"Wooster's First Soldier, Col. F. C. Gerlach, Dies" Newspaper Clipping

This document is a newspaper clipping which announces the death of Col. Gerlach. The clipping is dated Monday, February 16th, 1948 and is found in the Frank Gerlach file.

Transcription

Wooster’s First Soldier, Col. F. C. Gerlach, Dies.

Monday, Feb. 16, 1948

ACTIVE HERE IN BUSINESS AND CIVIC LIFE

Funeral Services Wednesday For Military Leader of Two Wars.

Col. Frank C. Gerlach, 77, Wooster’s first soldier, a veteran of two wars, and long active in the business and civic affairs of his home community, died peacefully in his sleep last night at a local rest home.

Col. Gerlach, suffering from a heart ailment for several years, had spent his last weeks in a local hospital and in a rest home, although up to that time he had been ministered to by members of his family at his North Grant st. home. Even in his last days, however, he was able to sit up for a short time each afternoon.

Col. Gerlach was born in Wooster April 29, 1870, one of four sons of Frank C. and Johanna Kaltwaszer Gerlach and has spent all of his long life in this city. He was educated in Wooster schools, and was a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, where he received the highest award for his thesis on analytical pharmacy. Following his graduation he practiced his profession in Wooster for twenty years.

COL. GERLACH was in the National Guard and federal military service for more than 25 years, [illegible] and after his retirement in 1919, remained active in [illegible] until his [illegible] illness. He served in all grades from private to colonel. He was captain of Wooster’s Company D of the old Eighth (McKinley’s Own) Regiment during the Spanish-American war. His death is the first among the trio of officers of that command, both Lt. W. E. Barnard and Lt. Gus Unger still being residents of Wooster. He participated in the expedition to Santago de Cuba.

AT THE START of the First World War he was lieutenant commander and executive officer of the 146th regiment but while the Division was in service overseas he was promoted to the rank of colonel and placed in command of the 145th regiment. He commanded that regiment during the foreign service, but before retuning to the United States was [illegible].