By: Mark Holtsberry
Don Carlos Jaquette was born April 7, 1894 in Washington Township, Paulding County, Ohio. The son of Charles H. born August 28, 1861 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania and Mary Jeannette (Hickerson) Jaquette, born April 16, 1862 in McComb, Ohio.
It was thought that Don was born in the house on the farm where the family lived. That location was in the northeast corner of Section 31 of Washington Township. The Jaquette family consisted of 3 boys and 1 girl. A farming family that still had the children in school.
By 1900, the family was still living on the family farm with the older sons helping dad with the farm. By 1910, all three sons were helping dad. Don finished high school and became a school teacher and he taught at the Robison School. I’m not sure of the schools location, guessing it was close to home. By 1915, Don, still single, had moved to 227 12th Street in Toledo, Ohio. He was working in a bearing factory as a machinist.
On July 23, 1917, Don had joined Company H. of the 6th Infantry Ohio National Guard. On June 5, 1917, at Toledo, Ohio, Don had registered for the draft. Draft records show Don as tall, slender build, blue eyes and light hair. Don served in the National Guard until August 17, 1917. He was taken in the draft and given the rank of Private, July 23, 1917, to serve with 166th Infantry, also known as the Rainbow Division. Don was shipped out with the 166th at Hoboken, New Jersey on the ship, “Pastores” October 18, 1917. Don was promoted to Private 1st Class, November 6, 1917, where he was with the Headquarters Company. His unit served in the Champagne- Marne, Aisne- Marne, St. Mihiel, Muese- Argonne, Defensive Sector.
On October 18, 1918, Don Carlos Jaquette was killed in action. In November 1918, Don’s parents, Charles and Mary, who had moved to 335 East Hardin Street, Findlay, Ohio, received a telegram of the news that he had been killed. Don became the first Grover Hill boy to die in World War 1. Don Carlos Jaquette, was buried in the Muese-Argonne Cemetery in Romagne- sous- Montaucon, Muese, France in Block A., Row 43, Grave 14.
In 1929, the federal government paid for mothers to go to France to see the graves of their sons. It is unclear if she ever went. Records list her trip as “unknown”. Charles and Mary lived out their days in Findlay. Charles passed away September 4, 1948 in Findlay. Mary passed away March 31, 1943 in Findlay. Both were buried in McComb Union Cemetery, McComb, Ohio. They had inscribed on the stone, “In Memory of Don Carlos 1894-1918 Pvt 1″ Class Hdq. Co. 166th Inf. 42 Div.”
Until Next Time
