IAGenWeb Project - Clayton co.
new content added 09/30/2023

Military index


Our WWI Heroes

A - L * M- Z

Clayton county men and women who served in the Great War. Also honored are WWI soldiers buried in Clayton county who served from other locales.

Many of them made the ultimate sacrifice.


~surnames in [brackets] are alternate spellings
~additional credit citations are at the bottom of the page

Contributions for this page are welcome.
If you have a photo of a Clayton co. soldier who served in World War I or know of a WWI veteran who is buried in Clayton county, please contact the Clayton co. coordinator.


Mangels, John Henry, Died 1/12/1958 & is buried in St. Paul's Lutheran cemetery, Monona. ~obituary ~gravestone
Mathews, Glenn E. 'Pete' [Matthews, Glen] Corporal, Farmersburg, Died of disease.
Glenn E. Mathews
~*~*~
Glenn E. Mathews was born in September 1897. He died September 11, 1918 and is buried in the Farmersburg-Wagner cemetery. Glen was enumerated on the 1900 & 1910 U.S. census, Clayton co., Farmersburg twp. with his parents James L. & Ina Bell Mathews and siblings; and on the 1915 Iowa State census, in Farmersburg twp. working at home for board & clothes.

~photo from Soldiers of the Great War, Vol I, 1920, Memorial Addition, pg 329

~obituary

~gravestone

Matusch, Charles Adam, Pvt., Edgewood, Killed in Action. He was born in Blunt, South Dakota [source: draft registration] on August 19, 1886. He died October 23, 1918 and is buried in Oakland cemetery, Manchester, Delaware co. Iowa. Charles is enumerated on the 1910 U.S. census in Iowa, Delaware co. Honey Creek twp. living in the household of his brother William Matusch and on the 1915 Iowa State census in Edgewood, Honey Creek twp. Delaware co. He is working as a farm hand. Birth place given as Iowa.
McLaughlin, Mac Michael, Elkader; he enlisted in 1917; served in the 35th Infantry Regiment, 18th Division, Mexican border duty throughout the war. ~obituary ~gravestone
Meyer, Bennie Grant, Elkader. Adopted s/o Chris J. & Lena Meyer. U.S. Army, died while in training at Camp Dodge, IA. ~obituary ~gravestone
Miller, Fred John, Elkader. Served for 9 months during the war. He died in 1961 & is buried in the Postville cemetery. ~obituary ~gravestone
Moser, Herman H.C., Pvt., Osterdock, Died of disease.
Herman Henry Carl Moser was born in Clayton co. August 27, 1895 [draft registration]. He served with Co B, 150th Battery A.E.F. He died in 1918 and is buried in Bethel cemetery, Mallory twp. Herman was enumerated on the 1900 U.S. census, Clayton co. Mallory twp. living with his parents Emile & Lena Moser and his siblings. Date of birth given as Aug 1895; the 1910 U.S. census, Clayton co. Mallory twp. town of Osterdock, living with his widowed mother Lena and siblings and on the 1915 Iowa State census, Osterdock; occupation farmer. ~Gravestone
Mueller, Eddie August Friederich, Pvt., Monona twp., born June 30, 1895. Pvt. Mueller served in France with Company D., 42nd Engineers. He died April 8, 1959 and is buried in St. John's Lutheran cemetery, Luana. ~obituary
Mueller, William Henry Fred 'Willie', Pvt., Clayton Center, born July 11, 1893. He served in the US Army from April 26, 1918 to June 16, 1919. He died in 1985 and is buried in God's Acres Cemetery, Clermont, Fayette co. Iowa. ~obituary ~discharge record
Nading, Clarence, Mederville.U.S. Army, Private, Co. E, 38th Infantry. He died in 1960 & is buried in the Mederville cemetery. ~obituary ~gravestone
Nading, Rubert Anton, Littleport. Rubert Nading was born April 24, 1892. He enlisted in the service of the U.S. Army in February 1918 and was in the fighting at Amiens July 21, 1918 and at Verdun Sept. 9, 1918. He suffered a severe gassing while in the service. He was honorably discharged April 11, 1919. He died Nov. 3, 1930 and is buried in the Union cemetery, Littleport. ~obituary ~gravestone
Nelson, Martin, Clermont. U.S. Army, Private, 3rd Division, fought in the Argonne Forest & served in the occupation forces. He died in 1966 & is buried in the Monona City cemetery. ~obituary ~gravestone
Nieman, Edward Henry, Guttenberg. Veteran of both WWI and WWII. He died in 1964 & is buried in the Ceres cemetery. ~obituary ~gravestone
O'Day, Michael, Littleport. WWI, 32nd Engineers. Died 1934, buried Sacred Heart Catholic cemetery, Littleport. ~obituary ~gravestone
Olson, Melvin, Gunder. US. Army, Sergeant, Motor Transport Corps. Born 4/16/1896 and died 10/13/1995, buried in the West Union cemetery, Fayette co. IA. ~obituary
Orr, Henry Topliff 'Pete', Monona. He served in the 19th or Twilight Division and was a charter member of Leslie H. Smith Post, American Legion. He died in 1976 & is buried in the Monona City cemetery. ~obituary
O'Rieley, Richard James, [O'Reiley, O'Reily, Riley], McGregor; Pvt. Co. C, 132nd Inft., 33rd Div. Killed in Action at Morlancourt France, August 2, 1918
Richard James O'Reiley
'The Iowa Magazine' Vol 2 No. 6, December 1918
~contributed by Steve Harken
~*~*~

