Oconto County Reporter
Thursday Aug. 15, 1918
Researched and contributed by: Mary

Sheldon D. Sharpley and  Alex St. Louis. Boyhood friends shown in playful photograph from happier days.

We have this week to chronicle the death of two Oconto boys who have paid the highest price man can pay in the present world fight for humanity and civilization.

    Sheldon D. Sharpley, son of Mr. And Mrs. Alex Sharpley and Roland St. Louis, son of Alex St. Louis.

   The two boys who were killed fighting gloriously for the cause lived in Oconto all their lives and were boyhood friends and chums.

   Mr. Sharpley was born February 3, 1896, and became a member of Company M four years ago when 18 years old.  He served with the company on the Mexican border and with them went to Camp Douglas, Waco. Tex., and then to France.   On July 27 he was severely wounded in action and word was received here last Thursday night that he died on August 2 as the result of his wounds.

   He is survived by his parents, his brother, Morris of Company M, detailed to the headquarter detachment of the 127th regiment, brother, Truman of the 150th (Rainbow Division) brother, Nathaniel at Camp Zachary Taylor, Louisville, Ky., four other brothers, Lyle, Ralph, Howard, and Harry, at home and one sister, Mrs. Frank Smith, of the town of Little River.

   Word was received here Saturday that Roland St. Louis, aged 18 (editor's note - born in 1894, age was 24 years), the son of Alex St. Louis, Pecor Street, was killed in action July 18.

   Young St. Louis was born here and had lived his whole life at the home on Pecor street until 3 years ago when he enlisted in the marines.

   He is survived by his father, one brother, Lieutenant Joseph St. Louis, who is a staff officer, detailed for duty as an interpreter in France, and two sisters, Mrs. Joseph Mauer, Marinette, and Miss Beatrice St. Louis, who resides with their uncle, Rev. Fr. Therien of St. John’s church, Green Bay.

Oconto County Enterprise
August 9, 1918
contributed by Editor Cathe Ziereis

John A. Brown died at his home on Friday noon of hemorrhage. It was a shock to his relatives and friends, as he seemed apparently in fair health up to within a day or so of his death. He had not recovered from an attack of pneumonia contracted last December. He was 29 years of age and leaves to mourn him his mother and stepfather, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Norton, one brother Floyd Brown, who is in France in service, four stepsisters, Mrs. L. Stoffen, Mrs. Art Classon, Mrs. Chas. Swear and Etta Norton who were all present at the funeral. Others present from outside were Ed, John, Ruby William and Miss Florence Swear of Pensaukee; Ed Rost, Coleman; Elsie Keeppen, Delvan; Mr. Johnson of Kenosha and Mr. and Mrs. Touschak of Abrams.

The funeral was held on Monday at 2:30 p.m. from the Episcopal church, Rev Fr. Curtis officiating and burial was in Evergreen cemetery.

Alexander Lucas died at his home in Stiles on Friday evening, after an illness covering a period of several years since he had a paralytic stroke. He was 63 years of age. His wife died a few months ago.

The funeral was held from the Presbyterian church at Oconto, Sunday afternoon, Rev. E. W. Wright officiating. Burial was in Evergreen.

Surviving kinfolk’s are four sons, Walter, of Oconto Falls; William, overseas in the army; Norman and Robert of Stiles; and four daughters, Mrs. John McCarthy of Claywood, and Jennie; Mae and Jessy at home. There is a sister, Mrs. Holland, of Michigan; and nine grandchildren.

Frank Neta, of Spruce, died at his home there on Friday after a year of much suffering, at the age of 45. He was buried from St. Charles’ church at Lena, Rev. Fr Kolbe officiating and internment was in the Catholic cemetery.

He is survived by his wife who was Maggie Mashinok, and six children, Edward, Florence, Irene, Evelyn, Margaret and Elinor.

