By: Mark Holtsberry
Verner Enoch Meek was born November 5, 1892 in Haviland, Ohio. The son of Enoch Leander born July 1859 in Ohio and Eatie E. (Everett) Meek born July 1867 in Ohio. She is the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Everett.
Enoch and Eatie were married in 1884 in Ohio. By 1900, while living in Emerald, Twp. outside of Paulding, Enoch and Eatie had four children. Carrie born May 1885, Elvey L. February 1887, Verner November 1892 and Dora E. November 1897. Enoch was a farm laborer. By 1910, Enoch and Eatie had added children, Eunice Naomi September 28, 1902 and Herbert E. June 19, 1906. Enoch had purchased a farm and was farming.
He had the help of the children. Carrie had married and moved out of the home. She married a fella named Frederick M. Aufrance, February 25, 1908. Strange twist, one of Carrie’s children, Virginia, will marry a fella named Alfred D. Manson. That is my grandmother’s brother! Sorry, I will now focus on the topic.
The rest of the children, except for Herbert and Elvey were in school. As war loomed, a National draft was called. On June 5, 1917, at the Emerald Precinct, Verner registered for the draft. He was listed as tall, slender build, blue eyes, black hair, single, and a farm laborer. Verner was also working for a fella named Hessler. Verner ran a milk truck in Paulding, making deliveries to homes and businesses. Elvey’s husband, Ora Leslie Sanders, registered for the draft June 5, 1917, he was not chosen. On May 18, 1918, Verner was serving the National Army out of Paulding. He was sent to Camp Gordan to serve with 23ra Company, 6th Training Battalion, 157th Depot Brigade. He will serve until June 27, 1918. His status changed to Automatic Replacement Draft Company 51st Infantry. That meant that he was going overseas. On July 24, 1918, at Boston, Massachusetts, Verner will board the ship, “Beltana” and set sail for France. On September 8, 1918, while in the ammunition train yard, Verner was killed in an accident. News was received by his father. Verner will be buried in France in the Protestant Cemetery in Avord Sher, France in grave number 106 B. Back home in Paulding, a memorial service was held in his memory. The Rev. I.L.Wilkins, pastor of the Presbyterian Church. Verner was a member of the Paulding lodge I.O.O.F. no. 577.
About 50 Odd Fellow members attended the memorial. A large congregation and a number of sorrowing friends and relatives were also in attendance. Verner made a great sacrifice as he was sent across the sea to make the world safe for democracy, so that others might enjoy the freedom such as the people of this land so long have had. A memorial stone was placed in Verner’s honor in Live Oak Cemetery, section 4, lot 452, row 1, grave 4.
… Until Next Time!
