Private Earl Ira Garl

Private Earl "Tug" Garl was the son of Isaac and Mary Garl. He served in Company 'E' of the 157th Indiana Infantry during the Spanish-American War from April 26th, 1898 to November 1st, 1898.

When he returned to Elkhart, he worked for the railroad a short time and then a few years as an electrician for the City of Elkhart. He joined the Elkhart Fire Department in 1905.

While working as a firefighter, he also did much of the wiring during construction of the new central fire station.

On December 11th, 1908 he was in the second floor dormitory when an alarm came in. As he rushed to the pole to slide down to the main floor, he slipped on the newly waxed floor and fell headfirst through the hole and down to the main floor. He died at the firehouse a short time later.

His funeral was held at his home at 818 Garfield Avenue. Delegations from fire departments came from Goshen, South Bend, LaPorte, and as far away as Kalamazoo, MI. A great many veterans from the Spanish-American War also attended as well as an honor guard from Company 'E' in Elkhart. He was buried in the Prairie Street Cemetery in Elkhart.