1945 NV Honors WW2 Dead

On Pearl Harbor Day 1945, eight New Vienna High School Alumni who died in WW2 plus two more who attended but did not graduate were honored.  Alumni honored were Lt. Wayne Steele, William Burton of Infantry, Lt. Wendell Binkley, Lt. Robert Rice, Lt. Robert Thompson, Pvt. William Linkhart, Pvt. William Lamar & Robert Oglesbee, Infantry.  Two others are Kenneth Hamilton, paratrooper and Pfc. Charles Perry.  Separate article in adjacent column is about Sarah Ridgeway who came in 2nd in Nation in Grange essay contest.

Wilmington News-Journal Dec. 1, 1945 p.2

New Vienna School to Honor its War Dead

Plaque on School Grounds to be dedicated 

at Ceremonies on Pearl Harbor Day

New Vienna high school alumni members, who lost their lives in the war [World War 2], will be honored on Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, with the dedication of a plaque on the school grounds during ceremonies starting at 2:30 P.M., Superintendent R.W. Fenwick announced.

An ornamental oak tree already has been planted in their memory on the lawn directly in front of the building and the bronze plaque will be placed near the tree.

Members of the Alumni Association raised funds for the plaque and tree by public subscription.

Eight graduates of the school lost their lives in action and tow others, who attended New Vienna high school but did not graduate there, were among the casualties.

In all 71 graduates of New Vienna high school were in the armed forces and two in Red Cross work.

The plaque reads:  "In Memoriam.  We pay reverent tribute to those from our midst who gave to their country the last full measure of devotion in World War II."

Dr. Robert Conard, of Wilmington, retired Army colonel, will give the address.

Supt. Fenwick announced the following program.  "Star Spangled Banner," New Vienna high school band; invocation, Rev. F.H. Smith; music, band; address, Dr. Conard; music, band; remarks, Rev. Smith; roll call and presentation of tree, Richard Levo; benediction, Rev. Smith.

The rites will be held in the auditorium if the weather is bad, Fenwick said.

The eight alumni member honored are: Lt. Wayne Steele, navigator of a Flying Fortress who lost his life in Europe; William Burton, of the infantry; Lt. Wendell Binkley, pilot of a B-17 who lost his life in Italy; Lt. Robert Rice, of the Infantry who was killed in France; Lt. Robert Thompson, pilot of a P-51, killed in Italy.  Paratrooper Pvt. William Linkhart, killed in Holland; Pvt. William Lamar of the Marines, killed on Iwo Jima, and Robert Oglesbee of the Infantry, who died in France.  

Two others attended New Vienna high school: Kenneth Hamilton, a paratrooper killed on Corregidor; and Pfc. Charles Perry.

* * * * * * * * * *

1st Lieut. Wendell H. Binkley, born 1920, graduate of NVHS in 1938, pilot of a B-24 Liberator bomber, was killed in action over Italy on Christmas day 1944, when his plane crashed into a mountain..  He was survived by his wife, Mildred Crisenbery Binkley, a son Douglas Binkley, parents Howard and Carrie Fordyce Binkley and a brother, Carlton James Binkley.  His body was returned to the USA by Army Transport in 1948 and he is buried at the Sugar Grove Cemetery in Wilmington.

William Henry Burton, 1939 graduate of NVHS, was born in Clark County, Ohio in 1919.  He served in the infantry, enlisting in 1942 and died in Europe in January 1945.  He was survived by his wife, Mariel Elaine Kelly Burton, his parents, Clifford and Alberta McGillivray Burton, two brothers and four sisters.  He is buried in Springfield, Ohio, where his family moved after his high school graduation. 

Pvt. Harry Kenneth Hamilton, age 20, died in the Philippine Islands of wounds suffered on Corregidor on Feb. 25, 1945 while serving with  parachute division.  He had previously lived with his family in the Mt. Olive area near New Vienna and had attended New Vienna school.  He was Highland County's 72nd known war casualty since the US declared war in December 1941.

Pvt. William Thomas Lamar, NVHS 1944 graduate, entered the Marines after graduation and was killed in action on Iwo Jima in 1945.  He was survived by his parents Thomas & Rosa Lamar and his brother James Edward Lamar, who also served in the Marine Corps.

Pvt. William F. "Billy" Linkhart died in Holland (or Belgium) in January 1945.  He was a former star basketball player at NVHS where he graduated in 1938.  He served as a paratrooper in the Army.  Survivors included his parents, Roy and Etta Beair Linkhart and three brothers, Donald, Paul and Robert.  His brother Paul, in Army training camp in Arkansas, suffered a knee injury on the same day his parents got word of his brother's death, Feb. 1, 1945.

