USA > Wisconsin > Langlade County > History of Langlade County, Wisconsin, from U. S. government survey to present time, with biographical sketches > Part 12
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61
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
CHAPTER XV. Military History
Indians with De Langlade-Grand Army of the Republic-Spanish-American War-Langlade Coun- ty Heroes of 1898-Antigo Guard Company of 1888-Guards of 1901-The 14th Wisconsin In- fantry-The Mexican Expedition-Organization of Antigo Militia League-Co. G. Wisconsin National Guards-America at War with Germany-The Farewell of August 11, 1917-57th Field Artillery Brigade-107th at Pontinazian Barracks-Camp De Coetquidan-In Alsace Sector- Vesle River-Soissons-Argonne Offensive-Officers Promoted-Reese Sparks-Tollefson, Bal- lard and Alft Killed-Antigo Home Guards-Liberty Loan and Victory Fund Drives-Schools in Wartime-The Women in War-Board of Exemption-Advisory Board-The Red Cross- Great Armistice Celebration-Return of Soldiers-Casualties-American Legion-Veterans of World War-Battery "A"-Memorial Park at Polar-Council of Defense-Memorial Hospital.
The citizens of Langlade County are ever peaceful and law abiding, willing to be neighborly and live hap- py and contented. They are on an average progres- sive, thrifty and industrious. Ready to defend the right they are equally willing to condemn the wrong to the extent of taking up arms for the upholding of right, if in the defense of their country, such must be.
Langlade County has nobly performed its duty in time of distress, when war, rebellion or insurrection against the peace and civil dignity of our common- wealth has imperiled national respect.
Langlade County, or the territory compris- ing it, has actively participated in at least three of the seventeen American wars. They were French-Indian War of 1756, the Spanish-Amer- ican War of 1898, and the World War, 1914-1919.
Long before Langlade County was organized, years before the Northwest territory was legally defined and when the French had control of Wisconsin terri- tory, bands of Indians roamed within the present lim- its of Langlade County. Charles De Langlade, noted leader of the French and Indians in their battles with the British and colonial troopers, drew recruits from within Langlade County.
The force under command of De Langlade, besides the French, was composed of Ottawas, Chippewas, Menominees, Winnebagoes, Pottawottamies, Hurons and Wyandotts and perhaps others. This force de- fended the French fort Du Quesne against the English and Colonists under the leadership of General Brad- dock in 1754 and included within the ranks were In- dians from the territory now known as Langlade County. They were, no doubt, Chippewas, Menom- inees or Pottawottamies. Thus the military history of Langlade County begins and it has since been one of loyalty, faith and gratitude to country.
THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.
The John A. Kellogg Post No. 78, G. A. R., was organized by District Commander J. H. Woodnorth of Waupaca, May 15, 1883, and was named in honor of General John A. Kellogg of Wausau. Charter members were: W. H. Blinn, B. F. Dorr, S. W. Cham-
berlain, William Brainard, John A. Long, F. M. Sher- man, Henry Smith, John B. Bruner, A. L. Russell, Edward Daskam, Charles Beadleston, Edward R. Dudley and H. Springstead. First officers were: Commander, W. H. Blinn; Senior Vice Commander, B. F. Dorr; Junior Vice Commander, S. W. Chamber- lain; Surgeon, J. A. Long; Officer of Day, F. M. Sher- man; Quartermaster, J. Beemer; Adjutant, H. Smith; Quartermaster Sergeant, Abel Russell.
Civil War veterans are dying fast. The once flour- ishing membership of the John A. Kellogg Post has dwindled down to fifteen comrades. October 2, 1921, the John A. Kellogg Post No. 78 elected Robert M. Dessureau first honorary member for "meritorious de- votion to the G. A. R." He is the youngest honorary member in the United States and one of two in Wis- consin.
June, 1913, and again in June, 1921, the State En- campments of the Grand Army of the Republic and auxiliary patriotic organizations were held in Antigo. Distinguished visitors were present at both conven- tions and were accorded splendid receptions. W. S. Carr and R. C. Dempsey were General Chairmen of the 1913 and 1921 encampments respectively.
VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR.
Daniel Webster once said, "When my eyes shall turn to behold for the last time the sun in Heaven, may I not see it shining on the broken and dishonor- ed fragments of a once glorious union." He could see that the conflict between the North and the South was irrepressible. The three-cornered presidential fight of 1860 in which Abraham Lincoln, Republican, who maintained that slavery must not only be curtailed, but destroyed, was elected, forced the issue square- ly before the American people. The South supported John C. Breckenridge of Kentucky. Stephen A. Doug- las, formidable debater and opponent of Lincoln in the election, was the choice of the moderate Demo- crats. When the storm broke this distinguished statesman rushed to Abraham Lincoln and pledged unswerving allegiance to the Union. Lincoln's words,
62
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
"The nation cannot exist half slave and half free," was a warning to those who sought to perpetuate slav- ery at the expense of a united nation. When Fort Sumter was fired upon in the harbor of Charleston, S. C., April 12, 1861, the entire North was solidified into one unit, whose purpose was to save at all costs the union of the states. President Abraham Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers April 15, 1861, and de- clared the coast of the Confederacy to be under blockade. Young men rushed to the colors in the de- fense of their country and for four years the world looking on, stood aghast as the contending armies of
the Blue and Gray struggled. Langlade County was then a wilderness and had but few settlers at the out- break of the war.
Twenty years later the Grand Army of the Repub- lic became a vital factor in the village of Antigo. W. H. Blinn was its first Commander. The following Civil War veterans are now or have been members of the John A. Kellogg Post No. 78, G. A. R. The date of their enlistment, the date of their honorable dis- charge, and the unit in which they enlisted are given also :
GRAND ARMY MONUMENT. Erected in the Antigo Cemetery by the W. R. C. in cooperation with the Langlade County Board.
Name Date of Enlistment
Discharge
Unit
F. E. Allen
August, 1863
August 10, 1865
Co. D., 15th N. Y. C.
John Atwood
. October 15, 1864
July, 1865 Co. G., 1st Wis. H. A.
David P. Andrews
April 11, 1865
August 4, 1865
Co. G., 154th Ill.
J. B. Beemer
February, 1865.
November ,1865 Co. C., 46th Wis.
W. B. Brainard
September, 1862
September, 1865
Co. G., 21st Wis.
C. Beadleston
June 14, 1861
September 5, 1865.
Co. E., 4th Wis. Inf.
W. H. Blinn
July, 1861
May 20, 1863
Co. C., 9th N. Y. Inf.
W. D. Badger
July 12, 1862
July 12, 1865
Co. F., 32nd Wis. Inf.
Ed Boyle
September 23, 1864 June 29, 1865
.Co. D., 19th Wis. Inf.
E
63
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
Name Date of Enlistment
Discharge
Unit
H. O. Beard
August 18, 1862
August 17, 1865.
Co. D., 32nd Wis. Inf.
S. Lloyd Breck
August 14, 1862.
May, 1865.
Co. C., 28th Wis. Inf.
C. G. Burdick
October 18, 1861
-September 7, 1864
Co. E., 10th Wis. Inf.
C. M. Beattie
September 13, 1861
October 25, 1865
Co. F., 14th Wis. Inf.
E. Barrett
September 21, 1864
June 20, 1865
Co. K., 4th Wis. Cav.
J. E. Bickman
September, 1864.
June, 1865
Co. L., 1st Wis. H. A.
John B. Balch
August 14, 1862
June, 1865
Co. A., 141st N. Y. Inf. Co. G., 37th Mass. Inf.
E. P. Bridgeman
August 15, 1862.
August 15, 1862
Edwin Beard
August 11, 1861
July 11, 1865
Co. A., 64th 111., Inf.
John Bahr, Sr.
February 3, 1863
August 29, 1865
Co. K., 27th Wis. Inf.
A. J. Brown
October, 1864
August 22, 1865
Co. C., 211th Pa. Vol.
John Bernier
September 1, 1861
July 17, 1865
Co. A., 8th Ill. Cav.
