Bridgewater State University - Alpha Yearbook (Bridgewater, MA)

Page 21 text:

NORMAL OFFERING 17 Er. Zlirang E. Kirmagvr. FRANZ H. KIRMAYER was born March 25, 1840, at Unterhoerl- bach, a small village of lower Bavaria. He attended the common schools till his eleventh year, then entered the Latin school of the neighboring town of Abenaberg CAbruina castraj and after grad- uating from its two years' course he was admitted to the Gymna- sium of Wetten on the Danube. After graduating from that Gymnasium he went to the University of Munich for three years and then to the University of Giessen for one year, in both of which universities he devoted himself to scientific and literary subjects, taking chemistry as his specialty and language as a pastime. After graduation from the University he travelled exten- sively, both on the continent of Europe and in England, and came finally to the United States, where he arrived in the summer of 1863. Here he pursued the occupation of decorative painter and paperhanger, a trade which he had learned during his stay as a student at the Gymnasium of Wetten. As the war became more fierce from day to day, and all his friends enlisted, he left his lucrative work and joined Co. G, 54th Ohio Vols., Zouaves, in March, 1864. He was with General Sherman during the Georgia campaign, and was in many a hard-fought contest at Resaca, Dal- ton, Dallas, Kennesaw, and other places, until on July 3, 1864, at Nickajack Creek near the Chattahoochee, not far from Atlanta, he was blown up by a rebel shell. The loss of his left leg, a severe wound in his right leg, injury to back, eyes, and head from the explosion left him helpless on the field. His injuries were so severe that he was considered beyond hope, and either through rash belief of rumors, or jealousy, he was reported dead. He had been appointed Sergeant from the ranks for gallantry at Kennesaw Mountain. When after many months in various hospitals he was discharged in March, 1865, he betook himself to Ohio, where he worked as a clerk and accountant during the day, and in the evening as teacher of a private evening school. In 1867 he went back to Germany to prepare himself for the

Page 20 text:

NORMAL OFFERING illirmnrg. Sweet memory, thou comforter, Be near us evermore This tender prayer doth come to us More now than e'er before, Though often thou hast helped us Ponder o'er by-gone days, Over friends and dear old faces, Over long forgotten ways, Yet now, as from the portal Of B. N. S. we go, WVe urge thee, go forth with us As we wander to and fro, And help us long to cherish In thine own inner shrine, And to call to recollection As the years stand forth in line, Tender thoughts of schoolmate faces Of school day pastimes sweet, Of hours spent together As three fast sped years did fleet. Guard our tender recollections, As we sever school's firm tie, Let no such helpful moral powers In years to comet soon die, But strongly gird the links Which bind Our hearts in one great aim, Though diflerent pathways we may climb Keep friendship's.bonds the same, Till yonder, when our work is o'er Beyond the sun's bright rays, Again we'll meet, no more to know A parting of the ways. B. C. N., '19

Page 22 text:

I ,