John D. Miley Camp - Belleville, Illinois

SPANISH WAR VETS FORM AN ORGANIZATION
The Daily Advocate - April 20, 1914

The Belleville Branch of the United Spanish War Veterans was temporarily organized Sunday at a meeting in the office of the Circuit Clerk John F. O’Flaherty, in the court house. About thirty former soldiers were present.

Temporary officers elected were: Chairman, F.E. Schrader:
secretary, L.E. Wangelin: treasurer, Edward Abend. M.L. Minie, L.E. Wangelin and Peter Erwin were named members of the committee to canvass for members and report to the next meeting April 29, when permanent organization will be effected.

Although there are fifty seven camps in the state, the Nelson A. Miles Camp in East St. Louis, is the only one in St. Clair county. Circuit Clerk O’Flaherty and other members of the East St. Louis camp were instrumental in bringing together veterans in Belleville. It is believed about seventy-five are eligible to membership.

SPANISH WAR VETS ORGANIZE A CAMP HERE

Lodge Named for Col. John D. Miley who was killed in Philippines

Veterans of the Spanish-American War held a meeting Wednesday evening in the office of Justice of the Peace L.E. Wangelin and organized a local camp of the Spanish War Veterans, to be known as John D. Miley Camp, U.S.W.V.. The new lodge has 30 charter members and application has been made for a charter from the National Encampment.

The new lodge has also applied to the Dietz Memorial Home for permission to meet in that hall. The new organization will be to the veterans of the Spanish War, what the Grand Army of the Republic is to the veterans of the Civil War.

The lodge was named after Col. John D. Miley, a Belleville soldier, who died while serving his country in the Philippine Islands several years ago.

The officers of the new camp are:

Commander - Ferd J. Schrader

Senior Vice-Commander - Edward Abend

Junior Vice - Commander - Michael L. Munie

Officer of the Day - Frank Hoffman

Officer of the Guard - Ernst P. Deischer

Trustees - Otto Schneider, Louis E. Wangelin and Edgar Ward

SOURCE: Daily Advocate - April 30, 1914

Envelope containing letter dated May 22, 1923 which invited Commander Gideon W. Carmichael and members of a St. Louis Grand Army of the Republic Post to the dedication of the plot at Walnut Hill Cemetery for Spanish American war veterans.

This letter dated May 22, 1923 invites Commander Gideon W. Carmichael and members of a St. Louis Grand Army of the Republic Post to the dedication of the plot at Walnut Hill Cemetery for Spanish American war veterans.

Note: The G.A.R. Post is most likely the Frank P. Blair Post No. 1, St. Louis.
Letter courtesy of Dennis Hermann.

