By: Mark Holtsberry
Arista Carr was an Antwerp boy born January 12, 1893. The son of John Penwell and Cynthia Anne (Kerns) Carr. John was born December 9, 1858 in Ohio. Cynthia was born February 5, 1869 in Indiana. John and Cynthia were married January 21, 1886 in Paulding, Ohio. By 1900, John and Cynthia were divorced. Cynthia was raising five children in Carryall Township and farming as her vocation. She took back her maiden name.
By 1910, Cynthia and the five children were living on a farm in Carryall Township. Arista had quit school by the fourth grade, probably to help on the farm. On June 5, 1918, Arista had registered for the draft. He was single with brown eyes, black hair, dark complexion, medium height and build.
On July 19, 1918, Arista married a gal named Dessie L. Curtis. She was born January 8, 1896 in Antwerp, Ohio. The daughter of Lewis and Callie (Craft) Curtis. They were married in Paulding, Ohio.
On August 26, 1918, Arista went to Paulding and signed up to join the National Army. Arista was assigned to the 159th Depot Brigade. He served with this unit until September 27, 1918. Then he was assigned to Battery F. 69th Field Artillery. On November 23, 1918, the couple was blessed with their first child, a daughter named Rama Lucille Carr.
Arista was be honorably discharged from the military December 21, 1918. He was listed as having excellent character on his discharge papers. By 1920, the Carr family moved to Sterer Street, Flint, Michigan, where Arista took a job at a Motor Axle Workers Factory as a truck mechanic.
A son, Rolland C. Carr, was born, December 16, 1920. A son, John L. Carr was born, September 3, 1922, followed by a daughter, Bettie L. Carr, August 23, 1926. On October 23, 1928, Dessie passed away in Ft. Wayne, Indiana at the Methodist Hospital. She was buried in Maumee Cemetery.
By 1930, Arista and children, were living back in Antwerp. Arista took up farming. His mother, Cynthia, was living with the family. Arista’s father John passed away, July 24, 1930. He too, was buried in Maumee Cemetery.
By 1940, Arista was still engaged in farming in Carryall Township. Children, John and Bettie were still living at home. In 1942, Arista registered for the World War Two draft registration. At the age of 49, he was not selected. But his son, Rolland, served in the war. Arista’s son, John, registered in 1945, but was not selected.
By 1950, while living in Antwerp, Arista was working in Ft. Wayne, Indiana as a machinist for Zollner Machine Works. On January 7, 1952, Arista’s mother, Cynthia, passed away in Antwerp. She was buried in Maumee Cemetery.
On October 16, 1952, Arista dealing with heart disease, which he had been dealing with for years, passed away at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Arista was buried in Maumee Cemetery alongside his wife, Dessie.
…Until Next Time!
