FRANZ, Michael Peter 1844 - 1945

FRANZ, SALTS, RANARD, BRIGGS, NABBEFELD, DOTSON, FAULKNER, BROWN, COFFIN

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 4/26/2022 at 22:38:00

"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Friday, May 25, 1945
Page FOUR, Column 7

Fairfield Honors Service Dead With Services Sunday And Wed. May 30

(Note: Article starts on the Front Page with a breakdown of the planned services, and continues on Page Four)

... There will be no representation of the Civil War Veterans this year as the only remaining veteran, Comrade Michael FRANZ, over 100 years old, is too ill at the home of his daughter in Ottumwa to be present. All men and women in service, home on furlough, or discharged, are cordially invited and urged to take part in all services and in the march. ...

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"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Saturday, May 26, 1945
Page TWO, Columns 2 and 3

Mike FRANZ, 100, Unable To Attend Memorial Services

Michael FRANZ, 100, the last of the remaining Civil War veterans and the only surviving member of the George Armstrong (sic - George Strong) Post, Grand Army of the Republic, will be unable to attend the Memorial Day services on Wednesday, May 30, or to ride in the procession as he has done so often in years past. However, he will be represented by two daughters: Mrs. Ralph SALTS, 393 South Court Street, a member of the DUV and also two granddaughters, Mrs. Walter RANARD and Mrs. Bill BRIGGS, both members of the D.U.V.

Mr. FRANZ, who realized his desire to pass the century mark, is now bedfast most of the time in the home of his daughter, Mrs. Gary NEBIFELD (sic - NABBEFELD) of Ottumwa, with whom he has resided since the death of his wife who passed away five years ago (sic - six years, to the day) at the age of 79.

He was born September 14, 1844 in Fronhophen, Prussia, and came to this country with his parents when he was 9 years old. The family settled in Cedar Rapids, then only a hamlet.

In December, 1863, at the age of 19, young Michael enlisted in the 20th Regiment, Volunteer Iowa Infantry. Soon after the close of the Civil War he went to eastern Kansas where he freighted goods to the Indian trading post.

In 1889 he moved back to Iowa, living in Fairfield and being employed most of the time by the Louden Machinery Company.

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"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
MEMORIAL DAY
Tuesday, May 29, 1945
Front Page, Column 5, and
Page 3, Column 4

Two Native Iowa Civil War Veterans Are Still Living

DES MOINES, Ia., May 29--(UP) -- Veterans of four wars will gather at ceremonies and memorial services all over Iowa tomorrow to honor their comrades who fell in battle.

Only two of the 76,242 Iowa "boys in blue" who marched off to war 84 years ago remain in the state. They will pay tribute to the 13,061 of their fellows who lost their lives in the Civil War.

Robert A. Millen, 98, Melcher, fought in Co. A of the 33rd Iowa Infantry and Michael FRANZ, 100, Ottumwa, served with Co. H of the 29th Iowa Infantry.

Five other Civil War veterans in Iowa fought with other state units.

They are State GAR Commander John M. Gudgel, Shenandoah, who will celebrate his 98th birthday June 29; David Sisk, 96, Marshalltown, the youngest of the seven; James P. Martin, 97, Sutherland; Harrison R. Crecelius, 97, Redding and Ebenezer G. McMurray, 100, Iowa City.

McMurray, the oldest GAR vet in Iowa, will observe his 101st birthday Aug. 27. FRANZ will be 101 on Sept. 14.

FRANZ and Gudgel not only are veterans of the war between the States but sons of veterans of that war. FRANZ' father, Peter, served with the "greybeard" regiment of the 31st Iowa infantry and died in battle in 1864. His son enlisted to gain the $500 bounty offered by his county so that he could buy a home for his widowed mother and twin baby sisters.

Gudgel's father, Stephen, served in Co. B., 12th Illinois infantry, while the son--the last of the pony express riders--enlisted with Co. K, 148th Illinois infantry.

Twelve GAR veterans have died since Memorial day, 1944.

They include Charles H. Lingenfelter, Dakota City; Frank L. Quade, Dubuque; John Avery, Clinton; Ancil O. Ash, Decorah; Andrew W. Cranch, Le Mars; William H. Earnest, Seymour; Charles Hester, Indianola; George Martin, Rippey; Frank Ritter, Boone; Elliott P. Taylor, Newton; Henry A. White, University Park and John H. Burlingame, Evanston, Ill.

Many more men and women will honor their parents and grandparents who lost their lives in the Spanish-American war, World War I and World War II. During the first World War 3,578 Iowans lost their lives. During this war, 6,206 have paid for peace with their lives.

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"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Monday, June 18, 1945
Front Page, Column 2, and
Page SIX, Column 5

M. FRANZ, 100, LAST GAR VET PASSES AWAY

Michael FRANZ, 100, the last of the remaining Civil War veterans of Jefferson county and the last member of the George Armstrong (sic) Post, Grand Army of the Republic, passed away yesterday afternoon at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Gerhard NABBEFELD in Ottumwa where he had resided since the death of his wife in 1939. She passed away at the Marshalltown Old Soldier's Home where the couple had resided for sometime.

The body will be brought from the Johnson funeral home in Ottumwa to the Hoskins funeral home here Tuesday eevning (sic).

He had been in failing health the past 30 years and had suffered a series of light strokes during the past year, never rallying from the one he had last week.

