By: Mark Holtsberry
Earl Bartlett Endsley was born in Defiance, Ohio, April 18, 1894. The son of John Sherman, born May 21, 1860 in Coshocton County, Ohio. And Rosa Belle (Wilson) Endsley, born November of 1868 in Henry County, Ohio.
John and Rosa were married March 4, 1890 in Henry County, Ohio. By 1900, the Endsley family were living in Grover Hill, Ohio. John, a farmer and Rosa a homemaker and mother taking care of three children. Earl, born in 1894, Loma Ella, born in 1895, and Darrel John, born in 1898.
By 1910, the Endsley family was living in Latty Township. John was farming and Earl was working on the farm. John and Rosa added a son Phais D. born in 1902, Clay V. born in 1905, and Vera Winona born in 1907. The couple had an infant child born and died in 1905. A daughter Veda Belle was born May 12, 1914. On June 5, 1917, Earl, working on the family farm and tending to livestock, registered for the draft at the East Latty Township precinct. He was listed as medium height and build, gray eyes, black hair. Earl signed up in Pauling and joined the National Army, July 22, 1918. He was assigned to the 5th Company, 2nd Training Battalion, 158th Depot Brigade. He will serve until August 8, 1918. He was then assigned to Company K. 335th Infantry.
Earl was sent to New York where he boarded the ship, “Karmala” and departed September 3, 1918 headed for France. Earl served with Company K. 335th until October of 1918. Earl was then assigned to serve with Company I. 28th Infantry. He was stationed in the Meuse-Argonne sector.
On November 6, 1918, 5 days before the war was over, he died of lobar pneumonia. His father, John Sherman Endsley was notified of his death. Earl Barlett Endsley was laid to rest in the St. Mihiel American Cemetery in France, grave 6, row 25, block A. A memorial stone was placed in Mt. Zion Cemetery outside of Grover Hill.
In 1930, Earl’s mother, Rosa Belle Endsley, had an opportunity to travel to France and visit her son’s grave. This program was a United States Government paid program called World War One Mother’s Pilgrimage which was started in 1929. Earl’s mother, Rosa Bell, choose not to go. Earl’s father passed away in 1941 and Rosa Belle passed away in 1959. Most of the family are buried in Mt. Zion or Middle Creek Cemetery outside of Grover Hill, Ohio.
…Until Next Time!
