Stories of Our Spanish American Soldiers - Company M, 6th Regiment O.V.I.

 Now and then through 2026, our blog will feature stories about the men from Defiance and surrounding areas who volunteered for service in the Spanish-American War from 1898 - 1899.

When President McKinley called for volunteers, our local men were eager to participate. On June 23, 1898, a train pulled out of Defiance with a whole company of men. The cry was, "We are going to free Cuba!"

They were headed first to Camp Bushnell in Columbus, Ohio, and then by July 6 to Chickamauga Park, Camp George H. Thomas, where they would meet up with the rest of the 6th Regiment. It was part of the old Civil War battlefield.

By the summer of 1898, Camp Thomas was in horrible shape - overcrowded with a lack of clean water and poor sanitation. The War Department decided to move the regiment up to Knoxville, Tennessee.

They ended up in Camp Poland, near Knoxville, by both marching and by train.

Finally on August 27, 1898, they boarded a train for Charleston, SC and then boarded a C.S. Transport boat called the Mennewaska in the evening to depart for Cuba.

(While the group were still at Camp Thomas, the armistice had been signed, but we were still officially at war until The Treaty of Paris would be signed on December 10, 1898. Troops, however, were needed to occupy the new lands attained by our troops.)

Company M arrived in Cuba in the harbor of Cieninegas, Cuba on January 3 and marched through that city to a camp about four miles out of town.

*Misspelled in newspaper - it should be Cienfuegos Bay

Under the leadership of Captain James A. Crandall, they soon moved to the Provost Guard Camp in the city itself. There they served to keep the peace until April 21, 1899, when they boarded a ship for a 4 day cruise to Savannah, GA.

Once there, they went through disinfecting stations and fumigation and stayed in quarantine on Danfuki Island.

They headed back to into Savannah on May 9 and hopped a train to Augusta where they were mustered out and paid. They could then head for home where they would arrive as a group on May 26, 1899.

Auglaize Village holds a panoramic photo of Company M which will be used in our storytelling. Someone had the historical foresight to number each soldier and write the corresponding name along the sides.

Pioneers of Northwest Ohio - GEORGE & NARCISSUS CHAPMAN, HULDAH E. WINN

From the obituary of Hulda E. Winn, 1908, we can discover more about her line of the family who were very early settlers in Milford Township, Defiance County, arriving in 1838.

Hulda Chapman Winn, shown above with her sisters, was also known as "Grandma Winn" in her later years.

Her obituary -

"OBITUARY - WINN

Hulda E. Winn, known among her multitude of friends, as Grandma Winn, was born at Whitby, Canada, May 25, 1831. Hence at the time of her dissolution, which occurred January 20, 1908. She was of the age of 76 years 8 months and 5 days.

Her parents, the late George W. and Narcissus Chapman, early settlers of Milford Township, this county, were of New England stock, but a short time previous to the birth of this daughter, they migrated to Canada.

Their stay in Canada, however, was of short duration; and while Huldah E. was still a small child, she came with her parents to this country.

About 58 years ago, at the home of her parents, she was united in marriage to Elisha Winn, who departed this life, May 31, 1900. There are left, surviving this father and mother, four sons, viz. George E, John W. , Lyman E. and Will D. Grandma Winn also left surviving her two sisters, eighteen grandchildren, and a great number of more distant relatives.

Mother Winn was reared in the faith of the United Brethren in Christ and all through her long life, clung firmly to its teachings. Throughout her span of life, covering more than three score years and ten, her belief and faith in Christ grew greater and stronger until it became a conviction and when the angel of death hovered above her couch, it was met with outstretched hands, for Grandma Winn saw in the approaching dissolution nought but the beginning of another, a happier and an everlasting life.

Her funeral service was conducted from the U.B. church by her pastor, Rev. J. F. Miller, Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock." (Pioneers of Northwest Ohio)

Her burial took place in Forest Home Cemetery. Hicksville.

Further investigation found her parents, Rev. George Washington Chapman, born in Massachusetts on September 29, 1803. He married Narcissus Hopkins, known as "Nan," born in 1802. They began their farming adventure in Milford Twp. before Defiance County was officially formed.

This obituary leads to the Defiance County History of 1883 where George W. Chapman's story is told, beginning on page 332:

"George W. Chapman, the subject of this sketch, was born in Gill, Mass., on the 29th day of September, 1803, at which place he resided till the year 1921, when he removed to St. Lawrence County, N.Y.  On the 31st day of December, 1822, he married Miss Narcissus Hopkins of the above-named county. Here Mr. and  Mrs. Chapman began a life which proved to be one of toil and hardship, yet withal a most interesting and useful one.