'Soldiers of the Great War, Vol I, 1920, Memorial Addition', pg 331

~contributed by Eric Driggs
~*~*~

Richard James O'Rieley was born November 18, 1895 in Farmersburg twp. Clayton co. He is buried in St. Mary's cemetery, McGregor. He was enumerated on the 1910 US census Iowa, Clayton co., Farmersburg twp. with his father Daniel O'Reily and siblings.

~gravestone

Phelps, Otto Archie, Mederville, U.S. Army. Died of Spanish influenza while in training at Camp Dodge & is buried in the Edgewood cemetery. ~obituary ~gravestone
Phelps, William Wallace, McGregor, Co. K, U.S. Army, enlisted 1916. Served in Philippines & in Siberia. Had been Commander of the McGregor Legion post. Died Veterans Hospital, Des Moines, IA, burial Pleasant Grove cemetery. ~obituary ~gravestone
Pixler, George Frye, Grand Meadow twp., U.S. Marine Corps. He died 03/30/1962 & is buried in the Postville cemetery. ~obituary ~gravestone
Preuss, Edward William 'Eddie', 1888-1920, U.S. Army, 20th Eng. A.E.F. Died from the effects of being gassed while in action. Buried Hillcrest cemetery ~obituary & photo ~gravestone
Sargent, Elwin F., Pvt., Strawberry Point
Elwin Forey Sargent was born on September 11, 1888 at Strawberry Point, IA. He was single and employed as a farm laborer around Strawberry Point at the time of his draft registration on June 5, 1917. He was inducted into the Army at Elkader, IA on June 25, 1918 and sent to Camp Dodge, IA for training. He was assigned to Co. F of the 352nd Infantry Regt., 88th Division at Camp Dodge. He served with 352nd in France from August 16, 1918 to June 1, 1919. Combat service: Occupied trenches in the Center sector, Haute- Alsace, France from October 17 thru November 4th, 1918. Upon returning stateside he was honorably discharged from the Army on June 14, 1919 at Camp Dodge, IA. Elwin passed away at the Delaware County Memorial Hospital (Manchester, IA) on December 28, 1961 and is buried in the Strawberry Point Cemetery. ~Information contributed by Terry Sargent, son. ~Gravestone ~Obituary & memorial
Sargent, Stanley T., Pvt., Strawberry Point
Pvt. Stanley T. Sargent - photo courtesy of Joan Patterson
~*~*~
Stanley Theodore Sargent was born on September 15, 1886 at Strawberry Point, IA. He was single and self-employed as a farmer in the Strawberry Point area at the time of his draft registration on June 5, 1917. He was inducted at Elkader, IA on 25 Feb 1918 and reported to Camp Dodge. He was initially assigned to Co. C, 313th Engineers (sapper regiment) at Camp Dodge and was later transferred to another unit: Co. B, 55th Engineers at Camp Custer, MI. He served with the 55th Engineers (standard gauge railway construction regiment) in France from June 30, 1918 to July 14, 1919. Upon returning stateside he was honorably discharged from the Army on July 21, 1919 at Camp Dodge, IA. After the war he was well known in the area as a farmer and breeder of purebred livestock. Stanley died at his home on Saturday, February 8, 1958 and is buried in the Strawberry Point Cemetery.

