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Stephenson County
My grandmother (Winona Keister Smith) told us he lied about his age to join and that he was a drummer boy for the "Stephenson County Boys".
He was a private in the 46th Infantry Regiment, Co. B, as was his brother Eli.
Aaron married Sarah Ann Kramer Oct. 4, 1868 in Erie County, OH, which is where Sarah was born on May 6, 1850.
Aaron Wesley Frankeberger died March 9, 1938 in Rock Grove Township.
He was preceded by his wife Sarah, who died Oct. 13, 1914 in Rock Grove.
John Ai (1869-1945), Winnifred Nettie (1871-1924) Edwin S. (1873-1885) (Buried at Union Cemetery Rock Grove) Ida Corilla (1875-1945), Edith Elizabeth (1877-1968), Willard Jason (1880-1959), Mollie Emma (1882-1970), Charles Wesley (1885-1956), Pearl Susan (1887-1951) (Buried at Union Cemetery Rock Grove) Effie May (1892-1985).
Winnifred (Winnie) Frankeberger was born July 2, 1871 in Ridott, IL. She married John Grant Keister on Feb. 27, 1890 in Okley, WI. They had a total of 6 children: Russell (b. 1891 and died in infancy), Nellie Grace (1892-1983 and married Lee Wells Neuschwander), Wonetta Edith (1895-1985) and married Karl Keil), Levi Wesley (1898-1977), Marie (1901-1983 and married Fredrick Sartorius), and Winona May, (Melissa's grandmother) was born June 12, 1904 in Oneco Township. When Winona May was a girl, she started her school life at the one room, all grade school house in Hickory Grove Country School (north of Dakota). She stated in her notes that her teachers there were (in no order) Ira Miller, Miss Schrum, Albert Zimmerman, Jerry Schaffer, and Miss Stephans (from Georgia). From 1916-1918 she went to the Berlin Country School (south of Dakota) Alta Terhark was the teacher. Winona's family moved closer to Dakota around 1918 and she finished 7th and 8th grades at the old two story wood building. She states in her notes, "the 1st floor was grades 1-4 and the 2nd floor was the rest of the grades." She said that by then, Ira Miller (from the Hickory School) had been hired by the Dakota School Board and was the teacher for the upper floor grades. She graduated from 8th grade in 1920., She went to high school in the new brick building from 1920-24. Ira Miller became the principal there and Edna Rockey was the other teacher. There were only 4 graduates in the 1st graduating class of Dakota High School, which was in 1922. She stated the school board bought the old Lutheran Church and converted into a gymnasium. My grandmother was a member of the girls basketball team. After she graduated in 1924, she went to DeKalb Teacher's College to get her teaching credentials. From 1925-26 she taught at the one room country school east of Dakota, Brown's Grade School. June 28, 1926 Winona married Herbert Ellsworth Smith (my grandfather, who's parents were John W. Smith and Jennie L. Pollock) in Winona, MN. They lived in Dakota until 1939. After they found out my grandmother was pregnant with my father, they decided to move to Phoenix (where I was born). They all lived in the Phoenix area until they each passed away. |
Aaron Wesley Frankeberger was born in Stephenson Co., most likely Rock Grove, Dec. 7, 1845.
Aaron was fairly young, about a month shy of 16 when the War broke out in April of 1861.
