By: Mark Holtsberry
Hubert M. Koenn Jr. was born in Cecil, Ohio May 16, 1890. The son of Hubert Sr., born July of 1855 in Hamburg, Germany and Veronica (Haep) Koenn born in Hamburg, Germany. This couple was married in Germany in 1880. They immigrated to America in 1884.
By 1890, the Koenn family consisted of Herman J. born 1881, Theodore Joseph December 31, 1884, Peter 1886, Mary A. 1888, Laurence March 18, 1889 and Hubert Jr. 1890, a farming family living in Crane Township. By 1900, the Koenn family grew in numbers. Josephine born in 1892, she passed away in 1893. Thomas Mathew October 18, 1893, Rena 1896, Joseph Henry 1899. In 1902, a daughter Clara E. blessed this family. Veronica’s brother, Peter, came from Germany to live with the Koenn’s. Hubert Sr. was still farming, most of the children were in school, but were still helping on the farm.
Son Peter, passed away in 1907. He was buried with his sister at the Immaculate Conception Cemetery outside Cecil. By 1910, the Koenn family, were still farming. Children in school and the older children helping on the farm. As war was looming in France, a national draft was underway. Theodore, a minister in Indiana, registered September 12, 1918. He was not chosen. Laurence registered June 5, 1917, he also was not chosen. Thomas registered June 5, 1917, selected to serve out of the national army out of Paulding, June 25, 1918. He served in France with Company B-C 334th Infantry. Wounded in action at Ypres-Lys, honorably discharged April 26, 1919. Listed as 10% disabled.
Hubert Jr. registered, June 5, 1917. Single, working as a garage mechanic and barber, medium height, stout build, brown eyes, dark brown hair, he was selected to serve. May 24, 1918, he was in the national army. Between that time, he married Hazel B. Biggs, born September 3, 1890 in Illinois. She was a school teacher, who went on to teach for 33 years.
On August 6, 1918, he was sent to New Port News, Virginia to board the ship, “Huron” and shipped off to France. He was assigned to Company H. 153d Infantry 39th Division. He served as a mechanic September 4, 1918. He served until October 1, 1918, when he was assigned to the Labor Company 5th Depot Division to November 11, 1918, then assigned to Company L. 164th Infantry until he was Honorably Discharged March 15, 1919.
By 1920, Hubert and Hazel were living in Cecil on Main Street. Hazel a school teacher and Hubert a machinist working at a local garage. Hubert Sr. passed away in 1921, followed by Veronica in 1923. Both are buried with their children. Hubert Jr. lost a brother, Laurence and sister Rena in 1928 Hubert and Hazel will have two children, Mary Joan born September 8, 1929 and Hubert Joseph born January 2, 1932. By 1930, the Hubert Jr. family was living in Crane Township. Hubert was engaged in farming and Hazel teaching school. On October 16, 1940, Hubert suffered a heart attack at home and passed away. The Rev. C.H.Scheib and Rev. Theodore Koenn officiating. Hubert M. Koenn Jr. was buried with his parents and brothers and a sister. Hazel passed away in 1982, she was buried with her husband.