~more photos, service records & a letter home
~Gravestone
~Obituary

~photo & information contributed by Terry Sargent, nephew.

Schmalfeld, Arno John - 1892-1938, 147th Infantry, 37th Div. U.S. Army. Died at Veterans Hospital, Des Moines, IA. Buried in the Clayton Center cemetery ~obituary ~gravestone
Schmidt, Ernest A.M., Strawberry Point. U.S. Army, served in France with the Texas Division at the fighting front; fought in the Battle of St. Mihiel and was wounded by a machine gun bullet to his arm in the Argonne Forest October 23, 1918.

~*~*~
1890-1985

~photo is from 'Soldiers of the Great War, Vol I, 1920, Memorial Addition', pg 342 ~contributed by Eric Driggs

~obituary

Schnieder, Edward J., Guttenberg. U.S. Army. He died in 1985 & is buried in St. Mary's cemetery. ~obituary ~gravestone

Schultz, Ervin / Erwin, Pvt., Grand Meadow twp. Born November 22, 1892 and died October 6, 1918 at Camp Gordon, Georgia of pneumonia.


Private Ervin Schultz
~*~*~

~Burial is in the Postville cemetery, Area D. His gravestone is inscribed Erwin W. Schultz - Pvt Co. F, 5th Infantry
~Obituary

~photo is from the Postville Herald, October 11, 1918 -contributed by Reid R. Johnson

Scott, Robert, Volga; born in Scotland; served throughout WWI in the British Army prior to immigrating to U.S. Died 1936, buried Hillcrest cemetery. ~obituary
Seery Frank, Monona. U.S. Army, Aviation Corps, killed in a mid-air training accident at Kelly Field, TX ~obituary ~gravestone
Sherbonda, Leslie L., Monona. U.S. Army, Battery A, 337th Field Artillery. He died in 1965 & is buried in the Monona City cemetery. ~obituary ~gravestone
Siegle, Walter L., National. U.S. Army. He died in 1990 & is buried in Pleasant Grove cemetery. ~obituary ~gravestone
Smith, Leslie Henry, Monona; enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps 5/2/1917. Served in the 5th regiment, 20th Co., 3d Battalion. KIA June 6, 1918, in the battle of Belleau Wood, France. He was first buried overseas, his body being returned to the U.S. in September 1921 and reinterred in the Monona City cemetery. American Legion Post No. 519, Monona, is named after him.

Wounded. In the oversea casualties reported in yesterday's papers the name of Leslie H. Smith appeared among the slightly wounded. This undoubtedly is our Monona boy, and son of H.H. Smith, who with his brother Dayton were among the first to enlist, going to France last summer, they have been in action over there for some time. ~Monona Leader, Thursday, April 11, 1918, pg 1