Mr. Chapman was a skilled carpenter, found no lack for work, but in the hope of finding a more desirable location, he moved with his family to Canada in the year 1828 or 1829. There he resided till the fall of 1837, when yielding to the ambition of their young nature, they resolved to emigrate to the West and choose them a home from the forest lands of Western Ohio. 

... Such household furniture as could be conveniently carried was loaded on a wagon, and Mr. Chapman with his wife and several small children* with a single team of horses and heavy loaded wagon set upon a trip that at this day would seem impossible to accomplish."

*The three children born in Canada were Lyman, Huldah and George W. Jr.

Whitby is north of Toronto, making it about a 350 mile trip or more on our good roads.

"They proceeded directly to Geauga County in this State where they stopped for a short time to rest up their horses and decide upon a place to locate. Leaving his family, Mr. Chapman proceeded upon horseback to Milford Township, where he entered 240 acres of land, a part of which was the farm upon which he now resides.  

He immediately returned to Geauga, and having purchased a yoke of oxen and another wagon, he again set out with his family for the chosen home where he arrived the 1st of February 1838.

The trip from Canada to Milford Township was one of hardship and fatigue, having been made during the fall and winter months through a new and unimproved country, a great part of the road being through dense wood, with nothing but blazed trees to indicate where the road was...

The Chapman land in Milford Twp on the 1860 plat map.
 E. L. Chapman may be George's son, Ervin.

"Upon arriving on his land, Mr. Chapman proceeded at once to erect a log cabin and prepare for the comfort of his family.  Chaney P. Lowery, Dinnis Foyles and Eli Coy were about the only neighbors, and each man had to depend upon himself alone to do his work...

Mr. Chapman went upon the line of road passing through the center of Milford Township and, unassisted, felled the trees, felled the logs and cleared a wagon track from his farm west to the St. Joe River, a distance of four miles.

He also worked at masonry and brick work, and, as well, that of cabinet making.

The first schoolhouse in the district was built upon Mr. Chapman's land, and the first school taught by Harriet, his eldest daughter This schoolhouse was burned down in a short time and until another one could be built, Mr. Chapman's carpenter shop was converted into a schoolhouse...

Mr. Chapman has been an active member of the United Brethren Church since 1840, having helped to organize the first society of that denomination ever organized in Milford, and for which society, he labored as local preacher for many years.

Mr.  Chapman's children consisted of four boys and five girls, viz: 

Royal, Lyman, George, Harriet, Jemme, Huldah, Roby and Mary Jane., two of whom are now dead, the others married.

Mrs. Narcissus Chapman departed this life August 27, 1870, aged sixty nine years.  Mr. Chapman then married Miss Dolly Crary, of Potsdam, St. Lawrence County N.Y. on the 5th day of February 1877, with whom he is now living on his old farm in Milford Township.

Thus it will be seen  that Mr. Chapman can truthfully be called one of the most interesting characters of pioneer life in Defiance County, having come here when our county was one vast wilderness he has lived to see it developed into a rich county; has seen nearly the whole of the first generation of its people pass away and that second grow to old age; and although he is now upward of eighty years old, yet with the exception of a crippled limb caused by an injury received while moving to this county, he is enjoying comparatively good health, and still works at the carpenter bench." (Defiance County History,1883)

Mr. Chapman is buried beside his first wife, Narcissus, in the Farmer Cemetery.

Christmas Messages from DCGS 2025

 

Christmas 1945

 

Coming Home...

In 1945, after peace was made, our weary soldiers headed home, after waiting here and there to be discharged.  It's hard to imagine the elation felt by the folks back home as they welcomed sons, brothers, and husbands to their tables. The society columns were full of the excitement.  

The Crescent-News, November 23, 1945:

"Honor Return Soldier

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Notestine, south of Ney, entertained at a turkey dinner on Thanksgiving Day in honor of their son, Delmar, who was discharged February at Indian Gap, Pa, after 38 months with the 5th Air Force, 25 months of which he was in New Guinea, the Philippines, Australia, East India, Okinawa and Japan.

Others present were: Helen N. Byers, Mariana Notestine, Herbert Sudholtz, Defiance; Jack Notestine and sons, Fort Wayne: Mr. and Mrs. E.B. Notestine; Jesse Notestine; Mr. and Mrs. Harley Notestine and sons; Tom and Bell and Mrs. Donley Rilla, Ney."

On the other side, think of the empty chairs at some tables and the grief-filled Christmases.  It's difficult to be joyful at the holidays if some beloved family member or friend is not present.

This type of meditation appeared often in the papers to help people deal with the times.

WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - PFC Ralph C. Linenstruth

 

Private Ralph C. Linenstruth (Linn)

Fred and Irma (Carr) Linenstruth lived in Cleveland when they welcomed their son, Ralph into the world on November 20, 1912.  Fred died in 1918, leaving Irma with two young boys to raise; Ralph and a brother, Floyd.

