Paul Emory Mentzer (1896–1942)
Early Life
Paul Emory Mentzer was born on March 28, 1896, in Yates Center, Woodson County, Kansas. He was the son of Charles Oliver Mentzer and Nettie Adell Wells Mentzer. He was a twin brother to Pauline Mentzer. The family lived in rural southeast Kansas, and Paul grew up surrounded by small farming communities like Neosho Falls and Liberty Township in nearby Coffey County.
As a boy, Paul appeared with his parents on early Kansas and U.S. census records, always in or near his birthplace. In the 1900 census he was just four years old; by 1905 he was eight and living in Neosho Falls; and by 1910, a teenager in Liberty Township. The 1915 Kansas census listed him as an eighteen-year-old agricultural laborer, typical work for a young man helping on a family farm in that era.
Military Service in World War I
When the United States entered World War I, Paul registered for the draft on June 5, 1917. He was later assigned to Company E, 139th Infantry, 35th Division and departed New York City aboard the transport ship Caronia on April 25, 1918.
While serving in France with the American Expeditionary Forces, Paul was seriously wounded around September 1918 when a shell exploded nearby. He suffered shrapnel wounds to his chest and left leg, burns, and gas exposure. He eventually recovered enough to return home, and in January 1919 he sent a postcard to his sister, Mrs. E. O. Briles, from Niagara Falls, saying he was on his way back to Camp Funston in Kansas.
Education and Early Career
After returning from the war, Paul settled back in Kansas. The 1920 census found him in Everett Township, Woodson County, working as a garage mechanic. On August 25, 1921, he married Ada Ellen Saferite in Neosho Falls, beginning a lifelong partnership.
Paul valued education. By 1925 he had earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg (now Pittsburg State University). That same year he was teaching manual training—what we might call industrial arts today—in Burr Oak, Jewell County, Kansas.
A year later, in 1926, he accepted a position as a manual training instructor at the high school in Council Grove, Kansas. His teaching career was well established by the 1930s, when he and Ada were living in Eureka Township, Saline County, where he was again listed as a teacher.
Later Years in Education
By 1933, Paul had moved into administration as principal of the school in Gas, Allen County, Kansas. A few years later, the family relocated to Colorado, living at 247 Fillmore Street in Denver by 1937.
In 1939–1940, Paul and Ada lived in Lyons, Boulder County, where the 1940 census described him as a manual training teacher. Teaching practical skills was a respected and steady occupation during the Great Depression, and Paul’s work would have equipped many young people for trades when jobs were scarce.
Tragic Death
In the early 1940s, Paul’s health and career took him to Springfield, Baca County, Colorado, where he also registered for the World War II draft as a veteran. Tragically, on August 14, 1942, at the age of 46, he was killed in an accident at a public-school building in Springfield, fracturing his skull in a fall.
Paul was buried four days later, on August 18, 1942, at Cedarvale Cemetery in his hometown of Neosho Falls, Kansas.
Family
Paul’s wife, Ada Ellen Saferite Mentzer, was born on April 6, 1894, also in Neosho Falls. She lived in Kansas and Colorado during their marriage and survived her husband by more than 30 years, passing away on November 18, 1973, in Grandview, Jackson County, Missouri. She was laid to rest beside Paul in Cedarvale Cemetery.
Paul and Ada had three known children:
- Ada Mentzer, who died before 1929.
- Delos Paul Mentzer, born April 28, 1923, in Pittsburg, Crawford County, Kansas. He served in the military, married Elva Sweet in 1944 and later Carrie Beryl Schumaker in 1955, and died in 1976.
- Eugene Charles Mentzer, born March 25, 1928, who lived in Kipp, Saline County, Kansas, until his death in 2004.
A Life of Service and Learning
Paul Emory Mentzer’s life reflected the values of his Kansas upbringing—service, perseverance, and education. From the fields of Woodson County to the battlefields of France and finally to the classrooms of Kansas and Colorado, Paul devoted himself to building, teaching, and helping others. Though his life was cut short, his influence lived on through his students, his children, and the community roots his family maintained for generations.
