About This Project:
Honouring the Veterans of Arenzville
The Village of Arenzville has always been proud of the men and women from its community who have served in the military. Their contributions to defending the ideals of a peaceful world have shaped our community, our state, our nation – and the world itself.
This project exists to make sure their stories are never forgotten.
The veterans whose stories inspired this project are all searchable in one place. Browse the complete archive — from the Civil War to the Iraq War.
A Monument That Sparked a Mission
In 1991, the village dedicated a beautiful new granite monument to honour the women and men who had served in the armed forces. Seeing hundreds of names carved in stone was a powerful moment.
Some were names of people I had the privilege of knowing personally. Others were names of men and women about whom I knew very little. That realisation led to a simple but important truth:
A village ought to know more than just a name when it comes to those who have served in the military. All of their stories are worth telling.
And so began the work of collecting stories, photographs, and records – with the hope of sharing them with the community and beyond. 
A Community Archive, Built Together
The information and photographs on this site have been generously contributed by dozens of people who share a commitment to preserving this history.
Through their contributions, I have learned remarkable things about Arenzville – from veterans who served overseas in some of history's most defining conflicts, to those who served here at home. The depth of service this small community has given to the world is extraordinary.
This is their archive. This is their legacy.The Scope of This Project
This archive spans more than 150 years of military service – from the Civil War through to Desert Storm – and includes the proud members of American Legion Post 604.
To be included in this archive, a veteran must meet at least one of the following criteria:- Born in the Arenzville community
- Resided in Arenzville at the time of their military service
- Buried in the Arenzville area
In each case, "Arenzville" is defined broadly – encompassing the village itself and the surrounding rural community, consistent with how residents have historically understood their home.
How We Research Arenzville's Veterans
Documenting the veterans of Arenzville is painstaking, careful work. Identifying individuals connected to this community required cross-referencing multiple historical databases, published county histories, and firsthand community knowledge.
Primary Sources Consulted
Research draws on a wide range of records, including:
Civil War
Illinois Civil War Muster and Descriptive Rolls – Illinois State Archives
U.S. Civil War Soldiers & Pension Index Records – Ancestry
Federal Census Records – 1860, 1870, 1890 Veterans Schedules, 1910, and 1930
U.S. Civil War Draft Registration Records, 1863–1865
Find-a-Grave listings – used to confirm burial locations and dates
Published county histories, including Perrin’s History of Cass County, Illinois (1882)
Newspapers.com and Newspaper Archives – obituaries and published news items
U.S. Burial Registers, Military Posts and National Cemeteries, 1862–1960
World War I
World War II
Veterans’ interviews (conducted by Molly, Bill Beard or others)
Veterans’ military records (requested from the National Archives)
Burial Case Files (requested from the National Archives)
Veterans’ war letters
Arenzville Town Tattler (WWII newsletter)
Walther League News (WWII newsletter)
Unit histories
Korean War
Veterans’ interviews (conducted by Molly, Bill Beard or others)
Veterans’ military records (requested from the National Archives)
Burial Case Files (requested from the National Archives)
Veterans’ war letters
Arenzville Town Tattler (WWII newsletter)
Walther League News (WWII newsletter)
Unit histories
Cold War
Veterans’ interviews (conducted by Molly, Bill Beard or others)
Veterans’ military records (requested from the National Archives)
Burial Case Files (requested from the National Archives)
Veterans’ war letters
Arenzville Town Tattler (WWII newsletter)
Walther League News (WWII newsletter)
Unit histories
Vietnam War
Veterans’ interviews (conducted by Molly, Bill Beard or others)
Veterans’ military records (requested from the National Archives)
Burial Case Files (requested from the National Archives)
Veterans’ war letters
Arenzville Town Tattler (WWII newsletter)
Walther League News (WWII newsletter)
Unit histories
Desert Storm
Veterans’ interviews (conducted by Molly, Bill Beard or others)
Veterans’ military records (requested from the National Archives)
Burial Case Files (requested from the National Archives)
Veterans’ war letters
Arenzville Town Tattler (WWII newsletter)
Walther League News (WWII newsletter)
Unit histories
Legion Post 604
Veterans’ interviews (conducted by Molly, Bill Beard or others)
Veterans’ military records (requested from the National Archives)
Burial Case Files (requested from the National Archives)
Veterans’ war letters
Arenzville Town Tattler (WWII newsletter)
Walther League News (WWII newsletter)
Unit histories
The Challenges of Historical Research
This research is never straightforward. A soldier's place of residence was not always recorded at enlistment – and when it was, the spelling of "Arenzville" varied widely across records, appearing as "Arnesville," "Aunzeville," and other variations.
Some veterans served under aliases. Others enlisted in neighbouring states, making them harder to trace. And for some men, the records simply no longer exist.
Despite these challenges, this archive continues to grow – and every new name recovered is a life honored.
How You Can Help
This project is only as complete as the community allows it to be – and there is always more to discover.
Share a Story or Photo
If you have stories or photographs related to an Arenzville veteran – particularly images of them in uniform – your contribution would be invaluable. Please note that the scope of this project is limited to individuals who lived in the Arenzville community, either at the time of their service or at some point thereafter.
Submit a Correction or Addition
The names listed on this site are maintained as accurately as possible, but the record is never truly complete. If you notice a missing name, an error, or have additional information about an Arenzville veteran, please get in touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is included in the Arenzville Veterans archive
This project focuses exclusively on individuals who lived in the Arenzville community – either at the time of their military service or at a later point in their lives. This includes veterans from the Civil War through to Desert Storm.
How do I submit a photo of an Arenzville veteran
You can email a scanned image to bunnytel@gmail.com . Please scan at 300 dpi or higher to ensure image quality. Alternatively, you can mail a physical copy – write first to request a postal address.
Can I submit a correction to the veterans list
Yes, absolutely. Corrections and additions to the names listed on this site are always welcome. Please reach out via email with any changes, updated information, or names that may be missing from the archive.
How long has this project been running
The project began after the 1991 dedication of Arenzville’s granite veterans monument, when project founder Molly Daniel began collecting stories and photographs from the community to preserve the histories behind the names carved in stone.
Who runs the Arenzville Veterans project
This project was founded and is maintained by Molly Daniel, a former Arenzville community member with a deep commitment to preserving local military history and honouring those who served.
– Gratefully, Molly Daniel