Elmer Herman Droste (June 16, 1895 – April 23, 1972) was an American lawyer, politician, and Army officer. Elmer H. Droste was born in 1895 in

Mount Olive, Illinois Mount Olive is a city in Macoupin County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,015 at the 2020 census. The city is part of the Metro East region within the St. Louis metropolitan area. Geography Mount Olive is located in southeastern Ma ...

, one of thirteen children of Herman and Louise (Niemann) Droste. He graduated from Mount Olive High School, and in 1922 he graduated from

St. Louis University Saint Louis University (SLU) is a private Jesuit research university with campuses in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, and Madrid, Spain. Founded in 1818 by Louis William Valentine DuBourg, it is the oldest university west of the Missi ...

. In 1925 he married Beatrice Brown and had two sons, John and Robert. Droste was admitted to the Illinois and Missouri bars. He was a lawyer practicing in Mt. Olive, with his son Robert L. Droste. Droste served in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...

during both

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

and

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

. He was commissioned a full

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge ...

and was the recipient of the

silver star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an ...

and the

bronze star The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. Wh ...

for his military service in command of Division Trains for the

6th Armored Division The 6th Armored Division ("Super Sixth") was an armored division of the United States Army during World War II. It was formed with a cadre from the 2nd Armored Division. History The division was activated on 15 February 1942 at Fort Knox o ...

under General

George Patton George Smith Patton Jr. (November 11, 1885 – December 21, 1945) was a General (United States), general in the United States Army who commanded the Seventh United States Army in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, Mediterranean Theater ...

. He was elected as a member of the Illinois State Senate in 1940 and served until 1942, when he resigned his seat to rejoin the United States Army upon America's entry in World War II. Droste served on the Mount Olive School Board. He died in 1972 at St. Mary's Hospital in

Clayton, Missouri Clayton is a city in and the seat of St. Louis County, Missouri. It borders the independent city of St. Louis. The population was 17,355 at the 2020 census. Organized in 1877, the city was named after Ralph Clayton, who donated the land for the ...

.'Elmer Droste Candidate On GOP Slate,' The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Illinois)< October 28, 1948. pg. 6

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* 1895 births 1972 deaths People from Mount Olive, Illinois Military personnel from Illinois Saint Louis University alumni Farmers from Illinois Illinois lawyers Missouri lawyers School board members in Illinois Republican Party Illinois state senators 20th-century American legislators 20th-century American lawyers 20th-century Illinois politicians {{Illinois-statesenator-stub