By: Mark Holtsberry
Robert Lain Holtsberry was born April 16, 1890 in Latty, Ohio. The son of Franklin T., born October 17, 1849 in Ohio and Sarah Ellen (Betts) Holtsberry born February 16, 1858 in Piqua, Miami County, Ohio. She is the daughter of Joseph Smith and Susan H. Betts. This couple was married on January 12, 1877 in Paulding. Robert has a brother, William Henry Holtsberry born in 1891 in Broughton, Ohio.
Franklin died October 9, 1894 and was buried in Hedges Cemetery. Sarah remarried in 1896 to a fella named, James Kimmel. Sarah gave birth to a son Joseph Scott Kimmel.
By 1900, the family was living in Jackson Township. James was a farmer, Robert and William in school. By 1910, Robert, still living at home, was a farm laborer. The family was still living in Jackson Township on Staley Pike, not sure where this would be located.
Sometime before 1917, Robert had moved to Hobart, Indiana. He was working as a clerk for the Pennsylvania Railroad. On June 5, 1917, Robert registered for the World War 1 draft. Listed as Medium height and slender build, blue eyes and dark hair. On June 27, 1918, out of Crown Point, Indiana, he was in the army. Robert served with the 19th Company, 5th Training Battalion, 158th Depot Brigade. He served with this unit until July 23, 1918. Then he transferred to Company I. 336′ Infantry, 84th Division.
On August 24, 1918, Robert boarded a ship at Hoboken, New Jersey and set sail for France. He served with the 336th until October 15, 1918. He transferred to Company F. 359th Infantry. He was slightly wounded November 4, 1918 while serving in the Meuse-Argonne defensive sector. According to relatives, this is when he was partially gassed. He was Honorably Discharged, April 17, 1919.
Returning home from France, Robert met a gal named Clara Alice Gordon. Born September 16, 1903 in Ohio. The daughter of Samuel C. and Alice Geanette Gordon. Robert and Clara were married September 13, 1925. On February 16, 1927, Sarah, Robert’s mother, passed away. She was buried in Hedges Cemetery, notice, she died on her birthday.
By 1930, Robert and Clara, were living in Paulding on South Cherry Street. The couple had two children, Robert E. born March 25, 1926 and Verna Jean born April 1, 1929. Robert was working as a manager at a Gas Service Station in Paulding. By 1940, the family had moved to 520 East Perry Street in Paulding. Robert was driving truck for Grizzley Manufacture Company in Paulding. In 1942, Robert had to register for the World War 2 draft, but was not selected at the age of 52. His son, Robert Edwin Holtsberry was selected to serve. Robert Lain Holtsberry’s health began to fade because of his smoking, working at Grizzley, and being gassed in World War 1. He lost the function of one lung.
On December 12, 1947, he passed away at the Veterans Hospital in Dayton, Ohio. He was buried in Live Oak Cemetery, lot 76 and a half, space 1. Clara passed away, March 31, 1996 in Van Wert, Ohio. She is buried with Robert.
