By: Mark Holtsberry
Iden Edwin Chatterton was a Paulding County born young man who ended up coming home. Iden was born September 21, 1888 in Paulding, Ohio. The son of George Iden, born January 21, 1856 in Ohio and Nora Ethelynne (Champion), born October 2, 1863 in Hicksville, Ohio. The Champion family had moved to Antwerp and that is where George and Nora met. Nora was a very popular school teacher at Antwerp schools. In 1880, George was a law student. It is unclear if he chose that career or not, but on January 13, 1887, George and Nora were married. A son, Eugene was born February 17, 1893. After moving to Paulding, George became ill, on November 27, 1896, he had a will written and presented to probate court. The judge signed off December 8, 1896, by then, George had passed away. He was laid to rest in Live Oak Cemetery.
In 1900, Nora with her two sons, Iden and Eugene, moved to Carryall Township, to live with her parents, Richard A. and Lucy J. Champion. As a side note, Richard was a Civil War Veteran, serving with 142nd Indiana Infantry. By 1910, Iden had moved to Yakima, Washington working as a timekeeper with the United States Reclamation Service. This is a Federal agency under the United States Department of the Interior. This agency, founded in 1902, oversees water resource management. By 1912, Iden left Washington to move to Michigan. He found a job as a waiter and lived at 611 Church Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan. By 1914, Iden moved to Akron, Ohio and was a clerk, living at 111 South Maple Street, Akron.
As World War 1 broke out, Iden went to Michigan to enlist in Company H. 126th Infantry of the Michigan National Guard. This unit became part of the 31st Division. Iden was promoted to 1st Lieutenant as a 2nd Battalion Scout Officer. His brother Eugene was in training at Camp Custer, Michigan.
August 4, 1918, Iden was gassed in the Battle of the Marne. On October 2, 1918, the 31st Michigan with other troops had been in the battle against the Hindenburg line for three days. Iden was acting as battalion scout officer. The 31st attacked on the morning of September 26th. Attack renewed on October 1st and German barrage was so strong that most of the companies were forced to leave the field. Iden and a number of companies, entered a building back of the lines to secure sleep and rest. During the early morning hours, a shell struck the building and exploded. A splinter from which struck Iden in the head, killing him instantly. Iden’s body was temporarily buried in the woods about a mile southwest of the village called Ciergas and about three miles west of Montfaucon. Iden’s mother, Nora, was living in Ann Arbor, Michigan at the time, was notified of her son’s death. His body was brought home and buried in Live Oak Cemetery. Iden’s brother, Eugene, lived through the war and returned to Ann Arbor, Michigan. He married, had two children and passed away July 23, 1932. He is buried in Michigan. Iden’s mother, Nora, passed away May 18, 1940, in Michigan. She was returned to Paulding and buried with her husband George, in Live Oak Cemetery.
