See
Fred and Mary Zubler for Ernest's early life.
On
22 Jan 1900, Ernest went
to
the Presidio in San Francisco and signed up, as a private,
for
a three year hitch in the army.
He listed his year of birth as 1877 rather than his true birth year
of 1880,
probably to avoid parental approval.
This made him 22 1/2 years old in military life when, actually, he
was only 19 1/2 years old.
He
reported for duty the next day and was sent to Alcatraz Island, in San
Francisco bay
and assigned to Battery N - 3rd Artillery. Alcatraz was a military
prison at the time and fortified with gun placements to protect
the harbor. In June, Battery N was transferred to Fort Monroe, VA.
In
Virginia, the 20 year old started his first social life. He met
Lottie M. Cline, also 20 years old, probability a waitress, as she
was in later years. Lottie lived in Phoebus, Elizabeth City County,
Virginia with her mother, Alice (O'Leary) Cline and a sister, Maggie.
Phoebus is only a short distance, about 10 miles, from Fort Monroe.
After a courtship of less than 14 months,
Lottie
M. Cline and Ernest Frederick Zubler married in Elizabeth City
County, VA on
20
Aug 1901, .
On
the marriage licence he listed his profession, not as a private in
the 3rd Artillery but, as a shoemaker. As events unfold the marriage
of Ernest and Lottie will take on the appearance of a typical
military marriage whereby the wife and husband are separated for
great periods of time. It is not a healthy environment for any
military family and it wasn't for them, either. By June 1902, 10
months after their marriage, William, their first child, was on the way.
Note:
Phoebus and Elizabeth City County no longer exists. In 1954,
Elizabeth City County and Phoebus became part of the city of Hampton.
Ernest
was discharged from Ft. Monroe, VA on 24 Jan 1903. He did not
re-enlist in the 3rd Artillery which was stationed near where Lottie
lived. Instead, on 14 Jan 1903, 10 days before his enlistment was up
at Ft. Monroe,
Ernest enlists at Fort Myer VA, as a private, for three years and
begins service on 14 Feb 1903 in the 2nd Cavalry, Troop F. Fort Myer,
VA is immediately west of the Arlington National Cemetery, VA.
During
March, William Frederick Zubler (Bill) is born.
Only
two months after joining
the 2nd
Cavalry, Ernest was assigned to detached service. A composite troop
was formed to participate in the Military Athletic League Tournament
at Madison Square Garden in New York City from April 27 to March 2,
1903. Ernest performed several difficult
feats such as mount a horse from the rear, mount and dismount a
horse while in a gallop and ride two horses while standing with a
foot on each was his most notable.
The
Second Squadron, 2nd Cavalry (which included Troop F) left Fort Myer
for New York City on
18
Dec 1903. They boarded the United States Army Transport Kilpatrick,
which was en route to Manila. P.I. It took over
a month for the ship to travel there visiting ports
of Gibraltar, Malta, Port Said, Singapore along the way.
They
arrived at Camp Wallace, Union, P. I., not too far from Manila, on
20 Feb 1904. This was still during the time of the Philippine Insurrection.
Ernest was out on a patrol where there was a skirmish with the
enemy. He, personally, did not see anyone or fire a shot. Later in
the year he was transferred to the band
for six months. When he returned to his troop he was promoted to
rank of Corporal.
The
Cavalry horses were dying at an alarming rate at Camp Wallace. It
seems that the horses did not do well eating the Saw Grass, prevalent
in the area. An area in northern Luzon had the right kind of grass.
It was named Camp Stotsenberg so they were transferred there in May
of 1905. On
1 Aug 1905, just 6 months before his second hitch was to expire, he
was promoted to Sergeant
- 2nd Cavalry- Troop F. He returned to the Presidio, in San
Francisco, and
was mustered out of the army on 13
Feb 1906.
His
wife, Lottie and son, Bill, came to California hoping to make a new
living here. They moved to Stockton,
to be near his father and sister, Clara.
He tried to make his living as a painter, as did his father. Lottie
became pregnant with their second child and
on 21 Jun 1907, Bess was born.
In
the 6 years that Ernest and Lottie had been married, this was the
first time they had to really get to know each other. But problems
mounted. Should Ernest remain
a civilian and make
his living as a painter or return to the cavalry, which he loved. The
differences in their thoughts and opinions were now coming out for
the first time and, finally, should they live in California or Virginia.
Their
solution, at this time, was for Ernest to return to the cavalry. 24
May 1908, after 2 ½ years as a civilian, he returns to the
Presidio in San Francisco and enlists again, as a private. He was a
month short of his 28th birthday and had grown to a height of 5'
9" with light brown hair. Lottie, Bill and Bess returned to
Virginia to live with Lottie's mother and her younger sister. Lottie
became a waitress at a family restaurant. Mother Alice (O'Leary)
Cline was
a
washwoman and sister Maggie was also a washwoman all helping raise
Bess & Bill Zubler.
Note:
Much of the following information was gathered from the microfilms
"Returns of Regular Cavalry, 14th Cavalry, 1905~1910. FHL Film
1,602,217 or NARA Film 744 Roll 113 and 1911 ~1916. FHL Film 1, 602,
218 or NARA Film 744 Roll 114.
Ernest
was assigned to the 14th Cavalry, Troop H which was stationed at the
Presidio at that time. Of note, he was promoted to the rank of
corporal while
he was there and his
company acted as escort to the president ( Teddy Roosevelt) in San
Francisco on October 5, 1909.
4
Nov 1909, after nearly 1 ½ years, the 14th Cavalry, Troop H
left the Presidio and
boarded
the
United States Army Transport Sheridan for Manila P. I. Two days
before reaching Honolulu,
Ernest is promoted to the rank of Sergeant. There was one other
stop, in Guam, before arriving at Manila and on to Camp
Stotsenburg, Pampanga, P. I.
Other
than the usual duties, on 7 Apr 1910, Ernest requested boxing
matches at Camp Stotsenburg in Pampanga, P. I. Troop H - 14th
Cavalry. The match was conducted on 14 May 1910 with Ernest as Referee.
Sometime,
later in 1910, Sergeant Zubler had a soldier on the ground and was
beating him. An officer asked Ernest to get off the soldier and
Ernest replied "When he obeys my order. Sir." This cost
Ernest his stripes and was busted back to private. He became
disenchanted with the army
and would not sign on for another hitch. As
his service time ran out he was
sent to Ft.
Mc Dowell, in the San Francisco area,
and was discharged on 19 May 1911 to end his Army career.
In
preparation for Ernest's return to civilian life, Lottie, his wife, rented
a house in Phoebus,
VA
anticipating his return to the east coast. Lottie,
and their daughter Bess,
came to California to meet Ernest. Son, Bill, remained in Virginia.
It is believed he had infantile paralysis at the time. At some point
Ernest learns that there was a Harry Zubler, born just one month
before his return to the states. This ended the marriage. Lottie and
Bess returned to Virginia. Ernest moved
to Visalia then to San Francisco, where his brothers Fred and Walter
lived. Ernest got a job as a brakeman on one of the cable car lines
in San Francisco. In 1911 he was 31 years old and for the first time
in many years completely unattached.
