Edward J. Steigerwald
Rank: Private First Class, U.S. Army
Unit: Battery A, 307th Field Artillery Regiment, 78th Infantry Division
Entered service from: New Jersey
Died:
Buried at: Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Plot F, Row 32, Grave 35, Romagne, France
Edward J. Steigerwald.
Private First Class Edward J. Steigerwald was born on July 28, 1892, in New York. He was the son of Edward Sebastian and Margaret Steigerwald. When the Census was taken in 1910, the family lived at 205 Senate Street. They later moved to 605 South 3rd Street, Camden, NJ. He was one of 17 children. The Steigerwald family had first moved to Camden in 1905, as the elder Steigerwald found work in one of Camden’s shipyards, and later as the electrician at Washington Park in Gloucester City. By 1910 his father had gone into the printing business. Edward J. Steigerwald was working as a Bronzer at the Victor Talking Machine Company. His brother Henry also worked at Victor, as a printer.
On June 5, 1917, Edward J. Steigerwald registered for the draft. He was then living at 308 Royden Street and working as a helper for Charles Lane of 535 Henry Street. He was drafted on April 17, 1918, and sent to Camp Dix, NJ, where he was assigned to Battery A, 307th Field Artillery Regiment.
Private Steigerwald was badly wounded by German artillery fire on October 21, 1918, during the Battle of the Argonne Forest. An account of his death was published in the book History of the 307th Field Artillery — September 1917–1919:
Eddie Steigerwald was out looking for some tin or iron to cover a dugout, while wandering through Grandham, when Fritz was shelling, was struck by a piece of H.E. Sent to the hospital, where he died. He was greatly missed by many friends, who will not forget his cheery ways and generosity.
The “piece of H.E.” referred to above was shrapnel from a high explosive shell. Private First Class Steigerwald died of his wounds two days later at the age of 25.
In 1930 his mother, Margaret Steigerwald, made the Gold Star Mothers Pilgrimage to France.
World War I Draft Registration Card
World War I Draft Registration Card for Edward J. Steigerwald.
Honor Roll Card
Camden County World War I Honor Roll card for Edward J. Steigerwald.
Gold Star Mothers to Attend Foreign War Veteran's Ball
Camden Courier-Post —
Gold Star Mothers will be the honor guests at the first annual military ball of the Camden Post, No. 980, Veterans of Foreign Wars, to be held on Friday evening, February 3, in the Elks ballroom, Seventh and Cooper Streets.
Elaborate plans for this ball are under the chairmanship of John S. Pennington.
Invitations have been issued for patrons and patronesses and the list will be announced early next week.
Gold Star Mothers to attend the affair are Mrs. C. Alberger, Mrs. Harriett Ablett, Mrs. Laura Brown, Mrs. A. Crangel, Mrs. A. Cassidey, Mrs. R. Dilks, Mrs. Kate Geist, Mrs. M. Griffen, Mrs. Horace B. Keebler, Mrs. H. Kirk, Mrs. Ross Leahy, Mrs. M. A. Matson, Mrs. M. McGuckin, Mrs. Mary Martin, Mrs. M. Matthews, Mrs. Cooling Pond, Mrs. Oliver Powell*, Mrs. Mary Pennington, Mrs. C. Rolk, Mrs. E. Simons, Mrs. Mary Schucker, Mrs. Margaret Steigerwald, Mrs. Annie Taylor, Mrs. M. Osborn, Mrs. Mary Keegan, Mrs. Anna Kennedy, Mrs. T. C. Young, and Mrs. Walters.
Assisting Mr. Pennington in planning this ball are John Rouh, James W. Connor, Charles Bozian, Robert MacMahon, Edward Watson, David Lukoff, Harry Laxton, Edward A. Stark, George Jones, William V. Long, Joseph Keefe, Charles Blank, and Marvel Passwater.
*Newspaper error — Mrs. Oliver Powell was actually Mrs. Oliver Purnell.
Mrs. Margaret Steigerwald, 72, Has Record Few Women Can Claim
Camden Courier-Post —
Mrs. Margaret Steigerwald, 72, Has Record Few Women Can Claim; Neighborhood to Honor Family Tomorrow; Edward Died in France
Mrs. Margaret Steigerwald, of 1207 Atlantic avenue, now in her 72d year, can claim a distinction that comes to few women.