Washington Brown
March, 1864
October 9, 1865
Co. E., 14th Wis., Vol.
R. C. Briggs
October 3, 1862
June 20, 1865.
Co. J., 32nd Wis., Inf. 3rd Wis. Cav.
Geo. W. Bemis
February 7, 1862
September 15, 1865
Co. D., 1st Wis. L. A.
Andrew Bovee
February 3, 1864
May 17, 1865
Co. B., 5th Wis. Inf.
Rufus Barcus
May 23, 1864.
July 6, 1865
Co. J., 113th Ohio Vol.
S. W. Chamberlain
August 6, 1862
June 8, 1865
Co. G., 21st Wis. Inf.
A. J. Calkins
August, 1862
June, 1865.
Co. G., 21st Wis. Inf.
George Costley
May 28, 1864.
May 25, 1865
Co. D., 2nd Pa. Cav.
J. O. Conner
October 24, 1861
November 20, 1865
Co. F., 14th Wis. Inf.
H. M. Carpenter
October 3, 1864
July 18, 1865.
Co. A., 18th Wis. Vol.
Patrick Corbett
August 11, 1862 August 8, 1862
June 8, 1865
Co. E., 21st Wis. Inf.
Lorenzo D. Cone
August 27, 1864
June 2, 1865
Co. D., 16th Wis. Inf.
Peter Colton
October 9, 1861
September 1, 1865
Co. F., 67th Ohio
Frank Clark
August 25, 1864
August, 1865
Co. D., 27th Wis. Inf.
John Clark.
December 22, 1864
July 18, 1865
Co. E., 18th Wis. Inf.
Warner S. Carr.
February 14, 1864
Co. G., 21st Wis. Vol.
James H. Craine
Co. F., 3rd Iowa Cav.
Henry Calkins
August 11, 1861
June 18, 1864
Co. G., 21st Wis. Inf.
Orlo Cheever.
June 17, 1864
June 5, 1865.
Co. A., 14th N. Y. Art.
Avery Colburn
September 23, 1863
July 3, 1865
.Co. C., Wis. Battery Co. G., 2nd Iowa Cav.
E. Daskam
September 16, 1861
October 9, 1865
Co. G., 14th Wis.
F. A. Deleglise
July, 1861
July, 1864
Co. E., 6th Wis. Inf.
John Dixon
February 24, 1864
October 9, 1865
Co. G., 14th Wis. Inf.
David Dicks
September 1, 1861
1862
Co. L., 9th Pa. Cav.
H. H. Dudley
February 22, 1864
January 24, 1865
Co. B., 36th Wis. Inf.
C. Werden Deane
October 13, 1862
July 6, 1865
Go. J., 6th Mich. Cav.
George F. Dailey.
May 7, 1861
July 10, 1865
Co. K., 3rd Wis. Vol.
Chriss Dehersberger
1864
July 17, 1865
Co. B., 45th Wis. Inf.
Chas. Decanter
February, 1864
May 7, 1865.
Co. 10th H. A. New York
Davis Eben
June, 1861
1863
Co. A., 11th Ind. Inf.
Jack Dowd
June 23, 1864
May 3, 1865.
Co. F., 38th Wis. Inf.
W. J. Empey
December, 1861
September, 1865.
Co. H., 3rd Wis. Cav.
Martin V. Elliott.
September 11, 1861
February 20, 1863
Co. H., 14th Wis. Inf.
William Fife
S. S. Ferguson
April 21, 1861
September, 1865
Co. K., 4th Wis. Cav.
Francis Fryer
October 11, 1861
September, 1865
Co. C., 3rd Minn. Inf.
Charles Furgeson
January 24, 1864
January, 1865.
Co. E, 35th Wis. Inf.
Dominicus Fowler
February 6, 1862.
February 17, 1865
U. S. Navy
George Fehl.
April 21, 1861
August 5, 1864
Co. G., 12th Mo. Inf.
John A. Finney
February, 1862.
March 16, 1865.
Co. D., 10th W. Va.
