By: Mark Holtsberry
David Bill Barnhart was born April 27, 1891 in Antwerp. The son of George, born October 1845 in Germany and Margarett, “Maggie” (Flickinger) Barnhart, born July 1849 in Ohio. This couple was married April 25, 1875 in Otsego, Allegan County, Michigan.
George was a Civil War Veteran, who served with Company F. 68th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. By 1900, the Barnhart family including five children, were living in Crane Township. George was engaged in farming and David, the youngest, was in school.
By 1910, the Barnhart’s had moved to Perry Street in Antwerp. George and David were working odd jobs. Only two children were still living at home. On September 29, 1911 George passed away. He was buried in Maumee Cemetery, lot 193, grave 4. On October 27, 1911 Margarett filed for widow’s pension.
On June 5, 1917, David tall at 5’10”, stout build, brown hair, brown eyes and working in the concrete business for N.A.G. Sunday out of Antwerp, registered for the draft. May 30, 1918, David signed up in Paulding to serve in the United States Army.
He served with the 34th Company, 9th Training Battalion, 157th Depot Brigade. He served until June 11, 1918. Then served with 63rd Company, 6th Infantry Replacement Regiment at Camp Gordon, Georgia until July 19, 1918. He then served with Company C, 5th Infantry Replacement Regiment at Camp Gordon until July 31, 1918.
From that point he served in the 40th Company, 10th Training Battalion, 157th Depot Brigade to September 20, 1918. Serves with Company L., 6th Infantry Replacement Regiment at Camp Gordon, Georgia, to October 13, 1918. Finally serving with Company A., 1st Development Battalion, at Camp Gordon until he was Honorably Discharged, December 7, 1918.
By 1920, David was living in Antwerp on River Street. His mother, Margarett, niece, Luella Kerns and nephew, Edward Kerns were living with him. The Kerns’ mother, Sarah Elizabeth, sister to David, had died, June 22, 1912. And the kids father, Moses Edward Kerns, a Spanish American War Veteran, had died August 28, 1909. On April 14, 1928, David’s mother, Margarett, passed away. She was buried with George at Maumee Cemetery, lot 193, grave 3.
The trail on David grows cold between the years of 1925-1930. Somewhere after 1925, David moved to Columbus, Ohio. and on June 25, 1931, David Bill Barnhart passed away in Columbus, Ohio. David was brought home to Antwerp and was buried in Maumee Cemetery, lot 193, grave 2.
He was never married. David’s sister-in-law, applied for and signed for his military tombstone. His stone was shipped to Maumee Cemetery, April 18, 1932.
…Until Next Time!
