By: Mark Holtsberry Bessie Cottrell was a World War 1 American Red Cross nurse that was born January 26, 1891 in Carryall Township, Paulding County, Ohio. The daughter of Warren and Anna Cottrell was the fourth child out of eleven. Warren Cottrell was born February 28, 1861 in Ohio. Anna was born December 13, 1862…
By: Mark Holtsberry Sister Helen Elizabeth Cummings is an unknown Red Cross nurse from Paulding County who served overseas in Europe during World War 1. Helen Elizabeth Cummings was born in Antwerp, Ohio, August 7, 1895. The daughter of W. Jesse and Rosa Caroline (Westrick) Cummings. W. Jessie was born in Ohio, May 31, 1874…
By: Mark Holtsberry SKINNER BROTHERS, A STORY OF TRAGEDY This story is a story of sad tragedy involving one family, two brothers. Frederick Albert Skinner was born January 6, 1896 in Harrison Township, Payne, Ohio. The son of Clarence Sylvester and Effie (Wahl) Skinner. By 1900, the Skinner family, along with five children, two daughters…
By: Mark Holtsberry Iris Mae Gaut was born June 2, 1888 in Ohio, the daughter of Eli and Mary Elizabeth (Outland) Gaut. Eli Gaut was born January 18, 1835 in Ohio. He was a Civil War Veteran serving with Company C. 68th Ohio Volunteer Infantry at the rank of Corporal. He served four years and…
By: Mark Holtsberry Don Carlos Jaquette was born April 7, 1894 in Washington Township, Paulding County, Ohio. The son of Charles H. born August 28, 1861 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania and Mary Jeannette (Hickerson) Jaquette, born April 16, 1862 in McComb, Ohio. It was thought that Don was born in the house on the farm where…
By: Mark Holtsberry Riley Finley Ennis (part 2) After Pearl Harbor was bombed, the United States Army was looking to keep current educated officers. Riley was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel February of 1942, by December 11, 1942, he was promoted to Colonel. Military records are unclear as to his placement with high command. I sense…
By: Mark Holtsberry When we see names of people who served in the military, we assume that they served in one war. Well, here is the story of a man from Paulding County, who served in three wars, and here is his story. Riley Finley Ennis was born April 23, 1897 in Paulding, Ohio. The…
By: Mark Holtsberry Paul Philander Gusler was born June 29, 1895 near Grover Hill, Ohio. He was the son of Simon Allen and Catherine Eunice (Gilbert) Gusler. By 1900 Simon, Catherine along with 8 children, were living in Latty, Ohio. Simon was a farmer who made sure that Paul received an education. Paul was schooled…
By: Mark Holtsberry William Arthur Henry Dempsey was born August 6, 1892 in Van Wert, Ohio. He was a member of the “Moxley family”, but William was adopted and raised by Willis H. and Mary Belle Dempsey (I’m not clear of the year William was adopted). Willis H. Dempsey was born in 1849, his wife…
By: Mark Holtsberry Israel Brobeck, Civil War Veteran, was born January 20, 1830 in Frederick County, Ohio. He was the son of Henry Brobeck (1808- 1899) and Mahala (Hottel) Brobeck (1810- 1847). As child raised on the farm, Israel learned at a very young age, the meaning of work. By 1850, Israel was on his…
By: Mark Holtsberry Morris Homer Spriggs is the highest ranking naval officer to come from Paulding County. He was born April 18, 1892, in Paulding, Ohio, the son of Frank and Margaret (Petty) Spriggs. Frank Spriggs was born in Noble County in 1863 and studied law in his brother’s law office in Caldwell, Ohio. He…
Of all of the Military research that I have done over a course of, at least 30 years, Halley Franklin Doster sticks in my mind a lot. At least he is in my top ten of soldiers, I shake my head and wonder why, this had to happen. Halley Franklin Doster was born, September 22,…
