By: Mark Holtsberry
Paul Echard Bashore was a Paulding boy who signed up to serve in Pennsylvania, but his heart was always in Paulding County. Paul Echard Bashore was born September 12, 1894, son of Joseph E. and Anna Rebecca (Echard) Bashore. Joseph was born February 18, 1859 in Franklin County, Ohio. Anna was born January 18, 1869 in Paulding, Ohio. They were married October 4, 1888 in Paulding.
By 1900, the Bashore family consisted of Joseph, Anna and three children. Daughters, Gladys Opal, Madalin E. and son Paul, who was the middle child. Joseph was a farmer and the family was living in Paulding. Gladys and Paul went to school, I am guessing Paulding Elementary.
By 1904, a daughter, Vivian L. was born. Hard luck fell on the family as Joseph suffered an aneurism and fell. At 4:00 P.M. July 9, 1909, Joseph was pronounced dead in Paulding. Joseph served on various boards within the school system as well as serving at the Township level at various posts. He was buried in Cooper Haines Cemetery outside of Paulding.
By 1910, question remains who farmed the 125 acres for the family in Paulding Township. But the Bashore family led by Anna, kept the farm going with the help of Paul, who was fifteen and still in school.
On November 9, 1910, Anna remarried. She married a fella named Columbus D. Mann in Paulding. Between 1914 and 1917, Paul moved to Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He was living at 120 Grant Street Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, working as an inspector at Westinghouse Electric Company. Paul had signed up to serve in the Pennsylvania National Guard, but as a college student studying agriculture. He was serving a term of three months. Paul then registered for the draft on June 5, 1917. Paul was listed as medium built, tall build, blue eyes, and brown hair. He listed that he was single. On February 11, 1918, Paul was given the rank of Private and given the service number of 1835699. He was shipped off to Norfolk, Virginia and set sail for France on the ship, “America” May of 1918. Paul was to serve with Battery F., 314th Artillery, 80th Division. The ship landed in France May 26, 1918.
While serving in France, Paul saw action between Bois deArgonne and the River Meuse. On July 8, 1918, Paul was promoted to Corporal. Also on October 22, 1918, Paul was promoted to Sergeant. Paul was killed in action, October 31, 1918. His mother, Anna R. Mann, was notified of his death. Thursday September 8, 1921, word was received saying that Paul’s body had arrived at Hoboken, New Jersey. From there the body was brought to Paulding, to be buried beside his father Joseph, in Cooper Haines Cemetery. Paul’s mother, Anna, passed away June 3, 1937, in Lansing, Michigan. She was brought back to Paulding County to be buried with her first husband, Joseph.
…Until Next Time
