By: Mark Holtsberry
Claude Leo Morhart was born in Cecil, Ohio, March 3, 1895, The son of Iva CL born in November of 1863 in Ohio, and Anna F. (Hinch) born January of 1869 in Ohio. This couple was married June 24, 1886 in Paulding. A daughter, Clara P., was born in 1887, followed by Fred L., In 1888, Ralph in 1889, Ira in 1891, John in 1893, Claude in 1895, Anna May in 1897.
By 1900, this family was living in Crane Township, Iva was a farmer. Most of the children were in school. By 1910, the Morhart family had grown with the birth of Mamie D. in 1902, followed by Hazel J. in 1903, Liddie L. in 1905, Lizzie Helen in 1907 and Donald in 1909. Claude was a farm hand while going to school.
On September 17, 1915, Anna dies of tuberculosis. She was buried in Spindler Cemetery, Mark Center, Ohio.
On June 5, 1917, Claude had registered for World War One draft in the Crane precinct. He was a farm laborer working for a fella named N. Platter. Claude was listed at 5’10” tall, medium build, with grey eyes, brown hair, and fair complexion.
On October 2, 1917, Claude joined the National Army out of Paulding. He was promoted to Private First Class December 1, 1917. He was assigned to serve with the 329th Headquarters Company.
In June of 1918. Claude was shipped over overseas to serve in France. He was shipped home on the ship Minnekada on January 31, 1919 and set sail for home. He was honorably discharged February 15, 1010.
After returning from France, Claude met and married a gal named Ida Muriel Gordon in Paulding.
Ida was born October of 1896 in Ohio. She was the daughter of Francis M. and Ida B. Gordon from Crane Township.
In January of 1920, in Antwerp, a daughter, Frieda Muriel Morhart was born. On May 10, 1923, in Antwerp, Ida gave birth to a son, Glenn Forest Morhart.
On October 20, 1925, Glenn passed away in Hicksville, He was buried in Maumee Cemetery, Antwerp. A son, John William Morhart was born October 19, 1926.
On December 7, 1927, in Hicksville, Claude passed away and was buried in Maumee Cemetery. Frieda passed away December 25, 2004 and is buried in Riverview Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Defiance, Ohio.
Ida worked in various jobs the rest of her life and never remarries. While living at 302 West High Street in Hicksville, Ida passed away, February 19, 1973 at the Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana due to pneumonia. She was buried with Claude in Maumee Cemetery.
…Until Next Time!