John M. Fischer
August 27, 1861
May 12, 1865
Co. F., 29th N. Y.
L. L. Foster
October 1, 1864
June 2, 1865.
Co. K., 17th Wis. Inf.
Charles Gosha
December 23, 1863
September 2, 1865
Co. E., 4th N. H. Inf.
D. Graham
December 24, 1862.
August 10, 1865
3rd Wis. Battery
John W. Goodwin August 4, 1862 June 4, 1865
Co. G., 109th N. Y.
B. F. Dorr
February, 1864
October 5, 1865
E. R. Dudley
August 9, 1865
Co. J., 32nd Wis. Vol.
Theodore W. Cornell
February 14, 1864
1865
Abel L. Bedell
64
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
Name Date of Enlistment
Discharge
Unit
Theodore Graves
August 26, 1864
June 6, 1865
1st Michigan Engrs.
E. W. Gallagan
April 6, 1862
April 5, 1865
Co. H., 14th Wis. Inf.
B. Garrity
March 30, 1864
.October 27, 1865
Co. G., 3rd Wis. Cav.
G. W. Garrett
April 9, 1863
October 2, 1865
Co. B., 3rd Wis. Cav.
Thomas Gleason
July 17, 1863
September 5, 1863
U. S. Navy (Landsman)
Charles Graves
.October 6, 1862
July 30, 1865
Co. D., 6th Iowa Cav.
Charles E. Goodnow
.November, 1861
April 6, 1863
Co. J., 3rd Mo. Inf
Joseph Gotchey
June 1, 1861
August 8, 1863
Co. K., 3rd Wis. Inf.
Peter Hilger.
.October 28, 1864
June 4, 1865
17th Wis. Inf.
W. H. Higgins
July, 1862.
March 9, 1863
Co. H., 20th Me. Inf.
J. H. Heath
January, 1864
June, 1864
Co. E., 40th Wis. Inf.
W. J. Hagen
.November, 1864
July, 1865
Co. J., 32nd Wis. Inf.
R. J. Hitchcock
September 24, 1861
September 4, 1865
Co. K., 11th Wis. Inf.
Z. Hammond
August 21, 1861
February 20, 1866
Co. M., 11th Pa. Cav.
Nelson Hobart
August 13, 1862.
August 15, 1865.
Co. F., 27th Ind. Vol.
A. J. Hooker
August 24, 1861
August 29, 1864
.Co. B. 1st N. Y. A.
A. P. Hull
January 1, 1861
July 19, 1865
Co. B. 8th Minn. Inf.
Wm. Hampton
August 21, 1862.
June 12, 1865
Co. H., 32nd Wis. Inf.
W. C. Hubbard
October 15, 1863
September 28, 1865
Co. H., 1st Mich. Eng.
Patrick Hickey
October, 1863.
July 1, 1865
Co. H., 2nd Mass. Cav.
Frank A. Huff
December, 1863
August 17, 1865
.Co. A., 3rd Wis. Cav.
Frederick Hillman
1864
July, 1865
Co. K., 17th Wis. Inf.
Frank Hoyt
December 1, 1863
August 17, 1865.
Co. A., 3rd Wis. Cav.
George Jones
August 15, 1862.
July, 1865
Co. K., 21st Wis. Inf.
W. B. Johns
May, 1864.
September 30, 1864
Co. G., 39th Wis. Inf.
H. W. James
August 21, 1861
July 17, 1865
Co. C., 16th Wis. Inf.
A. Juneau
June 13, 1861
August 5, 1865
78th U. S. Battery
Ed Jarvis
February 11, 1864
August 10, 1865.
8th Wis. Battery
William James
James Kennedy
August 22, 1862
January, 1863.
Co. K., 103rd Ohio Inf.
A. O. D. Kelley
July 20, 1862
July 8, 1865
Co. C., 85th Ind. Vol. Inf.
J. N. Kiefer
July 13, 1862
June 15, 1865
Co. H., 24th Wis. Inf.
A. Kling
August, 1862
June 18, 1865
Co. D., 21st Wis. Inf.
