Henry Lehr, WW1 enlistment photo

"Hennry W" Lehr (his middle initial is indistinct) makes his first appearance in the Census of 1900, the penultimate son in John Lehr and Katherine Burger Lehr's large family of eight children. Young Henry (he was six) and his siblings lived with his grandfather Anton Lehr, the Civil War veteran who would be later laid to rest in the Cemetery just only a few blocks south of their home on West 18th street. Since many of his siblings attended school at one time or another, it's assumed that he did, too. Young Henry Lehr is seen at the birthday party of Miss Echo Breese in November 1909. He was 14 or 15 at the time (although it's possible that this was a different Henry Lehr. His sisters and cousins frequently attend parties and events that are reported in the news during these years. By 1910, Henry (the middle initial is dropped) is fifteen or sixteen and working as an apprentice in the rubber works where his brother George is making hoses. By this time the family has moved away from the Cemetery and up Cherry Street a few blocks, a few more blocks east on W 12th street. During these years "H. Lehr" and "G Lehr" (presumably George, his brother) can be seen bowling in the local league. They appear to be evenly matched. In May 1914, (still either 19 or 20) Henry is called upon to escort his sister Anna (17 or 18) for the weekend at Arthur Gibson's house party in Summerhill, along with a number of other guests. But dark clouds are on the horizon and with the nation at war, Henry is called upon to register for the June 1917 Draft. He lists his employment as "Polisher" at the Perry Brewing Co. and his birthday as 18 January 1895. At 22, he's neither tall nor short (Medium), neither slender nor stout (Medium), has blue eyes and chestnut hair. He's now living at 717 W 17th street. Less than a month later he has wooed and wed Agnes Alida Swanson (eighteen and from Sweden). He's now a bartender and lists his parents, John Lehr and Kate Burger in the record of marriages for Chautauqua County, NY. It seems it was a quiet ceremony -- the Magistrate's wife was one of the two witnesses on 6 July 1917. In September 1917, the Erie Times-News reports that Henry Lehr (717 West Seventeenth) is one of "60 Conscripts Accepted Today", having "passed the physical examinations" and being prepared to "fill the quota leaving here October 5". It's now mid-December 1917, and Henry Lehr (still at 717 West Seventeenth street) and his friend Roy Hughson are headed to Camp Lee, Virginia. They're leaving earlier than the rest of their quota. "When asked this morning if they did not care to be held until after Christmas, one of the men replied [doesn't say who, perhaps it was Roy], 'No, by going to camp now we save money. We won't have to buy Christmas presents. And then we shall spend the day with many of our old friends who are down there.' The men will leave at 6:40 o'clock" that night. Perhaps the sentiment was uttered by Roy and Henry would rather have spent the extra few days with his wife of six months. On 14 March 1918, Henry ships out of Hoboken as part of the "Camp Lee March Replacement Draft, Company 1." He lists Mrs. Agnes A. Lehr, of 1719 Liberty Street, Erie, as his emergency contact. (1719 Liberty is around the corner on the same block as 717 W 17th Street.) His unit is the 155th Depot Brigade and appears to be designed to transition men into and out of combat roles. It's almost as though the Army doesn't know what to do with him. He's transferred around a bit and by April 1918 is serving in Company B, 302nd Provisional Battalion Tank Corp (for a week) before ending up in the 306th Battalion Tank Corp, from where he is ultimately discharged. He is appointed Cook during the summer of 1918. It's unclear if he ever saw combat or how close he got to the front. With the War over, Henry ships back home on the Europa from Marseille, France, arriving two weeks later on 18 March 1919. He is processed at Camp Mills on Long Island, then mustered out of service at Camp Meade, MD before being sent home, arriving some time after his discharge on 10 April 1919. In 1920, Henry and Agnes have settled down at 544 W 17th street, not far from his parents and brothers (Charles and Earl) at 717 W 17th street. Henry is now a machinist. A year later, in 1921, a girl is born to the couple, Violet Elaine Lehr. But by 1924, Henry dies and is buried in Erie Cemetery. More research is needed on this point. Shortly thereafter, Agnes moves in with her parents, but no mention is made of Violet in 1930. On 17 December 1934, Agnes Lehr applies for her late husband's pension. She receives $160 (about $3,200 in 2021). His circa 1918 service photo shows an affable-looking, well-fed young man. From what we read in the papers during this time, we can gather that growing up he had an active social life with his siblings and enjoyed playing pool and bowling, some of that time with his older brother. For at least a few years, he worked at a brewpub, eventually as a bartender. One wonders what his civilian life was like before his death -- more research will be needed. --- Unsigned. (1909, November 29). An Enjoyable Surprise. Erie Times-News, p. 2. Unsigned. (1914, February 18). Bowling. Erie Times-News, p. 15. Unsigned. (1914, May 29). Personal Mention. Erie Times-News. p. 6. Unsigned. (1917, September 20). 60 Conscripts Accepted Today. Erie Times-News. p. 6. Unsigned. (1917, December 17). Two Draftees Off for Camp Tonight. Erie Times-News. p. 1.