Canadian County, OK - Fort Reno Cemetery 1874-1948 http://files.usgwarchives.net/ok/canadian/cemeteries/ftreno.txt --------------------------------- Copyright © 2000 by Carolyn Barker Kathy Vanchieri Kvanchieri@mail.provalue.net This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. --------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Source: Privately Printed in 1996 All Rights Reserved (Shared by permission of the author) ------------------------------------------------------------------ BURIALS IN THE FORT RENO CEMETERY, 1874 - 1948 By Carolyn Barker Privately Printed in 1996 All Rights Reserved (Shared by permission of the author) There has been so much interest in the Fort Reno Cemetery in recent years, that this has been written to help answer many of the questions that have been asked about it and those buried here. The Fort Reno Post Cemetery is situated on a small rise on the west side of the Fort Reno square. The well-kept cemetery is surrounded by a 40 inch tall and 15 inch wide stone wall. Don't know when the wall was built, but a book was quoted on May 31, 1893 as, "The Fort Reno Cemetery occupied a beautiful plateau and was surrounded by a massive wall of masonry. Of the nearly 200 graves, approximately 2/3s of them were interred in the 1800s. The earliest known burial was in December, 1874 and the last one was buried in May, 1948. So people were interred here for 73 1/2 years. Beneath the ground lies the remains of Fort Reno soldiers and their families; Indian scouts and their families; and civilian employees of the fort and their families. Nine of the tombstones are marked "unknown." Many people think that most of the burials should be soldiers. But approximately 71, which is only a little over 1/3 of the burials are soldiers. And very few of them died from battle. The 56 graves of children make up about 1/4 of the interments. Visitors usually find the number of children disturbing and want to know why. The mortality rate for little ones was extremely high during that time period. Among the 41 civilians buried here, there are two black women and one Chinese man. Nine people with the name of Clark are interred in the post cemetery. The causes of death are as varied as the ages (stillborn to 75 years old) and the people interred in this little cemetery. Most died from natural causes and illnesses. But some were killed in accidents and others murdered or committed suicide. It doesn't appear that there was an epidemic of any kind. In fact, a book entitled Fort Reno by Mrs. D. B. Dyer says, "Fort Reno had the reputation of being the second healthiest fort in the United States. The climate is perfection itself, its water, air and other general environments being conducive to extraordinary longevity." (The Dyers came to Fort Reno in April, 1884.) There does not seem to be a pattern or order to the way a place was chosen for the burials. Families are not grouped together. But placed in various parts of the cemetery as they died. Native cedar trees help shade the beautiful and serene cemetery. Many visitors from all over the United States and many foreign countries visit this cemetery each year. Beginning of Fort Reno In June 1874 there was an outbreak among the Southern Cheyenne Indians near the Darlington Indian Agency. The record of events for August 1974 [sic-1874] read: "Company "E" 6th Cavalry left Camp on Kingfisher Creek, I.T. on August 1st, and camped near Cheyenne Agency. I. T. the same day, distance travelled 24 miles and remained two days. Left August 4th and scouted the Fort Sill Trail back to Bluff Creek arriving there August 7th, travelled 115 miles. August 11th marched enroute to Cheyenne Agency . I.T. and arrived August 15th. Total distance travelled during the month 311 miles. August 29th Captain Kramer with 20 enlisted men, scouted along Canadian River in pursuit of hostile Indians, returning August 30th, travelling 57 miles. Company "B" 5th Infantry left Camp at Creek Agency, I. T. on August 1st (enroute from Fort Gibson, I.T.) and arrived at Cheyenne Agency I.T. August 9th, distance marched in August 199 miles. Company "G" 5th Infantry left Camp on Bluff Creek, west of Caldwell, Kansas on August 10th and arrived at Cheyenne Agency, I.T. August 15th. Distance marched 120 miles. Company "H" 5th Infantry left Caldwell, Kansas, August 12th, arriving at Cheyenne Agency I.T. August 16th, distance marched 115 miles." End of report. The September 1874 Record of Events said the companies had performed the usual camp duties during the month. This was the beginning of Fort Reno. The record of events for August, September and October of 1874 were filed as "Troops in field at Cheyenne Agency." Then in November, 1874 it became known as the "Camp Near Cheyenne Agency." The Indian uprising made it evident that a permanent post near Darlington was necessary to control the Cheyennes, because Fort Sill and Camp Supply were too far away to lend effective support in times of troubles. In May, 1875 the troops were moved from the Darlington Indian Agency to a site south of the agency and on the opposite bank of the North Canadian River. The new location was about one-half mile south of the "Camp at Cheyenne Agency" on a plateau elevated about fifty feet above the river. Actual construction on the post began on October 3, 1875. In 1876 it was named Fort Reno, in honor of General Jesse L. Reno, who was killed in battle in 1862. Fort Reno met many needs. It provided protection for the Darlington Indian Agency, kept peace among the Indians themselves and prevented raids on the frontier. The soldiers removed the "Boomers" and patrolled the borders for the 1889 and 1892 land runs. It was a military post until after Oklahoma became a state in 1907. The last troops left Fort Reno in February, 1908. It soon became a remount post. MAP [omitted from the web posting] Post Cemetery Burials The following names and dates were taken from the Fort Reno Cemetery Map. The Data was compiled by Lt. F. W. Foster, Quarter Master of the 5th Cavalry A.A.Q.M. on October 25, 1891. It was drawn by G. A. Crowley Civ. on April 28, 1939. Revisions were made on May 16, 1946. The names are listed in chronological order of their deaths. The number beside the name is the number of the grave on the map. Some of the names on the list are different from the names on the tombstone. Both names are used, so this is as accurate as possible. In the Post Returns for each month there was a place to write the number of deaths that had occurred during the month. But they only gave two causes of death. The first was "In action or of wounds received there" and the second reason was from "disease, etc." That could mean many things, such as drowning, kicked by a horse or an illness. The report has been included with the names, when available. Gustav Niebuhr # 1 Gustav Niebuhr was the first person buried in the Fort Reno Cemetery. He died December 2, 1874, just a few months after the troops arrived in this area. He was a soldier in Company "B", 5th U.S. Infantry. Cause of death is unknown, but was reported from disease, etc. Clark Young # 2 The second burial was Clark Young, a soldier in Company "M", 10th U. S. Cavalry. He was one of the soldiers that were engaged in action on April 6, 1875 with about 150 Cheyennes near the Cheyenne Indian Agency. The Indians were intrenched in sand hills. The fight lasted from 3:00 p.m. until dark. Nineteen soldiers were wounded (three seriously) in the action. This included Private Clark Young, who had a severe bowel wound. Four horses were killed and 5 were wounded. (This was significant, as horses played an important role at Fort Reno, since it was a Cavalry Post, augmented with infantry.) Nine Indians were known to have been killed. The rest of his company left on April 8th in pursuit of the Indians, who escaped after the fight. Six days after he was wounded, Clark Young died on April 12, 1875. William Beecham # 3 William Beecham was the third person to be interred in this post cemetery. He