By: Mark Holtsberry
Perry Nelson Leveck was born in Haviland, Ohio March 20, 1894. The son of Perry Commodore, born February 27, 1853 in Ohio and Rosa Ellen (Daniels) Leveck born February 9, 1857 in Ohio. This couple was married July 17, 1879 in Fayette, Ohio. By 1890, this couple had children Lea born 1876, Viola August 1882, Allie 1885, Effie M. November 18, 1887.
Commodore was a farm laborer in Blue Creek Township. By 1900 a daughter Clara, was born March 19, 1892, followed by Perry March 20, 1894 and Della February 1897, but his wife, Rosa, will passed away April 19, 1900 in Paulding was buried in Blue Creek Cemetery.
By 1910 Commodore, was a day laborer on a farm. His daughter Allie and her daughter Bernice, born in 1885 and Perry were still living at home.
By 1915, Perry had moved out on his own. He was living in Scott, Ohio on the Van Wert side but he was helping his dad.
On June 5, 1917, Perry registered for the draft in Hoaglin Township, Van Wert County. He was listed as medium, slender build, brown eyes and brown hair and single. He listed that he had a speech problem.
On July 17, 1918, Perry married a gal named Mary Caroline Foust. Born September 19, 1898 in Morrow County, Ohio. The daughter of James McClellan and Myrtle Viola Foust. Perry’s sister, Viola, passed away in 1918 and was buried in Blue Creek Cemetery. On July 22, 1918, he was inducted into the National Army out of Van Wert.
Perry was assigned to the 158th Depot Brigade until August 7, 1918. He then was assigned to Company D. 336th Infantry until October of 1918. Perry became a father October 5, 1918, a daughter, Georgia Ruth was born. Perry was assigned to Company L. 91st Infantry Division as a private. He served in France in the Ypres-Lys Defensive sector. He was sick and wounded. He was at the Base Section 3 Base Hospital #37, at Hartford, England.
On October 24, 1918, Perry’s sister, Clara, passed away from influenza and pneumonia. She was buried in Blue Creek Cemetery.
On January 5, 1919, Perry boarded the ship Comfort, I believe this is a hospital ship, from Plymouth, England and sailed for America. He was still on the roster until January 19, 1919. He was honorably discharged March 3, 1919.
On June 6 1919, Perry passed away at home in Hoaglin Township, Van Wert County. He passed due to complications from sugar diabetes, He was buried in Blue Creek Cemetery, section B., lot 180, grave 1. After his death, Mary went to live with Commodore’s niece Bernice. Mary remarried April 14, 1934 to a fella named George Williams. and moved to Vaughnsville, Ohio where she lived out her days until she passed September 27, 1972.
She was buried with her second husband in Vaughnsville Cemetery in Putnam County. Perry’s daughter, Georgia, passed away May 24, 1992 and was buried in Lima, Ohio.
…Until Next Time
