Frank T. Roth

World War I

Frank Roth was born on June 14, 1896 near Templeton to William and Rose (known as Lizzie) (Terlisner) Roth. William had been born in Iowa and came to Carroll County in 1877. Lizzie was from Arcadia. The family farmed near Templeton.

Frank was inducted into the US Army on August 6, 1918, and was sent to Jefferson Barracks, MO near St. Louis. He was assigned serial number 3772715. He went to Jefferson Barracks with five other Carroll County boys to fill a request from an artillery unit. Jefferson Barracks was a long-standing facility that had been transformed during World War I to recruit and train soldiers for service in Europe.

Shortly after arriving at Jefferson Barracks, he was re-assigned to the 13th Bn Infantry at Camp McArthur, TX near Waco. He remained in training in that unit until September 11, 1918. At that time, he became part of Company #2 of the Central Officers Training School. He was in officer training until the Armistice was declared on November 11, 1918. After that, the need for additional officers terminated and Frank was ultimately sent to Camp Dodge, IA and discharged on December 23, 1918.

Frank returned to his family in Carroll County and, on January 12, 1921, he married Rose Heim from Auburn. About this time, Frank’s entire family moved to northern Carroll County near Auburn to engage in farming. Rose Roth died in 1949 leaving Frank a widower. He moved into Wall Lake in 1950. Frank developed medical problems and entered Veterans Hospital in 1958. He was a patient there until he died on December 16, 1960 at age 64. He was buried beside his wife at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Wall Lake, IA.