Notes
Note H525
Index
[Robert Ruhl and Mary Farrier 20081222.GED]
[2485774[1].GED]
Arthur Martin Conser was born at the farm home of his parents, Jacob E. and Mary A. (Cox) Co nser, located just west of Lushton, York County, Nebraska on September 12, 1893. Besides hi s parents, he joined twelve-year old brother, Clarence and one-year old brother, Leroy in th e household. Arthur was named in honor of his uncle Arthur Martin Conser, whom then lived a t Oxford, Nebraska. Arthur's family lived on that York County farm for only one more year af ter that, as in September 1894, Arthur's parents sold the farm and Arthur's family joined hi s grandparent's, Harrison and Matilda Cox, and uncle Lyman Cox in removing to a farm near Alt on, Missouri in Oregon County.
Arthur's early boyhood years were spent on that Missouri farm as the family lived the ne xt seven years there. During that time, Arthur and his older brothers enjoyed all of the exp eriences, such as fishing and farm chores, that went along with rural living at that time. W hen Arthur was two, on January 22, 1896, twin sisters, Matilda and Magdalena, were born stil lborn resulting in a great amount of sorrow for the family. Three years later, March 25, 1899 , a baby sister, Viva Cordelia, was born into the household. At that time, Clarence was nine teen years of age, Leroy was six, and Arthur was five. Two years later,
Arthur's parents decided to sell their Missouri farm and move back to Nebraska. Arthur's gran dparent's Cox and uncle Lyman Cox had already moved back to Hampton, Nebraska and Arthur's pa rents agreed that it was time to rejoin them. During the spring of 1901 Jacob and Mary Conse r sold their farm and purchased a home in the village of Hampton, near where Mary's parents , Harrison and Matilda Cox lived. Leroy was then nine, Arthur was eight, and Viva was two . Clarence, now 20, moved back to Nebraska also, but was now working away from home.
Upon their return to Nebraska, Arthur began attending Hampton Public Schools. It was a t Hampton that Arthur grew to adulthood. During this period, Arthur lost two of his grandpar ents. Arthur's grandfather, John Conser, passed away two years before Arthur was born in Oxf ord, Nebraska leaving only three grandparents that he would know. On December 1, 1910, Mar y Magdalena (Grenoble) Conser passed away at the home of Arthur's namesake, Uncle Arthur Cons er at Edison, Nebraska. She was buried in Oxford's Cemetery beside her husband. Harrison C ox, Arthur's maternal grandfather passed away January 23, 1913 in Hampton and was buried at H ampton's Cemetery. The death of Harrison left Arthur with only one living grandparent, Matil da Cox.
Arthur completed his public school education in Hampton and began working in the Hampto n and Aurora area. In 1914, events in Europe would later have a major impact on the life o f Arthur as World War I began. America managed to stay out of the conflict for over two years , but in April of 1917, Germany announced unrestricted warfare on the Atlantic and America de clared war on Germany and her allies. Arthur enlisted immediately joining Company H on Apri l 24, 1917. His Company was called into service on July 15, 1917 and was mustered into feder al service August 7, 1917. He left Hampton for "Boot Camp" training on September 14, 1917 a t Camp Cody near Deming, New Mexico. He spent the next nine months preparing for the Europea n War as an American
Allied Army member.
On June 15, 1918 Arthur's Company was called into foreign service and sent to France. H e landed in France on July 28, 1918 and from there was sent to the front as a soldier in Comp any D, 125 Infantry, 32 Division. He took part in the following battles; The Soissons Fron t from August 28 to September 2, the Battle of Juvigny and the Meiuse-Argonne Offensive fro m September 30 to October 20, and the operations against Kriemhilde Strellung the last week o f October. World War I ended November 11, 1918 and Arthur was ordered to serve in the Arm y of Occupation on November 17, 1918 at Coblenz, Germany. World War I was now over, but ther e would be many deaths yet to occur during what remained of 1918 through 1919. These death s were not because of
problems with war, but because of an epidemic influenza virus that was now sweeping across Eu rope and America. The virus became so bad in America and Europe during the Fall of 1918 tha t quarantines were announced throughout the regions. Many servicemen in Europe caught the di sease as the epidemic spread there. Just at a time when Americans could rejoice for having e nded the war, American servicemen were dying in large numbers from influenza.
Arthur Martin Conser became ill with influenza just weeks after the armistice was signe d while he was stationed in Coblenz. By February 1919, the influenza turned into pneumonia a nd he died on February 21, 1919 in Coblenz, Germany. Arthur was then buried in an American N ational Cemetery in Coblenz, however his parents requested that the body be brought back to N ebraska and they complied with the request and his body was returned to Hampton. Memorial se rvices were held at the Hampton Methodist Episcopal Church on June 8, 1919. Rev. George Webe r of Ravenna, a personal friend of Arthur's, officiated. Relatives and friends that attende d the funeral from out of town were
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Standard, C. Garrett and B. Garrett from Grafton, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Jo hnson, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Johnson, and Mr. and Mrs. C. Burgess of Lushton, Mr. and Mrs. Robe rt H. Hunter, Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Cox, Mr. and Mrs. P.G. Hixon, Mr. and Mrs. Avery Medaris, an d Alva Dennis from Aurora, Arthur Martin Conser of Edison, Mrs. Lee Welch of Scottsbluff, an d James Reed Jr. of York, Nebraska. After the services, burial was made in Hampton's Cemete ry.
___________________________________________
Nebraska History and Record of Pioneer Days
Vol II, no. 1 Jan - Mar 1919
Table of Contents
Section Page
War Journey, A 1
History of Nebraska in the War 1
Overseas and at Home 1
Quarterly Hereafter, A 1
Aid from Historical Society Members 1
Important Additions (WWI collection) 1
Curator Blackman 1
First Nebraska Newspaper Files 1
Recent Library Additions 1
Passing of Nebraska Pioneers 2
Deaths since November 24
Mrs. Wm Nutter, NE Pioneer, 1859
Death of a Prominent NE Pioneer (Thomas
Swobe)
Pioneer Associations 2
From European Battlefields 3
Some of the Material Gathered in Person
by Sec. Sheldon
Now in Our War Exhibit
WWI Nebraska's Dead 4
Names of Men From Our State Who Gave
Their Lives in the WW
Reported Killed in Action 4
Reported Died of Disease 6
Reported Died of Wounds 7
Reported Died 8
Reported Died of Accidents 8
Fort Atkinson, or Council Bluffs 8
Words of Appreciation (from members) 8
Conser, Corp. Arthur M., Hampton, March 14, 1919.