Major Robert Oglesbee, pilot of a bomber, was killed instantly in action over Belgium.  He joined the Army Air Corps in August 1942, was stationed in England and took part in numerous raids over Germany and other Nazi held countries.  Though listed as an alumni of NVHS, his name cannot be found in the graduation rosters.  (Perhaps he is another person who attended but did not graduate or his name was inadvertently left off the graduation lists??)  According to the 1940 census, Robert Oglesbee was 15 and living in New Vienna, which would indicate he could have graduated in 1942.  He was survived by his wife Helen, parents Guy & Grace Oglesbee, and a sister, Frieda Oglesbee (Tibbett).

Pfc. Charles C Perry, born in 1915, died in Oct. 1944 during the Invasion of Italy.  He attended NVHS.  He was survived by his wife, Helen Louise Achor Perry (Watson Gall Wilson), a son, Charles Leland Perry. his parents Mr. and Mrs. Sam Perry of Logan WV, three sisters, two brothers and his wife's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Achor.  Another brother, Ray, was also killed in action in WW2.

2nd Lieut. Robert Franklin Rice, killed in action in France, on Nov. 11, 1944.  The former basketball player, in command of an infantry company in the Third Army, was a 1933 graduate of NVHS.  He was survived by his [ex?] wife Mrs. Adeline Rice, a daughter Druscilla, his parents, (New Vienna Postmaster) Hamer and Clara Newland Rice and his grandparents, Robert and Jennie Beekman Newland.  Previously Robert had been married to Wanda Johnson Rice (Manthey), a 1935 NVHS graduate, and in Aug. 1944 he married Edith Atkinson Haage in Virginia.

2nd Lieut. Wayne M. Steele, 1937 graduate of NVHS, killed in action on April 21, 1944, as navigator on a B-24 bomber which crashed near East Dereham, Norfolk, England while on a mission which targeted an aircraft repair factory at Zwickau, Germany.  Steele was a graduate of Ohio State University and also attended Purdue University. He was the son of William and Hattie Morris Steele, of New Vienna.  He was also survived by a brother, Herbert, and his widow, Christine Boyd Steele (later McKelvey).  Buried in New Vienna IOOF Cemetery.

Lieut. Robert G. Thompson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Thompson, killed in the crash of his F-47 fighter plane in a forced landing on April 20, 1945.  President of his senior class, Thompson graduated from NVHS in 1941.  He was survived by his parents, Peter and Gertrude Long Thompson. His body was returned to the USA by Army Transport in 1948 and he is buried in New Vienna IOOF Cemetery.

March News from "3" Years

1883 news from the Highland Weekly News, published in Hillsboro, Ohio 1853-1886; 1893 and 1913 news from the Hillsboro News-Herald; 1943 news from Hillsboro's Press Gazette.  Not often did the Hillsboro paper devote a section to NV news as it did in March, 1893.  Entire section transcribed following the clipping.

March 7, 1883 - The Columbus & Maysville Railroad Co. plans to begin construction in 60 days for a route that will pass through Grove City, Harrisburg, Mt. Sterling, Jeffersonville, Milledgeville, Sabina, Centerville, New Vienna to Hillsboro and from there to Sardinia.

1893 New Vienna News from the (Hillsboro) News-Herald - March 9, 1893 (Transcription follows)

New Vienna.  March 6th, 1893.

• Aaron Nordyke, formerly of this place, and a brother-in-law of the late Frank Conard, died in Whittier, California on last Wednesday of consumption.  Mr. Nordyke and only daughter, Miss Irena, left this place in search of health last November.  Mr Nordyke was one of the leading members of the Friends' Church and was respected by all who knew him.  His sister, Miss Callie Nordyke, was with him in his last illness.
• Wilbur Dove was badly injured by his horse falling on him.
• Prof. E.P. West [NV Supt. of Schools] attended the funeral of Prof. Sewell, an examiner of Clinton County, on last Friday.
• Mr. Charles Powell and Miss Clara Keever were united in marriage at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Keevor [sic], on Thursday night.  The couple were tendered a reception by the groom's parents on Friday.
• The Disciples are having quite a revival at this place.  Mr. McGuffey is conducting the meeting.
• Mr. Otis Hopkins and sister, of Lynchburg, visited our school on Thursday and presented the school a couple of rattle snakes, which had been captured in the swamps near Lynchburg.

