The citizenship
of Herman Schmechel, state senator-elect from Renville county, and Bernard
Loonan, senator-elect from Stearns county, may be questioned in contests before
the Senate committee on elections, it is reported yesterday.
Schmechel and
Loonan are both said to have been born in Germany, and the question will be
whether they have acquired full citizenship.
The records of
the courts where they took out citizenship papers, if they acquired such paper,
will decide the issue. – Pioneer Press.
Herman Schmechel was naturalized in the District Court of the Twelfth Judicial District on the 15th day of October 1890, according to the records. The two people who acted as witnesses for him were Herman Kiecker and John Fahey. One John Schmechel became naturalized at the same time.
Editor’s Note: We have a large collection of World War I items donated by the Schmechel family for the service of Ewald & Paul Schmechel.
That the
soldiers, sailors and marines are deeply appreciative of the canteen service of
the American Red Cross is given ample evidence many times every day. The
keynote of their appreciation is perhaps best expressed on the post cards which
they send to the “folks back home” when en route to points on embarkation. From
a dozen picked up at random the following sentiments were taken and “speak for
themselves.”
“Red Cross are sure treating us great en route.” “Red Cross are sure making it happy for us.” “Support Red Cross in everything.” “For God’s sake never say ‘No’ to the Red Cross, They’re wonderful.” “Long live the Red Cross.” “The Red Cross are angels to us the way they treat us.” “Canteen service 100 per cent in Toledo; fifteen carloads of us well taken care of.” “Red Cross serving coffee, Oh, they do so much for us!” “Do all you can for Red Cross – they do so much for us.”
Regarding those
hair raising experiences you might imagine I’m having so near the Hindenburg
Line – to date there hasn’t been any to speak of, though I’ve been across with
the A.E.F. for nearly two months. We are within twelve miles of the trenches
and can hear the guns boom, also, witnesses several air-craft battles. We go up
closer to the front in our work, but this sector is now quiet compared to some
others.
Contrary to
what I thought, it’s not half bad in France. Subtract about had the
“schrecklichkeit” and it’s just about as war correspondents have fed into us
for 44 months, even if you have been a noncom and “busted twice.” That’s been
my experience, but I’m willing to smile and be happy as the old devil. The
anticipation is much worse that the realization, as usual.
I
received your letter of October the tenth, which was the first I have received
since I left the states. I sure was glad to get it; was glad to get the
clipping from the paper too.
Please
send me some of the home papers for I sure like to get some news from home.
Sorry
to hear that Mrs. Buth was sick, but I suppose she is better now as your letter
was a month on the way.
Tell
Charley Haas that I said he won’t be sorry if he gets over here because I sure
am glad I got here. I wouldn’t stay home for all of John D. Rockfellow’s pile
while this war is going on. They could not hire me to leave before it is over
as the worst thing on earth is a slacker or draft dodger. I have some
experiences since I got over but we are not allowed to tell very much so I
can’t tell you what I have seen.
The
longer one stays over here in the army the more he realizes the value of a
country like ours and the more willing he is to risk his life in fighting for
the Stars and Stripes.
I
am getting used to this army life now and am rather enjoying it, regardless of
the hardships of army life.
You
did not give me Al’s address and I have not got it so I can’t write to him but
would like to. He may be somewhere near here and I may be able to find him if I
know what company and division he is in.
Did
you get the handkerchief I sent you?
Well,
it is nearly time to turn in so will ring off for this time. With love to all.
Your
son, Pvt. Floyd F. Fuller, 6 Aero Park, A.E.F. France
I have been in
France for some time. Most of the boys on our transport had a touch of
seasickness, but I happened to be one of the lucky ones that didn’t get sick,
although it had me guessing for the first couple of days. I never did sleep as
much in my life as I did on board of ship. We had to go to bed early and get up
at 6:30 in the morning. We had our signal corps band with us and they played
twice a day, that is, when the sea wasn’t too rough. We also had a number of
boxing matches and different stunts pulled off for the past time going over.
Boat drill was our real excitement, we had it about every other day. We finally
sighted land, and say, you could notice the change it made on the men. The sick
got well in about five minutes. After we left the boat we went to a rest camp
for 24 hours, then boarded a train and rode for two days. I myself don’t like
to railroad system here. The 1-2-3-class stuff gets my goat. I rode in 2nd
class and that wasn’t anything to brag about, it was too crowed for long rides.
Four of the coaches here are about the size of one of the C. M. & St.
coaches.