was a soldier in Company "H", 2nd U. S. Artillery. He died September 2, 1876. Cause of death is unknown, but was reported from disease, etc. Henry Moore # 4 The fourth person buried was Henry Moore. He was a soldier in Company "H", 2nd U. S. Artillery. He died on September 3, 1876, only one day after William Beecham. Cause of death is unknown, but was reported from disease, etc. Columbus Rodamore # 5 Sgt. Columbus Rodamore of Company "L", 4th U. S. Cavalry died September 6, 1876. This was a few days after the two men listed above died. Cause of death unknown, but was reported from disease, etc. Edward Ridgeway # 6 Corporal Edward Ridgeway was in Company "G", 4th Cavalry, lie died February 24, 1877. His tombstone reads, "Erected by his company companions." Cause of death unknown, but was reported from disease, etc. Frank Hann # 7 Private Frank Hann of Company "G", 4th Cavalry died May 23, 1877 at 22 years of age. His tombstone also reads, "Erected by his company companions." He has two tombstones. Cause of death unknown. Robert Baker (Barker) # 8 Sgt. Robert Baker was in Company "E", 16th U. S. Infantry. He was born in Ireland and died November 28, 1877. He was 27 years old. Cause of death unknown, but was reported from disease, etc. The tombstone reads Baker and the list shows Barker. He has two grave markers. Stephen N. Brownfield # 70 Stephen Brownfield was born November 28, 1849. He died December 19, 1877 at the age of 22 years. 11 months, and 21 days. Apparently he was the first civilian buried here. The inscription on his tombstone reads, "A light from our household's gone. A voice we loved is stilled. A place is vacant in our hearts that can never be filled." Cause of death unknown. John L. Brown # 71 John L. Brown was a civilian, who died July 1, 1878. Cause of death unknown. The cemetery list shows his initials as J. J. Patrick Lynch # 9 Corporal Patrick Lynch of Company "G", 4th Cavalry was born in 1847. He was killed in action at Turkey Springs, I.T. with the Northern Cheyenne Indians on September 13, 1878. The location of Turkey Springs is at the head of Turkey Creek in Township 28 north, Range 18 west. Turkey Creek is now called Houston Creek, which heads some ten miles due north of Freedom in Woods County, Oklahoma. His tombstone reads, "This tablet erected by his comrades as a mode of their regards for a GALLANT SOLDIER." He has two grave markers. Frank Struad (Strnad) # 10 Private Frank Struad of Company "H", 4th Cavalry was killed in battle with the Indians at Turkey Springs on the same day as Patrick Lynch on September 13, 1878. The cemetery list says his name was Strnad. Lillie Bugey # 74 Lillie Bugey was the daughter of J. W. & A. L. Bugey. She was only 2 days old when she died on February 16, 1879. Cause of death unknown. She has a metal fence around her grave. She was the first child interred here. James Fallure # 11 James Fallure was a civilian, who died May 28, 1879. Cause of death unknown. He has a metal fence around his grave. Annie Mason # 73 Annie Mason died September 27, 1879. She was the first woman buried in the Fort Reno graveyard. She has a bigger tomb stone than the military markers. She also has a small stone at the foot of the grave. Cause of death unknown. William Modinger # 12 William Modinger was a soldier in Company "G", 4th U. S. Cavalry. He was a farrier, which is a person who shoes horses. He died January 21, 1880. Cause of death unknown but the report shows from disease, etc. Sarah Alice Wilson # 13 Sarah Alice Wilson was a child, who died June 14, 1880. Cause of death unknown. Martha E. Wilson # 14 Martha E. Wilson died June 20, 1880. Wonder if she is the mother of the Sarah mentioned above, as she is buried next to her. She died only six days later. Cause of death unknown. Harry L. Jennings # 15 Harry Jennings was the only son of C. M. and E. J. Jennings. He died August 13, 1880 at the age of 20 months and 10 days. Cause of death unknown. He has a metal fence around his grave. John Cloe # 16 John Cloe was a civilian employee of the Quartermaster at Fort Reno for several years. He died September 9, 1880 at the age of 53 years, 1 month and 1 day. Cause of death unknown. Albert Jennings #17 Albert Jennings was a child, who died September 28, 1880. Cause of death unknown. Could he be related to Harry Jennings, who died a month earlier? M. B. McAbbott # 18 M. B. McAbbott is listed on the cemetery map as a civilian, who died December 6, 1880. But there is no tombstone. Cause of death unknown. Mary A. Barr # 19 Mary Barr is listed on the cemetery map as a civilian, who died January 23, 1881. But there is no tombstone for her. Cause of death unknown. Thomas F. Mulcahy # 20 Corporal Thomas Mulcahy was in Company "I", 23rd Infantry. He died February 15, 1881. Cause of death is unknown, but reported from disease, etc. One of his tombstones is in the shape of a cross and has IHS engraved on it, which is a contraction derived from a Greek word, meaning Jesus. So am assuming that he was a priest or minister. He also has a military tombstone. Fred McNeil # 21 Fred McNeil was the only son of Commissary Sgt. and Mrs. Fred E. McNeil. He died February 19, 1881 of malarial fever. Frank M. Dollen # 22 Private Frank M. Dollen was a soldier in Company "G", 4th Cavalry. He died of consumption on Wednesday, May 11, 1881. Chalk # 23 Chalk was a famous Arapaho Indian Scout. Chalk was brought to Fort Reno on horseback, after he had been wounded in action during the Dull Knife campaign. (Dull Knife was the name of an Indian.) He died in the Fort Reno hospital two days later on May 13, 1881. George Birberick # 24 George Birberick was a child, who died on June 23, 1881. Cause of death unknown. William Eubank # 25 William Eubank was a child, who died on November 9, 1881. Cause of death unknown. Samuel Kemp # 26 Samuel Kemp was a soldier in Company "F", 9th U. S. Cavalry. He died November 24, 1881. Cause of death unknown, but was reported from disease, etc. Emil Henry Hauser # 27 Emil Henry Hauser was born November 24, 1877 and died February 20, 1882. Cause of death unknown. He has 2 tombstones and a metal fence around the grave. Henry T. Stevens # 28 Henry T. Stevens and three other men left Caldwell, Kansas on March 13, 1882 to bring up a herd of cattle from Fort Worth, Texas. On Sunday morning, March 16th, they were on the cattle trail about 17 miles from Fort Reno. After they finished their breakfast and were sitting around the camp fire, one of the men backed up against the wagon with two six-shooters cocked in his hands and said, "I have been with you fellows long enough. You had better strike out over the hill." None of the other men had a gun on them, so they started in the direction indicated. After they had gone a few feet, Stevens, boss of the outfit, turned and said something to the gunman. Stevens was shot and killed. Mr. Stevens was from Michigan. The remains were brought to Fort Reno and interred in the post cemetery. His tombstone has the initials H. F. Michael Hannagan # 29 Michael Hannagan was a child, who died October 15, 1882. He had been hospitalized for 7 months suffering from epileptic convulsions and paralysis of the left side. John Williams # 30 John Williams was a private in Company "G", 9th Cavalry. He died November 27, 1882. Cause of death unknown. Believe he has two tombstones on two different graves with one grave located between them. Fred Tempany # 31 Fred Tempany was an infant, who died February 6, 1883. He was the son of John Tempany, veterinary surgeon of the 9th Cavalry. Cause of death unknown. Thomas F. Devine # 32 Thomas F. Devine was an infant, who died August 22, 1883. Cause of death unknown. Young Old Crow # 40 Young Old Crow was an infant, who died August 24, 1883. Cause of death unknown. This is probably a young Indian child. Herman Clark # 33 Herman Clark was an infant, who died August 27, 1883. Cause of death unknown. This is the first person named Clark buried here. William Harris # 34 William Harris was a soldier in Company "F". 