Howard Wieman Fenker

Narrative:

     Howard Wieman Fenker was born on 5 Apr 1883 in Covington, Kentucky.^8,9,10
     He appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, in the household of his parents, John William Fenker and Amelia Louise Wieman.⁵
     Howard married Irma Aurelia Sander, daughter of Adolph Sander and Catharine Mathes, on 1 Nov 1905 in Hamilton Co., Ohio, with Rev. Robert Watson, pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, officiating.^11,12
     He was a bookkeeper when he married. He was later a salesman in the pork packing business. We might assume that it was with his father-in-law's firm.^14,15,16
     Howard and Irma appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, at 264 Hosia St., enumerated 19 Apr 1910, The household also included an 18 year old servant, Florence Haslinger.^17,18
     Howard was named an executor in the will of Adolph Sander, his mother's father, dated 22 Mar 1911 in Cincinnati, and trustee of the majority of the estate other than the A. Sander Packing Co., for the benfit of his wife and her three siblings for their lifetimes, then their children.¹⁹

A Distinguished Military Career --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Howard enlisted in the Ohio National Guard, 1st Ohio Infantry Regiment, 2 Apr 1917 in Cincinnati, Ohio, reportedly as a private. He was a Battalion Sergeant Major by October of that year. More than a dozen units of the Ohio Guard were mobilized that summer, including the 1st Infantry.^20,21,22,23
     Howard was the victim of an assault on 5 Oct 1917, apparently before his unit shipped out. His auto stalled at Glenmary and Clifton Ave., Cincinnati, and as he tried to restart it three men drove up. Saying "You don't need to think you can take up the whole road because you wear a United States uniform" they then beat him severely. They drove off once he was able to exit his auto. Members of his regiment threatened to avenge the insult when they learned of it but were restrained by officers.²⁴
     The Ohio units assembled at Camp Sheridan, Alabama, where they formed 37th Infantry Division in Oct 1917.^25,26 Howard was discharged as an enlisted man 19 Dec 1917 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant the next day, effective 15 Sep 1917. He rose quickly rising through the ranks after he arrived in Europe. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant 29 Aug 1918, Captain 20 Nov 1918, and to Major 21 Feb 1919. He served in Division Headquarters, becoming secretary to the General Staff of the Division.^27,28 After nearly ten months of intensive training, most of the Division, including Howard, began to entrain for Camp Lee, Virginia, on 20 May 1918. They spent two weeks there in more intensive training.^29,30
     Much of the Division, including most of the Headquarters division, shipped to France from Hoboken, New Jersey. But Howard was part of a small detachment of Division Headquarters that departed by river steamer 21 Jun 1918 to Newport News, Virginia, with the 74th Brigade and Engineers. There they boarded three steamships, including the S.S. Pocahontas which Howard was aboard. They were joined by four freight steamers and formed a convoy protected by submarine chasers and a cruiser.^29,31 Traveling by convoy was slow. They arrived in Brest, France, on 5 Jul 1918 and shipped by train to join those that had arrive earlier.²⁹
     The Division was involved in heavy fighting in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, a major effort that extended from 26 Sep 1918 until the Armistice 11 Nov 1918. But the Division was reassigned to the Ypres-Lys Offensive, in Belgium, shipping out 18 Oct 1918. Howard was present in both locations. Family lore has him behind enemy lines at times during this period, but details are unknown.^32,33,34
     A detachment of the Division participated in King Albert I's triumphal return to Brussels on 22 Nov 1918. Whether Howard was one them is unknown.³⁵ He was one of 150 members of the Division who were awarded Belgian war Crosses 11 Jan 1919 in the public square of Esquelbreeq, Belgium.^36,37,38
     Howard departed Europe with an advance detachment of the Headquarters Division, including the commanding officer, Maj. Gen. Charles Farnsworth and other senior officers, on 12 Mar 1919. They sailed on the SS Noordam from Brest, France. The ship carried 1,878 military passengers, including 51 officers and 59 nurses who had 1st class accommodations, and 1,767 enlisted men. It arrived in Hoboken, New Jersey, 23 Mar 1919.^39,40
     He was discharged 10 Apr 1919 at Camp Sheridan, Alabama, after participating in a parade in Cincinnati.^41,42

Returning to Civilian Life --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Howard and Irma moved their family to Minneola, Florida, about 1919, because they thought the weather would be helpful in restoring his her health after she was very ill for a time.^43,44 They appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Clermont, Lake Co., Florida, at 119 Club House Rd., enumerated 14 Jan 1920, with a household consisting of a 23 year old trained nurse, Emily Borwell. Their children Richard and Emilou were listed as living with them.⁴⁵
     The 1920 census shows his occupation as "none," but by 1923 he was president of the First National Bank of Clermont, which had assets of $33,000 and loans outstanding of $75,000.^46,47

Becoming a Lawyer --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Howard and Irma moved their family to Nashville, Tennessee, about 1924, so Howard could attend the law school at Vanderbilt University.⁴⁴ Howard graduated from Vanderbilt University in Oct 1926 with an LL.B. degree.^48,49
     After graduating he became a lawyer. He had offices at 305 Union by by 1928. He later told stories to his children of sitting in the law office during the Depression with nothing to do because people could not afford to hire attorneys.^51,52,53,54
     Howard and Irma appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Nashville, Davidson Co., Tennessee, at 1920 20th Ave. South, enumerated 3 Apr 1930, reporting that the family owned a home worth $15,000, and had a radio. Their children Richard and Emilou were listed as living with them.⁵⁵
     Howard and Irma appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Nashville, Davidson Co., Tennessee, at 1920 20th Ave. South, enumerated 3 Apr 1940, reporting that they owned a home valued at $7,000, and had lived in the same house in 1935. Her sister, Emma, was listed as living with them.⁵⁶

Becoming an Oil Distributor --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     His investments included Shell Oil, which seemed to lead to his later becoming a distributor for Shell in Gallatin, the Rail Oil Company. That seems to have been a side business at first. He is listed in the 1943 city directory as a dealer, and in 1946 as a station attendant, but in the intervening years as a lawyer. He was declaring is occupation as wholesale distributor by 1949 and not as a lawyer after that. He reported in the 1950 census he had worked 70 hours the prior week and 52 weeks in 1949, earning $10,000 +.^54,57,58,59
     They moved to 3507 Belmont Blvd. by 1949 with their daughter Emilou, her husband Homer Thomas Frazier, and their children.^60,6
     Howard and Irma appeared on the 1950 Federal Census of Nashville, Davidson Co., Tennessee, at 307 Belmont Blvd., enumerated 1 Apr 1950, reporting they lived in a home that was not on a farm and they lived in the same house the year before. Their daughter Emilou was listed as living with them, as were her husband, Homer Thomas Frazier, and their three children.⁶¹
     His wife died on 25 Sep 1971 in Nashville, Tennessee.^62,63
     Howard died on 17 Sep 1974 in Gallatin, Sumner Co., Tennessee, at age 91.^6,13 He was buried on 19 Sep 1974 in Woodlawn Memorial Park, Nashville, Tennessee.⁶