Walter Toher
TOHER
Posted By: Rebecca Foster (email)
Date: 9/5/2014 at 13:57:55
FUNERAL OF WALTER TOHER
Remains of Young Soldier Laid in St. Marguerite's Cemetery With Military Honors
Sunday afternoon the funeral of Walter E. Toher, the young soldier who died on board the transport Thomas en route from Manila to San Francisco, was held with services at the Armory at 1:15 and at St. Anthony's church at 2. The exercises at the Armory were in charge of Camp Henry W. Lawton, No. 12, Service Men of the Spanish war. Members of the camp were gathered in company with other veterans of '98 and were addressed by Chaplain S.R. Hoyt, who made a short and touching address on the deceased and the fact that he died the death of a soldier just as much as though a bullet had pierced his heart while he was on the firing line. Commander Fred Vollmer also spoke eloquently regarding the nobility of the young man's conduct in supporting the flag over the sea in the face of an armed foe and in spite of the dangers from disease.
The remains were taken from the Armory to St. Anthony's church where Rev. Father Flannery said mass for the repose of the dead and Rev. George Ginglinger made a eulogistic address on the character of he who, like Walter Toher, went to the front at the call of his country. In the church the family of the deceased and members of Company B and the Service Men occupied front seats, while the other portions of the room were filled with friends and sympathizers. Many beautiful floral tributes surrounding the casket were an evidence of the general sorrow which the young man's untimely death had caused.
Interment was at St. Marguerite's cemetery. Here John McSteen said the prayer at the grave, a firing squad from Company B fired the last salute and bugler Robert Sindt sounded taps. The firing squad was composed of Corporal Albert Hass and Comrades Frank Dittman, Denny Wagner, Will McManus, Harry Corry, Will Corry, Joe Lawson and Milo Nebeker. The pallbearers were the following service men: W.K. Weiss, E.P. Oman, E.P. Nebergall, C.D.E. Lepper and T.J. Parker.
Source: Davenport Daily Republican, Davenport, Ia.,01 Jan 1901.
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