Invitations have been received in Oconto announcing the wedding of Lieut. Walter Keith and Miss Fama Noyes, of Marinette, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Noyes. The cards read:

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Eugene Noyes request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter, Fama Isabella to Mr. Walter Paramore Keith, Wednesday morning the 14^th of August 1914, at 10 o’clock, St. Paul’s Church Marinette, Wis.

Lieut. Keith is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Clevland R. Keith of Oconto. He has seen much service and recently has been inspector for the government of war materials being made at a large rubber goods manufactory at Akron, Ohio.

The father of the bride is the president of the Eagle Printing Co., and manager of Marinette Eagle-Star for many years.

Mrs. Rose Sherman was surprised Sunday afternoon by a number of her friends, the occasion being her 71st birthday anniversary.  Mrs. J.D. Herrion of Marinette spent Sunday evening with her mother, Mrs. Sherman.
 

Harry Starbuck of Oconto and Bill Zimdars of Gillett, both members of Company M. were killed in action August 4th.

Harry Starbuck, whose home is in Grawn, Mich., was engineer at the W.F. Williams Co. plant and came here from Traverse City with that firm.  He enlisted with Company M shortly after the United States entered the war.  He was about twenty-three years old, and is a cousin of Milton Harr, assistant superintendent at the flooring plant.

Bill Zimdars is a Gillett boy and the second from that village to give his life for his country.

Mr. and Mrs. Mort Williams and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Egan of Manitowoc drove to Oconto Saturday and spent Sunday with relatives.  Mr. and Mrs. Williams visited Mrs. Williams mother, Mrs. T.H. Phelps, and Mr. and Mrs. Egan visited at the F.W. Gardner home.

Mrs. M.B. Lassin, who spent the past few days with her mother, Mrs. Kate Cook, returned to Milwaukee Monday.  Mrs. Lassin will leave Milwaukee soon to join her husband at Tacoma, Wash., where they will make their future home.

Hugh Murphy returned to Kenosha Saturday, after visiting his sister Mrs. Will Lance.

Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Isaccson of Pulcifer spent Monday with the latter’s parents , Mr. and Mrs. H.F. Becker, on Jefferson St.

Henry Becker, Jr., will leave to join the colors Friday morning.  He is the fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. H.F. Becker in the service of Uncle Sam.  Arnold W. across the seas, Harry C. at Camp Grant, Ill., and Leslie at Great Lakes, Ill.

Miss Adeline Masterson returned to Chicago Wednesday, after spending several months with her mother, Mrs. H.F. Jones.

Mrs. Henry Deloria has returned to her home in Gardon, Mich., after spending two weeks with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Driscoll.  She was accompanied home by her daughter, Mildred, who was recently operated upon at Green Bay for appendicitis.

Mrs. Will Burke of Milwaukee is a guest of her sister, Mrs. Jack O’Connell, in the city.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jackson and son of Fond du Lac are visiting the former’s father James Jackson, on Superior avenue.

Mrs. John Porterfield and daughters, Edith, Bernice and Marian, and Mrs. A. G. Cecil and daughter, Ethel, drove to Couillardville Wednesday and spent the day with friends.
 
 

Mrs. Katherine Kadlec of Spruce visited her sister, Mrs. Jos. Peisar, in the city Friday and Monday.

Mrs. Sam Kucera and daughter, Miss Kate, spent Saturday in the city with friends.

The Misses Helen and Jeanette Western of Kelly Lake visited relatives in the city last thrusday and Friday.

Mr. and Mrs. James Cerveny and little daughter, Verna, of Spruce visited relatives in the city Monday and attended the picnic.

Irving Riley, who is on the battleship “Wisconsin” visited Sunday and Monday with his mother, Mrs. Jane Riley and sister, Miss Margaret.
 
 

A farewell party was given Monday evening at the Herbert Whiting home in honor of Harry Exford and Albert Zens, who left Tuesday with the drafted men for Georgia.

Mr. and Mrs. Dick Colson returned home from Soperton, after a few days visit with their daughter, Mrs. Henry Jarvey.
 