~obituary
~gravestone

Smith, Lloyd Harrison, Osterdock. Corporal, Co. E, 5th Inf. U.S. Army. Inducted at Elkader. Died at Camp Dodge 1/19/1919 of flu complicated with pneumonia. ~obituary ~gravestone
Snyder, Herman Dewitt, Froelich; U.S. Army; member American Legion Post of McGregor and Veterans of World War I; he was born 07/02/1891 & died 05/21/1974, buried in the Giard cemetery. ~obituary ~gravestone
Stahl, Clarence Henry, Cox Creek; U.S. Army; died of influenza on 11/30/1918 in the Lincoln Hospital, Lincoln, New Hampshire. ~obituary
Stebor, Louis William, Elkader; Sgt., U.S. Army; enlisted in May 1918, served with the military symphony orchestra until his discharge 3/4/1919; he was born 03/03/1893 & died 02/15/1934, buried in the East Side cemetery. ~obituary ~gravestone
Stendel, Fred Louis Gottfred, Clayton Centre; U.S. Army; Private, Co. D, 118th Infantry, 30th Division; KIA 09/26/1918 in France; body re-interred East Side cemetery, Jan. 1922. ~obituary (note: obit does not name his wife Lorna Hill, who he married 5/31/1917) ~gravestone
Stephens, Jesse, Volga. Died 1962. ~death notice
Sudol, Frank, SR; Giard twp.; U.S. Army, served in France. He died in 1971 & is buried in St. Patrick's cemetery, Monona. ~obituary
Talley, Atwell Lowell, Captain, U.S. Army Infantry; son of Morris Grant Talley & Lena Nelson Talley, he was born June 6, 1893 in La Crosse, La Crosse co., Wisconsin. He died April 24, 1961 in Des Moines, Polk co., Iowa & is buried in Highland Memory Gardens. He was married to Rose Alice Griffith. ~information contributed by Don Lindgren. Discharge Record (opens in a new window) Death notice, Clayton County Register, 5/4/1961: "Word has been received here that Atwell Talley of Des Moines died of a heart attack Monday April 24. Mr Talley was formerly from Elkader. He had been retired for some time because of his heart condition."
Talley, Ray Donald, Corporal, was in the Central Machine Gun Officer Training School, Camp Hancock, Georgia when WWI ended. Before removing to Sioux City, he served as Vice Post Commander of the Lemka-Stendel Post No. 106, American Legion, Elkader.
Corporal Ray D. Talley

~*~*~
Son of Morris Grant Talley & Lena Nelson Talley, he was born February 7, 1896 in La Crosse, La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA. He married Erma Lusk in 1925, and they moved to Sioux City, in western Iowa and Sioux City. Ray Talley had a career with the Iowa Department of Highways.

Ray died July 19, 1969, and is buried in Graceland Park cemetery in Sioux City. His parents are buried in the Elkader East Side cemetery. ~photo & information contributed by Don Lindgren

News tid-bit: "Ray Talley returned Tuesday noon from the Officers Training School at Camp Hancock, Ga., having been discharged. "Judge" looks fine and says "it's a great life." ...pg. 7 Elkader Register, 12/5/1918

~Discharge record
~Obituary & gravestone photo
Tangeman, Harry E., Pvt., McGregor, Died of disease.


~*~*~
Harry Elmer Tangeman was born in Garnavillo on April 23, 1891. He was a member of the U.S. Army, Company K, 352nd Infantry. He died in France on October 7, 1918, and was originally buried there. His remains were returned to the U.S. aboard the U.S.A.T. Wheaton, sailing from Cherbourg 5/1/1921 (Fold3 record). in June 1921 he was re-buried in the Garnavillo City cemetery. When he registered for the draft in June 1917, he gave his residence as McGregor and occupation as a farmer. Harry is enumerated on the 1910 U.S. census, Clayton co. Reed twp. living with his parents Benjamin & Mary Tangeman and his siblings.

Source of photo is North Iowa Times, Thursday, June 16, 1921

~Obituary ~Gravestone
Theviot, Fred J., Pvt., U.S. Army, McGregor, Killed in Action
Fred J. Theviot
~*~*~
Fred John Theviot was born November 30, 1889 in McGregor. He was KIA 10/08/1918 and buried 1st in American Military Cemetery of Joncourt, and later in the American Cemetery, Bony, Aisne. His body was returned to the U.S. and reburied buried in Pleasant Grove cemetery 4/15/1921. 'Fredie' Theviot is enumerated on the 1905 Iowa State census, McGregor. When he registered for the draft in June 1917, he was married.