LOCAL SPANISH VET CAMP WAS ORGANIZED EIGHTEEN YEARS AGO

Had 30 Members At Time Of Its Inception: Roster of Officers Accompanying Petition To National Encampment Bears Date of May 18, 1914 F.J. Schrader Was Its First Commander Among other things which the United Spanish War Veterans annual encampment here recalls, is that the John D. Miley Camp No. 75, was organized 18 years ago with 30 charter members, the petition to the national encampment and the original roster of officers being in the possession of Otto Schneider, secretary-treasurer of the Renner-Schneider undertaking company and camp adjutant. The roster of officers accompanying the petition bears the date of May 28, 1914. Since that time John D. Miley Camp No. 75 has been an active organization growing from year to year. At this time the membership is 65, members being scattered in many sections of St. Clair county. Its meetings are held regularly at the Odd Fellows hall on East Main street. The roster of deceased names bears 11 names, seven of whom are charter members. Only last week John A.”Shorty” Braun, one of the charter members, died suddenly at St. Elizabeth’s hospital. Saturday his comrades accompanied him to his last resting place, and stood a last retreat with “Shorty.” Others who have stood retreat for the last time but were present at reveille for the local camp are George K. Andel, William Bonville, George E. Hilgard, Adolph J. “Hoby” Hoerr, William M. “Bill” Hoppe and Julius Kohl. The membership otherwise who have died are Charles Carter, Eugene J. Hay, Albert Weber, Eugene L. Wilderman and Walter Wolf. First Officers The first commander of the camp was Ferdinand J. Schrader, who is at this time also camp commander, having been elected to succeed Louis Wentz at the last camp election. Otto Schneider, adjutant at this time, was quartermaster. Other officers were: Senior-Vice Commander, Edward Abend; Junior Vice-Commander, Michael L. Minie; Officer of the Day, Frank Hoffman; Officer of the Guard, Peter Deischer; Trustees, Edgar Ward, William Bonville, Walter L. Rhein; adjutant, Louis E. Wangelin; Surgeon, George E. Hilgard; Sergeant Major, Julius Kohl; Quartermaster Sergeants, Charles Hubert and Peter Erwen. By actual count 24 of the 30 charter members served in Company D of the 4th Illinois Infantry. Schneider was the only man who served in the cavalry and probably had the longest term of service of any man on the roster. He was enlisted in Troop A, United States Cavalry and served the 7 year period of enlistment, seeing service in the Philippines. In addition to the 24 men in Company D, the Fourth Illinois was represented on the charter roster by R. W. Ropiequet, now an East. St. Louis attorney, who was a second lieutenant in Co. M, but had formerly attached to D Company. The 40th U.S. Infantry, the 9th Illinois, the 45th Minnesota and the 159th Indiana, were the only other outfits represented. Charter Members The complete roster of charter members is: Adolph J. Knoebel, Ferd J. Schrader, Edward Abend, Frank Hoffman, P.F. Deischer, Peter Erwen, Charles Hubert, G.A. Schroeder, William H. Ward, Louis E.Wangelin, Julius J. Kohl, Charles W. Betz, Otto Adam, Charles N. Totsch, Adolph J. Hoerr, E. P. Rodgers, William M. Hoppe, M.L. Munie, Otto Schneider, Walter Rhein, R.W. Ropiequet, Edgar A. Ward,W. F. Bonville, John A. Braun, Rudolph O. Schlenk, R.W. Hilgard, George E.Hilgard, George K. Andel, Walter L. Rhein, Charles X. Sauer. Successful Men Practically all of these were or are substantial citizens occupying an outstanding place in business, civic and social affairs of the community. Thus Ferd Schrader is associated with his brother, Henry C. G. Schrader, in the management of the St. Clair Guaranty and Title Company, one of the oldest in this county. Edward Abend is president of the Belleville Savings Bank. G.A. Schroeder is local manager of the Western Union. Louis E. Wangelin, Judge Wangelin, is a practicing attorney and justice of the peace. “Hoby” Hoerr was county clerk at the time of his death. E.P. Rodgers was formerly president of the Excelsior foundry, while George K. Andel, now deceased, was a banker and foundry man. “Bill” Hoppe was the proprietor of one of the very successful insurance agencies in St. Clair county. Otto Schneider is secretary - treasurer of the Renner-Schneider Undertaking Co., Walter Rhein is president of the Rhein Feed Co., and Walter L. Rhein Piano Company, R.W. “Dick” Hilgard is cashier of the Belleville Savings Bank. SOURCE: The Belleville Daily Advocate - June 27, 1932 HEADSTONE PHOTOS: Gene Beals. SCHRADER & ABEND PHOTOS: History of the Fourth Illinois Infantry" by Chaplain John R. Skinner, 1st Ed ©1899

