Perry County Legion
Post Is City’s Largest Patriotic Organization

Largest patriotic organization in Tell City, Perry County Post 213 of the American Legion, has an interesting history, one filled with fruitful endeavor for civic good and veterans’ benefits. Like all of its counterparts throughout the nation, Perry County Post is made up of veterans of World War I, World War II and the Korean conflict.
In a history prepared at this centennial time by Roy N. Fenn, it is shown that the Post had its preliminary steps of organization in 1919, with definite plans being started November 29, 1919. A total of 75 ex-servicemen attended this parley and agreed to organize the post. Another meeting was held Dec. 5 that year, with the official organization meeting being called on Dec. 28, 1919. Starting with an original membership of 98, the post started its history with the following officers, elected to serve through 1920: Leo Fischer, commander; Julius J. Wichser, vice commander; William Richard, adjutant; Ferdinand F. Gengelbach, treasurer; Henry Schlachter, service officer; Magnus J. Kreisle, Sid Cummings, John Rudolph, J. W. Brumfield and Volmar Franz on the executive committee.
The name Perry County Post was adopted as it was the plan to obtain members over the entire county. Despite the handicap of bad roads which prevailed in the county in that day and not including Cannelton where a separate post had been organized, the new Legion organization started with 215 members.

In City Hall
The original meeting place was the Chamber of Commerce Room in the city hall. Later the Post had its headquarters in the “Hartman Building” at 344 Main street. When that building was moved to make way for a new Standard Service station, a move was made back to the City Hall. In 1926 the city council granted use of the southeast room in that building, with its adjoining smaller room. This place was equipped at considerable expense and is now used by the American Legion Auxiliary. The Post itself has its headquarters at its own club house just north’ of Tell City on state highway 66.
J. W. Brumfield was chairman of a committee that headed organization of an Auxiliary Unit on February 10, 1922.
Through the years Perry County Post has observed Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Armistice Day and since 1923 Memorial services have been conducted out through the county at various cemeteries.

District Conventions
An initial district convention was held in Tell City in 1923, a second in 1930 and third in 1933. Several have been conducted here since that time. Parades in 1930 and 1933 will long be remembered as outstanding patriotic events.
A drum and bugle corps was organized in 1930 and was quite successful for several years, winning a number of prizes at district conventions.
During past years, operations were financed through Fourth of July picnics and home talent shows. Each found the Post getting excellent cooperation from the public. Since 1934, when the Sunset Inn was bought, the post has
received financial aid from operation of its club there.
Two outstanding war heroes, Henry Strobel and John Doogs, are members of the Post, both being members prior to 1928. At the close of that year each was voted life membership.

Legion Field
In 1929 the Post purchased a city block, one block east of the high school. It has been developed into an outstanding athletic field and is named Legion Athletic Field in honor of our organization which made the fine structure possible. Through many years this location has been the scene of many outstanding outdoor events, including the high school’s athletic programs.
The old baseball park is owned by Perry County Post and Legion Forest has been bought and developed on the Troy Ridge Road. These parks are for future uses as they develop.

Past Commanders are: Leo Fischer, 1920; Julius Wichser, 1921; Anton J. Poehlein, 1922; John D. Kreisle, 1923; F. A. Heinzle, 1924; David Crook, 1925; Frank Bruggenschmidt, 1926; Henry Schlachter, 1927; John D. Kreisle, 1928; Gustave Ahlf, 1929; C. S. Cunningham, 1930; George F. Coyle, 1931; Vomar Franz, 1932; Fred J. Evrard, 1933; Henry Cash, 1934; Joseph G. Hudson, 1935; Carl Holtzman, 1936; Dr. P. J. Coultas, 1937; Oscar Birchler, 1938; Charles Schlachter, 1939; George Coyle, 1940; William King, 1941; Charles Schurtter, 1942; Charles Sheldon, 1943; John Butler sr., 1944; Victor Tableman, 1945; Adolph Braun, 1946; Owen Simpson, 1947; Albert Paulin, 1948; Roy N. Fenn, 1949; Edward Schierholzer, 1950; William Kreisle, 1951; J. P. Harding, 1952; Alex McCallum, 1953; Irvin Richard, 1954; Charles Harding, 1955; Henry Cash, 1956; George Hein, 1957; Frank Hess, 1958.

The Post’s top membership total was in 1951, when 693 veterans were signed. 1958 membership was 505.

