The Namesakes and Legacy of William George Lasch (1893-1918)

Flag of Germany (1867-1918)

William George Lasch was born on 24 September 1893, just ten months after the marriage of his parents, German immigrants John George Lasch (b. abt 1860) and Johanna M. Roth (b. 1864). They had wed on 26 November 1892, at the German Lutheran Church on Grand Street in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York. This church served as the spiritual anchor for a life that revolved around just a few city blocks; by the time William was a young boy, his father had established a bakery at 147 Union Street—less than a half-mile walk from where his parents had exchanged their vows. John George would continue to serve the local German-American community from this location for many years until his death on 20 May 1917.

In about 1916, William moved to Macon, Bibb County, Georgia, joining his sister Joanna (1895–1991) and her husband, James Robert Walters (1890–1966). While building his new life as an employee of the National Bank, William married Coralie Dickert (1896–1974) on 4 August 1917, the daughter of Curtis Lee Dickert and Lillie L. Northington. This milestone came just months after his father's passing and amidst a changing national landscape. As the United States formally entered World War I, William was called to serve his country, even as it declared war on the imperial government of his ancestral home. He answered that call as a son of America.

Eight months later, on 19 April 1918, William George Lasch was dead. The Poughkeepsie Eagle-News (New York) reported on his death the next day.

MEETS DEATH IN AUTO CRASH

Mrs. Johanna Lasch Gets News of Tragic Death of Son, Lieut. Wm. Lasch, at Camp Wheeler.

FUNERAL AT MACON

Mrs. Johanna Lasch, of 147 Union Street, received word on Friday of the death of her son, First Lieutenant William Lasch, at Camp Wheeler, Macon, Ga. He was 24 years of age. Details of his death were not given, except that he met his death through an automobile crash at camp. Lieutenant Lasch went to Macon two years ago, where his married sister lives, and secured a position in a bank in that city. He joined the State Guard in Georgia, and saw service on the Mexican border. At the outbreak of the present war, he enlisted in the heavy field artillery but was transferred to the wagon train and it is thought that he was killed in a collision of motor trucks.

Mrs. Lasch bore the sad news as bravely as possible. Her husband died only a year ago. He was George Lasch, the well-known Union Street baker. Last year, Mrs. Lasch spent her birthday, which occurs during the coming week, with her son, in Georgia. She had planned a small party this year and hoped that her son and his bride of a year could be present, for she had not seen him since last August, when he brought his young wife to visit in Poughkeepsie.

Mrs. Lasch received a letter from her son early in the week, telling of his promotion and of his much bigger salary. He said: "I am getting a great deal more money than I was, mamma, and I am glad, for I shall need it now to prepare for a great event in the early summer."

Funeral services will be held in Macon, and Mrs. Lasch will start for Georgia today.

The funeral, as well as a bit more clarification on the cause of William's death, was reported on in the 21 April 1918 Macon News (Georgia):

LIEUTENANT LASCH WILL BE BURIED HERE MONDAY AFTERNOON

With full military honors, the body of Lieut. William G. Lasch, of battery D, eighth field artillery, who was killed Friday afternoon when a big motor truck turned over a high embankment, near Swift creek trestle, will be held Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock. After funeral services at the home, 969 Courtland avenues [sic], Chaplain Edgar J. Evans, of the eighth field artillery, will conduct the service. The regimental band and battery D will attend as honorary escort. The interment will be made in Rose Hill cemetery. Pallbearers will be selected from among the officers of his organization.

Lieutenant Lasch was well known in Macon. Before entering the officers' training school at Fort McPherson he was employed by the Fourth National banks and was associated with Y. M. C. A. work. He went to the Mexican border with the Macon Volunteers, and upon their return was made battalion sergeant major of the Macon battalion now doing service in France.

When he was graduated he declined a higher commission for a second lieutenancy in the regular army and was assigned to Chickamauga Park. When the eighth field artillery was ordered to Camp Wheeler he was transferred here.

Last August he married Miss Carolie [sic] Dickert, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Dickert. Besides his widow, he is survived by his mother, of New York city, who will arrive Monday...

William's ledger marker in Rose Hill Cemetery at Macon, Bibb County, Georgia.
Image © 2013-2025 S. Lincecum

Remember that "great event in the early summer" William wrote about to his mother? It was likely the birth of his child. A daughter, named Billie George Lasch, was born to Coralie in Macon on 2 July 1918. Born just a few months after his tragic death, Billie was a namesake of the father she would never meet.

But she wasn't the only one. William George Walters was born on 20 April 1918, just one day after the death of his uncle. This son of the aforementioned Joanna F. Lasch and James Robert Walters seems to really have followed in his Uncle William's footsteps.

World War II Draft Card for William George Walters (1918-2009)

Not only did the younger William serve in the United States military, but he also worked with the Y.M.C.A. in Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia. This branch of the Y, on the "corner Eleventh & Second Ave." was the third oldest in the nation. (It's worth noting that the elder William's brother, Frederick Carl Lasch (1903-1999), also worked with the Y.M.C.A. in Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey during the 1940s.)