9th Cavalry. He died September 15, 1883. Cause of death unknown, but report says from disease, etc. Robert Graham # 35 Robert Graham was a civilian. He died November 12, 1883. Cause of death unknown. James Lee # 36 James Lee was a recruit in Company "F", 9th Cavalry. He died December 16, 1883. Cause of death unknown, but report says from disease, etc. There were seven enlisted men sick that same month. Henry Burget # 72 A small boy of Henry J. Burget fell in an old well at the post and drowned on January 30, 1884. His father was a wood-chopper and worked for the N. W. Evans & Co. James Coleman # 37 James Coleman was a recruit in Company "F", 9th Cavalry. He and Saul Shipley drowned in high water in the Canadian River near the post. The bodies were not found for two days. He died June 6, 1884. Saul Shipley # 38 Saul Shipley was a soldier in Company "F", 9th Cavalry. The river was up when he and James Coleman drowned in it. He died June 6, 1884, but the bodies were not found for two days, due to the high water. They are buried beside each other. Mrs. Mary Elliott # 39 Mrs. Mary Elliott was shot and killed by a drunken soldier on September 27, 1884. Some said the lady refused to loan him money. Others thought he murdered her, because she had previously insinuated his intimacy with another woman. The soldier did threaten her. He got a gun and returned to the quarters where Mrs. Elliott lived and shot her. Her husband, Steve, was an ambulance driver in the army. Before that he served an enlistment in the service. Ellsworth P. Terry (Torrey) # 41 Ellsworth P. Terry was an infant, who died October 1, 1884. He is listed on the cemetery list as Terry and the tombstone reads Torrey. Cause of death unknown. Joseph H. Stratton # 42 Joe Stratton, one of the old time stage drivers of the west, died at Fort Reno on October 25, 1884. Joe was a civilian employee at the fort. He was formerly of Richmond, Indiana. Cause of death unknown. John Grayard # 43 John Grayard was an infant, who died October 27, 1884. There are three other children with the same last name. Could they be siblings? Cause of death unknown. Elmer G. Willett # 44 Elmer Willett was a civilian employee of the Quarter Master Corps. He died November 15, 1884. Cause of death unknown. John Lanahan # 45 John Lanahan had been a civilian employee of the government for some forty years as wagon master. He was found dead in his bed on Sunday morning, December 7, 1884. Heart disease is supposed to have been the cause of his death. Alexander Watkins # 46 Alexander Watkins was the foreman for the wood contractor. On Saturday evening, December 6, 1884, Mr. Watkins was intoxicated. He was very abusive and threatened the life of everyone with whom he came in contact. He attempted to force his way into the soldiers' bar, which had been closed to avoid trouble with the intoxicated man. Watkins finally called to Peter Cave, the bartender, that if he did not open up, he would break in the door and shoot him. He then began kicking at the door and succeeded in opening it and entered the room, as he drew his six-shooter. The bartender shot him in self defense. Watkins was taken to the hospital at once, where he died at 5:00 a.m. on Monday, December 8, 1884. Patrick Hanley # 47 Patrick Hanley was a soldier in Company "C", 20th Infantry. He accidently shot himself at Fort Reno on Saturday, December 13, 1884. He was interred with military honors. He has two tombstones. William Stockwell # 48 William Stockwell had been chilling for several days. So when he reached camp he asked for quinine. There was only one man at the dugout, who told Stockwell that the bottle they found in the window was supposed to contain quinine. It did not have a label and the same kind of bottle had held strychnine in it, so the man was not positive of its contents. Stockwell was timid about taking it, but to be sure of making no mistake a number of other men were called in and examined the contents of the bottle. Some even tasted it. It was pronounced quinine. So Stockwell took a large dose. He immediately went into convulsions. The men did all they could to save their suffering companion. But he died in about two hours. The bottle was taken to the doctor and found to be strychnine. Stockwell was an employee of J. P. Baird. He was 25 years old. He died on April 24, 1885. William Herforth # 49 William Herforth was a civilian, who died November 30, 1885. Cause of death unknown. The cemetery list reads Herfurth. John S. Evans # 51 John S. Evans was youngest child and only son of Neal W. and Sarah Evans. The little boy had a relapse of croup and died at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 2, 1886. He was one year and 3 months of age. Mr Evans had the Trading Post at Fort Reno. John does not have a tombstone. Patties A. Woodman # 50 Patties Woodman was a civilian, who died July 12, 1886. Cause of death unknown. William Hamilton # 53 William Hamilton was a private in the 5th U. S. Cavalry. He died August 11, 1886. The report says he drowned. I. A. Woodman # 52 I. A. Woodman was a soldier, who died August 24, 1886. Cause of death unknown. Could he be related to Patties, who died about 6 weeks earlier? He does not have a tombstone. Joseph Kearns # 54 Sgt. Joseph Kearns was a soldier in Company "F", 5th U. S. cavalry. He died September 12, 1886. Cause of death unknown. John Atobe, Jr. # 55 John Atobe, Jr. was an infant, who died January 9, 1887. Cause of death unknown. Tombstone reads Atoli. Paul G. Schoenberg # 58 Paul Schoenberg was the infant son of Henry and Emma Schoenberg. Paul was born January 20, 1887 and died June 4, 1887. Cause of death unknown. He has two stones. The military stone reads Schonberg. He has a metal fence around the grave. Lavender # 56 Lavender is listed on the cemetery map. It says unknown and died November 14. 1887. But there is no tombstone for this person. Cause of death unknown. William F. Murphy # 60 William Murphy was a civilian, who died March 16, 1888. Cause of death unknown. Porter Webster # 61 Sgt. Porter Webster was a soldier in Company "A", 24th Cavalry. He died May 15, 1888. Report says he died from a gun shot wound. Thomas A. Jones # 59 Thomas A. Jones was an infant, who died June 10, 1888. Cause of death unknown. Eugene C. Shiffer # 62 Sgt. Eugene Shiffer was in Company "B", 5th Cavalry. He died June 12, 1888. Cause of death unknown, but report says from disease, etc. Alexander Goldsmith # 63 Alexander Goldsmith was a child, who died June 13, 1888. Cause of death unknown. Tombstone reads Alex. Johnson Child # 64 This is a child of Johnson, who died November 13, 1888. Cause of death unknown. White Elk # 65 White Elk was a soldier in the Indian Scouts, Company "A". He died January 8, 1889. Cause of death unknown, but report says of disease, etc. There were 26 Indians in his unit at this time. Indian Child # 66 Unknown child of an Indian, who died April 21, 1889. Just one day before the 1889 land run. Cause of death unknown. Does not have a tombstone. William Barbour # 67 William Barbour is listed on the cemetery map as number 67 with notation (disinterred). Died May 10, 1889. No tombstone. Cause of death unknown. Louis F. Hanley # 68 Louis Hanley was a soldier in Company "B", 5th Cavalry. Died June 8, 1889. Cause of death unknown, but report says from disease, etc. John Butler # 69 John Butler was a sergeant in Company "K", 5th cavalry. He died April 5, 1890. Cause of death unknown, but report says from disease, etc. Viola Mocker (Mucker) # 57 Viola Mocker died April 17, 1890. Cause of death unknown. Her tombstone reads Mucker. Frederick Ackerman # 83 Fred Ackerman was a soldier in Company "K", 5th cavalry. He died June 27, 1890. Cause of death unknown, but report says from disease, etc. William S. Snow # 84 William Snow was a soldier in Company "I", 18th Ind. Infantry. He died July 16, 1890. Cause of death unknown. Thomas Otterby # 85 Tom Otterby was the child of an Indian. He died ? 