Edward Abend Dies Retired Head of Bank Belleville News-Democrat - November 12, 1949
Edward Abend, 78, retired president of the Belleville Savings Bank and uncle of Hallett Abend, noted newspaper and magazine writer and authority on the Far East. This morning at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. He resided at 308 Pennsylvania. His son, Edward W. Abend of 7125 Forsythe Boulevard, University City, said death was due to infirmities. Mr. Abend had been in seriuos condition since last February and was confined to the hospital on numerous occasions. He served for eight years as president of the bank, retiring in 1933. He was elected to the presidency in 1925, after the late Peter J. Kaercher retired. The deceased entered the banking business in 1903 when he was elected a director of the bank and in 1918 he was named vice-president, an office he held until 1925. Mr. Abend served as secretary -treasurer of the old Western Brewery Company from 1896 to 1899. In 1900 he began a three-year employment with the old East St. Louis and Suburban Railway Company. In 1903, he was elected president and director of the Belleville Brick Company, remaining with the firm until it went out of existence some years ago. He also served two one-year terms, beginning in 1914, as president of the Belleville Grade School Board of Education. Mr. Abend was one of the last surviving members of Belleville’s famed Company D, Fourth Infantry, Illinois National Guard. He joined this unit in 1893 as a first lieutenant and served until 1898 when the Spanish-American War broke out. Then he transferred to the regular infantry and saw active service during the war. Born in Belleville Mr. Abend was born in Belleville February 5, 1871, and was a son of the late Edward and Anna Abend, nee Hilgard. Abend Street is named in honor of his family. He married Margaret E. Wess, January 21, 1903. Besides his widow and his son, he leaves a granddaughter, Miss Marilyn Abend. Three brothers, Alex, Alfred and Ernest Abend, and two sisters, Mrs. Lena Day and Mrs. Helen Rumbold, preceded him in death. He was a member of the United Spanish War Veterans, John D. Miley Camp, the Tancred Commandery of the Knights Templar, Moolah Temple of St. Louis and various local lodges of the Free and Accepted Masons. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 15, from the Renner-Gemlinn Funeral Home to Missouri Crematory, St. Louis, Missouri. The Rev. B.J. Koehler, pastor of the St. Paul Evangelical and reformed Church will officiate. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m. Sunday. Note: Edward Abend's ashes buried in Walnut Hill Cemetery - Belleville, Illinois.

Ferd Schrader Dies
Veteran Of Spanish War
Belleville News-Democrat - June 11, 1956

Ferd J. Schrader, 85, of 819 Forest Ave., retired bank employee and title company worker, died at 1:10 o’clock this afternoon in St. Elizabeth’s Hospital following an extended illness. He entered the hospital May 2.

Mr. Schrader is survived by his wife, the former Frieda Rhein; two brothers; Henry C.G. Schrader, tax consultant for the St. Clair Title Company, and William Schrader of St. Louis; and a sister, Mrs. Matilda Kohl, 1014 Olive Street.

He was a veteran of the Spanish American War. For years he was employed by the St. Clair Title Company and at one time worked for the First National Bank. He retired from business 15 years ago.

Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 13, from the Albert B. Baldus Funeral Home to Walnut Hill Cemetery. The Rev. B.J. Koehler, pastor of St. Paul’s Evangelical and Reformed Church, will officiate.

Military rites will be conducted at the grave by Scott Air Force personnel. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m. today.

LAST VETERAN OF JOHN D. MILEY CAMP No. 75
Charles Xavier Sauer
Belleville News-Democrat - September 25, 1974

Charles Xavier Sauer, 96, the last surviving member of the Spanish-American War residing in Belleville area, died Tuesday at St. Paul Home.

A former resident of 1608 W. Main St., he had lived at the nursing home since September 8, 1971.

Mr. Sauer had been able to be up and about at the nursing home. He participated in the annual Memorial Day and Veterans Day parades here.

The number of surviving Spanish-American War veterans in the United States has dwindled to about 2,000, according to the Defense Department at Washington.

Mr. Sauer, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, came to the Belleville area shortly afer his military duty. He was an engineer in the brewing industry for more than 50years, working for Anheuser -Busch Inc., St. Louis, for many years and serving as chief engineer at the old Star Brewery, Belleville, when he retired.

Mr. Sauer is survived by a sister, Mrs. Maude Elmeier, Evansville, Indiana, and nieces and nephews. His wife, the former Martha L. Martin, died November 29, 1962. Mr. And Mrs. Sauer had no children.

The funeral will be held at 2:30 p.m.,Thursday from the Pete Gaerdner Funeral Home to Lake View Memorial Gardens. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m.

Note: Charles X. Sauer buried at Lakeview Memorial Gardens - Fairview Heights, Illinois

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