* * * * *
March 13, 1913 - D.R. [Darrel Raymond] Stratton faces court martial after running away from home at age 16 and enlisting fraudulently in the US Army.  [Portsmouth Daily Times]  [Darrel returned to New Vienna, graduating from NVHS in 1915 and enlisted in the Canadian Infantry in 1916.  He was wounded in action twice in 1917 before being killed in battle in France on Aug. 9, 1917.]

March 2, 1943 - Mr. and Mrs. (Reba) Oscar Stanfield of New Vienna, announce the marriage of their daughter, Miss Arlene to Cpl. Robert E. Chestnut on Feb. 23, 1943.  Bride and groom were both 1940 graduates of NVHS.

March 2, 1943 - Marriage license reported for Ralph Edwards Carey [1898-1971], of New Vienna, R.D., and Elizabeth E. [Ellen] Hogsett [1914-2008], of Hillsboro, R.D.2. They became the parents of J.N. and Bob.  The wedding, performed on Feb. 27 at the Hogsett home, was written up in the March 5, 1943 Press Gazette. According to the March 19th Press Gazette, 106 persons attended a community shower in Careytown given for the newly married couple.

March 5, 1943 - Mack Sauer, former editor, publisher and owner of the New Vienna Reporter, has been named publisher of the Greenfield Times.  He disposed of the NV Reporter "several years ago."

March 9, 1943 - Obituary of Ethel May Sharp Irwin, 1899-1943.  Mrs Irwin was an "ordained minister of the Church of Ministerial Layman Association."  She had been active in the ministry for nine years in both Dayton and New Vienna.  Survivors included her husband Clarence R. Irwin; her father, James Bricen Sharp, and eight children.

March 16, 1943 - Marriage License issued for Marion L. Stanforth and Ruth Thompson, both of New Vienna.

March 16, 1943 - Obituary of Mrs. Ernest G. Henderson, born Grace Vandervort,  67, at her home near New Vienna.  Survivors include her son George Henderson, [father of David and Nancy], of New Vienna.

March 19, 1943 - Donald C. Trop (NVHS'40), son of Mr. and Mrs. (Pearl) Ora Trop, New Vienna, has been promoted to corporal.  He has been transferred from Atlantic City to Athens, GA.

March 26, 1943 - Obituary for Robert L. McVay [McVey?], 69, farmer near New Vienna.  He was survived by his wife Lucy; two brothers, W. B. McVay, near Wilmington, and Charles McVay of Washington, C.H.; and one sister, Mrs. Ora Clark of Pennsylvania.

1942, 1882 October news from Hillsboro paper

New Vienna related news as reported in the Press Gazette (Hillsboro, Ohio) from October 1942 and 1882.

Oct. 2, 1942 - Obituary for W.D. Uible (born 1869) of Leesburg, older brother of Cecil J Uible of New Vienna.  He was survived by his [third] wife, Verda Barger Uible and two sons, Frank [NVHS 1912] of Cleveland and Russell of St. Louis, as well as his brother Cecil and his sister, Serena Reynolds of Los Angeles, CA.  He was pre-deceased by brothers Frank, Ennis, Clyde and George and a sister Mary Louisa.

Oct. 2, 1942 - Mr. and Mrs. Eldon Stout [Helen Ione Hunt Stout 1906-2004, NVHS 1924] and son spent Sunday with Mrs. Stout's parents, Mr and Mrs. Clyde Hunt [Stella Swisshelm Hunt] at New Vienna.

Oct. 9, 1942 - Paul T. Slaughter, brother of Mary Etta Slaughter Penn [1915-1996 sixth grade teacher at New Vienna], died at age 17 on Oct. 7, of a lingering illness.  He was also survived by his mother, Mary Polk Slaughter, a brother, Harrison of Washington D.C., and two other sisters Mrs. Glenn Connell of Hillsboro and Mrs. Lee Fishback of Cuyahoga Falls.  [Mary Etta and Everett Penn pictured.]

Oct. 13, 1942 - Auction! Business Building (Known as the New Vienna Reporter Bldg.)  Two-story business and apartment building 20x60, of frame construction with good metal roof on New Vienna's South Main Street.  [This building was destroyed in the sewer/gas explosion.]

Oct. 23, 1942 - Obituary for Dudley A. Engle, age 71, who died from complications at his home in New Vienna on Oct. 20.  He was survived by a brother Walter M. Engle of Leesburg and a sister, Mrs. Taylor [Carrie] Martin of New Vienna.  [Walter Engle's sons were both graduates of NVHS, Arthur D. in 1915 and Rayburn Earl in 1916.  Unable to determine if he is related to Eugene "Doc" Engle.]

