By: Mark Holtsberry
Forrest Earl Lacy was born August 17, 1894 in Antwerp, Ohio. The son of Ammi Richard born March 20, 1862 in Ohio and Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Barker) Lacy born September 26, 1858 in Illinois. This couple was married April 24, 1886.
March 12, 1890, a daughter, Fern C. was born in Carryall Township. Then came Forrest Earl in 1894. This family was living in Antwerp, Ohio.
By 1900, the Lacy family was still living in Antwerp. Ammi was working as a real estate agent and the children were in school. By 1910, the Lacy family was living on Perry Street in Antwerp. The Lacy children were still living at home.
The Lacy family had taken in a couple as boarders. Ross and Addie Londermuth. They were brother and sister. They also were teachers. I am guessing that they were teaching at Antwerp. Between the years of 1910 and 1915, Forrest had gotten a job working for the United States Rubber Company in Detroit, Michigan as a stockman. The family was living on Oswalt Street in Antwerp.
On May 17, 1917, Forrest went to the Antwerp precinct to register for the draft. He was listed as tall, slender build, gray eyes, dark brown hair and single. Forrest was inducted into the National Army out of Paulding May 25, 1918. He served with the 159th Depot Brigade as a private. He served with this unit until July 19, 1918. He then was transferred to Company H. 22nd engineers. He served until August 29, 1918. He was sent to the Provost Post Headquarters Company at Fort Benjamin Harrison until he was discharged. He was Honorably Discharged, December 22, 1918.
By 1920, after coming home from service, he lived with his parents on Oswalt Street Antwerp. He worked as a mail carrier until he got a job working for the sugar beet factory in Paulding as a chemist. After 1925, Forrest was living in Florida. On December 16, 1927, while in Florida, he married Sophia A. Stapula, born October 25, 1894 in Michigan. The daughter of Nels and Johanna Stapula. Sophia served as a nurse in World War 1. She served in the Army Nurse Corps. She served until July 7, 1919.
By 1930, Forrest, Sophia and newly born daughter, Patricia A., born in 1929, were living in Tampa, Florida. Forrest was working as a salesman at a meat packing plant. And Sophia was a nurse. By 1931, Forrest, Sophia and Patricia, were still living in Tampa, Florida. Forrest was working as a service manager for Owen-John Tire Company.
On January 26, 1932, Forrest’s father Ammi passed away. He was buried in Antwerp Riverside Cemetery. By 1940, this family moved back to Antwerp. Living at 431 South Main Street. Forrest was working as an assistant. But not clear where he worked. On June 9, 1940, Forrest’s mother, Elizabeth passed away, She was buried with her husband.
After 1941, the family moved to 1155 Stanley Avenue, Detroit, Michigan. Where Forrest took a job working as a stockroom manager for the U.S. Army Depot for Vickors Incorporated. In 1942, Forrest registered for the World War Two draft. Because of his age, he was not selected.
On June 30, 1943 at 7:30 A.M. Forrest passed away from a heart attack. He was at home at the time. He was buried at the Grandlawn Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan.
May of 1944, Forrest received his Military tombstone marking his grave. Sometime after that, Sophia, retired from nursing and moved to Tacoma, Washington to live with her daughter and husband. She suffered from Parkinson’s disease and heart ailments. She passed away, April 19, 1971. She is buried with a military marker of her own at Mountain View Memorial Park Cemetery in Lakewood, Washington.
…Until Next Time!