RootsMagic Narrative Style Report for Paul Mentzer
Paul Emory Mentzer [1] was born on 28 Mar 1896 in Yates Center, Kansas. Paul had a twin sister Pauline. [1–5]
He was the child of Charles Oliver Mentzer and Nettie Adell Wells. [6]
Paul Mentzer was listed as the son of Charles Mentzer on the 1900 census in Woodson County, Kansas. According to the census, Paul was born Mar 1896 in Kansas. [7]
He was listed as Paul Mentzer, an 8 year old male born in Kansas, on the 1905 census living in Neosho Falls, Woodson County, Kansas on 1 Jul 1905. [8]
The 1910 census shows a 13 year old single male born Kansas who was listed as Paul E. Mentzer living in Liberty Township, Coffey County, Kansas on 27 Apr 1910. [9]
The 1915 Kansas census shows an 18 year old agriculture laborer born in Kansas who was listed as Paul Mentzer in Neosho Township, Coffey County, Kansas. [10]
Paul registered for the draft on 5 Jun 1917 in Woodson County, Kansas. [11]
On 25 Apr 1918, he departed aboard the Caronia as part of the 139th Infantry from in New York City. [12]
About Sep 1918, he was wounded when a 9 inch shell burst near him while serving in Co. E 139th Infantry A.E.F. He had shrapnel wounds in his chest and and on his left leg just above his knee. He also was burned by the powder from the shell and gassed. [13–14]
On 13 Jan 1919, Paul sent a Niagara Falls postcard to his sister, Mrs. E. O. Briles, stating that he was on his way to Funston. [15]
The 1920 census shows a 23 year old male Paul Mentzer who was born in Kansas and employed as a garage mechanic living in Everett Township, Woodson County, Kansas. [16]
He married Ada Ellen Saferite on 25 Aug 1921 in Neosho Falls, Woodson County, Kansas. [17–20]
He lived in Pittsburg, Kansas in 1925. [21]
He received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg on 28 May 1925 in Pittsburg, Kansas. [22–24]
In Aug 1925 Paul was an a manual training teacher in Burr Oak, Jewell County, Kansas. [25]
In Aug 1926 he was a manual training instructor at the high school in Coucil Grove, Kansas. [26]
He registered as a veteran of WWI in 1930 in Saline County, Kansas. [27]
The 1930 census shows a 34 year old Paul E. Mentzer who was born in Kansas and employed as a teacher living in Eureka Township, Saline County, Kansas. [28]
In Aug 1933 Paul was a principal in Gas, Allen County, Kansas. [29]
He lived at 247 Fillmore in Denver, Colorado in 1937. [30]
He lived in Lyons, Boulder County, Colorado in Feb 1939. [31–32]
The 1940 census shows a 44 year old Paul Mentzer who was born in Kansas and employed as a manual training teacher living in Lyons, Boulder County, Colorado. [33]
Paul was a patient at Fitzsimmons Hospital in Springfield, Baca County, Colorado about 1941. [34]
He registered for the draft in 1942 in Springfield, Baca County, Colorado. [35]
He lived in Springfield, Baca County, Colorado in Aug 1942. [1,34]
Paul died on 14 Aug 1942 in Lamar, Prowers, Colorado, United States at the age of 46. He fractured his skull in an accident at a public school building in Springfield, Colorado. [1–3,34,36–39]
He was buried on 18 Aug 1942 at Cedarvale Cemetery in Neosho Falls, Woodson County, Kansas. [1–2,34,38,40–42]
Paul Emory Mentzer and Ada Ellen Saferite were married on 25 Aug 1921 in Neosho Falls, Woodson County, Kansas. [17–20]
Ada Ellen Saferite [43] was born on 6 Apr 1894 in Neosho Falls, Woodson County, Kansas. [43–47]
She married Paul Emory Mentzer on 25 Aug 1921 in Neosho Falls, Woodson County, Kansas. [17–20]
She lived in Pittsburg, Kansas in 1925. [48]
She appeared on the census as a 36 year old female born Kansas living in Eureka Township, Saline County, Kansas on 15 Apr 1930. [28]
Ada lived in Denver, Colorado in 1937. [49]
She appeared on the census as a 46 year old female born in Kansas living in in Lyons, Boulder County, Colorado on 16 Apr 1940. [33]
She sold land on 6 Dec 1946 in Allen County, Kansas. [50]
Ada died on 18 Nov 1973 at the age of 79 in Grandview, Jackson County, Missouri. [43,45–46,51]
She was buried on 20 Nov 1973 at Neosho Falls Cemetery in Neosho Falls, Woodson County, Kansas. [43,45–47]
Paul Emory Mentzer and Ada Ellen Saferite had the following children:
2 i Ada Mentzer [52] died before 1929. [52]
+3 ii Delos Paul Mentzer, born 28 Apr 1923, Pittsburg, Crawford, Kansas, United States; married Elva Sweet, 3 Sep 1944, Maine; married Carrie Beryl Schumaker, 17 Jul 1955, Iola, Allen, Kansas, United States; died 8 May 1976.