Oct. 27, 1942 - Carnival Planned - New Vienna PTA is sponsoring a carnival at the school building, New Vienna, Thursday night, Oct. 29.  There will be a 50-50 [?] dance, bingo, games, contests and refreshments.

Oct. 30, 1942 - Obituary for Mrs. John L. [Lettice Ann Denny] Arthur at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Grover C. Fawcett of Delaware, Ohio.  [Born in 1849 in Highland County.  Her husband, John Larkin Arthur, a New Vienna farmer, born 1844 in Highland County, died in 1913.]  Surviving are four sons and four daughters, Mrs. W.B. Rogers [Stella 1871-1955, NVHS 1888] and Stanley [1873-1949] of Wilmington; Burch D. [1874-1968] of Philadelphia PA; O.F. [Orlando Fred 1884-1972, NVHS 1903] of Albuquerque NM, R.G. [Robert Glenn 1886-1959, NVHS 1906] of Sioux City, IA; Mrs. Wilber E. Blackburn [Rebecca Nelle 1877-1970 NVHS 1895], of Cincinnati; Mrs. Stanley E. Harris [Madeline 1892-? NVHS 1910] of Boston MA; and Mrs. Fawcett [Blanche 1879-1960].  Mrs. Arthur was buried in the New Vienna cemetery.

*****

Even older news:

Oct. 4, 1882 Highland Weekly News - Hillsboro Ohio  (published 1853-1886) and is publicly available on the Internet at this link.  The article in the far right column is about an estate sale of two pieces of property in Penn Township owned by the deceased S. Wilson Hussey; the first at the corner of the New Vienna and Careytown Pike.  [Wilson Hussey's grandfather, Joshua and Joshua's siblings were among the first settlers in the New Vienna area.]  The estate administrator was James H. Terrell [probably James Huff Terrell, father of four daughters and three sons and whose great-grandchildren, if I have it correct, would include Janet, Bill, Fran & Becky.]  

Other names of adjacent property owners listed are 

• William Hussey [1853-1933, a cousin], 
• C. [Charles] A. Shockley [1848-?, a brother-in-law of William Hussey], 
• Josiah Polk [1844-1934, grand uncle of Mary Etta Slaughter Penn], 
• A. Drechemin  [most likely Abraham Duchemin who built the house (See picture below) next to school property which was a twin of sorts to the large brick house which still stands on the corner of College & Second Street]
• John M. Parker
• James H. Hussey [1844-1916, Wilson Hussey's brother]
• Joseph Eaton [1847-1926, grandfather of Virginia Hildebrant & Joe Eaton] 
• Elizabeth P. [Hussey] Triplett [1846-1924, another Hussey cousin]

Duchemin House c1910? New Vienna Ohio, now demolished, twin (with improvements) to house on corner of College & 2nd St.  Image Courtesy of Hayward Crone via Mike Whited.  [See further details about Duchemin House at this link.]*****

1942, 1952 August news from Hillsboro paper

New Vienna related news as reported in the Press Gazette (Hillsboro, Ohio) from August 1942 and 1952.

August 4, 1942 - Obituary for Mrs. Clara Kinzer Caplinger, 78, at her home near New Vienna.  Surviving are five children, Fred (NVHS '17), Russell (NVHS '19), and Ellen of near New Vienna, Mrs. Chester A. Williamson of Cincinnati, and Mrs. Ruth (Beryl) Noble (NVHS '22) of Sharonville, one brother, Charles Kinzer of Martinsville and a sister, Mrs. Mabel Stodgel of Hillsboro.

August 7, 1942 - Mowrystown news - Earl Davidson, wife and son, Wayne (NVHS '58), of New Vienna visited with her mother, Mrs. Resa Dolphin.

August 18, 1942 - School Gardens - Russell Fenwick, superintendent of schools at New Vienna showed off the school gardens from which they have already canned 350 quarts of beans and they are just getting started.  Tomatoes, cabbage and butter beans are ready to put up for the winter.  The vegetables were raised by women in the WPA and canned for use in the school lunch department.  They are canned in tin and New Vienna has a machine for turning back a seam on the tin cans so it can be used a second time.

August 28, 1942 - Marriage Announced - Mr. and Mrs. Grover Storer, announce the marriage of their daughter, Miss Alice Mildred Storer (NVHS '42) to Mr. Kenneth R. Crummie of Martinsville.  Mr. Crummie leaves for military service this week.  They were married at the Methodist parsonage in New Vienna, by Rev. C. L. Wamsley.

******
August 1, 1952 - Bob Linkhart (NVHS x'44), who lives near New Vienna, wins the Highland County contour plowing match.  In 1951 he came in 4th place.  Melvin Hollingsworth, New Vienna Rt. 1 came in second place in the level land contest.