We went through
some very pretty country. The farmers believe in hard work here, they cut grain
with a scythe and hoe the corn and potatoes. They use one horse to do the
hauling and oxen for the heavy work.
We were
quartered in a small village and there were a number of vacant houses which we
could occupy. We did some hard training for a couple of days, then we had to
instruct dough boys. We sure did some hiking here or anywhere else was 41 miles
in 21 hours. The men were rather sore footed for a week, including myself, but
little things like that couldn’t be stopped for. Every place or town we get to
here is full of American soldiers. I should think they would be rather scarce
back there. Going from one town to another we find the people very much the
same. Once in a while I would see a Frenchman home on a furlough, but very few.
I wish I could speak as well of the roads in the United States as I can of
these. They are all paved with rock and are about a road and a half wide. Even
the roads that are not used much are paved. It sure is great for automobiles
and motorcycles. Every move we made we got closer to the front. We don’t bother
as much about our clothes pressing as we did at Levenworth. Our next move was
by truck train to a pretty good sized town (Vignal). We were there a short time
then moved to where I am now at the front. I operate a telephone switchboard
and am in a dugout all the time. At night I have electric lights and in the day
time use candles. A bunch of us had a little excitement the other day. When
shells are falling we all go and hunt a hole. One of our boys got a little
excited and not seeing a bunch ahead of him, fell over one of the others in his
haste, then he wouldn’t take time to get up and run but made it to the dugout
on his hands and knees. We have some funny things like this pull off here about
every day. The cook says we don’t get breakfast if we won’t furnish the wood.
Well we won’t be chopping wood in France very much longer. Well I must say
goodbye. From the man that is looking across “no man’s land.” I am, Sincerely
yours,
Private Reinhold H. Jakobitz, 6th Fld. Sig. Corps. 6th Div. A.E.F.
Editor’s Note: We do not have a photograph of Reinhold H. Jakobitz.
Posted: February 22, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Citizenship Questioned, Fairfax Standard, 12-12-1918
The citizenship of Herman Schmechel, state senator-elect from Renville county, and Bernard Loonan, senator-elect from Stearns county, may be questioned in contests before the Senate committee on elections, it is reported yesterday.
Schmechel and Loonan are both said to have been born in Germany, and the question will be whether they have acquired full citizenship.
The records of the courts where they took out citizenship papers, if they acquired such paper, will decide the issue. – Pioneer Press.
Herman Schmechel was naturalized in the District Court of the Twelfth Judicial District on the 15th day of October 1890, according to the records. The two people who acted as witnesses for him were Herman Kiecker and John Fahey. One John Schmechel became naturalized at the same time.
Editor’s Note: We have a large collection of World War I items donated by the Schmechel family for the service of Ewald & Paul Schmechel.
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Posted: February 22, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Ask the Soldiers, Fairfax Standard, 12-12-1918
That the soldiers, sailors and marines are deeply appreciative of the canteen service of the American Red Cross is given ample evidence many times every day. The keynote of their appreciation is perhaps best expressed on the post cards which they send to the “folks back home” when en route to points on embarkation. From a dozen picked up at random the following sentiments were taken and “speak for themselves.”
“Red Cross are sure treating us great en route.”
“Red Cross are sure making it happy for us.”
“Support Red Cross in everything.”
“For God’s sake never say ‘No’ to the Red Cross, They’re wonderful.”
“Long live the Red Cross.”
“The Red Cross are angels to us the way they treat us.”
“Canteen service 100 per cent in Toledo; fifteen carloads of us well taken care of.”
“Red Cross serving coffee, Oh, they do so much for us!”
“Do all you can for Red Cross – they do so much for us.”
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Posted: February 22, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Letter from Albert L Fischer, Bird Island Union, 12-19-1918
October 30, 1892 – August 17, 1939
Oct. 28 1918
The Bird Island Union, Bird Island, Minn., U.S.A.
Dear Sirs:
Regarding those hair raising experiences you might imagine I’m having so near the Hindenburg Line – to date there hasn’t been any to speak of, though I’ve been across with the A.E.F. for nearly two months. We are within twelve miles of the trenches and can hear the guns boom, also, witnesses several air-craft battles. We go up closer to the front in our work, but this sector is now quiet compared to some others.
Contrary to what I thought, it’s not half bad in France. Subtract about had the “schrecklichkeit” and it’s just about as war correspondents have fed into us for 44 months, even if you have been a noncom and “busted twice.” That’s been my experience, but I’m willing to smile and be happy as the old devil. The anticipation is much worse that the realization, as usual.
