MILITARY HISTORY IN PAULDING COUNTY
By: Mark Holtsberry
Herbert William Stoller was born June 20, 1896, in Fairbury, Illinois. He was the son of John Albert Stoller, born September 15, 1863, in Bern, Switzerland, and Louise M. (Mangold) Stoller, born December 6, 1870, in France. The couple was married in 1892.
By 1900, John and Louise had four children: Leona, born in July 1894; Herbert, born in 1896; Michael, born in 1898; and Daniel, born in 1899. At that time, the family was living on Ash Street in Indian Grove, Livingston County, Illinois, where John was engaged in the hardware business.
By 1910, the Stoller family had moved to Waldo, Illinois. John had taken up farming, and the family had grown. Carl was born in 1900, John in 1901, Juliet in 1903, Ezra in 1905, Mary in 1907, and Robert in 1910.
Herbert quit school after completing the fifth grade. It is likely he was helping his father in the fields, as all of the children probably contributed to the family farm.
Sometime after 1910, the Stoller family moved to Paulding County, Ohio, where John continued farming. On June 5, 1918, Herbert registered for the World War I draft in Paulding. He was described as tall, of slender build, single, and working for his father. On September 5, 1918, Herbert was drafted into the National Army out of Paulding and assigned to the 32nd Company, 8th Battalion, 158th Depot Brigade for training.
Herbert served until September 26, 1918, when he was transferred to the Conscientious Objectors Detachment Camp at Camp Sherman, Ohio. He served with this unit until December 12, 1918, after which he was assigned to the Quartermaster Corps at Camp Sherman. Herbert was honorably discharged on May 16, 1919.
Following his military service, Herbert returned home. His mother, Louise, passed away on February 22, 1920, and was buried in the Latty Apostolic Cemetery outside Latty, Ohio. The Stoller family continued farming and living in Jackson Township.
On January 9, 1921, while still living at home, Herbert married Leah Laukauf, who was born March 14, 1897, in Tremont, Tazewell County, Illinois. Together they became the parents of Nelson, born in 1922; Velma, born in 1923; Edwin, born in 1924, who passed away at birth; Justus, born in 1926; Ernest, born in 1927; and Pauline, born in 1929.
By 1930, the family was living outside Paulding on Dewitt Pike, where they continued farming. Leah later gave birth to a son, Willis, in 1932, and a daughter, Ruth, in 1936.
By 1940, the Stoller family was living in the Paulding area, and Herbert continued to farm. On January 7, 1942, Herbert passed away unexpectedly. He was laid to rest in the Latty Apostolic Cemetery outside Latty, Ohio.]
… Until Next Time!
