By: Mark Holtsberry
Alfred Henry Paul Blanchard is another young man from Paulding County who served in World War 1. He was born October 8, 1896 in Auglaize Township. The son of Philiase and Mary Elizabeth (Sieren) Blanchard. Philiase was born in Canada, April of 1848. He moved to Ohio at the age of sixteen. Mary was born in Ohio, the daughter of Peter and Theresa Sieren. Peter, was a Civil War Veteran, who served with Company E. 192nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
Philiase and Mary, were married June 5, 1876 in Defiance, Ohio. They settled in Auglaize Township and by 1900, the Blanchard’s were raising three daughters and three sons, Alfred being the youngest, and they all worked on the family farm. By 1910, the family was still living on the farm, with the children all in school. As war was looming in Europe, Alfred’s brother, Leo Charles, had signed up July 28, 1917 to serve in the National Army out of Defiance. Leo, 5-6″ tall, gray eyes, brown hair, fair complexion, medium weight and height, Private First Class, served in Europe with Company G. 166th Infantry, also known as Company G. 6th Ohio National Guard. Alfred had moved to Chicago, Illinois, working at the Chicago Plating Company at 509 Wabash Street.
On June 3, 1918, Alfred registered for the draft. He was listed as blue eyes, light brown hair, medium build and medium height. Alfred came back to Paulding and on September 5, 1918, signed up with the National Army out of Paulding. He basically, at this point, volunteered to serve. Alfred was sent for training at Camp Sherman, which is in Ross County, Ohio. He was serving with 32nd Company, 8th Battalion, 158th Depot Brigade.
The early part of October, Alfred caught broncho pneumonia. On October 7, 1918, a day shy of his 22nd birthday, Alfred passed away. His father was notified of his death. Alfred was brought home to be buried in St. Marys Cemetery, Junction, Ohio in row 4, Grave 4. Alfred’s brother Leo, survived the war, and was honorably discharged, May 17, 1919.
Alfred’s father, Philiase, passed away in 1929, from heart failure, due to catching pneumonia. His wife Mary, passed away in 1931, from health issues she had been dealing with for years. They too, were buried in St. Marys Cemetery.
Until Next Time…
