| |
Omer Hartzell (1891-1934)
GONE WEST
Omer Hartzell Gives Life for His Country
Fitting Tribute Paid to Franklin’s Gallant Soldier
Was First Commander of Russell McElfresh Post, American Legion,
and Outstanding Veteran of World War.
A shadow was cast across the Christmas gladness this year by the death
of one of Franklin’s best beloved citizens, Omer Hartzell.
As a United States Marine,
one of the first of our boys to enlist in the World War, as a soldier
who gave his life for his country. Omer Hartzell will always live in the
annals of the village of one of the outstanding veterans of all wars.
Death brought relief to his long suffering at 7:30 last Friday evening.
At Chateau Thiery he was gassed on June 14, 1918. He never recovered from
that deadly shock. He returned to the United States in the late summer
of 1919 and for a time seemed to have escaped the dread consequences of
war’s exposure but the germs of disease had been planted in his
system and at the age of 44 years he left his family and friends as much
a victim of the World War as his comrades who fell in battle.
Funeral services were held from the American Legion Home on Tuesday afternoon.
The flag floated at half-mast, banks of beautiful floral tributes surrounded
the flag-draped casket, members of Russell McElfresh Post acted as pall
bearers and escort. The hall was filled with his fellow-townsmen gathered
to pay their last tribute to this gallant soldier. Dr. George
Parkin, former pastor of the Methodist church and chaplain of
the local Legion Post, a friend of the deceased, conducted the service.
In the course of his remarks, Dr. Parkin said: “Omer Hartzell was
a man among men. What a record he has left.” In these words he summed
up the whole life of the deceased. Before his death Hartzell had expressed
the desire that his friend, Dr. Parkin, have charge of his funeral and
we have never heard a more fitting tribute paid the dead than Dr. Parkin
paid Omer Hartzell.
Following the services at the American Legion Hall, the burial took place
at Woodhill cemetery.
There was no blare of trumpets, no roll of drums, no pomp and parade.
But in the presence of relatives and close friends the body was laid to
rest. A firing squad saluted and the silver tones of a bugle echoed “Taps”
as Omer Hartzell passed from the sight of his loved ones. The group returned
to their homes to take up the routine duties of life, to carry on, but
another of our patriotic sons had gone West.
Omer Hartzell, the son of Milton and Eva Hartzell, was
born in Franklin, Ohio, January 30, 1891, and passed away December 14,
1834, aged 43 years 10 months and 14 days. He graduated from the Franklin
High School in the class of 1908.
He enlisted in the U. S. A. Marine Corps at Dayton, Ohio, June 22, 1917.
On August 17, 1917, he won distinction as a First Class Rifleman and was
promoted to Corporal on October 15, 1918. He was among the first American
troops sent over seas and served in the A. E. F. in France from February
5, 1918, to December 13, 1918. He was with the Army of Occupation in Germany
from December 13, 1918, to July 4, 191. He then returned to France were
he remained with the A. E. F. until July 25, 1919.
With the U. S. Marines, he was always in the thick of the fighting, participating
in battles, engagements, skirmishes and expeditions. He saw active service
in the Toulon Sector, Verdun, the Alane Defensive, Chateau-Thierry Sector,
Marbache Sector, St. Michiel Offensive and Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
Capt. J. P. Adams in charge of the Marines certified Corporal Hartzell
for “Very good military efficiency, fine obedience and excellent
sobriety.” He was recommended for re-enlistment and reappointed
to rank and received the Marine Good Conduct Medal. He was also awarded
the Purple Heart and the Croix de Guerre, but he seldom wore his medals.
After being mustered out of the army he returned to Franklin and was active
in organizing Russell McElfresh Post, American Legion. He was elected
the first commander of the Post.
On June 1, 1925, he was married to Marguerite Ferguson. To this union
three sons were born, Jack aged 5, Tom aged 7 and William aged 9. The
widow with these three sons, his mother and father and his sisters, Helen
and Mrs. Walter C. Anderson, remain to revere his memory.
As “a man among men” Omer Hartzell was a member of the American
Legion, the Masons and the Elks. He also served on the Village Council.
When his health failed he went to the United States Hospital at Oteen,
North Carolina, where he was given the best of treatment known to government
surgeons. He returned to Franklin and his last months were spent with
his family.
The funeral and burial were in charge of the Unglesby Undertaking Company.
Source: Franklin (Ohio) Chronicle,
Thursday, December 20, 1934
Transcribed from the Obituary Collection at the Warren
County Genealogical Society, |
by
Arne H Trelvik
30 Septemberr 2016 |