1914, and served a four year enlistment. Entered U.S. Marine Corps May 24, 1918, Cannelton, Ind. Sent to Parris Island, S. C.; assigned to 4th Brigade 2nd Division. Overseas in July 1918. Died October 6, 1918 in Evacuation Hospital No. 3, from wounds received in action. Buried, Cuper-le-Marne, France.(Burial: Deer Creek Baptist Cemetery, Tell City, Perry, IN)

WITTMER, EDWARD GEORGE – Private

Son of Jacob (deceased) and Katherine Hoskinson Wittmer (Conner); born June 29, 1895, Cannelton, Ind. Barber. Entered service March 29, 1918, Cannelton, Ind. Sent to Camp Taylor, Ky.; assigned to Company G, 47th Infantry. Overseas in April 1918. Killed in action October 14, 1918, in the Argonne Forest, France. Buried in Grave No. 56, Sec. 54, Plot 2, Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne, France. Survived by widow, Mabel Hancock Wittmer, Louisville, Ky. (Burial: Cliff Cemetery, Cannelton, Perry, IN)

YORK, ARTHUR DAVIS – Private

Son of John and Catherine Cook York; born April 2, 1896, Perry County, Ind. Working at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, when he was called into service in March 1918, and returned to Cannelton, Ind. Sent to Camp Greene, N. C.; assigned to Company H, 59th Infantry. Sailed overseas early in June 1918; attached to the First Division. Killed in action October 4, 1918, Bois de Fays, in the Argonne Forest. (Burial place unknown.)(Burial Badger Cemetery, Derby, Perry, IN)

Source: Gold Star Honor Roll: A Record of Indiana Men and Women who Died in the Service of the United States and the Allied Nations in the World War. 1914-1918

By Indiana Historical Commission, John Williams Oliver Published by Indiana Historical Commission.