19, 1890. Cause of death unknown. Trass # 86 Son of Henry Trass, who died September 19, 1890. Cause of death unknown. Katherine Holmes Katherine Holmes was a colored civilian, who died September 29, 1890. Cause of death unknown. Paul Swift Paul Swift was a child, who died October 16, 1890. Cause of death unknown. William Strong (Strang) # 89 William Strong was a soldier in Company "E', 5th Cavalry. He died November 4, 1890. Cause of death unknown, but report says from disease, etc. The tombstone reads Strang. William H. Hutton # 90 William Hutton was a soldier in the 13th U. S. Infantry. He died June 19, 1891. He has two tombstones. The other one says he was a civilian. Cause of death unknown. Italia Deradio Adair # 91 Italia Deradio Adair was a child, who died June 18, 1891. Cause of death unknown. There was a Lt. Samuel E. Adair in Company "E", 5th Cavalry at Fort Reno at this time. Delia Brinton # 92 Delia Brinton was the wife of Jacob Brinton. She died June 29, 1891 at the age of 45 years. Cause of death unknown. Frank Ross # 93 Frank Ross was a soldier in the 2nd Iowa Cavalry. He died July 21, 1891. He has two tombstones. The other one says he was a civilian. Cause of death unknown. Richard Finnig # 94 Richard Finnig was a soldier in Company "K", 5th U. S. Cavalry. He died September 2, 1891. Cause of death unknown. Ira M. Barnes # 95 Ira Barnes was a soldier in Company "B", 5th U. S. Cavalry. He died September 22, 1891, Cause of death unknown. Bosswell McDonald # 96 Bosswell McDonald was a soldier in Company "B", 5th U. S. Cavalry. He died October 7, 1891. Cause of death unknown, but the report says of disease, etc. The cemetery list shows his name spelled Boszwell. Lizzie Gloser (Glaser) # 97 Lizzie Gloser was a child, who died November 5, 1891. Cause of death unknown. The tombstone says Glaser. Alonzo Howard # 98 Alonzo Howard was a civilian, who died November 12, 1891. Cause of death unknown. Tombstone reads Alonza. Andrew Michan (Mighan) # 99 Andrew Michan was a soldier in Company "G", 13th U. S. Infantry. He died November 29, 1891. Cause of death unknown, but the report says from disease, etc. The cemetery list shows his name as Mighan. James E. Shaffer # 100 James E. Shaffer was a soldier in Company "B", 5th U. S. Cavalry. He died December 19, 1891. Cause of death unknown, but reports says from disease, etc. Herman Hauser # 101 Herman Hauser came to Fort Reno about 1877, shortly after the establishment of the post. Herman was a sergeant in the 1st N Y Cavalry. He then entered the service of the government and when he died he was the Quarter Masters' chief clerk. He died at his home on Sunday, January 24, 1892 of heart trouble. He married the oldest daughter of the noted Indian, Broken Dish. He spent half of his life with the advantages of civilization and the last half on the frontier, and much of the time with the Indians. Henry Waggott # 102 Henry Waggott was a soldier in Company "K", 5th U. S. Cavalry. He died April 12, 1892. Cause of death unknown, but the report says from disease, etc. Gilman C. Hall # 103 Gilman Hall was a commissary sergeant in the 5th Cavalry. He came to Fort Reno on September 8, 1885. He was transferred later and returned to Fort Reno on November 3, 1890. He died Wednesday evening, June 29, 1892, from injuries received a few days earlier when a horse kicked him. Edward Kelly (Kelley) # 104 Edward Kelly was a soldier in Company "G", 13th U. S. Infantry. He died September 4, 1892. Cause of death unknown. His tombstone reads Kelly. Daniel B. Holdaway (Haldaway) # 105 Daniel B. Holdway was a soldier in Company "G", 10th U. S. Infantry. He died October 28, 1892. Cause of death unknown. His tombstone says Holdaway. Charles Brinkman # 106 Charles Brinkman was First Sgt. in Company "E", 5th U. S. Cavalry. He had lung trouble for a long time, but it was not considered serious. He went to El Reno on Monday to purchase some things that were needed in making preparations for the ball which was on Friday. He suddenly became ill and died within twenty four hours, on Tuesday, January 25, 1893. The soldiers of his company bought a fine casket as a mark of respect for their dead comrade. Louis Biehl # 107 Louis Biehl was a soldier in Company "B", 5th U. S. Cavalry. He died May 17, 1893. Cause of death unknown, but the report says from disease, etc. Henry L. Tobias (Tobis) # 108 Henry Tobias was a soldier in Company "D', 13th U. S. Infantry. He died July 9, 1893. Cause of death unknown, but the report says from disease, etc. His tombstone says Tobis. Grayard Infant # 109 Infant of Grayard, who died August 25, 1893. Cause of death unknown. This is the second Grayard child buried here. Mrs Fugitt (Tugitt) # 110 Mrs Fugitt was a civilian, who died September 6, 1893. Cause of death unknown. Her tombstone says Tugitt. Thomas Tyldsley # 111 Sgt. Thomas Tyldsley was a soldier in Company "B", 3rd U. S. Cavalry. He died December 27, 1893. Cause of death unknown, but the report says from disease, etc. Mary E. Grayard # 112 Mary E. Grayard was a child, who died February 27, 1894. Cause of death unknown. She is the third Grayard child buried here. Maria Todd # 114 Maria Todd was an infant, who died April 19, 1894. Cause of death unknown. Robert C. St Clair # 113 Rev. Robert St Clair was the preacher of the First Methodist Episcopal Church in El Reno. He died very suddenly of a heart attack on July 14, 1894 at the age of 52 years and 9 months. During his funeral service at the church an electrical storm came up with hail and flooding conditions. A heavy fog of mist filled the church and it grew so dark the service had to be delayed until the storm subsided. Lightning struck the barbwire fence around the church, to which the teams were hitched, with such force that the horses were knocked down. He was given a military burial in the Fort Reno Cemetery as he was formerly a soldier of 1861-65 in Company "A", 15th Illinois Infantry. His tombstone has an open Bible on top of it. John F. Hendricks # 115 John Hendricks was a soldier in Company "F", 10th U. S. Infantry. He died on April 19, 1895. Cause of death unknown, but the report says from disease, etc. Bertha Grayard # 116 Bertha Grayard, an infant, died July 19, 1895. Cause of death unknown. This is the fourth Grayard child to be buried here. George Amos Harrison # 117 George Amos Harrison was an infant, who died August 15, 1896. Cause of death unknown. Mary Clark # 118 Mary Clark was an infant, who died January 6, 1896. Cause of death unknown. She is the second Clark buried here. Anny Clark # 119 Anny Clark was an infant, who died March 3, 1896. Cause of death unknown. She is the third Clark buried here. Lizzie J. Uslar # 120 Lizzie Uslar was the wife of Post Quarter Master Sgt. Frederick Uslar. She was born April 5, 1867 and died October 30, 1896. Cause of death unknown. He was sick in the hospital at the same time. He was taken to the hospital in Hot Springs, Ark on November 4, 1896. Maggie Hawkins # 122 Maggie Hawkins was a colored civilian, who died February 8, 1897. Cause of death unknown. Earnest J. Furlong # 121. Earnest Furlong was a soldier in Company "B", 1st U. S. Cavalry. He died February 23, 1897. Cause of death unknown. Rudolph Newman # 123 Rudolph Newman was an infant, who died February 22, 1898. Cause of death unknown. Tim O'Connell # 124 Tim O'Connell was an employee of the Quarter Master Department, where he had been a teamster at Fort Reno for many years. On Sunday morning, January 1, 1899, two regiments of the 6th Cavalry arrived in El Reno on their way to Fort Reno. Mr. O'Connell was helping three soldiers to move to the post. He was riding one of the front mules in a six mule team when one of the soldiers thoughtlessly jumped up on the same mule behind Mr. O'Connell. The animal was frightened and bucked, throwing off both of the riders. Mr. O'Connell fell in front of the wagon, which passed over him causing almost instant death. The soldier had both legs and one arm broke. He was about 60 years old at the time of his death. His tombstone reads O'Connel. Johnny Clark # 125 