Auxiliary Unit
Has Long Record of Outstanding Service
By Mrs. Amy Lee Coultas (Historian)
Perry County Unit No. 213 American Legion Auxiliary was organized March 20, 1922 with 103 “charter” members; all wives, Mothers, daughters, widows or sisters of World War I veterans. Of this membership, there are perhaps forty who have held continuous membership during the intervening years. A membership graph would show a stable membership with the “peak” reached in 1955 in a total of 757 members; the increase in number being due to increased numbers of eligible members following World War II and the Korean conflict.
Like every other American Legion Auxiliary Unit in the United States and its territories, the program is devoted wholly to service – “service for others” being their slogan in their widespread, many sided activities carried on in almost 15,000 units.
The American Legion Auxiliary was’ formed for the purpose of aiding the American Legion in carrying out the great program of peacetime service to America, to which the American Legion is dedicated. All of its activities are designed to promote the work of the American Legion and to help the American Legion reach its objectives. Although often working independently on projects of its own, the Auxiliary has no purposes that are apart from the aims of the American Legion. It is in every sense an Auxiliary a helper to the American Legion, and its members serve side by side with the men of the American Legion in a spirit of unselfish devotion to the well-being of our country.
The basic organization of the American Legion Auxiliary is the local unit, such as our own Perry County Unit No. 213. Would that time and space permitted even a brief resume of this Unit’s activities during the more than 35 years of its existence, suffice it to say that Perry County Unit has always accepted the entire program on Department and National levels, and has consistently carried out that program year after year. The Auxiliary believes that the principles and ideals upon which the American Republic was founded, and for which American blood has been shed, are still the cornerstones of our democracy, and should be .safeguarded for future generations.
Among the services rendered are the care of the disabled of World War I and II and the Korean conflict; the education and welfare of the children of the veterans who have given their lives or their health for our country; the securement of adequate National security against all possible enemies; the betterment and beautification of the communities in which we live; the avocation of a return to greater spiritual influence in the home and lives of our people; and a true spirit of fellowship and cooperation with all people for world development.
No organization of women in America or elsewhere is more desirous of peace than the million members of the American Legion Auxiliary. Having had members of their families in war service, or having served themselves, and having close personal contacts with the tragic results of ‘war through their wide program the women of the Auxiliary know well what war means.
Leadership of the local unit was first given to Miss Anna M. Raess, organizing president. In turn the following have served:
Mrs. Sarah (Husson) Cassidy; Miss Midge Birchler, (Emma R.) Miss Kate Paalz; Mrs. Ida Brune; Mrs. Hilda Zoercher; Mrs. Elma Butler; , Mrs. Amy Lee Coultas; Mrs. Selma Rossman; Mrs. Flossie Pyle;’ Mrs. Anna Coyle; Mrs. Mary Schlachter; Mrs. Opal Cunningham; – Mrs. Cordia (King) Foertsch; Mrs. Pauline (Byrd) Alvey;’ .Mrs. Grace Baldwin; Mrs, Bess Holtzman; Mrs. Edith Hagman; Mrs. Olivia Evrard; Mrs. Gladys’ .Skelton: Mrs. Ella Zellers; Mrs. Helen Birchler; Mrs. Selma Tableman; Miss Elda King; Miss Irma King; Mrs. Mabel Poehlein; Mrs. Louise Becker; Mrs. Carmen Hollander; Mrs. Jessie Hilgenhold: Mrs. Birdie Miles; Mrs. Althea Rohn; Mrs. Thelma Holtzman; Mrs. Margaret Kreisle; Mrs. Starr Schierholzer; Mrs. Mamie King; Mrs. Malinda Bruggenschmidt; Mrs. Anna Scheiber and Mrs. Mildred Hein. (From 1922 to 1957-58, inclusive).
District leadership has been given by Mrs. Minnie Franz; Miss Anna M, Raess, Mrs. Amy Lee Coultas and Mrs. Anna Coyle, with countless members having served on District and Department committees.
Mrs. Amy Lee Coultas has served on District and Department committees and is currently serving Indiana as Department President with Mrs. Louise (Moutschka) Becker as Department Music Chairman.
Perry County Unit has included junior members since its “charter” and for many years has led the entire National organization in Junior membership, the present enrollment being 118, and many times leading the nation in Junior activities.
Finally, the local Unit American Legion Auxiliary is proud of its 35 year record of service in Tell City and Perry County, and is happy to join in every endeavor for a memorable “Centennial” celebration-come Aug. 10-17-1958.
Tell City News, Friday August 8, 1958

Note: Mrs. Sarah (Husson) Cassidy listed maybe a typo, there was a Sarah Husson was a Sara Husson married to Burke Casper.

Two Tell City Native Sons Serve Top Ranks In U. S. Armed Forces

It is not often that a city the size of Tell City has the honor of having two native sons serve their country’s armed forces in the top ranks. Such is true of Gustav Kaernmerling jr., who was a rear admiral in the Navy, and Edwin D. Patrick, a major general in the army. Admiral Kaemmerling’s father, Gustav Kaemmerling, an early pioneer of Tell City, born in Prussia was a Brigadier-General in the Civil War.

Admiral Kaemmerling’s father, Gustav Kaemmerling, an early pioneer of Tell City, born in Prussia was a Brigadier-General in the Civil War. Gustav Kaemmerling sr., Was born Dec. 1819 in the Rhine Province. His parents did not come to America. In the Rebellion of 1848•1849, he was a commander of the militia in his native town. After a serious dispute with a superior officer in 1850 he fled to Amerca.