~photo is from Soldiers of the Great War, Vol I, 1920, Memorial Addition, pg 337

~Obituary ~Gravestone photo

Thompson, Walter Oliver - 1895-1940, 313th Engineering Corps, 90th Div., U.S. Army. Buried in the Monona City cemetery. ~discharge record ~obituary ~gravestone
Tinkey, Samuel Eugene, Pvt., U.S. Army, 132nd infantry, 66th Brigade; was gassed on a battlefield in France on 8/10/1918, died at Rouen, France on 8/12/1918. Initially buried in France, his remains were returned to the U.S. in 1921 and reburied in the Clayton cemetery. Son of Jake & Adeline (Wick) Tinkey.
~obituary ~gravestone
Tinkey, Walter Roy, Pvt., Osterdock, Died of disease. Son of Edward & Mary M. (Harris) Tinkey, he was born December 22 1896 and died at Camp Dodge, Iowa on October 16, 1918. He is buried in the Bethel cemetery.
~gravestone ~obituary
Topel, Charles L. JR, Pvt., Monona, Died of wounds.

Pvt. Charles L. Topel, JR - Army WWI - photo contributed by Russ Topel
~*~*~
Charles Topel was enumerated on the 1915 Iowa State census in Allamakee co., Linton twp., postoffice Monona.

~photo of Pvt Charles L. Topel, Jr. was contributed by Russ Topel, grand-nephew of Charles Topel.

Troester, Otto, Pvt., Osterdock, Died of pneumonia in Warwickshire, England on October 2, 1918; initially buried in England, his remains were returned to the U.S. and reburied in the Guttenburg City cemetery in 1920. When he registered for the draft in June 1917, he was employed as a farm laborer near McGregor. Otto was enumerated on the 1900 U.S. census, Clayton co. Mallory twp. living with his parents John & Emma Troester and siblings. ~Obituary ~Gravestone
Tuecke, William Fred, Private, U.S. Army, 16th Infantry, Guttenberg. Buried Ceres cemetery
~Obituary ~Gravestone
Tujetsch, Martin, Elkader; Private, U.S. Army, Co. E, 325th Inf., A.E.F.; Served in France from Oct. 1918 to March 1919. Died 1923, buried St. Joseph's Catholic cemetery, Elkader.
~Obituary ~Gravestone
Uhl, Clarence B., born Delaware co., IA, lived in Strawberry Point. U.S. Army, Sgt. 14th Co., 3rd Motor Mechanic Regt, Air Service; Enlisted 7/11/1917, dischged 11/27/1919; served in France where he was gassed & shell-shocked. He also served 3 yrs. in the Coast Artillery Corps 1904-1907. Discharge records (2) ~Obituary ~Gravestone
Uhl, Lorin Loomis, born Delaware co., IA, lived in Strawberry Point. Private 315th Engrs. Enlisted 4/25/1918, wounded in action, France. Died 1938, buried Strawberry Pt. cemetery. ~Obituary ~Gravestone ~Discharge Record
Ulish, Frank B., Monona. U.S. Army, served in France & Germany. He died in 1978 & is buried in Corpus Christi cemetery, Fort Dodge, IA. ~obituary
Voelz, Reinhild Carl August, Monona. U.S. Army. He died in 1984 & is buried in St. John Lutheran cemetery, Luana. ~obituary ~gravestone
Waltz, Chauncey W. 'Jack', McGregor. U.S. Army, Sergeant. He died in 1993 & is buried in Pleasant Grove cemetery. ~obituary
Waters, Bernard John, Grand Meadow twp. He died in 1994 & is buried in the Postville cemetery. ~obituary ~gravestone
Wettleson, Theodore C., Pvt., Gunder (Postville postoffice), Died of wounds received in action in France, August 3, 1918.
Theodore C. Wettleson
~*~*~
Theodore Clarence Wettleson, born July 8, 1894, was the son of Wettle & Lena (Alsaker) Wettleson. The 1900 US census enumerates Theo., his parents & siblings in Grand Meadow twp. He is buried in Marion Lutheran cemetery, Gunder, Clayton co.