Johnny Clark was a child, who died Apri1 8, 1899. Cause of death unknown. He is the fourth Clark buried here. Ida Russell # 126 Ida Russell was a child, who died February 25, 1900. She is probably the daughter of James T. and Comelia C. Russell, who lived at Fort Reno in June, 1900. Cause of death unknown. William A. Wilson # 127 William Wilson was a civilian, who died March 14, 1900. Cause of death unknown. Louis A. Trass (Frass) # 128 Louis Trass was a child, who died April 14, 1900. Cause of death unknown. The tombstone says Frass. Maria Wheeler # 129 Maria Wheeler was the two year old daughter of Mrs. James (Annie) Wheeler. Mrs. Wheeler was a widow because her husband was killed in Cuba during the war with Spain. She was employed as a laundress and lived with her two children, Maria and four year old son, John, in a little house on the post. Tuesday morning, May 8, 1900, Mrs. Wheeler went on an errand leaving her door locked to prevent her children from wandering outside. She had been away from the house only a short time when the house was discovered on fire. Every effort was made to rescue the little girl, her brother had already escaped. Several of the men were painfully burned and bruised, but to no avail. Maria was fatally burned. Phillip Clark # 130 Phillip Clark was an infant son of Ben Clark, the famous Indian Scout. He was born in March, 1900 and died on July 8, 1900. Cause of death unknown. He is the fifth Clark buried here. Arthur J. Russell # 131 Arthur Russell was born in October, 1897 in Oklahoma. His parents were James T. and Comelia C. Russell. James was a soldier. Arthur died October 22, 1900. He was a sibling to Ida, who died six months earlier. Cause of death unknown. Unknown Woman # 132 This unknown woman died November 5, 1900. Cause of death unknown. Frieda Lenoir Wunderlick # 133 Frieda Wunderlick was the daughter of L. H. and S. A. Wunderlick. She was born December 2, 1900 and died July 25, 1901. Cause of death unknown. Laura Byrne # 135 Laura Byrne was an infant of Edward Byrne, who died June 21, 1901. Cause of death is unknown. Wee Gan Wah # 134 Wee Gan Wah was born in December, 1863 in China. He came to the United States in 1881. He was not a naturalized citizen. Mr. Wah could not read or write, but he did speak English. He lived with another Chinese man named Guig Yee, who was a cook at the fort. Two soldiers dressed like women came to his door and wanted to come in. He would not let them in and they left. About 30 minutes later, around 10:00 o'clock, while he was working in his laundry, he was shot. Wee Gan Wah had $360 in his house and robbery was probably the reason for the murder. He died November 16, 1901 in the Fort Reno Hospital. His grave is off by itself. Henry Clark # 136 Henry Clark was an infant, who died June 19, 1902. Cause of death is unknown. He is the sixth Clark buried here. Lillian Gertrude Halbwaghs # 137 Lillian Halbwaghs was the daughter of Olius and Louise Halbwaghs. She was born February 10 and died July 10, 1902. Cause of death unknown. The cemetery list shows Halbwacks. Julia Clark # 138 Julia Clark was an infant, who died March 6, 1903. Cause of death unknown. This is the seven Clark buried here. Louis H. Vanatta # 139 Louis Vanatta was a soldier in Company "D", 22nd U. S. Infantry. He died July 3, 1903. Cause of death unknown. Alexander King # 140 Alexander King was a soldier in Company "H", 25th U. S. Infantry. He died August 16, 1903. Cause of death unknown. Edward Lee # 141 Edward Lee was a soldier in Company "H", 25th U. S. Infantry. He died October 21, 1903. Cause of death unknown. Major McAdoo # 142 Major McAdoo was a soldier in the U. S. Infantry. He died November 4, 1903. Cause of death unknown. Horace F. Sykes, Jr # 143 Horace Sykes, Jr was born to Lt. and Mrs Sykes on Wednesday afternoon, March 9, 1904. He died early the next morning, March 10, 1904. John Dolan # 144 John Dolan was a soldier in Company "G", 30th U. S. Infantry. He died June 19, 1904. Cause of death unknown. Cemetery list says Dolon. James T. Andrews # 145 James Andrews was a soldier in Company "G", 30th U. S. Infantry. He died August 14, 1904. Cause of death unknown. Frank Aldrich # 146 Frank Aldrich was a soldier in Company "F", 25th U. S. Infantry. He died February 19, 1905. Cause of death unknown. Jessie H. Brown # 147 Jessie Brown was a soldier in Company "E", 25th U. S. Infantry. He died March 18, 1905. Cause of death unknown. William P. Pitts # 148 William Pitts was a soldier and musician in Company "F", 25th U. S. Infantry. He died April 25, 1905. Cause of death unknown. Charles D. Jones # 149 Charles Jones was a black soldier in Company "F", 25th U. S. Infantry. He had just recently arrived at Fort Reno. He went to El Reno and got drunk. Occasionally he shot his six shooter in the air. A policeman heard the shots and ran to investigate. He told the soldier to drop his gun and put up his hands. Jones raised his gun and pointed it toward the policeman, the lawman immediately shot him in self defense. Mr. Jones died about 30 minutes later on July 15, 1905. Mamie Weake # 150 Mamie Weake was a child, who died December 4, 1906. Cause of death unknown. Tombstone reads Wenke. Sanford Murkison # 151 Sanford Murkison was a soldier in Company "C", 25th U. S. Infantry. He died December 18, 1906. Cause of death unknown. Philip Wetzel # 152 Philip Wetzel was a civilian employee of the Quarter Master Department, as a teamster. Mr. Wetzel was born in September, 1831 in Germany. He came to the United States in 1850. He was a naturalized citizen. He could read, write and speak English. He was single. Mr. Wetzel died March 3, 1907. Baby Freeman (Treeman) # 153 Baby Freeman died March 18, 1907. Cause of death unknown. The cemetery list shows Treeman and the tombstone says Freeman. Fred W. Gilmore # 154 Fred W. Gilmore was a civilian, who died December 3, 1907. Cause of death unknown. Michael Collins # 155 Michael Collins was a civilian employee of the Quarter Master Department. He died August 23, 1909. Cause of death unknown. Jacob Zellweger # 156 Jacob Zellweger, known as "Dutch Jake," came from Fort Lyon, Colorado to Darlington Indian Agency in 1869, soon after it was established. For years he freighted from northern points to Fort Supply, Fort Sill and Fort Reno. He was born in 1837 and died January 12, 1910 at his home northwest of Calumet. The cemetery list shows his name as Zeileweiger. William Charles Robinson # 157 William Robinson was a former soldier at Troop "F", 4th U. S. Cavalry. His tombstone says Company "F", N Y Vol., Company I, 35-15-15 U. S. Infantry and Troop "G", 4th Cavalry. He was born in England and was a carpenter. He helped to construct many of the government buildings at Fort Reno. After his retirement with the U. S. service, he lived at Calumet. He died January 2, 1912 at Fort Reno. He has a flat tombstone. Israel K. Johnson # 158 Israel Johnson was a soldier in Company "E", Ill. Infantry. He was born August 20, 1849 and died December 13, 1912. Cause of death unknown. He has two tombstones. The larger one has GAR Post (El Reno) on it. Moka Clark # 159 Moka Clark was an Indian, whose name was Little Woman. She was born in March, 1862 in South Dakota. She was married to Ben Clark, the famous Indian Scout for 35 years. She had eight children, but several of them died. Moka died of heart failure at age 51 years on May 16, 1913. Baby Colleng # 160 Baby Colleng died June 12, 1913. Cause of death unknown. William F. Erhardt # 161 William Erhardt was a soldier in the Quarter Master Corps. He died February 26, 1914. Cause of death unknown. Ben Clark # 162 Ben Clark was born in St. Louis, Missouri on February 2, 1842, where he spent his boyhood. In 1853-56 He went to Fort Bridger, where he entered the government service as post courier. He served in the cavalry during the entire Civil War. At the close of the war he was employed by Indian Traders to take charge of their mule trains and freighting through the country. He learned the Indian language