+4 iii Eugene Charles Mentzer, born 25 Mar 1928; died 29 Dec 2004, Kipp, Saline, Kansas, United States.
ENDNOTES:
1. Paul Emory Mentzer, death certificate #10912 (August 1942), State of Colorado, Colorado Department of Health, Denver, Colorado.
2. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online April 2017), memorial for Paul E. Mentzer (1896-1942), Find a Grave Memorial no. #118586494, created by larry gifford, citing Cedarvale Cemetery, Neosho Falls, Woodson County, Kansas; accompanying photograph by larry gifford, Paul E. Mentzer.
3. “U.S., Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940,” Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online (28 July 2021), Paul Emory Mentzer.
4. Mentzer, George, Family Bible of Emeline Minnick Mentzer (no place: no publisher, no date); Doris Ryan, Yates Center, KS, Paul Emory Mentzer Mar 28 1896
5. Crawford Family Papers; privately held by Marcia Philbrick, Seneca, Kansas, 2016. Bible Charles O. Mentzer. passed down to Marcia Philbrick by Pauline Briles.
6. Social Security Administration, “Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007,” database on-line, Ancestry, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60901/ : viewed online October 2017), Paul Emory Mentzer.
7. 1900 U.S. Census, North Township, Woodson County, Kansas, population schedule, North Township, Woodson County, Kansas, SD 4, ED 186, page 1A, Image 1 of 12, household 2, Mentzer Charles; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online July 2016); FHL microfilm: 1240503
8. 1905 Kansas Census, Neosho Falls, Woodson County, state census, Neosho Falls, Woodson County, Kansas, page 12, Image 152 of 173, household 72, C. O. Mentzer; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online November 2017); Kansas State Historical Society
9. 1910 U.S. Census, Liberty Township, Coffey County, Kansas, population schedule, Liberty Township, Coffey County, Kansas, ED 15, sheet 7B, Image 14 of 30, household 124, Charles O Mentzer; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online November 2017)
10. 1915 Kansas Census, Coffey County, State Census, Coffey County, Neosho Township, 11 (image 21 of 58), Image 21 of 58, dwelling 91, C. O. Mentzer; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online March 2016)
11. “World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” database, Ancestry (Ancestry.com : viewed online April 2017), Paul Emory Mentzer.
12. U.S., Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists, 1910-1939, Paul E Mentzer, database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 23 December 2019).
13. “From Our Soldier Boys,” The Yates Center News (Yates Center, Kansas), 11 October 1918, page 1; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 26 July 2021).
14. “From Our Soldier Boys – Chaplain letter,” The Yates Center News (Yates Center, Kansas), 11 October 1918, page 1; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 26 July 2021).
15. Crawford Family Papers; privately held by Marcia Philbrick, Seneca, Kansas, 2016. Postcard from Paul Mentzer to Mrs. E. O. Briles dated 13 Jan 1919. passed down from Mrs. E. O. Briles to granddaughter, Marcia Philbrick.
16. 1920 U.S. Census, Woodson County, Kansas, population schedule, Everett Township, Woodson County, Kansas, ED 155, Sheet 6A, Image 11 of 14, household 116, Charles O Mentzer; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online November 2017); NARA microfilm publication T625
17. Kansas State Department of Health and Environment, Office of Vital Statistics, Marriage License #104 445 (August 1921), Paul E. Mentzer and Ada E Sferite; Kansas State Department of Health and Environment, Topeka, KS.
18. Marriage License Record, Woodson County, Kansas, Mentzer Marriage Affidavit, Woodson County Courthouse, Yates Center, Woodson County, Kansas.
19. Duncan, L. Wallace and Chas F. Scott, History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas. (Iola, Kansas: Iola Register, 1901) pp. 831-832 (Doc. #: Mentzer.KS.025).
20. “Mentzer-Saferite,” The Neosho Falls Post (Neosho Falls, Kansas), 9 September 1921, page 1; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 14 January 2021).
21. 1925 Kansas Census, Crawford County, Kansas, Kansas census, Pittsburg, Crawford County, Kansas, page 28, Image 311 of 668, Paul E Mentzer; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online January 2018)
22. “Local News,” The Iola Register (Iola, Kansas), 29 May 1925, page 3; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 28 July 2021).
