By: Mark Holtsberry
Bruder Brown was born January 15, 1896 in Paulding, Ohio. The son of William, born November of 1842 in Paulding and Catherine Brown, born May of 1851 in Ohio. This couple was married May 19, 1867 in Paulding, Ohio, and were the parents of William C. Brown born April 24, 1884, Wesley Alvin born January 4, 1886, John W. born February 12, 1889 and Bruder January 15, 1896.
By 1900, the Brown family was living in the Paulding area on a farm. By 1910, the Brown family was living at 808 West Jackson Street in Paulding. William was working odd jobs, Bruder was in school. In 1913, Bruder’s father, William passed away. He was buried in Live Oak Cemetery.
On February 24, 1914, Bruder joined Company B., 2nd Ohio National Guard out of Paulding. He was Honorably Discharged, April 10, 1917. Bruder met a gal named Verdia T. Good, born December 27, 1897. The daughter of Alfred Jerome and Eura Ellina Good. Bruder and Verdia were married March 2, 1918. Bruder joined the National Army May 25, 1918. He was listed as 5’8″ tall, blue eyes, brown hair, fair complexion. Bruder served with 15th Company, 4th Battalion, 159th Depot Brigade, for training, until June 18, 1918. Then Bruder was shipped overseas August 6, 1918 on the ship, “Huron”.
The ship left the port of Newport News, Virginia. Bruder served with Company F., 153rd Infantry, he served until September 27, 1918. Then he was assigned to serve with Company G., 51st Infantry, 6th Division until the end of the war. Bruder was promoted to Private 1st class, June 9, 1919. He served in the Muese-Argonne Defensive Sector. Honorably Discharged June 20, 1919. After returning home from the war in Europe, Bruder and Verdie, as she was called, moved to 808 West Perry Street in Paulding. He was working as a laborer.
A son, Richard Dean Brown, was born December 24, 1921 in Paulding. By 1930, Bruder, Verdie and Richard were living at 845 West Harrison Street in Paulding. Bruder was working odd jobs and Richard was in school. In 1933, Bruder’s mom, Catherine passed away. She was buried with William in Live Oak Cemetery.
By 1940, Bruder, Verdie and Richard were living at 717 West Harrison Street in Paulding and Richard was working at the Sugar Beet Factory as a laborer. On February 16, 1942, Bruder and Richard registered for the World War Two draft.
Richard was listed as 5’9″ tall, 140 pounds, light brown complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. On June 27, 1944, while living in Addison, Woodstock Township, Lenawee County, Michigan, Bruder passed away at 3:20 P.M. He suffered from acute heart infibulation. R.W. Crowell funeral home brought Bruder back home to Paulding.
Bruder was buried in Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Jackson Township outside of Paulding. Verdia took care of ordering Bruder’s military tombstone. She applied January 5, 1944, stone was ordered February 9, 1945. Verdie remarried to a fella named John Howell who died in 1971. She passed away January 9, 1987. She was buried with Bruder.
Verdie’s two brothers, Everett Roy and Emmett Good served in France in World War 1. Emmett was killed and is buried in France. As for Richard, he moved to Colorado where he passed away, April 27, 2003 at Ft. Collins, Colorado.
