Humidification

Back in December  I did a humidification project with some rolled documents.  

Start with an empty box that has a lid - this is a Rubbermaid box - notice the rolled documents on the floor to the right. 

Notebook - Military No. 3

Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs. Powerpoint Presentation Slide, nd

• National Gravesite Locator
• Defense POW / MIA Personnel Office
• Military Service Records
• National Archives

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National Genealogical Society. Index of Revolutionary War Pension Applications in the National Archives, Washington, DC: National Genealogical Society, 1976

• Brooks, Caleb E. CT, Jane E. R1244

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Rightmeyer, Don. North or South? Finding Your Kentucky Civil War Ancestor, Kentucky Ancestors, Vol. 43, No. 3, Frankfort, KY: Kentucky Historical Society, 2008

The first step in discovering if you have ancestors who served during the Civil War is to work on your own family tree back to and even earlier than the Civil War. A primary reference for Kentuckians' documented service in the Civil War are the four volumes of the Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Kentucky. Two volumes for Kentucky Union volunteers were compiled and published in 1866/67 and two additional volumes were printed in 1915/1918 for Kentucky men who served in the Confederate army. The Adjutant General's Reports include short capsule histories for individual army units and lists of the

Research Notes - Harold Erkman

While going through the General Stuff Notebook #2 awhile back I came across an AWON newsletter.  That's American World War II Orphan's Network.  I was a member for awhile b/c mom is a World War II orphan.  The newsletter suggested requesting an IDPF [individual deceased personnel file] because many World War II service records were destroyed in a fire at the St. Louis archives in the 1970s. Which is what happened to Harold Erkman's service record. So I wrote to the National Archives and got a letter back that the file existed and for photocopy fee they would send it to me and they did and it arrived today!  [Nov. 13th]  And being a government file, it is in reverse chronological order. 

Document 1: Receipt of Remains - Day Letter  

J.F. Combs Funeral Service, Wayne City, Illinois

Remains of the Late PFC. Harold E. Erkman being shipped to you accompanied by military escort. On train number 1-123 C&EI RR [Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad] leaving Chicago 10:00 pm CST Friday 20 August 1948 and due to arrive Wayne City, Ill., 11:24 am CST Sat. 21 August 1948.  Request that you immediately inform the next of  kin and make arrangements to accept remains at station upon arrival. Refer to control number 8244.  

Carroll J. Grinnell, Lt. Col. QMC

Photos & Documents

All a genealogist ever wants for Christmas! Thanks to Robbin (Downey) Russell for these photos and documents.  

Zelphia (Lathrop) Shelton

Sisters who married brothers, Zelphia & Ruby (Lathrop) Shelton

Battles & Wars Important in World History

Agincourt 1415 - Henry V of England decisively defeated the French, proving finally the superiority of the English longbowmen over the armored knights of France.

American Revolution 1775-1783 - Successful revolt of the Thirteen English Colonies in America against British rule; Bunker Hill, Saratoga, Yorktown; independence recognized by Great Britain. 

Armada, Spanish 1588 - Flotilla of maneuverable English ships defeated great Spanish war fleet in the English Channel; deathblow to Spain's mastery of the seas.

Austerlitz 1805 - Battle of Three Emperors; Napoleon defeated the united forces of Russia and Austria under Alexander I and Francis II.

Notebook - General Stuff

Airpower in World War II

Leadership of Army Air Force
    Commanding General Army Air Force - Gen. Henry "Hap" Arnold
    Army General Staff - Gen. Joseph McNarney

Air Force Commands:

Flying Training Command
Technical Transport Command
Air Transport Command
Material Command - development of aircraft
Air Service Command - distribute aircraft and equipment, operate depots
Proving Ground Command - testing aircraft
Anti-Submarine Command
Flight Control Command

U.S. Air Forces: divided into fourteen air forces with four in the U.S. and ten overseas.  Each air force included:
    Bomber command
    Fighter command
    Base Service command
    Air Support command

Ahnentafel #6 Harold Erkman

Harold Edward Erkman

Born:  June 23, 1916 Wayne City, IL
Died:  February 11, 1944 killed in action near Monte Casino Abbey, Italy

Buried: 1st U.S. Military Cemetery, Nettuno, Italy, 1944; 2nd Thomason Cemetery, Wayne City, IL 1948 


Marriage:  April 21, 1939 Iva Jewell Colclasure in Henderson, KY.  

Occupation: Harold worked as a mechanic Catepillar in Peoria, IL

Military Service:  Army 1935 - 1938 Ft. Knox, KY,  reenlisted Oct. 1940 in East St. Louis, IL, see below.

In Memoriam January 21st

1751 Jacob Hinkle age 41 in Pennsylvania.  The son of Anthony & Maria (Dentzer) Hinkle was born in Daudenzell, Germany in 1709.  The family immigrated to Philadelphia in 1717.  Jacob married Anna Margareta ca. 1730 and had nine children.  Jacob ran an inn on the Germantown Road.

His will names wife Anna Margareta and oldest son John as executors with the condition of the two aforesaid executors as to their advice and counsel accept and use those two men, viz: Henry Keppele, my dear godfather, at Philadelphia and Anthony Gilbert, my trusted friend in Germantown, so that in weighty matters they be advised by them, and without their advice not to execute anything.

He named my only daughter, Mary Barbara, and provided for the education of all of his children in school and church, also for the partition of his entire estate when the youngest child was ten years of age.

 In case his widow should marry again, she was to have the privilege of remaining on the estate during that period, her third part of all movables and revenues, according to law.  He further provided for the upbringing and comfort of his children and for the support, in her care, until each one was twelve years of age; for the protection and preservation of their property rights.

