The world was at war 100 years ago and 652 men from Moniteau County stepped up to serve in World War I.
Nearly 1,000 young men total registered from the draft. And 31 of those who did serve did not make it home.
Some died of disease before deploying overseas and others died of illness in Europe.
Many, however, died on the battlefield or from wounds they suffered there.
In recognition of the 100th anniversary of the U.S. entering World War I, Moniteau County Historical Society volunteer James Albin researched every Moniteau County name associated with the draft or with service.
A five-panel display in the society's library highlights some of the soldiers' stories. Their stories also are included in a collection of photos and stories of soldiers with ties to Moniteau County who died in service through all wars.
"Veterans are a passion with me," Albin said. He was drafted during the Vietnam War but did not pass the physical. And his father served in Germany in World War II
Area newspapers, including older issues of the California Democrat and the Tipton Times, provided a lot of background information. The decades-old list, compiled by Leonidas Pendleton Embry, fellow World War I soldier and historian for the John Jobe Post #17 American Legion, was a valuable resource.
Post 17 was later renamed the Jobe-Elliott post maintaining the reference to John Jobe, who died early in World War I, and adding recognition of Ernest Elliott, one of Moniteau County's first to die in World War II.
During his three months of research for the project, Albin said a new name was added to the known list after another researcher came across a newspaper clipping while looking up another topic.
Jess Reed was killed in a Bolshevist raid in Siberia.
Another soldier from Tipton moved to Oregon for work after high school graduation and so was not listed among Moniteau County soldiers. Joseph Wirsts died at the age of 30 on the last day of the war, Nov. 11, 1918.
An historical society in a small French village in Alsace reached out to Moniteau County military historians this spring as they prepare to honor American soldiers, like Layton Longan, who made the ultimate sacrifice on their soil.
Memorial events will be held in September 2018, recognizing Longan and four dozen other American soldiers who died in the battle in the mountains of Alsace, according to local author Jeremy Amick.
Longan was born in 1894 near Kliever, where he farmed before service. he enlisted in the Missouri National Guard at Sedalia July 2, 1917. He died about a month after arriving at the trenches, Aug. 14, 1918.
Many of these Moniteau County casualties are named on the county's World War I flag, held in the Missouri State Museum flag collection among dozens of other counties' flags. Most were donated soon after the war, however, Moniteau's flag was donated in January 1930, said Kate Owens, curator of collections.
Moniteau County had more World War I connections.
Several officers on Gen. John Pershing's staff had ties to Moniteau County. John Henry Parker, who formed a Gatling gun detachment during the Spanish-American War to make concerted use of Richard Jordan Gatling's invention, was born near Clarksburg. And John Paegelow, who relocated to his wife's hometown of California after retirement, was in charge of the balloon corps.
"These stories are interesting," Albin said. "And we've tried to locate as many pictures of as many as possible."
Visitors and donations are welcome to the historic society's genealogy library. Although the library is technically closed November through March, individuals are encouraged to contact them for an appointment.
World War I losses from Moniteau County were heavy
1917
Pvt. Lester Newkirk died of measles in December 1917 in New Mexico.
Pvt. Robert Simmers died of pneumonia in December 1917 in Oklahoma.
Pvt. Hosea Howe died of pneumonia following the measles in December 1917.
1918
Pvt. Paul Hunter died of pneumonia in January 1918 in Minnesota.
Pvt. William Niehaus died of pneumonia in March 1918. His last words reportedly were "don't worry, Jesus is taking care of me."
Pvt. Stanley Bell, called "one of Tipton's brightest young men," died of pneumonia in April 1918.
Pvt. Layton Longan was killed in action July 14, 1918, in France.
Pvt. Sidney Embry was killed in action in Aug. 1, 1918, in France.
Pvt. Uel Walser died from multiple wounds Aug. 29, 1918.
Pvt. Andy Schreck was killed in action Aug. 29, 1918, at Soissons, France.
Pvt. Joseph "Everett" Crosswhite is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He fought at Alsace and Chateau Thierry, where he sustained wounds in action and died in August 1918.
Sgt. John Jobe was killed in action on the western front in France Sept. 5, 1918. After his company's captain had fallen, he led his fellow soldiers, even after sustaining his mortal wound.
Pvt. Joe McKinney died of wounds received in action Sept. 26, 1918.
Pvt. Adolph Klatt was killed in action Sept. 26, 1918, during the drive in the Argonne Forest.
Leslie Reynolds died of his wounds sustained in the St. Mehiel drive in September 1918 in France.
Sgt. Herbert Meier, described as "bright and likeable" died Oct. 2, 1918, during the Argonne Forest drive.
Pvt. Earl Remley was fatally wounded Oct. 5, 1918, in France. He was the first from the Russellville vicinity to die during the conflict on foreign soil.
Pvt. Lem Reeves was killed in action Oct. 18, 1918.
William Jesse Bolin was on the front lines in "the intensive drive that won the war," where he wounded and gassed Oct. 29, 1918, and died a month later in France.
Pvt. Jerome Lacey died of pneumonia in October 1918 at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis.
Jesse Karr died aboard the ship read to sail for France in October 1918.
Pvt. Fred Geiger died of pneumonia in October 1918 in France.
Ira Eberhardt died in Texas in October 1918.
Pvt. Henry Rohrbach died of influenza preceded by pneumonia in November 1918 in France.
Pvt. Edgar Cole, a fireman for the Missouri Pacific Railroad before service, died of pneumonia in November 1918. He was described as generous, free-hearted and kind.
Houston George, who had been working on a surveying gang in Arizona before service, died of pneumonia in December 1918.
1919
Cpl. Richard Wilkes died of multiple illness in January 1919 in Germany.
Jess Reed was killed in action June 22, 1919, in Siberia during a Bolshevist raid.
Pvt. Arthur Atkeson died of appendicitis in September 1919.
All photos are courtesy of Moniteau County Historical Society