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Birth:          21 Feb 1898 Hemlock, Mich.
Death:          16 Apr 1970 Traverse City, Mich.
Cause of Death: pneumonia, heart disease
Burial:         Roselawn Cemetery, Saginaw, Mich.

Notes
Email from JKinnaman (in file) website says Emil John
1910 in Richland, Saginaw Co., Mich.
1920 1930 cannot find
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/k/i/n/Connie-J-
Kinnaman/FILE/0005page.html
John Emil Ault, born February 21, 1898, in Hemlock. Emil attended school in Hemlock 
and, after the eighth grade, hopped a train to Detroit where he worked for Ford Motor. 
He returned to Hemlock to finish his education. Emil worked for the Sonora Furniture 
Company of Saginaw, making victrola cabinets. 

He served in the Army during World War I with Company C., 58th Infantry. Michigan 
Archive documents showed he entered the service April 22, 1917, and on June 8, 
1917, was transferred to Fort Brown, Texas. On March 11, 1918, he was promoted to 
the rank of corporal, and on April 5, 1918, he was promoted to Sergeant. Emil was 
sent overseas on May 10, 1918, and returned home August 1, 1919, and was 
honorably discharged on August 8, 1919. 

He became a postal clerk at the Saginaw main Post office (now known as the Castle 
Station) on May 26, 1926. He received two commendations for outstanding 
performance while there and retired in 1958. Emil is described as being 5 foot, 5 
inches, 140 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. 

Emil was best known as an avid gardener. This author, being his granddaughter, can 
relate that he had the showplace garden of the neighborhood. I remember all the 
hours I spent with Grampa, as his sidekick, in his garden. I would run over to his 
house and ask what project he had for me that day. Whether it involved mowing, 
weeding, hoeing, planting, or most especially, admiring the spectacular garden he 
created, it didn't matter to me as long as we were working together. Grandpa was a 
dear man to me. He always had time for me and was always interesting to listen to. I 
am very sure all his grandkids felt the same way. 

The Military History of John Emil Ault 
Emil enlisted with the U. S. Infantry on April 22, 1917, while living in Hemlock, 
Michigan. World War i had just begun for the Americans. His subsequent discharge 
papers show him as having been a cook prior to his enlistment. 

On August 30, 1917, Emil was at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, with Machine Gun 
Company C, 58th U. S. Infantry, a regular army outfit with The 4th Division, 2nd Army 
Corps. He was then transferred to Camp Greene at Charlotte, North Carolina, and on 
March 11, 1918, was promoted to Corporal, Supply Company, 58th Infantry. Only a 
month later, on April 5, 1918, he was promoted again, to Sergeant. 

The 4th Division's insignia was the Ivy leaf, and the division was known as the Ivy 
Division. Emil's helmet, in my possession, has the Ivy Leaf insignia etched in the front. 

The 4th Division was organized at Camp Greene, Charlotte, North Carolina, on 
December 10, 1917. The Division began leaving Camp Greene by April 18, 1918, for 
it's overseas training in the Samer area with the British. The entire Division was in 
Samer by June 9. After training, the 58th went into the Meaux area of France and 
were placed at the disposal of the French 164th Infantry Division. It went into the 
front line on August 3, advancing to the Vesle River, and were relieved on the night of 
August 11. The Division withdrew to the Reynel training area, and on September 1, all 
units were moved to Vavincourt for further training. On the night of September 19-20 
the entire Division moved to the woods near Lennes and, as part of the 3rd Corps, 
made an attack on the first day of the Meuse-Argonne offensive. The 58th advanced 
six and a half kilometers that first day and continued the offensive, holding Bois de la 
Cote Lemont and Bois de Brieulles, until October 19 when it was relieved. On October 
20 the Division was assigned to the 2nd Army. After the armistice was signed the 
Division concentrated around Bourcq, then began a march into Germany on November 
20. On December 16 it occupied the Kreises of Adenau and Cochem Provence of the 
Rhine as it's permanent area of occupation. The Division suffered 12,948 battle 
casualties, and was rewarded 66 Distinguished Services Crosses. 

Emil was sent back to the States on August 1, 1919, and was honorably discharged 
seven days later. His discharge pay was $112.60 which included a bonus for his 
return to Saginaw, Michigan. 

On April 7, 1920, Emil married Hazel Alison Thomas of Hemlock. The minister was 
Rev. S. Arthur Cook. Hazel, born September 16, 1897, in Richland County, was a 
daughter of William Delmont Thomas (born 1867; died 1913), and Madge E. Dunbar 
(born 1878; died 1926) 

Emil and Hazel had five children, all sons: 


John Thomas (born 1920); James Edward (born 1922); Charles Emil (born 1924); 
William Dell (born 1926); and Richard E. (born 1936). 


Hazel was an accomplished housewife maintaining a very tidy home, but was best 
known for her baking ability. I remember her baking cookies, watching her all the time 
as she went about preparing them without so much as a book or recipe in front of her. 
I have written down and kept her wonderful sugar cookie recipe. Hazel was well 
known for hosting family parties and get togethers, so as to keep her family together 
and intact. I remember many such gatherings and always looked forward to the next 
one. Hazel was an active member of Ames United Methodist Church of Saginaw. She 
was a life member of the church Lady's Circle. Grandma is also know for her crossword 
puzzle expertise and, to Grandpa's amazement, her good luck at perch fishing. 
Grandpa never had to bait her hook. 

Emil's mental health gradually went downhill and he eventually, on March 14, 1969, 
became a patient at Northern Michigan Asylum in Traverse City. He became too 
difficult for the family to handle. Emil died at that facility on April 16, 1970 from 
senility, arteriosclerotic heart disease and finally massive bilateral pneumonia. After 
Emil's death, Hazel sold the house at 1519 Durand St. in Saginaw and moved into the 
senior high rise, Rosien Tower. Hazel died January 30, 1979, at the age of 81. Her 
death was caused by pneumonia after having a massive cerebral vascular attack. 
Hazel and Emil are buried together in Roselawn Cemetery in Saginaw, Michigan. 




Parents
AULT John Samuel (11 Mar 1868 - 14 May 1938)
THOMAS Lavina (5 Sep 1868 - 26 Feb 1958)

Siblings
AULT Estella Ann (23 Sep 1894 - 9 Nov 1988)
AULT Arminda Rae (23 Feb 1896 - 14 Oct 1958)
AULT John Emil (21 Feb 1898 - 16 Apr 1970)
AULT Edward (14 Apr 1900 - 10 Apr 1965)
AULT Thomas B. (12 Jun 1901 - 2 Jun 1906)
AULT James Philo (22 Nov 1902 - 3 Sep 1980)
AULT Clarence Ervin ("Cy") (11 Aug 1906 - 26 Aug 1978)

Marriage To THOMAS Hazel Alison (16 Sep 1897 - 30 Jan 1979)
    m. 7 Apr 1920 

Notes

Parents
THOMAS William Delmont ()
DUNBAR Madge E. ()

Children by THOMAS Hazel Alison 16 Sep 1897 - 30 Jan 1979
AULT John Thomas ()
AULT James Edward ()
AULT Charles Emil ()
AULT William Dell ()
AULT Richard E. ()

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