Lieutenant Paegelow was born in Berlin, Germany in 1870. He immigrated to the United States after graduating from the Heidelberg University with a Civil Engineer degree and his mandatory one-year military service duty. After working as a Civil Engineer in New York City, the depressed economy forced him to move to Chicago where he joined the Army as a private. After Paegelow recovered from injuries sustained at San Juan Hill, he was sent to the Philippine Islands, where he met Elia Wood.
In 1921, he wrote an article for the U.S. Army titled "Operations of Allied balloons in the St. Mihiel Offensive." It is available at the University of Washington library in Washington state.
___________________________________________________________

Army Distinguished Service Medal Awarded for actions during the World War I

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Lieutenant Colonel (Air Service) John A. Paegelow, United States Army Air Service, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. As Commander of Balloon Service of the 1st Army Corps and 1st Army, Lieutenant Colonel Paegelow was well-fitted for his important position both by long experience in aeronautics and by noted organizational ability. Through his untiring energy an efficient system of supply and transportation was developed in spite of the numerous difficulties which assailed him. The success achieved by the Balloon Service in the second Battle of the Marne and in the St. Mihiel offensive are a tribute to the high character of services rendered by him to the American Expeditionary Forces.
General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 95 (1919)
Action Date: World War I
Service: Army Air Service
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Company: Commander
Division: Balloon Service, 1st Army
___________________________________________________________

Hamburger Passagierlisten, 1850-1934; Hamburg Passenger Lists, 1850-1934

Name: Johann Paegelow
Departure Date: 30 Jan 1894
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1871
Age: 23
Gender: männlich (Male)
Residence: Berlin, Preußen (Germany)
Occupation: Kaufmann
Ship Name: British Queen
Captain: Snowdon
Shipping Clerk: Louis Scharlach & Co.
Ship Type: Dampfschiff
Accommodation: Erste Kajüte
Ship Flag: England
Port of Departure: Hamburg
Port of Arrival: West Hartlepool (Nordamerika via Glasgow)
Volume: 373-7 I, VIII B 1 Band 107
Page: 18
Microfilm Roll Number: S_13168
Household Members: Name Age
Johann Paegelow 23


New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957

Name: Joh Paegelow
Arrival Date: 23 Feb 1894
Birth Date: abt 1871
Age: 23
Gender: Male
Port of Departure: Glasgow, Scotland
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Ship Name: Furnessia
Search Ship Database:


U.S. Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914

Name: John A Paegelow
Birthyear: abt 1870
Birthplace: Germany
Enlistment Age: 26 8/12


U.S. Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914

Name: John A Paegelow
Birthyear: abt 1871
Birthplace: Germany
Enlistment Age: 29 6/12


1910 United States Federal Census

Name: John A Paeglow
[John A Paegelow]
Age in 1910: 40
Estimated Birth Year: 1870
Birthplace: Germany
Relation to Head of House: Captain
Father's Birth Place: Germany
Mother's Birth Place: Germany
Spouse's Name: Elia B Paeglow
Home in 1910: Augur Barracks, Jolo Jolo, Philippines, Military and Naval Forces
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Year of immigration: 1889
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
John A Paeglow 40
Elia B Paeglow 36


1920 United States Federal Census

Name: John A Pargelow
[John A Paegelow]
[John A Pasgelow]
Home in 1920: Balloon School, Warwick, Virginia
Age: 49
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1871
Birthplace: Germany
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's Name: Elia B Pargelow
Father's Birth Place: Germany
Mother's Birth Place: Germany
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Male
Home owned: Rent
Year of immigration: 1899
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
John A Pargelow 49
Elia B Pargelow 46
Lockey F Wood 80
Mary E Wood 67
Edna B Harris 28


1940 United States Federal Census

Name: John A Paeglow
Respondent: Yes
Age: 69
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1871
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Germany
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1940: California, Moniteau, Missouri
Map of Home in 1940: View map
Street: High Street
House Number: 102
Farm: No
Inferred Residence in 1935: California, Moniteau, Missouri
Residence in 1935: Same Place
Resident on farm in 1935: No
Citizenship: Naturalized
Sheet Number: 11B
Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 288
House Owned or Rented: Owned
Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 10000
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: College, 5th or subsequent year
Weeks Worked in 1939: 0
Income: 0
Income Other Sources: Yes
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
John A Paeglow 69
Elia B Paegelow 66

Here is his Death Certificate.