A gold star mother, Mrs. Steigerwald, had four sons overseas in the first World War, one of whom was killed. And she has two sons in the present war.
Mrs. Steigerwald has had 17 children in all, 10 boys and seven girls. Nine are living. She also has 16 grandchildren. Her husband, Edward S., a shipyard worker, died three years ago at the age of 70. The family has lived in Camden 37 years.
A quarter of a century ago, Mrs. Steigerwald gave four sons to the cause. Edward J. was killed by shell fire while serving with the 307th Field Artillery, 78th Division, on Oct. 23, 1918. With him there: J. Henry, now 48 and living in Berlin, served with the 57th Infantry; Joseph M., 47, of 1141 Louisiana avenue, is with Local 1; and James F., 46, of 7 Harding avenue, Oaklyn, with the 606th Engineers.
The present war has two Steigerwaldsin under arms, with a third likely to go. Corp. William F., 29, is at Ft. Lewis, Wash.; Corp. Frank, 32, in Tennessee. Carl, 33, lives at 1207 Atlantic avenue, is on the payroll of the Courier-Post. He is unmarried but is the only son or daughter left at home with his mother.
Honored By Service Flag
The two Corporal Steigerwaldsin will be among 79 in the service of their country who will be honored tomorrow when a service flag is raised at Norris street and Atlantic avenue, as a token of esteem for those from the neighborhood in uniform. One of the 79 is a woman, Miss Frieda Azoff, of 1323 Haddon avenue, a lieutenant in the WAVES.
The two Steigerwald boys in the present war were among those service men honored at a flag raising ceremony at Atlantic avenue and Louis street last Sunday.
Tomorrow’s exercises will begin at 2:30 p.m., with city officials and clergymen participating.
Rear Admiral Stills, donor on the Boise whose crew’s feat of sinking six Jap warships made naval history, will be present and will unfurl the flag.
The committee in charge of the program includes Evan Sweeten, Edward Conlin, Lawrence Matthews, Edward Downs, William Gwin, Mrs. Anna M. Saunders, John Roman and Joseph Monahan.
Others to Be Honored
Those to be honored, in addition to Stills, Miss Azoff and the Steigerwald brothers, follow:
Warren Abrahms, William Abrahms, Michael Adrian, Philip Anthony, Jack Almond, Robert Brennan, Frank Bruzek, William Burgess, William Croneberger, John Driscle, Paul Druzek, Edward Eastwike, Edward Emuc, William Erkert, Anthony Finizio, Edward B. Freedman, Zigmund Grossin, Martin Hall, Charles Adolph Herdegen, Morton Herman, Joseph Higgins, Harry Holman Jr., Norman J. Horner, John Hue, Jean Frank Hunbest, Walter Jabienski, Philip Kauffman, Walter Kennedy, Stanley King, John Kobinski, Joseph Koblinski, Louis Kushner, Frank La Mayski, Leon La Mayski, Arthur Lear, Jack Lear, William Luppold, John Lusker, William Lubonski, George Lutton.
Frank E. Marcuci, Fred Melchior, A. Michalski, Arthur Mika, Andrew Morz, George Nowery, Thomas Nowery, Charles Pepiak, Leo Plasek, Henry Piech, Felix Purzycki, Karl Purzycki, Roscyzki, Joseph Roman Jr., Walter Roman, Joseph Rotchford, Victor Rohler, William Rosevich, Rupert Rusher, Thomas Shooley, Edward Shuda, Stanley Siris, Louis Sobel, Fred Stoner, David Stoker, Benjamin Strzenski, Joseph Trost, Michael Trost.
Edward Urhan, Robert Weber Jr., James L. Whelan, Robert Wilson, William Wimley, George Stilts, Frank Kwoka, Walter Kwoka and Stanley Kwoka.
Sends Her Sons to Two World Wars — The family book of the Steigerwald family of 1207 Atlantic avenue, which records pertinent data about her 17 children, is perused by Mrs. Margaret Steigerwald in the living room of her home. A gold star mother in the first World War, with four sons in action in France, Mrs. Steigerwald now, a quarter of a century later, has two more sons wearing Uncle Sam’s uniform.