thank you to mike murry and the murry family for the data and photos

Henry Ralph Liestenfeltz was born on October 12, 1894 in Blackford, Indiana, son of William Frances Liestenfeltz (30) and Lyda Adela Bender (24). As the family story goes, a Prince of Liechtenstein got the tax collector’s daughter pregnant and moved to Paris, France. He eventually fought in Napoleon’s army in Germany. After the war, he moved to the United States and had ten sons, Henry being one of them.

Henry’s education ended after the seventh grade and when he was around twelve years old, after his father died, he left Indiana and moved to Michigan, where he would spend the rest of his life.

Henry registered for the draft on June 1, 1917, at the age of 22. His residence is listed as 310 E. Main Street, Durnad, MI and lists his occupation as a Locomotive Foreman with Grand Trunk Western Railroad. He departed for France from New York City as part of the Camp Greenleaf Replacement Camp Company No. 1 on June 8, 1918 aboard the U.S.S. Aquitania as a private (serial #806800) attached to the Medical Department.

Henry was stationed in Saint-Nazaire, France, at Base Hospital No. 101, SOS, where he served as a cook in the Medical Department, reaching the rank of Private 1st Class. During his time there he met Fernande Augizeau, who was born in Saint-Nazaire and was residing there during the war. They married on April 22, 1919 in Saint-Nazaire. They would go on to have six children, one son (Chester) and five daughters (Audrey, Maxine, Vernetta, Betty and Blenna) and stayed married for the rest of their lives.

On February 10, 1919 Henry attended the U.S./French Masonic banquet hosted by Trait d’Union Lodge in Saint-Nazaire and American Base Section No. 1, where he acquired this souvenir flag from the event.

Fernande had to acquire an emergency passport to return to the U.S. with Henry, delaying their departure. They finally departed Saint-Nazaire on July 8, 1919 aboard the U.S.S. Manchuria as part of the Saint Nazaire Special Casual Co. #1658 (Married), docking in Hoboken, NJ, on July 18, 1919. Then on to Camp Mills.

After being discharged from the Army, he continued working for the Grand Trunk Western Railroad and also acquired a real estate brokers license, selling real estate and farms on the side. The 1920 census reports Henry and Fernande living in Vernon Township, MI, with Henry’s mother, Della, Henry’s sister and their daughter, Audry. He was invited to join the KKK in 1930 and staunchly refused, being highly insulted, stating “Anytime I have to hide my face behind a mask, I am no longer a man!”. The 1930 census reports Henry and Fernande living at 107 Maryette Street in Durand, MI, with daughters Audry, Betty and Blenna and their son Chester.

Henry was a member of North Newburg Masonic Lodge No. 161 in Durand, Michigan.

Henry retired from the Grand Trunk Western Railroad in 1963 after 50 years, 9 months and 12 days of service. He also collected newspaper clippings regarding the railroad history of Durand and the Grand Trunk Western Railroad, eventually collecting over 3,000 clippings. He was featured in a newspaper article about Durand’s railroad history in The State Journal on August 23, 1965.

Fernande passed away on January 4, 1964. Henry joined her at the age of 72 on April 4, 1966, in Vernon, Michigan.

They now rest together in Greenwood Cemetery, Vernon, Michigan.

Soft and safe, my brother, be thy resting place. Bright and glorious be thy rising from it.

Lest we forget…