 

Mrs. Frank Davis, Sr., and Mrs. Archie Bonesteel and little son drove to Suring Tuesday to visit their daughter and sister, Mrs. Wm. Cato.

Mrs. H.L. Scott visited with her daughter, Mrs. R.M. Stengel, of Suring a couple of days this week.
 
 

Mrs. J. Grenfel left for Byron, Ill., Friday after spending most of the summer with her mother, Mrs. J. Peters.  Miss Melba Grenfel accompanied her mother as far as Green Bay and then took a train west to Black River Falls where she will teach kindergarten.
 

W.H. Knowles had a sale of household goods Thursday.  The family left for the west in their Overland car on Labor Day taking the upper route in order to visit Mr. and Mrs. Earl Knowles at Fernwood, Idaho, before going to Seattle, Wash.

Vincent Usiak of the town of Chase was accidentally shot Sunday while hunting with his brother, Joseph, and two chums, Andrew Dolata and Antone Brezezinski.  The four boys started to go hunting over near the Pensaukee river.  They had one gun for the four.  On the way to the river they took turns firing at marks.  The gun was passed from one to another constantly.  Joseph Usiak, after saying he was going to fire at a mark, passed the gun to young Dolata, who thought that Usiak had removed the shell from the gun.  He turned to Vincent Usiak, who came up behind him and said, “if you were only a rabbit I would shoot you,” and pointing the gun at him pulled the trigger.  The shot entered the young man’s chest and killed him instantly.

Margaret Krause returned to her home in Sobieski Saturday, after spending the past two months with her grandfather, John Ragen.

Mrs. Chas. Cook and children of Chase are visiting the former’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Murphy.

Miss Eva Porter spent Sunday with her parents at Stiles Junction.

Clara Belongia of Green Bay is spending a few days at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Belongia.

Mr. and Mrs. C.W. Carlson and son, Bentley, returned Wednesday afternoon from a visit of several days with Mr. Carlson’s mother at Sister Bay, in Door County.

W.C. Mills of Hickory came down Wednesday morning, bringing his brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. John Mills of Battle Creek, Mich.

Henry Kebel, who September 8 picked his way out of the Oconto jail where he was held on a charge of desertion and had since been picking locks, and helping himself to autos, guns, provisions, etc., was captured Tuesday morning by Secret Service Officer A. A. Vaill and sheriff Telford assisted by Henry Heimerl and Lyman High of the town of Bagley and brought to the county jail the same day.

Mr. High saw Kebel pass near his place Saturday loaded up with a pack of provisions and utensils he had taken from the home of Jerry Fitzgerald, a bachelor living near Mr. High’s place in the town of Bagley, while Mr. Fitzgerald was away at work. High watched him go north over what was known as the “Hogback”.

He suspected that it was Kebel and that he was headed for the old Hubbard camps on the Peshtigo Brook marshes in the east part of the town of Armstrong.

He notified Sheriff Telford who with Mr. Vaill started after him.

With the aid of Mr. Heimerl and Mr. high, who like Kebel were familiar with the country, they trailed him through the forest and swaps and about nearly exhausted they reached the Hubbard camps. These they searched with the aid of light from matches but failed to find him.

The old Huntley camps were a short distance further out and through a window looking toward the Hubbard camps. Kebel evidently saw the lights and went out of the door on the opposite side of the camp leading into the brush a few yards away.

When they reached the camp the officers found fresh sticks of wood evidently laid on the fire a few moments before. They took possession of the camp and remained there until morning when Mr. Vaill stayed quietly inside expecting a possible return of Kebel for provisions or gun and the others scattered out and began a search of timber and plains.

A little later as Mr. Telford was sitting near a stump for a few minutes rest Kebel walked out near him and before he could escape Telford had him covered and his hands up in the air.

Footsore and weary the party marched Kebel to the auto and brought him into Oconto Tuesday afternoon and this morning Sheriff Telford took him to Fort Sheridan.
 
 
 

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