"Sketch in History of Ohio" by Charles B. Galbreath

This document is a draft of a biography of Col. Frank C. Gerlach written by Charles B. Galbreath and published by the American Historical Society in Galreath's History of Ohio. It is undated and is found in the Frank Gerlach file. More information about Charles Galbreath, acclaimed librarian and author, can be found [here]. Galbreath's History of Ohio, can be found [here]; the section pertaining to Co. Gerlach may be found on pages 84-85.

Transcription

Transcription Notes

• The notation [sic] has been added where possible mistakes have been made.
• The notation [redacted] has been added wherever text has been mechanically overwritten.

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The American Historical Society, 180 N. Market St., Chicago Ill.

Sketch in History of Ohio. by Charles B. Galbreath.

Colonel Frank C. Gerlach

Colonel Gerlach, present postmaster of the City of Wooster, is a veteran of two wars, enlisting as a private in the Ohio National Guard thirty years ago. In the great war while in France and Belgium he served as lieutenant-colonel and colonel of the 146th Infantry.

Colonel Gerlach was born at Wooster, Ohio, april 29, 1870, one of the four children of Frank C. and Johanna M. (Kaltwasser) Gerlach. His parents were born at Wetzlar, Germany, and were married after they came to the United States. His father for many years was in the retail meat business at Wooster. Both parents are now deceased.

Frank C. Gerlach as a boy attended the public schools of Wooster, and from school went to work in a drug store, and in 1891 at the age of twenty-one he graduated from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. As a registered Pharmacist he was for several years connected with the John Zimmerman Drug Company of Wooster, and then engaged in business on his own account. He has been successful in business, and is esteemed for his business integrity and good citizenship as well as his record as a soldier.

In 1894 he enlisted as a private in Co. D. of the Eighth Regiment of the Ohio National Guard. He was promoted to Captain of the Company and when the Spanish American War came on in 1898 he commanded his company during its service in Cuba including the siege of Santiago. After that war he continued an officer in the National Guard and when America entered the World War he was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the 146th Infantry. He was with that regiment in training at Camp Sheridan in Montgomery, Alabama, and later at Camp Lee, Virginia, were [sic] the regiment was recruited to full war strength.. In June 1918 the regiment was ordered [redacted] overseas, landing at Brest and then proceeding to Bpourment [sic] for intensive training before being sent to the front lines. The regiment was a part of the Thirty-seventh Division. Its first duty was in the Baccarat sector, which while considered a quite [sic, likely quiet] sector was really exposed to much enemy [redacted] activity so that the T [sic] thirty-seventh Division participated in a number of minor engagements. Colonel Gerlach and his command participated in [redacted] one of the greatest battles of the War, that of the Argonne Forest, and subsequently held a portion of the line near Verdun. From there they were ordered to Belgium and just before leaving for that front, lieutenant Colonel Gerlach was transfered [sic] to the One Hundreth [sic] and forty-fifth Infantry of the same Brigade. In Belgium his regiment participated with the French and Belgium forces along the Escaut river and in that campaign he was promoted to the rank of Colonel. After the signing of the Armistice Colonel Gerlach remained in France, being returned to the One hundred forty-sixth Regiment, and retuning to the United States was mustered out April 13, 1919. Colonel Gerlach was one of Ohio’s soldiers cited in military orders and awarded the Belgium war cross, The French croix de guerre, and the American distinguished service medal. He had been home only a few months when he was appointed postmaster of Wooster on February 24, 1920.

Colonel Gerlach is a member of the Ohio Legion of Foreign Wras [sic]. He organized the first post of the American Legion at Wooster and became its first commander. In 1922-23 he was president of the Thirty-seventh Division Veterans Association and for the preceding had been the president of the One Hundred Forty-sixth Infantry Veterans Association. Colonel Gerlach organized the Camp of Spanish American War veterans at Wooster and he served as its first commander. He is a director of the Wayne Building and Loan Association and the Citizens National Bank, is vice president of the Wooster Board of Trade, is president of the Wayne County Council of Boy Scouts of America, is a member of the Rotary [obscured, likely “club”] a Knight Templar Mason and Shriner, and is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a democrat in politics and a member of the Lutheran Church.

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