~Memorial card
~Obituary

~photo is from 'The Iowa Magazine' Vol 2 No. 6, December 1918; contributed by Steve Harken

Williams, Hewitt L., Corporal, Co. L., 352nd Infantry, American Expeditionary Forces, Killed in Action

Corp. Hewitt L. Williams

Hewitt Larrabee Williams was born July 9, 1890, at Grand Meadow Farm, the fifth of ten children of Frederick and Dora (Pinney) Williams.  Hewitt was elected to Alpha Zeta, honorary fraternity in his field at the Iowa State University, Ames.  He returned to Grand Meadow Township in 1912 to build a Holstein dairy herd.  World War I broke out and Hewitt answered his call in 1918.  He trained at Camp Dodge and was sent to the front with the 88th Division.  Hewitt died in action Oct. 15, 1918.  He lies in the beautiful USA Military Cemetery near Romague, France.  Dora Williams, with a group of Northeast Iowa World War I Gold Star Mothers, traveled to France to visit the grave of her son. In honor of their son, Hewitt, and all the World War I Servicemen, the Fred Williams family gave a sundial to the town of Gunder.  John Sampson of Clermont, an employee at the Williams Quarry, carved the sundial. The sundial and a flagpole were installed at the T-intersection in Gunder.  They both had to be moved in 1963 for the widening and paving of the Gunder Road.  The sundial and flagpole were then placed at the north end of Marion Cemetery. There is only on other sundial like the one in Gunder in the country.  It is at Montauk (Clermont), the home of Iowa's 12th governor, William Larrabee and Anna Larrabee, his wife.

~photo & information are from 'GUNDER AND THE SURROUNDING AREA HISTORY AND HERITAGE', a historical project of the Gunder Community Club
~contributed by Mary Durr

~Buried at Meuse-Argonne American cemetery, Romagne, France, Plot d, Row 14, Grave 26. He has a memorial gravestone (cenotaph) in the Postville cemetery
~Obituary

Wolfe, Michael, Pvt., North Buena Vista, Died of disease.
Michael Wolfe was born July 13, 1894 in Bode, Humboldt co. Iowa. He died September 18, 1918 and is buried in St. Joseph cemetery, St. Joseph twp. Kossuth co. Iowa. When he registered for the draft in Dubuque June 1917, he was living in North Buena Vista, Clayton county and working as an automobile mechanic in Holy Cross.
Zahn, Jacob F. JR, McGregor, Private, Company B., Ninth infantry. Sept. 17, 1897-June 13, 1934

Jacob F. Zahn, who was seriously wounded in action June 24, according to a telegram from the war department received July 19, is 20 years old and the son of Jacob Zahn, a McGregor farmer, who for three years before coming to America was in the King's Dragoons in Germany. The son enlisted in the United States regular army at Davenport two years ago and was on the Mexican border when war was declared. ~Pella Chronicle in the 'Iowa News' column, August 8, 1918 (Pella, Iowa)
--
Two months ago Jacob Zahn Jr. was reported severely wounded in the casualty list. On August 26 came a letter to his father, Jacob Zahn at McGregor, saying: "Am just about well now and in a few days, am going back. I want to get back, and do things to the Huns for the things they done to me, and besides there's a boy who can never go back, for whom I have promised to do things to the Huns, so you see I have lots of work to do." On the wall of the Zahn home hangs a picture of the father taken when he was about the same age as his son now is. It shows him mounted on a white cavalry horse in the uniform of the kings dragoon of Kaiser Wilhelm. ~Postville Herald, September 13, 1918

~Discharge record

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~the photos from 'The Iowa Magazine' Vol 2 No. 6, December 1918; were scanned and contributed by Steve Harken for the Clayton co. IAGenWeb. Steve has scanned all of the photos in the Dec 1918 'The Iowa Magazine' for the IAGenWeb Special Project: The Iowa History Project

~photos from Soldiers of the Great War, Vol I, 1920, Memorial Addition were scanned by Sharyl Ferrall for Clayton co. IAGenWeb, unless otherwise credited
Note: Sue Soden has scanned all of the Iowa pages from this book for the IAGenWeb Special Project: Iowa in the Great War.

~much of the additional information was compiled by S. Ferrall, from obituaries, census records, WWI draft registration cards, gravestones & misc. other sources

 

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