My Genealogy Hound

William F. Ohlschlager, a veteran of the Spanish-American war, who saw active service in the Philippines and is now a resident of Creston, was born in Germany, February 7, 1863. His father, William F. Ohlschlager, also a native of Germany, died February 8, 1907, in the seventy-second year of his age. He came to the United States in 1867, and a year later was joined by his family who settled in Osceola, Iowa. He served as section foreman and as trackman in the railroad service and as the result of his industry and close application eventually became well-to-do. He belonged to the German Lutheran church, gave his political allegiance to the democracy and enjoyed in large measure the respect and good will of his neighbors. His wife, Mrs. Amalie Ohlschlager, nee Fisher, also a native of Germany, is now living in Creston, at the age of seventy-four years, having crossed the Atlantic in 1868, subsequent to her husband’s arrival in the new world. By her marriage she had two sons and a daughter: Charles A., of Creston; William P.; and Bertha L., the wife of H. C. Ball.

William F. Ohlschlager attended the common schools and afterward engaged in clerking in a grocery store and later in a dry-goods store. Subsequently he was for eight years section foreman for the Brighton Railroad Company, at the end of which time he engaged in the liquor business at Creston, in which he continued until 1898. He was for a time in the Philippines in military service and after his return became steward for the Elks club. Later he formed a partnership with Wilmer Moulder in the liquor business and this has been continued since March, 1904.

On the 13th of September, 1893, Mr. Ohlschlager was married to Miss Katie Martens, who was born in Atchison, Kansas, June 5, 1875. She is a member of the Catholic church and Mr. Ohlschlager has membership relations with the Elks and Eagles. His political allegiance is given to the democracy and he has served as alderman from the third ward. At the time of the Civil war he enlisted April 26, 1898, as a member of Company G, Fifty-first Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He had been a member of the Third Regiment of the National Guard and after joining the volunteer army he served in the Philippines with his command. When he went to the Orient he was first lieutenant of his company and while there he was elected to the rank of captain, thus serving from the 5th of August until the 2d of November, 1899. He is now a first lieutenant of Company I, Fifty-fifth Regiment of the Iowa National Guard and is well known in military circles, taking great interest in military affairs. In his business life he, has prospered and now owns considerable business and residence property in Creston.