F. P. Kennedy
February, 1865
December, 1865
.Co. E., 42nd Wis. Inf.
Chas. W. Knapp
February 2, 1865
September 21, 1865
Co. A., 153rd Ill. Inf.
Davis Kirk.
April, 1861
July 2, 1866
Co. B., 14th Ohio Inf.
J. A. Long.
March, 1862
1865
Co. G., 9th Ind. Inf.
John R. Leykom
March, 1861
July, 1865
Co. A., 5th Wis. Inf.
Edw. LaLonde
August 28, 1862
June 2, 1865
Co. A., 18th Wis. Inf.
Ira Lake.
November 24, 1863
June 23, 1865.
Co. H., 21st Wis. Inf.
Beng. F. Lillie
September 2, 1862
Aug. 10, 1865
.Co. - 2nd Ohio Lt. A.
Henry Lloyd
February 25, 1864
Sept. 4, 1866
Co. G., 11th Wis. Inf.
Franklin Locke.
August 14, 1862.
June 8, 1865
Co. G., 21st Wis. Inf
Robert Lewins.
February 18, 1865
June 18, 1866
Co. F., 50th Wis. Inf
M. J. Lower.
Co. C. 122nd Ohio Inf.
W. Laing.
June 2, 1862.
September 5, 1865
Co. K., 3rd N. J. Inf.
H. M. Lord
October 15, 1865
July 2, 1865.
Co. G., 1st Wis. Art.
August C. Ludkey
.November 17, 1863
July 19, 1865.
Co. G., Wis. Cav.
Homer W. Lake
March 3, 1864
July 26, 1865.
Co. A., 38th Wis. Inf.
John Merchant
January 1, 1864
January 22, 1865
Co. G., 10th N. Y. Inf.
Moritz Mueller
August 21, 1862
June 12, 1865.
Co. A., 32nd Wis. Inf.
Thomas McDonald
October, 1864
Co. D., 12th Inf.
E. H. Mellor
August, 1864
June 1, 1865
Co. E., 5th Wis. Inf.
Andrew Michaelson
February 20, 1865
June 12. 1866
Co. C., 50th Wis. Inf.
John W. Merrill
August 11, 1862.
September 20, 1865
Co. D., 30th Wis. Inf.
D. A. Morgan
September 2, 1864
July, 1865
U. S. S. St. Western Co. G., 92nd N. Y.
William Meller September 6, 1862.
July 18, 1865.
M. Simon Matheny
February 18, 1864.
June 22, 1866.
Co. C., 1st Bat. Cav.
Charles Mosher
May 8, 1861
November 14, 1861
Co. H., 20th Ill. Inf.
H. A. Mills
December 6, 1863.
August 31, 1865.
Co. D., 1st Wis. H. Art.
William Madder
August 26, 1864 June 17, 1865.
Co. D., Wis. Vol.
65
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
Name
Date of Enlistment
Discharge
Unit
D. M. Maxon
July 29, 1861
July 28, 1862
Co. B., 4th Wis. Inf.
John Newberry
August 16, 1864
July 19, 1865.
Co. G., 169th N. Y. Inf.
John S. Nelson
September 2, 1864
June 14, 1865
Co. A., 2nd Wis. Cav.
C. O'Neil
August 2, 1862
August 2, 1865
Co. C., 16th U. S. Inf.
D. W. Olin
February, 1865
June, 1865
Co. G., 50th Wis. Inf.
Benjamin O'Deal
August 21, 1862
June 12, 1865.
Co. F., 32nd Wis. Inf.
R. B. Olmsted
January 4, 1865
September 14, 1865.
Co. D., 47th Mass.
Daniel O'Brien
September 19, 1862.
January 5, 1865
Co. G., 92nd Ill. Inf.
J. Phelps
August 11, 1862
June 16, 1865
Co. D., 31st Wis. Inf.
Joel E. Parker
May 5, 1862.
May 5, 1865.
Co. G., 11th Ohio Vol.
E. W. Pride
January 1, 1862
September, 1863.
Co. G., 1st Wis. Inf.