and customs and his advice was eagerly sought by traders and army officers. At the beginning of the Indian Wars in 1869 his services were sought for the government. After the Indian troubles subsided Ben Clark was transferred to Fort Supply, where he served as post guide and interpreter. Later he was sent to Fort Reno, where he lived until his death. He was called upon many times to guide the army across the plains and was in several Indian campaigns. He was the favorite scout for General Phil Sheridan. He was known on the plains as "Red Neck," a name given him by the Indians. On July 24, 1914, Ben Clark committed suicide at age 72 years. Ill health and worry were speculated as the reason. Charles Howard # 163 Charles Howard was a civilian employee of the Quarter Master Corps. He had worked for the government for the last forty years. He died Monday morning, January 17, 1916 at Fort Reno from heart failure. He was 60 years old. Infant Lancaster Infant Lancaster was stillborn on July 30, 1916. This baby does not have a tombstone, nor is it listed on the cemetery map. Earl H. Caldwell # 169 Earl Caldwell died in Abilene, Texas on April 30, 1917. He was interred in the post cemetery. Cause of death unknown. The cemetery list says Coldwell. Baby Holycross # 171 Baby Holycross died July 9. 1920. Cause of death unknown. Maralou Morgan # 170 Maralou Morgan died February 13, 1921. Cause of death unknown. Baby Argambright # 164 Baby of Private Argambright died August 13, 1924. Cause of death unknown. The cemetery list says Angonbright. William F. Walters # 165 William Walters was born in Baltimore, Maryland on December 14, 1860. He served in the 5th Cavalry from 1883 to 1886 and again from 1889 to 1892. He was stationed at Fort Reno during the Indian campaigns. Col. Walters was a noted horseman and poloist. He worked as a civilian horse trainer at Fort Reno from 1920 until his death. He died suddenly on January 22, 1926 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, where he had gone to accompany the Fort Reno polo team, to enter the Southern Polo Tournment. Apoplexy was the cause of death. Sonny Walsh # 167 Sonny Walsh was stillborn on February 23, 1926 at Fort Reno. He was the son of W. T. Walsh. John W. Wheeler, Jr. # 172 John Wheeler, Jr. was the son of Eva and John W. Wheeler. He was only 4 days old when he died of Hemoplyia. He died February 24, 1926. Nancy Patricia Cullum # 168 Nancy Cullum was born March 15, 1926 to Winifred and Major E. C. Cullum. She was premature (7 months) and only lived six hours. Nancy died March 16, 1926. Her tombstone is flat. Ralph R. Furber # 166 Ralph R. Furber was a private in the Quarter Master Corps. He died from knife wounds he received in a fight with another soldier on Sunday evening in El Reno. He died at the post hospital on Tuesday morning, July 6, 1926. He was about 24 years old. Infant Preno # 173 Infant Preno was born/died on December 23, 1928 to Charles and Fay Preno at Fort Reno. The tombstone gives the name as Pareno, which was how the name was once spelled. Janet Geraldine Oldfield # 174 Janet Oldfield was born/died on April 1, 1928. She was the daughter of Private 1st Class Edward W. and Bertha Oldfield. Joseph Edward Howard # 175 Joseph Edward Howard was born May 29, 1924 in North Carolina to Mary and Private 1st Class Joseph Howard. He was only 4 years old when he died of blood poison on January 5, 1929. He had just recovered from an attack of diphtheria and chicken pox combined. The blood poison resulted from scratching one of the sores left by chicken pox. Frank J. Ward # 176 Frank Ward was born August 9, 1895 in Oklahoma. He was a horse shoer at Fort Reno for about 2 years. At the time of his death he was a private in the U. S. Army, and was doing work at the Oklahoma Military Academy in Claremore, Oklahoma through Fort Reno. He committed suicide by drinking strychnine at the home of his wife's parents in El Reno on April 23, 1931. Henry John Weeks # 177 Henry John Weeks was born March 2, 1885 in Iowa. Major Weeks came to Fort Reno in June, 1924 and was commandant for 7 years. He died at 1:00 a.m. on Monday, August 10, 1931 of a sudden heart attack at 47 years of age. He has a large pink tombstone. Armstead F. Holt # 178 Armstead Holt was born January 23, 1873 in Tennessee. He was a Tech Sgt in the Quarter Master Corps. He had been stationed at Fort Reno for ten years and lacked only one year of service for retirement. He died early Saturday morning, October 17, 1931 at his home in Fort Reno after a few days illness. He was 57 years old. Alexander Hamilton Jones Alexander Hamilton Jones was born January 6, 1882 at Fort Stockton, Texas. He started his military career in 1901 when he enlisted in the cavalry at Fort Sill. Lt Colonel Jones was assigned to Fort Reno as commandant in 1919 until 1924, when he was transferred. He returned to Fort Reno on November 1, 1931 as purchasing agent for the Southwest Remount Zone. About six weeks later, he was killed in a one car wreck near Banner on December 11, 1931, as he was returning home from a business trip to Oklahoma City. Final rites with full military honors were conducted at the post hall on Tuesday, December 15th. That evening his body was shipped to a crematory in Kansas City, Kansas. His ashes were returned to the Fort Reno Cemetery on December 28, 1931. He does not have a tombstone. James Burke # 179 James Burke was stillborn to Lula and A. L. Burke on April 9, 1933. He was born at the El Reno Sanitarium (Hospital). John Franklin Tucker # 180 John Tucker was born March 5, 1933 to Ralph and Lelia Tucker at El Reno. He died April 12, 1933 from pneumonia and whooping cough at one month and seven days of age in El Reno. Bessie Tucker # 181 Bessie Tucker was the infant daughter of R. J. Tucker. She died August 11, 1934. Could she be a sibling to John, who died 16 months earlier? Clarence A. Wilson # 182 Clarence Wilson was born July 25, 1907 in Oklahoma. He was a Private 1st Class in the U. S. Army. He enlisted at Fort Sill and came to Fort Reno about June 1933. He committed suicide by shooting himself at Legion Park in El Reno on November 6, 1935. Harley Warren Cox # 183 Harley Cox was born June 27, 1938 to Elsie and Private 1st Class Elmer Cox in El Reno. He died January 18, 1939 of acute gastro, when he was six months old. Joseph Shumate # 184 Joseph Shumate was born October 2, 1884 in Polo, Missouri. He had been Master Sergeant in the U. S. Army. He was in the army for 29 years. He was stationed at Fort Reno from 1923 until his retirement on November 11, 1933. He then established his home in El Reno. Mr Shumate died early Sunday morning, August 10, 1941 of a heart attack at his home. Esther Mae Holley # 185 Esther Holley was the wife of Private 1st Class Jimmie Holley. She was born April 5, 1925 to Daisy M. and Pierce P. Bartlett in El Reno. She had been ill for six weeks and died on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1943, following surgery at the hospital. She was 18 years, 7 months and 20 days old. James Allen Hughes # 186 James Allen Hughes was stillborn on December 17, 1943 to Staff Sgt J. L. and Nettie Hughes at the El Reno Sanitarium (Hospital). Sharon Kay Ruffing # 187 Sharon Ruffing was born to Tech 5 and Mrs. Harold Ruffing on May 22, 1948 in the Hinton Hospital. She died the next day, May 23, 1948. This is the last burial in the Fort Reno Cemetery. Unknown Burials Eight numbers (75 through 82) on the cemetery list are marked unknown. The last six were interred in Register 4 in 1890. Silver Board There is a board painted silver and located as if it were a grave marker. It is located between Mary Grayard # 112 and Thomas Tyldsley # 111. But there is no grave, that does not have a tombstone, listed on the cemetery map in that area. P0W Cemetery A stone wall on the west side separates the P0W Cemetery from the Fort Reno post graves. The wall is topped by a steel stile used to cross over to the P0W graves. Of the 75 prisoners of war buried in the state of Oklahoma, 