His signature, Antoni Henckel, was witnessed by Peter Brumholtz, Anthony Gilbert and Baltzer Hoffman.  Will Book I, Philadelphia, City Hall

Jacob is buried in St. Michael’s Lutheran Church cemetery in Germantown, PA. 

1878 James Fitzgerald age 21.  He was born in Illinois in 1857 the son of William & Emily (Smith) Fitzgerald.

1879 Willson Laws age 50 in Lawrence Co., IL the son of William & Appie (?) Laws was born in North Carolina in 1828.  He married Samantha Lathrop 1842 in Lawrence Co., IL.  They didn’t have any children.  Willson is buried in Leach Cemetery in Lawrence Co., IL.

1967 Emery Wilfong age 51 in Jefferson Co., IL born 1915 in Illinois the son of Emery & Minnie (Reynolds) Wilfong.  He married Emma.  Emery served as a Gunner’s Mate 3^rd class in the U.S. Naval Reserve  during World War II.  He is buried in Bethel Memorial Cemetery in Mt. Vernon, IL.

Harold Erkman

This article by Penny Shreve appeared in the Wayne County Press a couple years ago in the Memorial Day section.

Harold Erkman was 27 when he died during World War II, leaving behind a little girl.

His daughter is Trixie Lathrop of Wayne City.  She never knew either of her parents.  Her dad was reported missing in February of 1944 when she was three; her mother, the former Iva Colclasure, died three months after Trixie was born, of complications related to childbirth.

Harold was in the service twice, the first time attaining the rank of Sergeant.  But as the story is told, he was reduced to a Private after he reportedly got in a fight with a superior officer.

"He was a rebel," Trixie says.  "That was the story I was told."

Harold got out of the service, worked at Caterpillar in Peoria, and married Iva in April of 1939.  Trixie came along in 1940, and Iva died shortly thereafter.  Then when Trixie was a toddler, World War II erupted.  Harold knew he would be called back into the service, so he got things in order and reported to duty.

Harold permitted his aunt to adopt Trixie; she was adopted and raised by Anna and Lonnie Wheeler. [Okay here's the real deal:  Trixie was adopted by Harold's father, her grandfather Henry.  Henry was between wives at the time and asked his sister Anna and her husband Lonnie to take Trixie.]

Although specifics about Harold's death are unclear, it is believed that he was assigned in Northern Africa, and his group worked its way through Italy.  It is believed that Harold died in the assault on Monte Casino Abbey, south of Rome.

"He was reported missing Feb. 11, 1944, but I don't know when they reported him killed in action," said Trixie.  "Luke Leach was over there and was his best friend.  He said (of Harold's death) 12 guys went out to take a machine gun nest and only one came back."

Harold was buried in a cemetery in Italy, but later the bodies of those soldiers were exhumed and brought home for burial.  Trixie was eight years old and remembers when her dad's body was returned for burial in Thomason Cemetery.  

It's hard for Trixie to imagine what her dad went through, having lost his wife, then having to give up his only child before going back into the service.

"It would just kill me to have to give up one of my kids," she said. "But I'm grateful that he had the foresight to take care of his child before he left."

In Memoriam January 7th

1945 Gerald Lathrop killed in action in World War II.  Battle of Wingen-sur-Moder Jan. 3-7, 1945.  70th 'Trailblazers' Infantry Division;  179th Infantry; & 276th Infantry vs. 361st Volksgrenadier Division; 1st & 3rd Battalions of the 12th SS Gebirgsjager Regiment; and the 6th SS Mountain Division.  U.S. losses were 25 killed and 84 wounded, plus GIs suffering from exposure.  US troops fell back to Oberbronn to regroup and recover. [http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-wingen-sur-moder.htm]  Gerald was 21 years old the son of Dennis & Mabel (Petty) Lathrop. 

Veterans

This is not an exhaustive list.  Colonial relatives would have served in local militias until age and infirmity released them from duty.  Please send me additions and corrections.

Arnold, Benedict - American Revolution, Connecticut turncoat to English army
Blevins, Samuel - War of 1812, Battle of New Orleans
Blevins, Warden - Mexican War, ✞ Mexico City

Bradford, MajorWilliam – Great Narraganset Swamp fight 1675 Massachusetts, wounded, a battle in King Philip’s War

Butler, Minor – Civil War Wayne Co., IL militia home guard

Clark, Cornelius – War of 1812 Ohio, private in Capt. John Russell’s Company

Clark, James – American Revolution New Jersey, 2nd Lieutenant in the Continental Army

Clark, Richard – Indian Alarm 1657, Southampton, NY

Clark, Samuel – War of 1812 Ohio, corporal in Capt. John Clark’s Company

Clark, James – served in the English army before 1664
Colclasure, Jack - Vietnam, U.S. Army

Colclasure, John - War of 1812, Sergeant in Cap. Henry Dawalt's Company of Indiana Infantry Militia

Crane, Robert - Vietnam, Sergeant, US Army, Silver Star recipient
Cronk, Henry – Civil War, private Co. G, 49^th Illinois Infantry out of Macoupin Co., IL, ✞ 
Mound City, IL military hospital in 1863.

January 18th

Birthdays:

1619 Thomas Lake in Wickford, England son of John & Margaret (Reade) Lake

1663 Mary Rockwell in Windsor, CT daughter of Samuel & Mary (Norton) Rockwell, died 1738 in Lebanon, CT.  She married Josiah Loomis in 1683 and had 8 children.

January 7th

Happy Birthday!

1677 Mary Moss in Wallingford, CT, daughter of John & Martha (Lathrop) Moss.  She died July 23, 1694 at age 17.

Millard Fillmore

1800 Millard Fillmore in Moravia, Ohio son of Nathaniel & Phoebe (Millard) Fillmore, d. 1874 Buffalo, New York.  Served as 13th president of the United States.