John H. Reader
September 8, 1864
June 2, 1865
Co. D., 16th Wis. Inf.
Henry Rust
April 23, 1861
July 27, 1865
Co. E., 14th Ohio Inf.
Austin Robinson
February 10, 1865
February 9, 1866
Co. F., 34th N. Y. Vol.
Alexander Rogers
September 10, 1861
October 30, 1864
Co. F., 16th Ohio Vol. Inf.
A. D. Rice.
March 17, 1864
August 12, 1865
Co. B., 38th Wis. Inf.
Henry Smith
July 20, 1863
November 8, 1865
Co. H., 2nd N. Y. Vol. Inf.
F. M. Sherman
April 19, 1861
January 18, 1865.
Co. I., 9th Ind. Inf.
J. A. Spencer
March 25, 1862
September 1, 1865
.Co. I., 3rd Wis. Vol. Inf.
Stephen Scott
March, 1863
Co. B., 37th Wis. Inf.
August Schoepke
December 20, 1861
April 4, 1865
Co. K., 17th Wis. Vol. Cav.
H. C. Shipley
September, 1861
April 14, 1865
.Co. C., 1st Wis. Cav.
J. F. Saxe_
February, 1864
July 11, 1865
Co. M., 3rd W. Va. Cav.
William Stacy
September 1, 1862
June 15, 1865
Co. K., 21st Ohio Inf.
Gates Saxton
April 30, 1861
May 23, 1862
Co. H., 14th N. Y. Inf.
E. D. Stewart
February 16, 1864
December 1, 1865
Co. H., 15th Ohio
C. H. Steele
August 6, 1862.
August 7, 1865
.Co. A., 72nd Ill. Inf.
Robert Sheriff
August 28, 1864
June 28, 1865.
.Co. E., 5th Wis. Inf.
George W. Stanley.
September 21, 1861
May 28, 1862
Co. B., 14th Wis. Inf.
Frederick Spoehr
September 29, 1864
June 3, 1865.
.Co. B., 9th Wis. Inf.
J. C. Spencer.
April 19, 1864
June 24, 1865
Co. F., 37th Wis. Inf.
Albert L. Stowe
August 14, 1862
June 25, 1865
Co. G., 21st Wis. Inf.
Charles H. Sprague
August 18, 1862
.May 20, 1865
Co. E., 100th Ohio Inf.
Loren M. Shew
January 19, 1864
May 24, 1865
Co. K., 10th N. Y. H. Art.
J. Spurgeon
May 7, 1861
September, 1865
Co. K., 3rd Wis., Vol.
Dan Sweeney
February, 1864
July 15, 1865
.Co. K., 64th Ill. Inf.
J. P. Sanders
November 19, 1861
July 12, 1862
Co. H., 1st Wis. Inf.
A. D. Stowe
August, 1864.
June 1865
Co. H., 5th Wis. Inf.
James Thurber
May 26, 1864
Sept. 23, 1864
Co. G., 41st Wis. Vol.
R. S. Thompson
June 11, 1861
November 15, 1861
.Co. - 2nd Wis. Inf.
Israel Wood
December, 1863.
July 11, 1865
Co. K., 34th Mass. Inf.
H. B. Woodhouse
December 18, 1864
May 18, 1865
Co. D., 14th Wis. Inf.
W. W. Wheeler
June 12, 1861
June 23, 1862
Co. C. 7th Ohio Inf.
E. I. Whitney 1864
June, 1865
Co. A., 38th Wis. Inf.
William N. Wilson
February 4, 1865
September 4, 1865
Co. I., 47th Wis. Inf.
Nicholas Weaver
September 18, 1862
May 29, 1865
Co. D., 97th N. Y. Inf.
Thomas Williams
August, 1864
Co. F., 145th P. A.
D. A. Willard.
September 18, 1861
October 31, 1864
Co. G., 1st Wis. Cav.
Hiram H. Ward
February 1, 1864
May 26, 1866
Co. K., 4th Wis. Cav.
Andrew Webley
1861
June 13, 1865
Co. K., 50th N. Y. Inf.