August 5, 1952 - Local Riders are winners in Horse Show - In a horse show sponsored by the Bar-None Riding Club in Leesburg, Roger Ames (NVHS '52) won fourth place in the pony class.

August 8, 1952 - Hollowtown News - The Rev. F. H. Smith of New Vienna will begin a revival meeting her next Sunday.  [Rev. Smith, NV Church of Christ, was the father of Calvin (NVHS '44) and Owen Smith (NVHS '42), grandfather of Debbie Smith Woodruff.]

August 12, 1952 - New Vienna Woman Wins Top Award in Contest - Mrs. J. E. Hodson was the winner of a 17-inch Sparton television set in a scrambled names contest sponsored by Hillsboro Publishing Co.  Her entries displayed unusual painstaking effort and creative ability.

August 12, 1952 - Obituary for Jessie A. Foreman, born Feb. 7, 1873 on a farm in the Mt. Olive community.  She was the daughter of Lewis W. and Elizabeth Kibler Foreman.  She had lived in New Vienna since 1936.  Survived by two sisters, Miss Stella Foreman and Mrs. Grace L. Storer, both of New Vienna.

August 12, 1952 - Obituary for John W. Detty, 74, retired farmer, who died at the home of a niece, Mrs. Harry (Hattie) Achor in New Vienna.  He leaves two half sisters, Mrs. Delbert Walls and Mrs. Perry Whitmer, both of New Vienna.

August 22, 1952 - Obituary for Mrs. Edna Driskill, 75 of New Vienna, born June 24, 1877 in Clinton County to John and Sara Matthews.  Her husband, Louis, and one daughter preceded her in death.  She is survived by one son, John Driskill (NVHS '22) of Silverton and three brothers, Dr. W.T. Matthews, doctor in New Vienna, Judge Stanley Matthews, and Dr. Albert Matthews of Cincinnati; and two sisters, Mrs. Emma Bernard, Wilmington, and Mrs. Sylvia Rhonemus, New Vienna.

August 26, 1952 - Obituary for Franklin C. Smith, 3-year-old son of Bernard Franklin and Joan Mack (or Mock?) Smith of the Mt. Olive Community.  Great-grand-parents are Mayor and Mrs. C.C. Kelso of New Vienna.  He was also survived by a sister, Joyce Ann Smith; and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Wilber E. Mock and Mr. and Mrs. Bernard T. Smith, all of the Mt. Olive area.

Thomas Rudisill "Rudy" 1916-1970 - Obituary

"While my Dad was not raised in New Vienna, he truly loved the community where he became a coach, teacher, and principal; and of course raised his family. I know he loved this town and the people in it. He chose to live there, work there and raise his family in New Vienna, and as his child I will be forever grateful that he did. I feel so blessed to have grown up where and how I did." --Barbara

Thomas W. Rudisill obituary - Press Gazette (Hillsboro, Ohio) Friday, Sept. 11, 1970.  Image courtesy of Mike Whited.

Transcription:

Thomas W. Rudisill

Thomas W. Rudisill, New Vienna Rt. 1, principal of the New Vienna Elementary School in the East Clinton School District, died at 6 P.M. Tuesday in Clinton Memorial Hospital, Wilmington, following a long illness.  His residence was on Powell Road in Highland County.  He was 63.  He was the son of Wylie Rudisill and Minnie Griffith Rudisill.

Born Nov. 22, 1916, he and his wife, Alice Fisher Rudisill, who survives, were married July 26, 1945, in West Virginia*.  Rudisill was a former New Vienna High School basketball coach.  After attending Winchester High School, he was graduated from Holbrook and Cedarville colleges in Ohio, and received his master's degree from the University of Wisconsin.

He was a veteran of World War II and a member of the New Vienna United Methodist Church, Dalton Lodge 578 F & A M of New Vienna, the New Vienna Lions Club and the Wilmington Athletic Officials Assn.

He is also survived by his son, Tom, at home; two daughters, Miss Linda Rudisill, Richmond, Calif., and Miss Barbara Rudisill, at home; one brother and one sister.

Funeral services will be at 2 P.M. Friday at the New Vienna United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Henry M. Lynd officiating and burial at the New Vienna IOOF Cemetery.  Masonic services will be at 9 P.M. Thursday at the Smith Funeral Home, New Vienna.

Friends may call at the funeral home Thursday afternoon and evening.   The body will lie in state at the church from 1 P.M. until time of services Friday.  Donations may be made to the New Vienna United Methodist Church Youth Fellowship.

*They were married in England according to family.