Leo Kern, 1842-1921, was the son of Magdalina Dieringer and Joseph Kern. Magdalina Dieringer was the great aunt of Frances Dieringer, wife of Grant Mottice. Magdalina was the sister of Frances' grandfather, Mathaus.
During the Civil War, Leo was a Private in the I Company of the 107th Infantry Regiment of the Ohio Volunteers. He was captured at the Battle of Gettysburg and remained a prisoner until he was paroled at Charleston, SC on Dec. 16, 1864.
He was subsequently mustered out of the army, evidently as a result of ill health while a POW. The attached physician's report indicates that he suffered from typhoid fever.
According to these documents, which are copies of originals evidently held by the War Dept., he was a farmer, and stood at 5'8" with fair complexion, blue eyes, and sandy hair. He was born in Wuertenburg (Germany), but there is no indication when he immigrated to the U.S.