Michael FRANZ was born Sept. 14, 1844 in Fronhophen, Prussia. He had been a soldier, silver miner, railroader, pony express rider, P. S. deputy marshal, buffalo hunter and Indian fighter. Kit Carson's children were his intimates; Buffalo Bill Cody, a friend. With his father, Peter FRANZ, young Michael, 9, came to the United States in 1853 from Fronhophen, Prussia. It took 33 days for the boat to cross the turbulent Atlantic ocean only to founder and sink off a sand bar near Long Island. He and his parents came to live in Cedar rapids in 1856, then only a hamlet hardly visible to passersby.

By 1862 the Civil War had been raging a year and Michael's father, at the age of 56, had enlisted. Mr. FRANZ' grandfather had been a bodyguard for Napoleon Bonaparte and was exiled to Prussia at Bonaparte's downfall. Proving that militarism runs in the blood, Michael enlisted with the 20th regiment Volunteer Iowa Infanty, at Davenport, December 15, 1863. In 1865 his father died of dysentery in a Columbus, Ohio hospital following a train wreck. Michael's Civil War record included months of service at Morganza, La. While en route to Fort Blakely he was one of 40,000 men who spent five days in an Alabama swamp, building a corduroy road over which to pass, in mire that enveloped a horse or human if a wrong step was taken. The men did the job on a day's rations it was stated. Mr. FRANZ was honorably discharged August 10, 1865. Three years later found him in eastern Kansas, two years after that hunting buffalo for wages.

About twenty-six years ago the Civil War veteran was forced to have his left arm amputated. Basic cause of the loss was a wound received during Civil War days. It bothered him for years and when he was 75 years old the amputation was performed.

In 1870 he went on a buffalo hunt and it carried him to Colorado where he met and later married Ida K. DOTSON in 1879. He was married to his first wife many years previous, word having been received of her death in California last week.

He is survived by one son, Willie, who resides in Santa Rosa, Calif. a son by the first marriage; four daughters, by the second marriage: Mrs. NABBEFELD, Ottumwa (Ethel); Mrs. W. H. FAULKNER, 404 West Hempstead (Margaret); Mrs. J. H. BROWN, Detroit (Jane); and Mrs. Ralph SALTS, Sr., 303 South Court St., (Eva). One daughter, by the first marriage preceded him in death. One daughter by the second marriage, Mrs. Jasper COFFIN (Bertie) passed away near Stockport a few years ago, a son, Arthur, died at the age of twenty-two and two infant sons preceded their father in death. He is also survived by seventeen grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren, by the second marriage.

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"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Tuesday, June 19, 1945
Page SEVEN, Column 6

FRANZ Services Here Thursday Afternoon

Funeral services will be held at the Hoskins funeral home Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock for Michael P. FRANZ, the last Jefferson county Civil war veteran, who passed away Sunday afternoon in the home of his daughter, Mrs. Gerhard NABBEFELD in Ottumwa.

Dr. Curtis R. Douglass, pastor of the local Presbyterian church, will be in charge and burial will be in Evergreen cemetery.

Mr. FRANZ was a lifetime honorary member of the Dimmitt-Vorhies Veterans of Foreign Wars, admitted when the charter was founded.

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"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Wednesday, June 20, 1945
Page THREE, Columns 1 and 2

Patriotic Group To Drape FRANZ Casket

During the regular business session of the Daughters of Union Veterans held yesterday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock in the K. of P. hall, plans were made for a family picnic, the date and place to be announced later. A floral drape was sent to the Hoskins funeral home for the casket of Comrade Michael FRANZ, custom of the organization for all deceased Civil War veterans.

An interesting report on the department convention held June 4 and 5 in Des Moines and was given by Mrs. H. H. Van Winkle who attended. In the absence of the patriotic instructor, Mrs. Walter Ogle, the program was postponed until the next session. Delicious refreshments were served by the hostess committee, Mesdames Lawrence Lawson, Luella Cuddy, and Copia VerSteeg.

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"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Wednesday, June 20, 1945
Page TWO, Column 1

... THURSDAY, JUNE 21

... D. U. V. meet Hoskins Funeral Home 2 p.m. attend last rites Comrade Michael FRANZ. ...

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"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Friday, June 22, 1945
Page EIGHT, Columns 1 and 2

MILITARY RITES FOR LAST CIVIL WAR VETERAN

Impressive military funeral services were held yesterday at the Hoskins funeral home for Michael FRANZ, last Jefferson county civil war veteran.

Two color guards, one from the local V.F.W. post of which Conrade (sic) FRANZ has been a honorary member since the local chapter was founded and the other from the American Legion post in Ottuwma, formed the procession.

Dr. Curtis R. Douglass, minister of local Presbyterian church, gave a fine address emphasizing the passing of an era in American history.

Mrs. Dillon Lowell sang "Abide With Me" and "My Faith Looks Up To Thee".

Grave services were in charge of the local V.F.W. at Evergreen cemetery as Mr. FRANZ had requested.

A firing squad made up of members of the local state guard, commaned by Capt. William Briggs, gave the gun salute. The pall bearers, all members of the local V.F.W. were World War I veterans, Howard Welsh, Eddie Wood, Cifford Carter, Roy Coop and World War II veterans, Lt. Marvin Knedler, B-17 pilot, recently returned from European theatre, and Robert Longwell, discharged veteran of service in Panama.

The color bearers were Melvin Townsend and Chester Barnett, both discharged World War II veterans and former members of the 133rd Infantry.

Grave services were conducted by the chaplain of the Ottumwa American Legion post.

Among those attending the services were Amy Holh, of Des Moines, department representative of the Daughters of the American revolution, and Cpl. Ralph SALTS, Jr. grandson of Mr. FRANZ and veteran of the 86th Division. Cpl. SALTS arrived in the states June 18, after service in the European theatre.

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried in Lot Old.P.140 with wife Ida.