The Only Defiance County Officer Fallen on Foreign Lands During WW I - Lieutenant Herbert E. Anderson

 

The Herbert E. Anderson Post No. 117 of the American Legion in Defiance, Ohio is named after this brave World War I soldier.

LIEUTENANT HERBERT OSWALD EDWARD ANDERSON

Born to Albert and Mary (Olson) Anderson on Jan. 28, 1894, in Defiance, Herbert lost his mother, perhaps in childbirth. He had an older brother, Robert, and a younger brother, Wilbert, called Dewey, and a sister, Esther.

Albert, the father of four remarried on September 19, 1894, to Sarah H. Shelhart. Herbert gained eventually two half siblings, Marie and Dorothy. The family were members of Zion Lutheran Church.

On June 24,1916, Herbert enlisted at the Defiance Armory into Company G, 6th O.V.I. as a Private under Captain DeKay. He was sent to the Mexican border where he patrolled until March 1917. A move followed to Fort Riley, Kansas to muster out, but "contrary orders sent his outfit to Cleveland for guard duty. While serving there, he was advanced to a sergeancy.

From Cleveland, he went into training for foreign service at Camp Sheridan, Ala. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in September 1917 and received his first lieutenancy commission in February 1918, before going to Camp Lee, Va., preparatory to sailing to France, June 22, 1918."

(The Crescent-News, October 17, 1921, p.1)

He arrived in Brest, France on July 5, 1918. Captain DeKay was promoted, so 1st Lt. Anderson took command of Co. 6, 147th Infantry, 37th Division.

"

It was between 9 and 9:30 on September 27, 1918, in the Avacourt section of the Meuse-Argonne offensive (circled above). Lt. Anderson was leading his company over Montaucon when he received mortal wounds.

 

"Red Cross stretcher bearers, carrying a private back to the lines, stopped to unload the private in order to take the wounded officer first. This Lieut. Anderson refused to allow, saying, 'I once was a private, take him to a place of safety and then come back for me.' In the turmoil of conflict, they never returned. Lt. Anderson died at 24 years, 8 months and two days." (The Crescent-News, October 22, 1938, page 1)

The body arrived home by train on the day before the planned funeral at 6:45 p.m, October 16, 1921, and it was immediately taken to the home of his father, Albert Anderson, for services the next day at the home on 517 East Second Street; rites were said at 1:30.

Then a funeral procession started for the Armory, led by mounted Marshalls, Clarence Nestleroad and Walter Cox, followed by the Elks Band. Four Color Guards followed, along with the Defiance Howitzer Company, veterans and representatives from the American Legion Post named after Anderson. Businesses and citizens were requested to fly their flags until after the funeral was over.

Men from Lt. Anderson's company were pallbearers:

A.B. Dekay, Raymond Slough, Harry E. Moore, Marvin Gallup, Clyde Morris, and John M. Conroy.

The headlines of The Crescent-News on October 17, 1921, stretched across three columns on page 1:

"THOUSANDS THRONG STREETS

PACK ARMORY FOR FUNERAL OF

LIEUT. HERBERT E. ANDERSON

Concourse is Declared By Older Residents To Be The

Largest Ever Assembled in Defiance For Similar Services

...Soldiers of America's three wars, relative and friends packed the auditorium while thousands remained outside waiting to accompany the body to the cemetery.

The service was conducted by Rev. Benjamin F. Hoeffer of the Zion's English Lutheran Church...

At the grave the Herbert E. Anderson Post No. 117, American Legion lowered their comrade with Legion ritual service. General William V. McMaken of Toledo, Major Harry Lowry of Napoleon, and a number of captains, lieutenants, and other officers of the 147th Infantry were present to pay respects to their fellow leader.

Members of Family Present

Members of the immediate family present were: Mr and Mrs. Albert Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Anderson and other brother, Dewey Anderson and three sisters, Miss Esther, Miss Dorothy and Miss Marie...

Vice Post Commander Roger H. Blue read the ritual and Chaplain McLain offered prayer for the rest of the weary soul as the body was lowered into the grave.

Salute and Taps

A three-volley salute announced that a comrade had at last found his rest after three years after the fatal day duty had called him to make the full measure of sacrifice while leading his company.

As the multitude stood with uncovered heads bowed in reverence and comrades of many conflicts held respectful salute, James Conroy blew taps over the body at peace with friends in his homeland.

The march to the cemetery was led by Clarence Nestleroad and Walter Cox mounted fellow soldiers with Lt. Anderson. Then came the Elks Band playing the funeral dirge.

The National Emblem was carried aloft by John Hale, while Brainard Malley bore the Herbert E. Anderson American Legion Post colors. Color guards were August Haselswart and F. O.Rotsel...

then the pall bearers...

Next came the flower bearers who were James Gilbert. Joseph Relyea, Elsworth Florence, Edward Weisenburger, Orville McCullough, Harvey Bennett, Clarence Ressler, and Harvey Flentje.

The firing squad in charge of Sgt. L.W. Pollock were Elmer Fessel, Ralph Karr, Howard Blue, Jesse Hellard, Elmer Miller, Ellsworth Florence, Paul Bauer and Russel Title.

Three hundred soldiers in uniform, many of whom were of the 37th Division were in the line of march. Hundreds of cars filled with Defiance friends and many from surrounding towns brought up the rear. 

Thousands of others walked to the cemetery..."

Riverside Cemetery

A few months later, the Crescent-News reported from Zion Lutheran Church on December 5, 1921:

"In a special congregational meeting yesterday, the Ladies Aid of his church received permission to contract for a pipe organ which will be installed in the church. The organ is not only a tribute to the Ladies Aid but is a memorial to Herbert E. Anderson who died fighting for his country on foreign fields. A substantial donation by Albert Anderson and family made the instrument possible."

(Thanks to the eagle-eyed folks from the Veterans Office who spotted a couple of omissions in our World War I monument lineup...You know who you are!)

Two Spanish-American War Soldiers - David Phillips and Joseph Gardner

 

Defiance County men mustered up in 1898 to help in the Spanish-American War. A panoramic photo was taken of Company M, 6th regiment soldiers, probably before they left for Cuba. From this photo, a few soldiers at a time will be featured on this blog throughout 2026.

Numbered and identified on the panoramic photo which is in the hands of Auglaize Village, the first soldiers researched were #10, David Phillips, and #36, Joseph Gardener.

#10

THIRD SERGEANT DAVID PHILLIPS

Very little could be found on Sgt. Phillips, although his residence was listed on military records as Defiance. He mustered into the company at age 27 and mustered out with the company. No vital records could be found for him in Defiance County. He may have joined the group from another county, yet he was a member of the Red Men Society in Defiance and 

was well thought of there. His burial place is unknown.

"BRILLIANT RECEPTION

IN HONOR OF SERGEANT DAVID PHILLIPS OF CO. M

The Red Men and ladies of Pocahontas Council gave a grand reception Tuesday evening in honor of Sergeant David Phillips of Company M, who recently returned from Cuba.

He presented each of the ladies with a small sea shell with a gold ring attached and a bow of National colors.

To the men he gave each a sea bean and all the Cuban cigars they could smoke. These relics he brought from Cuba.

He also displayed all the photographs of different views in Cuba, which he had brought home with him.

The evening was spent in dancing, Prof. Gessner's orchestra furnishing the music. The ladies served a fine supper during the evening. It was a brilliant affair."

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.