By: Mark Holtsberry
Elwood M. (Babe) Kemler was born December 22, 1890 in Paulding. The son of Francis born January of 1854 and Laura J. (McCreary) Kemler born May of 1855. This couple was married July 25, 1875 in Paulding.
By 1880, this couple was living in Paulding and Francis was a laborer. They had a daughter, Minnie, born November of 1880. Another daughter, Richie, was born December of 1882, followed by a daughter Gretchen, born February of 1884, a son Carl, born March of 1886, a son Peter, born April of 1889 and Elwood, born December of 1890.
By 1900, the Kemler family was living on Main Street in Paulding. Francis was working as a bartender in Paulding. In 1902, Elwood”s sister, Minnie, married a fella named Loren J. Thompson who was a Paulding Spanish American War Veteran.
By 1910, the Kemler family had moved to Perry Street in Paulding. Francis was running a restaurant, Elwood was helping his father. On June 19, 1916, Elwood joined the Ohio National Guard out of Paulding and given the rank of private, he served in Company B. 2a Ohio National Guard andwas promoted to Corporal August 19, 1916, then promoted to Sergeant November 1, 1916.
He served in the Mexican border war, serving until October 27, 1917. Elwood was then sent to Camp Sherman, Ohio to serve with the 11th Company, 3rd Training Battalion until October 27, 1917, when was assigned to 145th Infantry Headquarters as an unassigned recruit. He served until November 1, 1917. On January 25, 1918, Elwood was assigned to Company D. 145th, 37th Infantry Division, and then transferred to Company I. 145th Infantry Division.
Elwood’s brother, Peter, registered for the draft on June 5, 1917 and was listed as medium height and build. Black hair and dark blue eyes. He was working as a bartender living on 713 North Williams Street Paulding and was not chosen to serve.
On June 15, 1918, Elwood was sent to Hoboken, New Jersey to board the ship, “Leviathan”, and sent to France. He was appointed to Sergeant in the National Army, October 27, 1918. He served in the Muese-Argonne, Ypres-Lys Defensive Sector.
On November 3, 1918, Elwood Kemler was wounded by artillery shell fire, and on November 5, 1918, Elwood passed away. Paulding soldiers, Emmett Good and Spencer Hoover were always with Elwood in the trenches.
Emmett Good was killed September 28, 1918. In a letter to his father, Francis, Elwood’s commanding officer spoke of Elwood’s commitment of a soldier’s duty and strong service to his country and popular with the men in the trenches.
In October of 1921, Elwood’s body was brought home from France on the ship, “S.S. Wheaton”. His body was buried in Live Oak Cemetery. Lot 442, Block G. Grave 3. He received his military tombstone in 1941.
