Norman Montgomery Zahniser

The following profile was researched and compiled by Candice L. Buchanan and Glenn J. R. T. Toothman III, for publication in "The Rain Day Boys: The Greene That Lay Near Grimpettes Woods" (2017). Learn more at www.RainDayBoys.com.

Birth: 6 December 1894 Washington County, Pennsylvania[i]

Parents: William S. Zahniser and Ada M. Alexander[ii]

Residence at time of enlistment: 322 South Washington Street, Waynesburg, Greene County, Pennsylvania[iii]

Physical description: 5 feet 9 inches tall, fair complexion, brown eyes, dark brown hair[iv]

Death: Killed in action 29 July 1918 Cierges, Picardie, France[v]

Age at death: 23 years old

Last resting place: 16 January 1922 Green Mount Cemetery, Waynesburg, Greene County, Pennsylvania[vi]

Military rank: Serial No. 1241461. Private First Class. Company K, 110th Infantry, 28th Division.

Witness account of death: Statement given by Sgt. Ezra M. Sayers. “I was with Norman Zahniser lying in a wheat field near the Grimpette woods when he was hit in the head by machine gun fire. He died instantly. He was a gunner on an automatic rifle and I was on his team. I think this was on the 29th July.”[vii]

Additional information:

Like the Yoders and McNeely families, the Zahnisers answered the state’s request and submitted the newspaper questionnaire to enhance the official record of their son. To this they added a handwritten note and the profile photograph seen above. In addition to comments regarding Norman’s military service, they wrote:

Norman M. Zahniser was an alumnus of the Waynesburg High School Class of 1915 and at the time of enlistment was a member of the Freshman Class at State College, Pennsylvania.

He took an active part in athletics in Waynesburg both in basketball and football while in High School and played baseball in the church league. He was one of the most popular young men of the town.[viii]

On 16 January 1922, Norman’s casket, draped in an American flag, traveled from his parents’ home on South Washington Street, north through town to Green Mount Cemetery, on a “gun carriage, drawn by four black horses.”[ix]

In 1934, Ada M. Zahniser, Norman’s mother, was granted $10.00 a month for 20 months, as part of the Pennsylvania Veteran’s Compensation Act, on behalf of her son.[x]

[i] "United States, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=6482 : accessed 28 October 2017), Norman Montgomery Zahniser draft card, serial no. 396, Local Draft Board No. 1, South Ward, Waynesburg, Greene County, Pennsylvania; citing National Archives microfilm publication M1509, FHL roll 1892940.

[ii] William S. Zahniser obituary, Waynesburg Republican, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, 14 February 1924.

Ada M. Zahniser obituary, Democrat Messenger, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, 1 February 1937.

[iii] "United States, Army Transport Service Passenger Lists 1910-1939," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=61174 : accessed 14 October 2017), Norman M. Zahniser entry, line 71, page 32 (stamped), Ausonia, box 373; citing Lists of Outgoing Passengers, 1917-1938. Textual records. 255 Boxes. NAI: 6234477. Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985. Record Group Number 92. National Archives, College Park, Maryland. The ledger lists an emergency contact person and address for each passenger. Norman listed his father, with whom he likely lived at the time of his enlistment. He gave his address as “322 South Washington St., Waynesburg, PA.”

"United States, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," digital images, Ancestry.com, Norman Montgomery Zahniser draft card, serial no. 396, Local Draft Board No. 1, South Ward, Waynesburg, Greene County, Pennsylvania.

[iv] "PA National Guard Veterans' Card File, 1867-1921," digital images, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), Pennsylvania State Archives Records Information Access System (www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us/archive.asp: viewed 12 November 2017), Norman M. Zahniser, Private, Co K, 10th Inf., P. N. G.; citing Pennsylvania State Archives, series #19.135.

[v] "WWI Veterans Service and Compensation Files, 1917-1919, 1934-1948," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60884 : accessed 9 October 2017), Ada M. Zahniser, mother of Norman M. Zahniser - application no. 123639; citing World War I Veterans Service and Compensation File, 1934–1948 (RG 19, Series 19.91), Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

[vi] Green Mount Cemetery (Waynesburg, Greene County, Pennsylvania), Norman M. Zahniser tombstone; personally read by Candice Buchanan, 2008.

"World War Hero Laid To Rest" article, Waynesburg Republican, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, 19 January 1922, page 1, column 6.

[vii] “WWI Veterans Service and Compensation Files, 1917-1919, 1934-1948," digital images, Ancestry.com, Ada M. Zahniser, mother of Norman M. Zahniser - application no. 123639.

[viii] “WWI Veterans Service and Compensation Files, 1917-1919, 1934-1948," digital images, Ancestry.com, Ada M. Zahniser, mother of Norman M. Zahniser - application no. 123639.

[ix] "World War Hero Laid To Rest" article, Waynesburg Republican, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, 19 January 1922, page 1, column 6.

[x] “WWI Veterans Service and Compensation Files, 1917-1919, 1934-1948," digital images, Ancestry.com, Ada M. Zahniser, mother of Norman M. Zahniser - application no. 123639.