Ralph registered for the draft on October 16, 1940, when he was about 28. On December 24, 1943, he enlisted into the Army in Cleveland. He had gone to high school and then was employed full time as a machinist.

His assignment was to the 175th Infantry, 29th Infantry Division. It wasn't long before he found himself in the Battle of Normandy and then to northwest France.

On August 11, 1944, the day of his death, his unit crossed the Loire River in France. The Germans were in what they called, Operation Luttrich, a code name for their counterattacks and attempts at taking back areas they had lost earlier.

The Allies were closing in on them, and Hitler's military leaders wanted to leave. 

Hitler, however, would not hear of it and ordered the German troops to stay and fight till death, if necessary. The fighting was severe, and the Allies were able to circle around the Germans. (Hitler did not know that some of his officers had defied him and evacuated across the Seine where they would meet the Canadian troops.)

It was in this battle in France that Private Linenstruth lost his life. His hospital admission card noted that he was hit in the back with a bullet, killed in action.

Ralph C. Linenstruth was a challenge to research in many ways. First, we found that he and some of his family used the last name, Linn, only discovered by finally locating his obituary.  

His obituary appeared with the photo above in The Cleveland Press, December 7, 1944:

"PVT. RALPH C. LINN

Pvt. Ralph C. Linn (Linenstruth) was killed in France on Aug. 11. He was the son of Mrs. Irma Linenstruth and the husband of Helen, Chardon. 

In service since Jan. 13,1944, Pvt. Linn, 32, was trained at Camp Blanding, Fla. and sent overseas in July. He last wrote home on August 6 and told of participating in action on the drive to Paris.

A graduate of Shaw High School, Pvt. Linn worked at the Cleveland Tractor Company before entering service. He is survived by his mother, his wife, and his brother, Pvt. Floyd W. Linn, stationed at Fort Dix, N.J."

He was temporarily buried in France and returned home to be permanently interred. The Cleveland Press announced on December 10, 1948, that 23 war dead were being returned from Europe on the Army transport, James E. Robinson, among them,Ralph C. Linenstruth.

In the Plain Dealer (Cleveland) on January 12, 1949, his funeral was announced:

"LINENSTRUTH, (LYNN) PVT. RALPH C., son of Mrs. Irma Linenstruth; brother of Floyd of Columbus, O.; on August 12, 1944 at St. Lo, France. Friends may call at Charles Melbourne & Sons Colonial Home, 12777 Euclid Ave. after 7 p.m. Wednesday. Services Thursday Jan. 13 at 1 p.m."

His burial took place in Bedford Cemetery, Cuyahoga County, and his name appears on a monument at the Lake View Cemetery called "Geauga County Servicemen."

The last big mystery was his connection to Defiance County and the reason his name was on the memorial here. He appeared regularly on the Defiance County Casualty Lists.

On honorstates. org, his Purple Heart was noted as a soldier from Defiance County.

This Profile ID	513870
Service ID	35924875
Name	Ralph C Linenstruth
From	Defiance County, Ohio
War	World War II
Service Branch	Army
Rank	Private
Casualty Type	KIA - Killed in Action
Notable Awards	★ Purple Heart

If anyone can help with this question, we would appreciate a solution! Please comment!

Dianne Kline, Researcher

WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - PFC Walter L. Brown

 

PFC Walter Leroy Brown

HMT Rohna, (Her Majesty's Transport) 
Requistioned for the U.S. from the British India Steamship Company
 for troop transport

Born March 29, 1921, Walter Leroy Brown, son of William Russell and Emma Viola (Byers)Brown lived in Oakwood for much of his life with his siblings, Robert, Marion, Marjorie, and Beverly.  

On January 2, 1943, he enlisted into the Army in Toledo. He attended many training camps, but most importantly, he married Willadeen Stover, 21, on June 19, 1943, a native of Defiance, before leaving on assignment. She lived in Tiffin Township with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Stover, seven miles north of the city on Route 66.

Walter was assigned to the 853rd Aviation Engineer Battalion that embarked overseas on October 3, 1943. His group was headed for India to build runways, maintain 

airports and complete any aviation projects necessary there. The Battalion loaded onto the Rohta on November 24, 1943, at Oran, a port on the coast of Algeria, North Africa. It was a ship meant for about 100 people, a coal burning steamer, but almost 2000 men were boarded. On the 25th, they joined a British convoy.

From the internet story: www.WW2:TheBigOne

"Since the departure was on Thanksgiving Day, the crew provided a holiday repast that didn't stay down very long, as the ship rolled through the swells. 

'We had Thanksgiving dinner, and everybody went and vomited, Holiiman said.

