Ervin William Kohl (1898 - abt. 1983)

Born 20 Jul 1898 in Marshfield, Wood, Wisconsin, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Minnie Arlene Gadson — married about Jul 1923 in Wisconsin?

Died about 21 Dec 1983 at about age 85 in Tippecanoe, Indiana, United States

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Biography

Birth & Childhood

Ervin William Kohl was born on July 20, 1898 in Marshfield, Wisconsin. His parents were George Kohl and Katherine Reichert.^[1]

The 1900 Census finds Ervin at his parents house in the City of Marshfield on June 16, 1900. His father George was working in a bedding factory. They had been married for two years. His mother Katie had had a total of 2 children with one living. The family included: ^[2]

• George Kohl, Male, 32, Married, White, Head, Feb 1868 in Wisconsin, Both parents born in Germany
• Katie Kohl, Female, 27, Married, White, Wife, Sep 1873 in Wisconsin, Both parents born in Germany
• Ervin Kohl, Male, 1, Single, White, Son, Jul 1899 in Wisconsin

The 1910 Census shows the family living in Richfield, Wood County Wisconsin. Only son Ervin is at home with George and Katie. ^[3]

His draft WWI card shows his birthday to be July 20, 1898 in Marshfield, Wisconsin, and he lived on RR7. He worked for his dad on the farm. He was described at the age of 19 to be short, medium build, grey eyes, and dark hair. The date of the card was Sept. 12, 1918. ^[4]

The 1920 Census shows the family farming in Richfield. Son Ervin is living with his parents. Only child? ^[5]

Adulthood

He married Minnie A. Gadson who was born on July 12, 1903 in Richland, Richland County, Wisconsin. She died on October 3, 1991 in Layfayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. A record of this marriage is needed, but from the 1930 Federal census, it shows that they married with Ervin was 24 years old and Minnie was 20 years old. If those ages are correct, then they were married between their birthdays (July 12 and July 20) 1923.

In 1930 (April 21) the census finds them living in Johnson, Marathon County, Wisconsin. Erwin worked as a cheese maker in a "factory." The home was rented. The family as listed: ^[6]

• Erwin W Kohl, Male, 30, Married, White, Head, 24 years old at first marriage, born in Wisconsin, parents born in Wisconsin
• Minnie A Kohl, Female, 26, Married, White, Wife, 20 years old at first marriage, born in Wisconsin, father born in England, mother in Wisconsin
• Earl I Kohl, Male, 5, Single, White, Son, born in Wisconsin, parents born in Wisconsin
• La Verene E Kohl, Male, 8/12 months, Single, White, Son, 1930, born in Wisconsin, parents born in Wisconsin

At some point Ervin and Minnie lived in Iowa. No on-line records show where they lived, but they both paid a tax sometime between 1935 and 1958. This is the Iowa Old Age Tax Assistance Records, 1935-1958. The index listing shows his birthday to be 20 Jul 1898, born in Marshfield, Wis, with parents George Kohl and Katherine "Rickert." ^[7] His wife Minnie also has her own listing. Perhaps the original records have addresses of where they lived and when they paid the tax.

If they moved to Iowa in the 1930s, by the 1940 Census they were living in Kentland, Jefferson Township, Newton County, Indiana. This is near the border with Illinois, which might explain why their youngest sons are identified to have been born in Illinois. But son Lavern shows up in the 1930 census having been born in Wisconsin, so in this case for him, it is probably an error. It shows the family was living in the same place in 1935, and it shows that they owned their house on First Street. Ervin worked as Superintendent at a Dairy Products factory. The family is listed as: ^[8]

• Erwin W Kohl, Male, 40, Married, White, Head, Wisconsin
• Minnie A Kohl, Female, 36, Married, White, Wife, Wisconsin
• Earl J Kohl, Male, 15, Single, White, Son, Wisconsin
• Laverne E Kohl, Male, 10, Single, White, Son, Illinois
• Russell W Kohl, Male, 2, Single, White, Son, Illinois

The next family listed below them was Sylvester W. Lang and his wife Marguerite. She was listed as having lived in 1935 in Marshfield Wisconsin, and Sylvester simply as "Wisconsin." Was Marguerite or both of them friends from Wisconsin. Sylvester's job was "cheese maker." Seems like maybe Marguerite was introduced to her husband by the Kohls.

Ervin died on December 21, 1983 at the age of 84. ^[9] He is buried at Resthaven Memorial Park in Lafayette, Tippencanoe, Indiana. ^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ His birthdate comes from two references, this WWI draft registration card, and his Iowa old age pension.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MM2Y-FTJ : accessed 26 April 2019), Ervin Kohl in household of George Kohl, Marshfield city Ward 1-3, Wood, Wisconsin, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 148, sheet 23A, family 423, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,825.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPKC-2HB : accessed 26 April 2019), George Kohl, Richfield, Wood, Wisconsin, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 203, sheet 1A, family 4, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1742; FHL microfilm 1,375,755.
4. ↑ "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K87W-3SK : 13 March 2018), Ervin William Kohl, 1917-1918; citing Wood County, Wisconsin, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,675,082.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFLZ-CHX : accessed 26 April 2019), George Kohl, Richfield, Wood, Wisconsin, United States; citing ED 205, sheet 5B, line 89, family 96, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 2024; FHL microfilm 1,822,024.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X973-926 : accessed 26 April 2019), Minnie A Kohl in household of Erwin W Kohl, Johnson, Marathon, Wisconsin, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 32, sheet 10B, line 60, family 197, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2582; FHL microfilm 2,342,316.
7. ↑ "Iowa, Old Age Tax Assistance Records, 1934-1958," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLYV-6W9N : 17 March 2018), Ervin William Kohl, ; citing Pension, Iowa, United States, various recorder, auditor, and clerk county offices, Iowa.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V1YJ-MZH : 13 March 2018), Minnie A Kohl in household of Erwin W Kohl, Kentland, Jefferson Township, Newton, Indiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 56-10, sheet 17A, line 7, family 409, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 1081.
9. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JRVM-TPD : 20 May 2014), Erwin Kohl, Dec 1983; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
10. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/89558138