Clarence Alva Herrmann (1890 - 1928)

Born 16 Aug 1890 in Cheshire Township, Gallia County, Ohio

Ancestors

Died 16 Jul 1928 at age 37 in Holzer Hospital, Gallipolis, Gallia County, Ohio

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Teresa Herrmann [send private message]

Biography

Clarence was born on 16 August 1890 in Cheshire Township, Gallia County, Ohio.

1900 Census Records: Cheshire Township, Gallia County, Ohio 18 June 1900 Herrmann, George, Head, W, M, Sept. 1859, 40, Married for 12 years, OH-GER-GER, Farmer Minnie, Wife, W, F, Mar. 1861, 39, Married 12 years, 6 births total, 6 children still living, OH-OH-WV Alma E., Daughter, W, F, Dec 1888, 11, Single, OH-OH-OH, at school Clarence A., Son, W, M, Aug 1890, 9, Single, OH-OH-OH, at school Royal C., Son, W, M, Sept 1892, 7, Single, OH-OH-OH, at school Amy F., Daughter, W, F, Mar 1894, 6, Single, OH-OH-OH Edith A., Daughter, W, F, Apr 1896, 4, Single, OH-OH-OH Margaret C., Daughter, W, F, Oct 1897, 2, Single, OH-OH-OH

Ohio Soldiers in WWI, 1917-1918:

Name: Clarence A. Herrmann Age: 27 2/12 Years Race: White Birth Location: Cheshire, Ohio, USA Enlistment Date: 2 Oct 1917 Enlistment County: Pomeroy Enlistment State: Ohio Enlistment Division: National Army Comments: Co F 308 Engineers to Discharge Wagoner 1 Feb 1918. Aisne-Marne; Oise-Aisne; Meuse-Argonne. American Expeditionary Forces 4 June 1918 to 26 June 1919. Honorable discharge 8 July 1919

1910 Census Records: 21 May 1910 Salisbury Township, Meigs County, Ohio District 111 Middleport & Cheshire Road Page 55 of 58 Minnie Hermann, F, W, 49, Widowed, 7 children total, 7 currently alive, OH-OH-WV Occ: Farmer/Employees/Farming Clarence A., M, W, 19, S, OH-OH-OH Roy, M, W, 17, S, OH-OH-OH Amy, F, W, 16, S, OH-OH-OH Edith, F, W, 14, S, OH-OH-OH Maggie, F, W, 12, S, OH-OH-OH Horace, M, W, 8, S, OH-OH-OH

1920 Census: 28 January 1920 Silver Run, Salisbury Township, Meigs County, Ohio District 133 Page 24 of 26 Carlton and Hobson Road Minnie Herrmann, F, W, Widowed, 58, OH-OH-WV Clarence A., M, W, Single, 29, OH-OH-OH, Occ: Brakeman on Railroad Roy, M, W, Single, 27, OH-OH-OH, Occ: Farm Manager Margaret, F, W, Single, 21, OH-OH-OH, Occ: Cashier at Dry Goods Horace, F, W, 18, Single, OH-OH-OH, Occ: Coal Mines Laborer

According to the "Graves Registration Card", Clarence A. Herrmann served in World War I, enlisted on 02 October 1917, in the U.S. Army, Serial #1958646, with Company F 308 Engrs. He was discharged on 08 July 1919.

Clarence's obituary, July 1928, reads as follows:

"ANOTHER IN HOSPITAL WITH BROKEN BONES WILL RECOVER

Plane Takes Nose Dive When Landing On Cheshire Field Sunday Evening

Clarence Herrmann, 35, of Cheshire, is dead and Ralph Young, 23, Pomeroy, was seriously injured as a result of an airplane crash Sunday evening at Cheshire. The plane was reported to have taken a nose dive when the pilot attempted to straighten out after a descent. The men were returning from a flight and the accident occurred on the private landing field from which they operated, near the Midway dance pavilion at Cheshire.

Both men were brought to Holzer Hospital. Herrmann died at about 5 A.M. Monday morning from a broken neck sustained in the fall. Young, reported to have been the pilot, sustained a broken shoulder and severe chest injuries.

The two men were part owners of an old army biplane, which they purchased from private parties about six weeks ago. The accident was reported to have happened at about 8 Sunday night. They had been making flights during the day from their private landing field on Hermann's brother's farm. The field is between the river road and the Hocking Valley railroad, about one fourth mile below the village of Cheshire.

FLYERS SISTER HURT

Miss Georgia Gilfillan, Middleport, half sister of Herrmann, saw the crash, and in running across a field toward the plane, she ran into a barbed wire fence, cutting herself severely. She is being treated in the hospital here.

Herrmann was unmarried. Young is married and has two children. It is believed that Young will recover.

LOCAL MAN PART OWNER

Herrmann and Young, with John Leaper, 30, Middleport, were the owners of the plane. Leaper is a former Gallipolis boy, a nephew of R. A. Wallace, Mrs. T. S. Berridge and Mrs. T. S. Eachus; of this city."

[The supposed "Half-sister" of Herrmann was a mistake, as he had no half-sister, but she was a half-sister of Young.]

The following e-mail was sent from Shawn Thomas on August 1, 2004:

"Not certain who Georgia Gilfillan is. Found her in Middleport in 1930 census. Father was Brady and mother was Francis. She was listed as 20 years old (born 1910). In order for Georgia to be half brother to Clarence, her father or mother would of hooked up with George Fredrick Herrmann or Minnie Irene Ripley on the side. Since George died in 1905, that leaves Minnie as the only possible candidate. In 1910 Minnie would have been 49 years old. Still possible, but not probable at that age to have a child. I personally believe the newspaper article was wrong in this case. I think they meant to say half-sister to Ralph Young, the other occupant of the plane...Shawn"

Clarence was engaged to be married at the time of his death to Laura Rothgeb.

The following newspaper article was printed in "The Athens Messenger", Athens, Ohio, on July 19, 1928:

"Middleport, July 19--The funeral of Clarence Herrmann, who met a tragic death last Sunday evening when the airplane in which he was riding crashed to the ground, was held Wednesday afternoon at the Story's Run M.E. Church. Reverend Weed of the Simpson M. E. Church, Pomeroy, delivered the funeral sermon. The K of P lodge members attended as a body. The Legion firing squad was present.

The pall bearers were men from the Pythian Lodge and three Legion members. The funeral was largely attended, and the floral offerings were many and beautiful."

Sources

• Birth records, death certificate, obituary, newspaper articles, and census records.