Henry Edward Reineck was born on November 5, 1889, in Paulding, Ohio, the son of Joseph Reineck, born April 5, 1852, in Ohio, and Anna M. (Baumer) Reineck, born March 7, 1852, in Pennsylvania. The couple was married in 1878 and became parents to six children: Frank A., born September 2, 1882; Elizabeth, born March 28, 1885; Mary, born September 18, 1888; Henry, born November 5, 1889; Elias, born May 26, 1891; and Lydia S., born August 21, 1894. Joseph was a farmer. Anna passed away on April 5, 1898, and was buried in Dotterer Cemetery, Paulding County, Ohio.
By 1900, Joseph was widowed and raising the children on his own. Henry had quit school to help on the farm, and the family was living in Emerald. By 1910, Joseph was still farming, and Elizabeth, Henry, Elias, and Lydia were still at home. Henry continued helping his father on the farm.
On June 5, 1917, Henry registered at the Emerald precinct for the World War I draft. He was listed as a farmer with brown hair, gray eyes, fair complexion, standing 6’0” tall, of medium build, and single. On July 22, 1918, Henry joined the Ohio National Guard out of Paulding. He was assigned to the 5th Company, 2nd Training Battalion, 158th Depot Brigade, serving at the rank of private. He was honorably discharged on September 9, 1918, and was listed as 100% disabled under a Surgeon’s Certificate of Disability…