23. United States, School Yearbooks, 1900-1999, Paul E Mentzer, 1925; Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 28 July 2021).
24. United States, School Yearbooks, 1900-1999, Paul E Mentzer – The Kanza 1925, 1925; Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com).
25. “Local and Personal,” Burr Oak Herald (Burr Oak, Kansas), 3 September 1925, page 2; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 28 July 2021).
26. “Manual Teacher Here,” Council Grove Republican (Council Grove, Kansas), 27 August 1926, page 1; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 28 July 2021).
27. “Kansas, Enrollment of WWI Veterans, 1930,” database online, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online December 2018), Paul Mentzer; Enrollment of Word War One Veterans or Their Widows and Orphans, 1930. Kansas State Historical Society.
28. 1930 U.S. Census, Saline County, Kansas, Eureka, Saline County, Kansas, ED6, sheet 2B, Image 4 of 8, household 44, Paul E Mentzer; digital images, (: viewed online January 2018).
29. “Gas City Events,” The Iola Register (Iola, Kansas), 2 June 1933, page 5; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 28 July 2021).
30. 1937 Denver Directory (Denver, Colorado: The Gazetteer Co., Inc., 1937), Denver, Colorado, p. 1625, Paul Mentzer; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online April 2017).
31. Mrs. C. O. Mentzer Obituary, Yates Center Kansas, Crawford Family Papers, privately held by Marcia Philbrick, Seneca, KS 66538.
32. “News of Neosho Falls,” The Iola Register (Iola, Kansas), 15 February 1939, page 5; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 21 July 2021).
33. 1940 U.S. Census, Boulder County, Colorado, population schedule, Lyons, Boulder County, Colorado, ED 7-20, sheet 8B, Image 17 of 22, household 15, Paul Mentzer; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online January 2018); NARA microfilm publication T627.
34. Local Teacher Killed in Fall from Roof of High Bldg., privately held by Marcia Philbrick, Seneca, KS 66538, 2021. passed down from Pauline Briles to Marcia Philbrick.
35. “U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942,” digital images, NARA Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online April 2017), Paul Emory Mentzer; citing .
36. Social Security Administration, “Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007,” database on-line Paul Emory Mentzer.
37. “Paul Mentzer Rites Tuesday,” The Iola Register (Iola, Kansas), 17 August 1942, page 1; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 23 December 2019).
38. “News of Neosho Falls,” The Iola Register (Iola, Kansas), 20 August 1942, page 2; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 26 July 2021).
39. Pauline Mentzer Briles family, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments King James Version (The World Publishing Company); Lloyd Doolittle, San Bernardino, California, Charles Mentzer / Pauline Briles family Bible
40. Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, “Applications for Headstones for U.S. Military Veterans, 1925-1963,” image, Ancestry.com, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed online April 2017), Paul Emory Mentzer.
41. “Paul Mentzer Rites Tuesday,” The Iola Register (Iola, Kansas), 17 August 1942, page 1; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 23 December 2019).
42. “News of Neosho Falls,” The Iola Register (Iola, Kansas), 24 August 1942; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 26 July 2021).
43. Funeral Card / Memorial Book, (Charles Mentzer Notebook),
44. Marriage License Record, Woodson County, Kansas, [Page].
45. , P. NF43 (Wells.KS.029), Yates Center Cemetery, , .
46. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online May 2017), memorial for Ada Ellen Mentzer (1894-1973), Find a Grave Memorial no. #118586606, created by larry gifford, citing Cedarvale Cemetery, Neosho Falls, Woodson County, Kansas; accompanying photograph by larry gifford, Ada Ellen Mentzer.
47. “Mrs. Ida E. Mentzer,” The Kansas City Times (Kansas City, Missouri), 19 November 1973, page 54; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 20 January 2020).
48. 1925 Kansas Census, Crawford County, Kansas, Kansas census, Pittsburg, Crawford County, Kansas, page 28, , Paul E Mentzer.
49. 1937 Denver Directory (Denver, Colorado: The Gazetteer Co., Inc., 1937), [City], p. 1625, Mentzer Paul E; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online May 2017).
50. “Real Estate Transfers,” The Iola Register (Iola, Kansas), 7 December 1946, page 4; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 23 December 2019).
51. Social Security Administration, “U.S. Social Security Death Index,” database, Ancestry, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online May 2017), Ada Mentzer, 522-24-3146, before 1951.