Michael Weix
September, 1861
June 13, 1865
Co. A., 15th Inf.
L. Zahn
April 11, 1862
April 29, 1865
Co. K., 19th Wis. Inf.
THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.
Langlade County was still in its infancy when President William McKinley issued a call for 125,000 volunteers on April 23, 1898, after the blowing up of the ill-fated Maine in Havana harbor. Yet Langlade County citizens were ready to do their part. Ed Kiefer enlisted at Portage, Wis., in the 3rd Wiscon- sin Infantry; John McGinley enlisted in Co. D., 49th
Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Waterloo, Ia. He saw serv- ice in Cuba and was mustered out at Savanah, Ga., May 13, 1899. George Doersch served in a South Da- kota regiment; Frank Lyons served with Co. L of the U. S. Cavalry; Dan O'Brien served in the 34th Michigan Regiment with an Ironwood Co .; John Mol- litor served with Company "E" of the 2nd Wisconsin Volunteers, a Fond du Lac unit; Charles Clark serv- ed with "G" Co., 2nd Wisconsin Volunteers from Ap-
66
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
pleton, Wis. Both Mr. Clark and Mr. Mollitor sol- diered in Porto Rico. Willis Otis enlisted January 10, 1899, with Co. "D" of the 4th U. S. Infantry. He was mustered out in 1901 after service in the Philip- pines. Fred Springstead enlisted in May, 1898.
FRED SPRINGSTEAD-HERO.
Fred Springstead, son of Mrs. Jane Springstead, of Antigo, was the only Langlade County man to be kill- ed during the Spanish-American War. He was killed in action August 1, 1898, before the entrenchments of Cavite, P. I. by a sniping sharpshooter. He died while fighting with "D" Company of the 1st Colorado Volunteers.
FRED SPRINGSTEAD
The first Langlade County soldier to be killed in action, while fighting for his Country. He enlisted in Colorado during the Spanish-American War.
A bust of Fred Springstead now appears in the state capitol, Denver, Colorado, as young Spring- stead was the first Colorado soldier to fall.
His military funeral at the Antigo M. E. Church, March 29, 1900, was the largest gathering that had to that day ever assembled to pay homage to a Lang- lade County hero.
ANTIGO GUARD COMPANY.
After the Spanish-American War a military unit known as the Antigo Guard Company was organized, March 21, 1901. Officers chosen were: Captain, George H. Doersch; 1st Lieut., William C. Ross; 2nd Lieut., Thomas F. Thompson; Secretary, R. C. Lillie.
The muster roll of enlisted men was as follows: H. Baldwin, Herman Brecklin, Peter P. Chadek, F. C. Duchac, A. E. Dove, F. Doner, C. W. Frick, George Fehring, R. H. Ford, W. P. Fessenden, P. H. French, P. H. Flanagan, J. W. Flanagan, Will Flynn, Ernest Fondow, Walter Guile, E. L. Goff, J. H. Hopkins, William H. Hackett, E. D. Humphrey, Paul Heller, H. B. Heinemann, Colon Hutchinson, F. G. Hoffman, Alfred Klock, August Kurz, John Kebble, A. B. Kra- mer, Harry F. Kohl, Otto Molle, J. W. Mader, J. P. McHale, C. H. Rice, R. Rounds, F. J. Rhode, C. W. Rock, Julius Strauch, Max Steinhauer, G. H. Wan- ninger and Louis Zern.
The roll was augmented by new members during
the six months following organization. The company was reorganized with a change in officers. Thomas Thompson, J. H. Hopkins, D. Moyer served as Cap- tains successively. When the company disbanded, because it was not possible to be admitted into the Wisconsin National Guards, it had the following offi- cers : Captain, J. H. Hopkins; 1st Lieut., Harry F. Kohl, and 2nd Lieutenant, Otto F. Berner.
THE ANTIGO GUARDS OF 1901. Camping on the banks of the Eau Claire River.
The old Antigo Guards was a live unit, much more so than the Antigo Light Guards of 1888, who dis- banded shortly after their organization. Many an In- dependence Day celebration and sham battle were given by the Antigo Guards. The Battle of Crocker's Landing was a thrilling mock battle staged by Antigo Guards at a July 4th celebration.
