By: Mark Holtsberry
Another Paulding County young man with a sad ending. Robert Patterson Staley was born May 17, 1895 in Paulding, Ohio. The son of Edward S. and Blanche (Patterson) Staley. Edward S. Staley was born in Lafayette, Indiana, March 7, 1858. Blanche was born July 25, 1867 in Fostoria, Ohio. Ed and Blanche were married May 11, 1892 in Paulding, Ohio by Judge Lafayette Lewis.
By 1900, the Staley family consisted of three sons, Jesse born in June of 1887, Nelson born in April of 1893 and Robert born in May of 1895. Edward was employed as a timber dealer and all the boys were in school. On October 22, 1903, the Staley family welcomed a son, John Edward. By 1910, the Staley family was living at 520 Main Street in Paulding. On August 22, 1911, Robert’s brother Nelson, while visiting St. Ignace, Michigan, accidentally drowned. His body was brought home and buried in Live Oak Cemetery.
By 1916, Robert was a college student at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Robert was on the Varsity Social Club, serving as Vice President. By 1917, every able bodied male between the ages of 18 and 45 had to register for the draft. On May 31, 1917, Robert did so. He is listed as tall, slender build, 5′ 10″ tall, brown eyes and dark brown hair.
Robert went to California in mid 1917 and ended up getting married. The gal, Nelle G. Mugridge. They were married August 5, 1917 by minister F.S.Brush, then the trail of their marriage goes cold. Not sure what happened. Robert came back to Ohio, where on May 12, 1918, Robert went to Cincinnati, Ohio and signed up to join the Marine Corp. Robert was sent to Parris Island, South Carolina.
July 31, 1918, Robert was working with the Overseas Depot Headquarters Company in Quantico, Virginia. August 7, 1918, Robert was serving with Company C. Separate Battalion and promoted to Sergeant August 21, 1918. Robert was sent to Brooklyn, New York where he boarded the ship, “Aeolus” and was shipped overseas to Brest, France, August 27, 1918.
October 1, 1918, while in France on the Muese-Argonne front, Robert served with the Second Division. Then on October 16, 1918, Robert served with the 84th Company 6th Regiment. After the end of the war, Robert served in the Army of Occupation. He served in the office of Chief Paymaster until April 2, 1919. June 19, 1919, Robert was sent back to the 84th Company 6th Regiment. Robert served in France until August 26, 1919. Robert shipped home on the ship, “Aeolus”, arriving in New York, September 5, 1919.
On September 7, 1919, Robert served with 140th Casual Company in Quantico, Virginia. Robert was honorably discharged with excellent character, September 22, 1919. (File Number 116364).
Now I know you, the reader, wonders where is the sad ending. Do tell, 1920, Robert was living in Cincinnati, working as a night chef in the Hotel Gibson, before moving back to Paulding, where Robert moved in with his folks on Water Street, and got a job as a hotel manager.
In 1924, Robert was to set sail out of New York to go to Bermuda on the ship, “Express of Britain”. March 21, 1924, the ship left dock to sail back to New York from Bermuda, arriving in New York March 24, 1924. The ship’s passenger list will verify what I have shared, but Robert was not on board! Robert was at a Veterans Hospital in Dayton, Ohio on February 5, 1924! He was dismissed March 24, 1924. Robert had two very crippling ailments, tuberculosis and meningitis. Robert passed away July 30, 1927, and the coroner’s report stated that is what he died from. Robert was buried in Live Oak Cemetery in Block F., Lot 74, Grave 3. Robert’s grave is marked with just a small simple stone.
He needs his upright Military issue stone! Oh, I think I just came up with another project!
…Until Next Time