After a lifetime marked with service to his community and country, following the path begun by his uncle, William George Walters was laid to rest at College Park Cemetery in Fulton County, Georgia.

Image by Sgt Ed Elstan (2012) via FindAGrave.
Permission for use granted in bio.

The legacy of William George Lasch did not end in that awful accident at Camp Wheeler. It lived on through the two children born in the shadow of his passing -- his daughter, Billie, and his nephew, William. By carrying his name and following his path of service, they ensured that, although he never saw that "great event" in the summer of 1918, he was never forgotten. Thus proving that a person's story continues as long as there are those willing to carry their name and tell their tale.


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Canadian Patrick W. McLaughlin Buried Away from Family in Macon, Georgia

Patrick William McLaughlin died at US Army (training) Camp Wheeler near Macon, Bibb County, Georgia less than a week before Christmas in 1917. He was a private in Company G, 124th Infantry, and cause of death was tuberculosis.

Augusta Chronicle (Georgia)
Friday, 21 December 1917

THREE MORE DEATHS AT CAMP WHEELER

Macon, Ga., Dec. 20. -- Patrick McLaughlin, of Company G, 124th Infantry, who died in the base hospital Tuesday night, is said to have seen service in the trenches in France in the present war. He was a Canadian. The body is still being held and efforts are being made to locate relatives...

That last line made me worry his family wasn't located in time, but then I found the following:

Atlanta Consitution (Georgia)
Sunday, 23 December 1917 - pg. 9

COMES FROM CANADA IN RACE WITH DEATH

Facing Zero Temperatures, Miss McLaughlin Arrives for Soldier Brother's Funeral.

Macon, Ga., December 22. -- (Special.) Miss Charlotte McLaughlin traveled all the way from Saskatoon, saskatchewan, in the Canadian northwest in response to a message that her brother, Patrick William McLaughlin, 24 years of age, was at the point of death at the base hospital at Camp Wheeler. She left Saskatoon on Monday morning while the temperature registered 45 degrees below zero and a heavy blanket of snow covered the ground, arriving here today.

Coming through the state of North Dakota on Wednesday Miss McLaughlin received a telegram that her brother was dead. She continued on to take charge of the burial, for Miss McLaughlin's parents are dead and the only other living member of the family is another brother, Bertrand Alexander McLaughlin, 21 years of age, who is a member of a Canadian artillery regiment mobilized at Kingston, Ontario.

Miss McLaughlin decided after her arrival to have her brother buried in Rose Hill cemetery in this city. Captain A. Wright Ellis, of Company G of the 124th Infantry, of which company her brother was a member, arranged for the service. All of the officers, including Captain Ellis and Lieutenants Giles, Simmons and Byrne, turned out yesterday morning for the funeral. The service was conducted by Captain L. A. Spencer, chaplain of the regiment. The funeral and burial were with full military honors and there was a large attendance at the service. There was an escort and a firing squad, the latter firing the usual salute at the grave.

This is the first soldier to be buried in Macon since the troops moved to Camp Wheeler and the base hospital was established there.

Miss McLaughlin left the city for her return trip tonight. She said that she had hoped, when she started out, to spend Christmas with her brother at Camp Wheeler.

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George E. Daniel Lived and Died in Alabama, but was Buried in Georgia

George Edward Daniel spent almost all of his life in the state of Alabama. He was born there, listed there in every census taken during his lifetime, and died there. So I'm happy to be highlighting this Rose Hill Cemetery burial, as it could possibly be an unexpected one to some.

George was born at Perdue Hill, Monroe County, AL on 15 December 1893. He was one of ten children born to John M. Daniel and Mary C. "Katie" Tolbert.

A few months before his twentieth birthday, George – described as short and stout, with blue eyes and dark hair – enlisted at Montgomery for service during World War I. He was part of the 308 Sanitary Train, 83rd Division, and possibly helped deliver relief and medical supplies to allies in Europe during and immediately following the war. George was discharged 17 February 1919, after about seventeen months of service.

In January 1920, George was back home in Perdue Hill for the taking of that year's federal census. Nine months later, however, George took a trip to Macon, Bibb County, Georgia in order to marry Clara Lillian Smith (1896-1981). She was a daughter of Emanuel Smith (d. 1929) and Swedish-born Annie M. Stroberg (1866-1957). George's older brother Joseph acted as best man.

After the ceremony and "a short wedding trip," George and Clara made their home at Perdue Hill. But by Spring of 1930, the couple and two young sons were living on Yancey Street in Montgomery, where George was occupied as a secretary for a furniture company.

George Edward Daniel died 17 July 1939 at his home in Montgomery. He unexpectedly "suffered a fatal heart attack while at the supper table."

George was buried in the Smith family burial lot (Pine Ridge section, block 2, lot 11) at Rose Hill. It was purchased by his father-in-law in 1929. Clara lived forty-two more years after the death of George, and eventually married a Mr. Strawn in the interim. Upon her death in 1981, Clara was retuned to the Smith family lot and buried near her first husband.