Sincerely, Pvt. Albert L. Fischer
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Posted: February 22, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Letter from Floyd Fuller, Morton Enterprise, 12-13-1918
January 14, 1900 – August 14, 1993
Floyd Fuller Writes from France
Somewhere in France, Nov. 10, 1918
Dear parents,
I received your letter of October the tenth, which was the first I have received since I left the states. I sure was glad to get it; was glad to get the clipping from the paper too.
Please send me some of the home papers for I sure like to get some news from home.
Sorry to hear that Mrs. Buth was sick, but I suppose she is better now as your letter was a month on the way.
Tell Charley Haas that I said he won’t be sorry if he gets over here because I sure am glad I got here. I wouldn’t stay home for all of John D. Rockfellow’s pile while this war is going on. They could not hire me to leave before it is over as the worst thing on earth is a slacker or draft dodger. I have some experiences since I got over but we are not allowed to tell very much so I can’t tell you what I have seen.
The longer one stays over here in the army the more he realizes the value of a country like ours and the more willing he is to risk his life in fighting for the Stars and Stripes.
I am getting used to this army life now and am rather enjoying it, regardless of the hardships of army life.
You did not give me Al’s address and I have not got it so I can’t write to him but would like to. He may be somewhere near here and I may be able to find him if I know what company and division he is in.
Did you get the handkerchief I sent you?
Well, it is nearly time to turn in so will ring off for this time. With love to all.
Your son, Pvt. Floyd F. Fuller, 6 Aero Park, A.E.F. France
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Posted: February 22, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Letter from Reinhold Jakobitz, Buffalo Lake News, 12-13-1918
October 5th, 1918
Buffalo Lake News, Buffalo Lake, Minn.
Dear Friends:
I have been in France for some time. Most of the boys on our transport had a touch of seasickness, but I happened to be one of the lucky ones that didn’t get sick, although it had me guessing for the first couple of days. I never did sleep as much in my life as I did on board of ship. We had to go to bed early and get up at 6:30 in the morning. We had our signal corps band with us and they played twice a day, that is, when the sea wasn’t too rough. We also had a number of boxing matches and different stunts pulled off for the past time going over. Boat drill was our real excitement, we had it about every other day. We finally sighted land, and say, you could notice the change it made on the men. The sick got well in about five minutes. After we left the boat we went to a rest camp for 24 hours, then boarded a train and rode for two days. I myself don’t like to railroad system here. The 1-2-3-class stuff gets my goat. I rode in 2nd class and that wasn’t anything to brag about, it was too crowed for long rides. Four of the coaches here are about the size of one of the C. M. & St. coaches.
We went through some very pretty country. The farmers believe in hard work here, they cut grain with a scythe and hoe the corn and potatoes. They use one horse to do the hauling and oxen for the heavy work.
We were quartered in a small village and there were a number of vacant houses which we could occupy. We did some hard training for a couple of days, then we had to instruct dough boys. We sure did some hiking here or anywhere else was 41 miles in 21 hours. The men were rather sore footed for a week, including myself, but little things like that couldn’t be stopped for. Every place or town we get to here is full of American soldiers. I should think they would be rather scarce back there. Going from one town to another we find the people very much the same. Once in a while I would see a Frenchman home on a furlough, but very few. I wish I could speak as well of the roads in the United States as I can of these. They are all paved with rock and are about a road and a half wide. Even the roads that are not used much are paved. It sure is great for automobiles and motorcycles. Every move we made we got closer to the front. We don’t bother as much about our clothes pressing as we did at Levenworth. Our next move was by truck train to a pretty good sized town (Vignal). We were there a short time then moved to where I am now at the front. I operate a telephone switchboard and am in a dugout all the time. At night I have electric lights and in the day time use candles. A bunch of us had a little excitement the other day. When shells are falling we all go and hunt a hole. One of our boys got a little excited and not seeing a bunch ahead of him, fell over one of the others in his haste, then he wouldn’t take time to get up and run but made it to the dugout on his hands and knees. We have some funny things like this pull off here about every day. The cook says we don’t get breakfast if we won’t furnish the wood. Well we won’t be chopping wood in France very much longer. Well I must say goodbye. From the man that is looking across “no man’s land.” I am, Sincerely yours,
Private Reinhold H. Jakobitz, 6th Fld. Sig. Corps. 6th Div. A.E.F.
Editor’s Note: We do not have a photograph of Reinhold H. Jakobitz.
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