Local History - Cobleskill and Schoharie County in World War I

By Wildert Marte

COBLESKILL — When I was researching Cobleskill’s role in World War I I didn’t expect to find such a deep and emotional history. I thought I would come across enlistment numbers, some information about food rationing and maybe a mention of a local war memorial. But as I read through The Cobleskill Index I started to see how much the war shaped the town. It wasn’t just about soldiers leaving for battle. It was about families coping with their absence, businesses adapting, and the community uniting in unexpected ways.

In April 1917 when the United States officially entered World War I Cobleskill quickly changed. The town immediately focused on food production. Farmers were encouraged to plant more corn and potatoes to help feed both the troops and those at home. Even young people were asked to contribute by raising livestock through the Schoharie State School of Agriculture. Before reading this I hadn’t really thought about how important small town farmers were to the war effort but this showed me that even those who never saw combat played a vital role.One thing that surprised me was how seriously the town took security. Wireless radio operators like Clyde Thorpe and Frank Burhans were ordered to take down their antennas because of fears that their transmissions could be used for espionage. It had never crossed my mind that something as simple as a local radio station could become a national security risk. It made me realize how much daily life had to change even in a town like Cobleskill.Then I came across the story of Henry Jack Karker and his story really stuck with me. He tried to enlist three times but was rejected because of a medical issue. Instead of giving up he changed his name slightly and was finally accepted. That kind of determination was something I didn’t expect to see. In his last letters home dated September 27 and 28 1918 Jack told his mother he was recovering from the flu and sitting in a hop yard near the front lines. He sounded optimistic like he wanted to reassure her that he was okay. But just two days later on September 29 he was killed in action. That hit me hard. I kept thinking about what it must have been like for his mother to get that final letter and then the telegram saying he was gone.Then I read about Elmer Auchempaugh who was reported missing in action in July 1918. His family spent months not knowing what had happened to him. Eventually they found out he had been captured and was being held as a prisoner of war in Germany. I can’t imagine the anxiety his family must have felt knowing he was alive but trapped in enemy territory. It made me realize that war wasn’t just about soldiers fighting. It was about families waiting for news hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.One of the most powerful moments I came across was when the band played outside a mother’s house. She ran out crying and tried to give them money to thank them. But they refused. They told her they were playing to honor her son’s service, not for payment. That moment showed me how deeply connected the community was. It wasn’t about recognition, it was about remembering and honoring those who had given everything.Even though the war had ended it didn’t mean life returned to normal right away. Soldiers were still returning home and many of them had changed. Some had been wounded and needed medical care while others had seen things they could never forget. Families had to adjust to life with a loved one who had experienced the trauma of war. The town did what it could to support them but the transition wasn’t always easy. The war also left empty seats in the homes of many. Families who had lost a son or a brother had to move forward with the pain of knowing he would never come back. Memorial services were held across the town honoring those who had given their lives. The names of fallen soldiers were read aloud and communities gathered to mourn together. It made me think about how different things must have felt walking through town in those months after the war. People had to find a way to return to their daily lives but for so many things could never be the same.Before I started this research I thought of World War I as something distant, something that happened in history books not in small towns like Cobleskill. But now I see it differently. This war wasn’t just fought on battlefields. It was fought in the homes of worried families on the farms that worked overtime to produce food and in the hearts of young men who were willing to do anything to serve their country. Cobleskill’s story showed me that war is more than just dates and battles. It’s about real people with real dreams, some of which were never fulfilled. It’s about families who had to say goodbye not knowing if they would ever reunite. And it’s about communities that found ways to come together even in the face of loss.I didn’t think I would feel so connected to Cobleskill’s past but after reading these stories I really do. Seeing their sacrifices, resilience, and strength made me realize that history is not just something we study, it's something that still matters today.