Seasickness, however, would be the least of their problems. 

At 4:30 p.m. the next day, German bombers based in occupied France attacked the convoy."

Hitler was able to use his "secret weapon" on the Rohna - a radio-controlled guided missile, and the Rohna took a direct hit very near the 853rd's berths. The 725 pound bomb pierced the lightly plated port side of the Rohna. It had a delayed fuse, but when it exploded it blew big holes on either side of the ship right at the waterline near the engine room.

The engine room flooded and caught fire, meaning all electrical power went out. Ladders were shattered, hatch covers blew off, and the one lifeboat that could be lowered was swarmed with men and capsized. Life vests were not on the ship - just inflatable life rings which proved insufficient. The ship capsized and the men were left in the cold, rough seas.

PFC Walter L. Brown died on November 26, 1943. The 853rd had 30 officers and 793 enlisted men when the Rohna left port. Now 495 were gone, and 147 were injured.

British and Australian officers and Indian crew members also died, totaling 1,149 people.

The strange thing about this incident was that the survivors were ordered not to talk about it and it wasn't in the news. One officer stated it was "hush-hush. It was hard on parents and other friends and relatives back home who were only informed by telegram that their soldier was MIA.

An example of the telegram sent home:

The government did not want to give the enemy any clue to their successful hit with their new weapon, so both the British and American troops were ordered to stay silent. 

"The secrecy prevailed after the war, causing many families a long delay to learn 

what happened to their loved ones. For many years, hardly anyone who wasn't in the convoy or part of the rescue effort knew what happened." www.WW2:TheBigOne

PFC Brown's obituary appeared in the Crescent-News on June 13, 1944, on page one, with a vague description of what happened to him. The ship was not named and "It was believed" give a less than detailed description of his fate

PFC Brown died at sea and his body was not recovered. His name appears on a Memorial Plaque in the North Africa American Cemetery in Tunisia.

We were not able to locate a photo of PFC Walter L. Brown; if you have one, we would love to have one to add to this memorial.  Send to defiancegenealogy2002.yahoo.com

Dianne Kline, Researxher

Sidenote: Walter had a brother, Marion Francis Brown, an Army  Infantryman, who

also died in 1944.

THE WOMEN "CODE BREAKERS" (CRYPTOLOGISTS) IN WORLD WAR II

 

The most written about women cryptologists in the war worked in Betchley Park, Buckinghamshire, England. When tensions grew between Europe and Asia in 1937, a Government Code and Cypher School was developed here with mostly male professors from Oxford and Cambridge teaching. As it grew, more staff was needed, so they began to look for women mathematicians, linquists, physicists, and even crossword puzzle experts who were thought to have good lateral thinking skills. Women were largely recruited from the WRENS, the Women's Royal Naval Service. This group, which was 75% women of about 10,000 employees were highly successful and, according to several websites, their work "is credited with shortening WW II by between two and four years." (warhistoryonline.com)

But did you realize that we had several top secret places in the U.S. that were also working to  break enemy codes. One was in Dayton, Ohio at the NCR - National Cash Register Company - who began receiving federal contracts in 1942  There, WAVES were building and operating the Navy Cryptanalytic Bombe, an electromagnetic device used to break four rotor messages being sent from German U-boats. Six hundred WAVES on three shifts worked this project 24-7, building the machines and reading electric diagrams. One source said that at the time, they really didn't understand what they were building, yet they built 121 machines.

At that time Germany and the other Axis countries were constantly changing codes with their machine, Enigma. The Bombe machine we built could eventually crash that code, thanks to the work in England, saving thousands of U.S. soldiers from enemy ship and plane attacks. It was a very high security job, and even after the war, many women kept the secret.

The Bombe Machine

The "Code Girls" of Arlington Hill, Virginia were the other group put to work deciphering enemy messages and breaking new codes. Again, the WACs and the WAVEs were highly involved and recruited. This job required an oath of secrecy and a penalty of death for leaking information. High scores on a Civil Service Exam were a priority, especially in mathematical and engineering areas, and then schooling was needed in geography and history, Morse code, and radio and cryptology. Their personal lives were also highly investigated with references checked. They wore no uniforms as they didn't want to draw attention to themselves. 

The Japanese code was broken easily, although the Japanese thought it foolproof, so they never changed it much during the war. Once the Bombe was built and the German codes rotation mastered, the U.S. had a very strong upper hand.  The women worked 24-7 with no days off and no attention to their accomplishments during or even after the war. They were proud citizens, devoted to saving lives.

Ada Stempler, a successful cryptologist, once stated: " We had been taught that no secret is kept for long and no code was so difficult that it wouldn't eventually be broken."

Dianne Kline, Researcher