70 are interred in this cemetery. Three P0Ws are buried at McAlister and the other two are interred at Fort Sill. Those buried at McAlister are: Hermann Wendt, Kurt Leonhart and Albert Theurer, who committed suicide. While Shimoda Itsodi and Okubai Reyemkalow have graves at Fort Sill. The 70 burial sites are in two rows of 35 graves each. White military markers line the two long walls and face each other. The tombstones show their name, military rank, whether German or Italian and their death date. There are 62 German soldiers and 8 Italian soldiers buried here. The Italians are all placed together at the end of one of the rows. Only one P0W died while at the Fort Reno P0W Camp. When his body was interred in the cemetery in October 1945, there were only two other P0Ws buried here. Apparently as the P0W camps closed after World War II, the P0W bodies were moved and reinterred here. An excerpt from correspondence to the author of this book from Christian Ehret Critchfield, an employee of the U. S. Army Glennan Hospital in the P0W Camp at Okmulgee says, "Whenever we saw the captain, who was an officer in the Quartermaster, pass our office with the red, white and black swastika flag tucked under his arm, we knew that there had been a death. Word got around about the time of the services, so we gathered on a loading ramp facing the street where the procession would pass by enroute to the cemetery. First came the olive drab 1942 cadillac hearse, just creeping along. We could see the swastika draped casket and a spray of yellow flowers on top of the casket. Following the hearse were approximately 30 German P0W soldiers in uniform, in double file, walking in slow cadence, and singing in sorrow. One day during the January-March period in 1946 an army lieutenant and a detail of enlisted men came to the office with an order that authorized them to exhume and transfer the remains of the POWs from our cemetery or place of burial to the Fort Reno Cemetery. They had been buried in the northeast part of the post." Of the 62 Germans buried at Fort Reno, 28 of them came from the Glennan General Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp, because many of the POWs with serious injuries or sicknesses were assigned there. Not all of the 70 men buried at Fort Reno were POWs who died in Oklahoma. Two of them were enemy aliens who died in Oklahoma. Twenty-nine of them died in P0W Camps in other states. The only POWs who died in Oklahoma and are not buried in this state are 4 men who died at Camp Gruber and are buried at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Dates of the burials show: 2 died in 1942, 2 in 1943, 26 in 1944, 35 in 1945 and 5 in 1946. The first man died November 3, 1942 and the last one April 12, 1946. Twenty one died after Germany had surrendered and the peace treaty signed. The Germans buried in the P0W Cemetery are listed in the chronological order of their deaths. The number beside the name is the number of the grave on the map. Gustave Schneider # 7A Gustave Schneider was held as an enemy alien at the Stringtown Alien Internment Camp, where he died on November 3, 1942. He was German and was buried at Fort Sill. He was the first one to die of the men interred in the Fort Reno Cemetery. Hermann Beyer # 6A Hermann Beyer was also an enemy alien at the Stringtown Alien Internment Camp, where he died on December 5, 1942. He was German and was buried at Fort Sill. He was the second one to die of the men interred in this cemetery. Johannes Kunze # 15A This is perhaps the most well known burial in this cemetery. Johannes Kunze was murdered at the Tonkawa Camp by other POWs, who accused him of being a spy or American sympathizer. Kunze was condemned and beaten to death by some hard-line Nazi POWs in the camp. The five leaders of this group went to trial for his murder and were executed by the U. S. Army. They were hung in a makeshift gallows that had been set up in the elevator shaft of an old warehouse at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. They are buried there. Kunze was German and died on November 4, 1943. His tombstone reads: Gefr. Bruno Stang # 33A He died January 12, 1944. His tombstone reads: Unter Offizier Luftwaffe - German. Karl Redemann # 31A He died January 16, 1944. His tombstone reads: Unter Offizier Ersatz Bn - German. Paul Kunze # 14A Paul was not related to Johannes listed above. According to the former German POW who came to the cemetery to visit the graves, he did not want to be buried near Johannes. But they are interred next to each other. His tombstone reads: Gefreit - German - and he died January 22, 1944. Karl Schwoebel # 32A He died March 18, 1944. His tombstone reads: Gefreiter - German. Emil Minotti # 13A He committed suicide at the Alva POW Camp on July 6, 1944. His tombstone reads: Feldwebel - German. Engelbert Kaufmann # 25A His tombstone reads: Died July 13, 1944, born May 23, 1918. ERK. NR. 3 INF. ERS. BTL. 36-144 GEF. NR. 45938 German. Anton Allendorf # 24B He died at the Glennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on August 22, 1944 of natural causes. He was a German private. Klaus Eberhard Bork # lA He died at the Alva POW Camp on August 24, 1944. His tombstone reads: Deldwebel - German. Werner Halscheidt # 30A He died September 24, 1944. His tombstone reads: Unter - Offizier Infantry - German. Johannes Galinski # 34B He died from natural causes in the Glennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on October 28, 1944. He was a German Private. Ferdinand Wodetzki # 14B He died from natural causes in the Glennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on November 5, 1944. He was a German Private 1st Class. Erwin Grams # 2A He died at the Alva POW Camp on November 17, 1944. His tombstone reads: Soldat - German. Paul Grudowski # 19B He died from natural causes in the Glennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on November 18, 1944. He was a German Private. Friedrich Messinger # 35B He died from natural causes in the Glennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on November 19, 1944. He was a German Corporal. Georg Reiser # 15B He died from natural causes in the Glennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on November 21, 1944. He was a German Corporal. Johann Piacsek # 34A He died from battle wounds in the Glennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on November 24, 1944. He was a German Pvt 1st Class. Otto Chelbeck # 35A He died from battle wounds in the Glennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on November 24, 1944. He was a German Major. Johann Grundwald # 9B He died from natural causes in the Olennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on November 25, 1944. He was a German Sergeant. Heinz Scharf # 18B He died November 25, 1944 and was a German T/Sgt. Heinrich Esemann # 22A He died December 8, 1944 and was a German 1st Lieutenant. Uwe Raffel # 32B He died of natural causes in the Glennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on December 15, 1944. He was a German Sergeant. Eugen Hornung # 31B He died from battle wounds in the Glennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on December 20, 1944. He was a German L/Corporal. Johann Distler # 28B He died from battle wounds in the Glennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on December 28, 1944. He was a German Corporal. Gado Scharidov # 27B He died from natural causes in the Glennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on January 2, 1945. He was a German Private. Paul Smytscheck # 29B He died from natural causes in the Glennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on January 14, 1945. He was a German Corporal. Michael Karl # 33B He died from natural causes in the Glennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on January 20, 1945. He was a German Tech. Sergeant. Harry Genath # 26B He died from natural causes in the Glennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on January 29, 1945. He was