By: Mark Holtsberry
Charles Melvin Berlincourt was born May 24, 1893 near Paulding, Ohio. The son of Alseed, born in 1849 in Germany. And Emma J. (Wilkins) Berlincourt, born August 1871 in Ohio. They were married November 15, 1892 in Paulding. They were the parents of six children. Charles, or known as Melvin, was the oldest child.
By 1900, the family was living in Washington Township. Alseed was a farmer, and Melvin was in school.
By 1910, the Berlincourt family had moved into Jackson Township, living on the Charloe Pike Road, or what we know today as the Charloe Trail. Alseed was still engaged in farming and Melvin was a farm hand. Melvin had quit school to be a farm hand. Also living with the Berlincourt family, was William Wilkins, a brother in law to Alseed.
On June 5, 1917, in Greensburg Township, Putnam County, Ohio, Melvin registered for the draft. He had moved to Continental, Putnam County a short time before 1917. He was listed as 5’8″tall, medium build, brown eyes, dark hair, but, his father reported that Melvin was feeble minded.
On June 23, 1918, Melvin was entered into service at Ottawa, Ohio. He was assigned to serve with 158th Depot Brigade. He served with this unit until July 15, 1918. At that time he was sent to serve with Company H 334th Infantry. He served until August 10, 1918. Then was sent to 158th Depot Brigade until August 30, 1918. Then serving with 7th Ordinance Guard Company, Watervliet Arsenal, New York, until February 7, 1919, where he was Honorably Discharged.
Melvin came home after service and got a job working at Round House Concrete Company in Ft. Wayne, Indiana as a laborer. He had been living at 2516 Bowser Avenue, Ft. Wayne, on September 9, 1919, and while on the job, Melvin was ran over by a sand truck in the concrete yard. Crushing his pelvis, and internal organ damage, he passed away at 12:45 p.m. at Hope Methodist Hospital in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
Melvin was brought home and buried in Charloe-Blakesly Cemetery, Row 3, Grave 6. His father, Alseed, passed away on April 13, 1928. Emma, Melvin’s mother passed away January 1942. Burial site is unknown for this couple.
