By: Mark Holtsberry
Ralph Andrew Grew was born in Cecil, Ohio, April 6, 1890. The son of Francis B, born July 18, 1852 in Canada. He became a naturalized citizen sometime after 1870, and Ellen (McNamara) Grew born in Ohio November 4, 1854. This couple was married November 20, 1881. To this couple was born four children. Joseph James born September 28, 1883, Edward Francis July 8, 1887, Ralph Andrew April 6, 1890, and Clemence Mary January 30, 1894.
By 1900, the Grew family was living in Emerald, Paulding County. Frank was engaged in farming. Joseph had quit school to help out on the farm. On June 1, 1914, Ellen Grew passed away. She was buried in the Immaculate Catholic Cemetery. June 5, 1917, Ralph went to the Emerald precinct and registered for the World War 1 draft. He was listed as medium height and weight, blue eyes and dark brown hair.
Ralph was engaged in farming. Ralph’s brother, Edward also registered for the draft June 5, 1917. Edward was listed as medium height and build, blue eyes dark brown hair. He was also engaged in farming. Brother Joseph will register for the draft, September 12, 1918. He was married to a gal named Emelia Green. He was listed as a farmer with the same characteristics as his brothers. He was not chosen to serve.
Ralph joined the National Army July 22, 1918 out of Paulding. He was assigned to serve with Company E. 334th Infantry. Ralph boarded the ship Aquitania at New York September 2, 1918 and set sail for France. He served with this unit until October 6, 1918. He then was assigned to serve with Company K. 363rd Infantry until the end of the war. On March 19, 1919, Ralph left St. Nazaire, France and set sail for Hoboken, New Jersey on the ship Liberator. He was Honorably Discharged April 23, 1919. Ralph’s brother, Edward, served overseas with the same Company, but with Division Headquarters. They both were able to come home together on the same ship on the same day.
Edward was Honorably Discharged April 23, 1919. Ralph met and married a gal named Bertha Nora Arend. She was born January 5, 1899 in Defiance. They were married September 7, 1920 in Paulding.
On June 7, 1921, Ralph’s father Francis passed away. He was buried with his wife in the Immaculate Catholic Cemetery. To this couple, Ralph and Bertha, were born four children. Lucille Catherine June 27, 1921, Ethel Mae May 21, 1923, Mary Ellen July 5, 1925 and Clair Clement July 28, 1927. Sometime in between the birth of Ethel and Claire, the family moved to North Baltimore, Ohio. On Monday, December 12, 1927, the entire community of Paulding was shocked to receive word that Ralph Andrew Grew had been killed by a train at or near North Baltimore, Ohio. He was buried in Live Oak Cemetery, in lot 411, block G. grave 6. In 1929, Ralph’s wife Bertha remarried a fella named James A. Antoine. They will have three children, Edward R. Joseph Henry and Marilyn A. Bertha passed away February 27, 1983 at the Paulding County Hospital. She was buried with her second husband James, who passed away June 22, 1980. They are buried in Live Oak Cemetery.
… Until Next Time!