a German Sergeant. Richard Kersten # 12B He died from natural causes in the Glennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on January 30, 1945. He was a German Corporal. Hermann Beckmann # 21B He died from natural causes in the Glennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on February 5, 1945. He was a German Corporal. Guenther Hernmann # l0B He died from battle wounds in the Glennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on February 13, 1945. He was a German Private. Heinz Leibmann # 22B He died from natural causes in the Glennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on February 20, 1945. He was a German Sergeant. Bernhard Moebus # 5A He died at the McAlister POW Camp on March 24, 1945 and was German. Franz Hinz # 16B He died of natural causes in the Glennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on April 6, 1945. He was a German 1st Lieutenant. Werner Marganus # 23A He died April 11, 1945 and was a German 2nd Lieutenant. Hermann Goetze # 11B He died from natural causes in the Glennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on April 16, 1945. He was a German Sergeant. Karl Polte # 13B He died from natural causes in the Glennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on April 20, 1945. He was a German Private 1st Class. Engelbert Mayr # 12A He died at the Alva POW Camp on April 23, 1945. He was a German Private 1st Class. Georg Castellan # 20B He died frQm natural causes in the Glennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on April 27, 1945. He was a German Private 1st Class. Guenter Bieling # 25B He died from natural causes in the Glennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on May 10, 1945. He was a German Private. Johann Kaup # 24A He died May 18, 1945. His tombstone reads: OBEGFP - German. Zagal Czapaj # 23B He died from natural causes in the Glennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on May 19, 1945. He was a German Private. Arthur Goetz # 30B He died from natural causes in the Glennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on May 19, 1945. He was a German Private. Osman Askarow # 17B He died from natural causes in the Glennan Hospital at the Okmulgee POW Camp on May 21, 1945. He was a German Private. Karl Baumgartner # 20A He died June 29, 1945 and was a German Private. Karl Metzger # 18A He died July 4, 1945 and was a German Private. Heinrich Gaschka # 4A He died at the McAlister POW Camp on July 18, 1945. He was German. Werner Mesenberg # 16A He died July 20, 1945 and was a German 2nd Lieutenant. Johann Arnhold # 17A He died July 23, 1945 and was a German Corporal. Erich Maege # 19A He died August 4, 1945 and was a German 1st Lieutenant. Karl Bauer # 21A He died August 15, 1945. He was a German Captain. Erick Schindler # 11A He died at the Alva POW Camp on September 17, 1945. He was German. Han Seifert # 3A He is the only one who died at the Fort Reno Camp. He was badly burned from his waist up in a gas explosion. He died 8 days later on October 9, 1945. Karl Goertz # 26A He died on October 18, 1945. He was a German Corporal. Dieter Ernst # 8A He died November 30, 1945. He was a German Major. Paul Schmidt # 9A He died January 14, 1946. His tombstone reads: Gefr. - German. Fritz Holldorf # 1OA He died January 20, 1946. He was a German Sergeant in the Infantry. Ruben Hille # 27A He died March 20, 1946. He was a German Private. Werner Koeller # 28A He died March 22, 1946. His tombstone reads: Gefr. - German. Franz Englader # 29A He died April 12, 1946. His tombstone reads: Gefreiter Infantry - German. This is the last person to die, that is buried in the Fort Reno Cemetery. Italian POW Burials Five of the 8 Italians buried here, died at the Hereford, Texas POW Camp. They were buried there and re-interred here in 1946. This camp was located in the panhandle of Texas, near Hereford.One of them died from a blood clot, from a previous injury. Another was shot when it was thought he was escaping. Corporal Pierluigi Barticellowas passing out some pieces of food (like candy), that was not on the regular food line. He accidently missed an older POW and when he realized it, he didn't have any left. The older man went to the kitchen and got a knife and stabbed Barticello. Other POWs said this man had been showing signs of stress. Had it been any other man that was skipped, he would have thought nothing about it. Evaristo Fava died from pneumonia. In 1988 his daughter read in an Italian newspaper that some Americans were to be at the annual reunion of the ex-POWs, who were held at the Hereford Camp in Texas. She traveled across Italy to see if the Americans could find records in America which would tell them where in Italy her father was buried. The daughter was only 6 months old when her father left for the war and 2 years old when he died. Her mother had tried to find out all these years where her father was buried, but was unsuccessful. After the war, the bodies were reported to have been returned to Italy in 1957. When the Americans returned to Texas, they began to search for some records for the daughter. They learned he died and was buried at the Hereford Camp. Copies were made of the 2 pictures they found of his funeral. One was of the casket in the camp chapel and the other was at the place of burial. His remains were later moved and re-interred in the Fort Reno Cemetery. So a group of the county historical society from that area visited this cemetery and took pictures of his military marker. These were all sent to the daughter back in Italy. Italian Memorial Day The Italian Memorial Day is the first Thursday in November. For many years the Italian soldiers that are training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma have honored their dead comrades on the first Saturday of November at the Fort Reno Cemetery. The Italian soldiers, a chaplain and honor guard from Fort Sill perform the memorial service. The Italians place a wreath near the graves while the American and Italian flags blow in the breeze. The 8 Italian POWs Buried in Fort Reno Cemetery These 8 Italian POWs are interred on the east side of the POW Cemetery between the steel stile and the south wall. Innocent Ortelli # 6B He died at the Hereford, Texas POW Camp on August 2, 1943. He was a Private. Erriguez Francisco # 2B He died January 13, 1944 and was a Private. Giovanni Bo # lB He died March 22, 1944 and was a Corporal. Fava Evaristo # 8B He died at the Hereford, Texas POW Camp on October 17, 1944. He was a 2nd Lieutenant. Berticelli Pierluigi # 7B He died at the Hereford, Texas POW Camp on May 8. 1945. He was a Captain. Banzi Renzo # 4B He died at the Hereford, Texas POW Camp on June 12, 1945. He was a Captain. Carlo Grassotti # 3B He died on September 5, 1945 and was a sergeant. Giulio Zamboni # SB He died at the Hereford, Texas POW Camp on October 11, 1945. He was a Sergeant M. SOURCES OF INFORMATION Newspapers The Cheyenne Transporter El Reno American El Reno Daily Tribune El Reno Herald El Reno News El Reno Globe El Reno Democrat Calumet Chieftain Books and Records Books and Records Post Returns from Fort Reno Post - Aug. 1874 - Dec. 1884 Post Returns from Fort Reno Post - Jan. 1885 - Dec. 1896 Fort Reno, Indian Territory, 1874 - 1885 (A thesis by Peter Melton Wright, 1965) Benson Funeral Home Records Wilson Funeral Home Records Fort Reno or Picturesque "Cheyenne and Arrapahoe Army Life," Before the Opening of Oklahoma by Mrs. D. B. Dyer, 1896 Fort Reno Cemetery Map, data compiled 1891, drawn April 1939 and revised in May 1946. The Tombstones were all surveyed and the inscriptions read for information. Wesley United Methodist Church of El Reno History Barbed Wire and Nazilagers, PW Camps in Oklahoma (printed in the Chronicles of Oklahoma) by Richard S. Warner Correspondence from Christian Ehret Critchfield, an employee of the U. S. Army Glennan Hospital in the POW Camp at Okmulgee The Killing of Corporal Kunze by Lyle Stuart, 1981 Castro County, Texas, Vol 11, Centennial Edition, 1991