THE 14TH WISCONSIN REUNION.
The old 14th Wisconsin Regiment of Civil War fame held a reunion in Antigo in June 1902. Antigo was lavishly decorated. A welcome address was giv- en the veterans by Mayor Thomas W. Hogan. Beauti- ful arches were erected at Edison, Clermont, and Su- perior streets and near the depot. Antigo people en- rolled at the reunion headquarters were: George Jessie, "A" Co., 14th Wis .; Lieut. C. M. Beattie and wife; Edward Daskam, "G" Co .; M. V. Elliott, "H" Co., and E. Galligan, "H" Co., all of the 14th Wis- consin.
ANTIGO BOYS WITH PERSHING AT BORDER.
Pancho Villa, bandit chieftain, in his desire to wage guerilla warfare against the United States, ransacked the border town of Columbus, New Mexico. Presi- dent Wilson ordered General John J. Pershing into Chihuahua and other northern Mexican states in pur- suit. State militia was called out to patrol the bor- der and excitement was high. Langlade County boys in Co. L., Rhinelander, Oneida County military unit, were Louis Maybee, Archie and Curtis Carpenter of the city of Antigo, Charles Gehrke, Summit Lake, Oscar Hertell of Bass Lake, and Otto Staats. They
67
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
returned home after eight months of border service, February 28, 1917. Truck drivers were necessary for border warfare and Bert Nixon, Lester Tosch, Ben Pliska and Ward Walsh enlisted in that branch of service.
RECRUITING FOR WORLD WAR.
When it became apparent that the United States had no alternative but to enter the war against Germany, a recruiting office was opened in Antigo. It was lo- cated in the rear of the Rogers-McCollister fruit store, Voight Bldg., and later located in the Manthey bldg., corner of Fifth Avenue and Edison Street.
Edward Cody, Postmaster, and Otto F. Berner were the men most influential in organizing plans for an Antigo military unit. They were working quietly on the matter as early as June, 1916.
First volunteers to sign the roll on April 6, 1917, were as follows: O. A. Miller, William H. Leslie, Mike Skibbins, George Kolerus, Orville Green, Ezra Knapp, John Gesiorek, George Chadek, Leland May- otte, Henry Tenant, Leland A. Tollefson, Frank T. Lynde, Stanley Talarcyzk, John Chadek, Edwin Walk- er, Edwin Menting, Richard Hugnin, Bill Now, Al Menting, F. M. Hopkins, Floyd Topping, E. Krauk, F. Stidel, Silas Baird, J. Sharon, Jr., Evan Martin, Otto F. Berner, Alex Skibba, Leo Mountain, Al Dixon, B. Hogan, A. McGregor, P. J. Sleeter, Hermis F. Dionne, Leo Bowens, William Bonier, Henry Edwards, Frank Schyzyski, Henry Kawalski, O. G. Brandow, Hugh Nelson, S. V. Noble, F. Hersant, Leo Ottman, Bert Mayerl, Lester Parkhill, Floyd Burdin, Clarence No- wotny, Robert M. Dessureau, George P. Rath, Albert B. Arnold, C. D. Leslie, Harold Huntoon, George Rabi- deau, Otto Weiher, John Shadick, Edwin Boettcher, James Schultz, J. B. Zodrow, Robert Mattmiller, J. H. Hopkins, Norman Preston, Merritt Reader, Raymond Lange, R. S. Griffith, George E. Brown, Ray Clegg, Daniel Hayes, George McArthur, John Maltby, John Wall, I. Hoffman, Will Rice, I. C. Green, D. O. Rich- ter, George Edee, J. Churney, Charles Bonnell, W. C. Peterson, C. H. Anderson, Charles McArthur, Anton Bosacki, W. Neary, Dan Kehlnofer, Jerome Riley, Frank Luckowicz, John Cherek, William Reif, F. Bahr, E. G. Winters, Walter Lange, James Garvey, and Theodore Sloat.
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