Elmer Dredge
World War I
According to his obituary, Elmer Dredge was born at Tilden Jan. 31, 1896, and grew up there, then moved to a farm near Osmond with his family when he was a young man. However, according to the U.S. Census, his family was living in Mills Precinct southwest of Osmond when he was 4 years old, and in Logan Precinct southeast of Osmond when he was 13.
His parents, George and Eliza Dredge, had a total of 10 children. All but the youngest, born in 1913, was born in Tilden according to their information on Find A Grave, so much of this information is confusing.
What is true is that Elmer was living at Osmond when he signed his World War I registration papers. He was working as a farm laborer for Frank Stedry at the time. His military records show he enlisted on May 28, 1918, when he was 22 years old.
On Aug. 18, 1918, he is listed on the ship Tras-Os-Montes headed for Europe, where he served at least part of his time in France, according to his obituary. He was a member of Battery “A”, 338th Field Artillery, the 88th Division.
According to information about the 88th Division, it sailed in stages to England in August and September 1918, and moved to France. Elements of the division participated in training near the front lines with the French Army, and occupied quiet sectors of the front in Alsace beginning in early October 1918. The Armistice ended the war a month later. Elmer was discharged on Jan. 16, 1919.
After the war, Elmer returned to the area and farmed in the Osmond and Wausa area the rest of his life. The 1930 and 1940 censuses show him as the head of the household with his parents and other siblings living with him. The 1950 census shows him living in the home of his youngest brother, Vern, and his family, where he apparently spent the rest of his life.
Elmer died at the Veterans Hospital in Omaha on April 30, 1978, at the age of 82. He had never married.
Elmer was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. After funeral services at the United Methodist Church, graveside memorial services were conducted by members of American Legion Post 326.
He was buried in the Osmond City Cemetery. His grave is three rows up from the main gate, on the left, and halfway across the row.
