Military History in Paulding County
By: Mark Holtsberry
Adie Clifford Snellenberger was born April 18, 1896, in Harrison Twp, Payne, Ohio. He was the son of Benjamin Snellenberger, born May 27, 1871, in Paulding County, and Atta A. (Pever) Snellenberger, born November 1, 1873, in Wyandot County, Ohio. The couple was married in 1895. Adie came along in 1896. They were farmers.
By 1900, the family was living in Harrison Township and still farming. Russell Frank Snellenberger was born January 4, 1898. Benjamin’s mother, Sarah A. Snellenberger, was living with the family. On November 25, 1903, Atta Snellenberger passed away. She was buried in St. John’s Methodist Cemetery in Defiance, Ohio.
At the age of sixteen, Adie quit school. On November 21, 1906, in Defiance, Benjamin married Anna Caroline Linebrink, who was born March 24, 1878, in Defiance, Ohio. She passed away on May 5, 1907. Her last words were, “The cord will soon be broken.” She was laid to rest in St. John’s Methodist Cemetery in Defiance, Ohio.
By 1910, Adie, his brother Russell, their father, and grandmother were living in Harrison Township and continuing to farm. On June 5, 1917, Adie registered for the draft at the Harrison South Precinct. He was listed as 5’10”, with dark brown hair, grey eyes, a fair complexion, and single. He was working for his father on the farm.
On June 25, 1918, Adie joined the National Army out of Paulding. He served with Company F, 309th Ammunition Train as a private. He was honorably discharged on August 15, 1918, and listed as 25% disabled per the Surgeon’s Certificate of Disability.
Adie’s brother Russell registered for the draft on September 12, 1918, in Canton, Ohio, where he was employed. He was not selected.
By 1920, Adie had returned home to his father’s place in Harrison Township and continued farming. His grandmother Sarah was still living with them. By 1930, Adie and his father were still in Harrison Township. Adie had taken a job as a school bus driver, and his father was a laborer on a grain farm. They sold the farm in 1935.
Between 1935 and 1938, Adie married. However, by 1940, he was divorced. Adie and his father had moved to Payne, living south of the railroad. Adie worked as a laborer, and his father Benjamin was still living with him.
In 1942, Adie registered for the World War II draft. He was employed as a laborer for Otto Henschens. In 1948, Adie’s father Benjamin passed away and was buried with his second wife in Defiance.
By 1950, Adie’s health began to decline. He became increasingly reliant on neighbors for help. On March 17, 1957, Adie passed away. He was buried in Lehman Cemetery, Lot 188, Old Section, Grave 2.
On June 20, 1957, an application for Adie’s military tombstone was submitted. His stone was verified on July 5, 1957, and shipped from Columbus, Mississippi, on August 9, 1957.
Adie’s brother Russell eventually moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he passed away in November 1970.
…Until Next Time!
