History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 16

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Publication date: 1922
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1767


USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 16


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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Azro I. Hulbert, formerly sheriff of Barron county, and for a short time previous to his death game warden of 19 northern counties of Wisconsin, was born in La Crosse county, this state, May 28, 1862, son of Ira and Jane (Cram) Hulbert. His parents, who were farmers, were natives of Vermont and of Scotch and English ancestry. Azro I. grew up on their farm in La Crosse county and was educated in the district school. His early years after arriving at early manhood were spent in agricultural pursuits. On March 8, 1883, he was married in his native county to Martha Ketchum, and somewhat over five years later, in November, 1888, he came with his family to Barron, Wis., where he engaged in the pump business. In that occupation he continued for fifteen years, or until 1903, in which year he was appointed deputy state game warden, in which office he served until Feb. 25, 1916. He was then appointed by Governor Philips to fill the unexpired term of Mat Olson, sheriff of Barron county, who had been shot, and served as such until the first Monday in January, 1917, when he was appointed supervisor of game wardens for nine- teen of the northen counties of the state in which office he served until his death on Sept. 27, 1918. In politics Mr. Hulbert was always a Republican. He served Barron county two terms as deputy sheriff, and was also for two terms city treasurer at Barron, making a good record in every public office of which he was the incumbent. His fraternal affiliations were with Birch Camp, M. W. A. He was a man of sturdy type and of proved integrity and capacity. He and his wife were the parents of six children: Ernie W., born Dec. 28, 1884; Myrtie E., Nov. 13, 1885; Gird O., May 9, 1887; Maude S., Nov. 19, 1889; Clyde R., Jan. 1, 1896, and Olive F., May 29, 1898. Ernie W., who is proprietor of a poolroom in Barron, was married Nov. 29, 1905, to Floren- tine Smith of Cedar Lake, this county, who was born March 31, 1887. Myrtie E., is the wife of Herman F. Hirt, a shoe merchant of Barron, to whom she


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was married June 26, 1906, at Barron. Mr. Hirt was born at Newark, N. J., Oct. 31, 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Hirt have two children, Frederick Ira, born Nov. 16, 1908, and Gerald Allen, born May 26, 1917. Gird O. Hulbert was married June 9, 1910, to Lillian Ofelt, who was born Sept. 16, 1895. He is now serving as deputy game warden. He and his wife have one child, Dorothy, born Dec. 26, 1914. Maude S. Hulbert is now the wife of Fred Therow of Spokane, Wash., and has one child, Dorothy, born Nov. 13, 1911. Clyde R. Hulbert, who is a resident of Barron, was married Nov. 19, 1916, to Lillian Heider of. this city, and has one child, Lyle, who was born June 24, 1917. Olive F. Hul- bert is residing with her mother. Mr. Hulbert was successful in business and left his family well provided for. He owned a farm of 80 acres in Clinton township and a residence on LaSalle street, Barron. Mrs. Hulbert is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and the family is one of good social standing.


John H. Johnson, sheriff of Barron county, was born in Gefleborgslan, Sweden, son of Jonas and Anna (Tall) Anderson. He was educated in a com- mon school in his native land, and at the age of 21 entered an agricultural school where, after a course of one year, he was graduated. His parents were proprietors of an average size but productive farm, to which he returned after his graduation, and which he assisted in working until 1881, when he came to America. He had two older brothers, Anders and Erick, and no sisters, and when he left home Erick took charge of the farm. John H. Johnson arrived in Eau Claire, Wis., in May, 1881, direct from Sweden. He had but a small amount of money, but soon found work at railroad grading, and being energetic and enterprising, he soon became a contractor for such work, in which he con- tinued for eight years. In the spring of 1890 he came to Barron county and bought 80 acres of wild land in Maple Grove township. Five acres had been chopped and burned over, but this constituted the only improvement. There were no buildings, neither was there any public road, and for the first year Mr. Johnson lived on an adjoining 40-acre tract that had a small house on it. In the spring of 1891 he built a frame house 16 by 24 feet on his land and moved into it. At various times he added to his original 80 acres until he owned 220, of which he improved 90 acres, letting the balance remain timber and pasture. He also erected a fair set of buildings, including a silo, and was suc- cessfully engaged in general farming and dairying, keeping from 15 to 20 cows. He also raised potatoes extensively. This farm, which is located nine miles southeast of Barron and six and three-quarters miles southwest of Cameron, Mr. Johnson still owns. Politically a Republican, he served Maple Grove township two years as side supervisor and for 14 years was chairman of the township board. He also served some years as clerk of school district No. 8 and as chairman of the Barron county board. In 1908 Mr. Johnson was elected sheriff of Barron county, taking office on the first Monday in 1909. He served two years, during which time he resided in Barron. In January, 1911, he returned to his farm and resumed agriculture, remaining there until he was appointed by the governor, Dec. 1, 1917, as sheriff to fill the unexpired term of Hans Borgen. He served until July, 1920, when, owing to a legal technicality he was removed. In the fall of 1920 he became a candidate for the office, and being elected, resumed its duties in January, 1921. His re-election evidenced that he had made a good record and gained the confidence of the people of the county. Mr. John- son was formerly a member of Tent No. 177 of the Maccabees at Cameron, a lodge now gone out of existence. He was also a member of the Norwegian Luthern church of Maple Grove township, which he served as trustee. On Feb. 17, 1884, Mr. Johnson married Justina Johnson, daughter of John O. and Sophia Johnson of Maple Grove township. She was born in the province of Dahlsland, Sweden, Jan. 9, 1864, and came to America with her parents when 18 years old, the family settling at once in Maple Grove township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were married in Eau Claire, where they began domestic life together. They have had nine children, of whom six are now living, the


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J. H. JOHNSON


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full record being as follows: Anna S., born July 4, 1885, who died March 28, 1917; Elvira, born April 22, 1888, now Mrs. Carl Eng, of Barron, Wis .; Arthur, born May 10, 1890, who is residing in Barron; Mabel O., born July 17, 1892, who married Henry Erickson and died in Alberta, Canada, Oct. 24, 1915; Esther, born March 24, 1895, who is residing at home; Violet, born June 24, 1897, who died in Barron, Jan. 28, 1920; Goldie E., born Jan. 23, 1900, resid- ing at home; Cecil, born June 7, 1902, who graduated from the Hunt Business College at Eau Claire, Wis., and is now doing clerical work in the employ of the C. & N. W. Railway Co. (Omaha Division) ; and Natila N., born June 21, 1904, who is a student in the Barron High school.


Albert W. Arndt, formerly engaged in agriculture, but now and for some years manager of the Barron Co-operative Creamery, was born in Pommern, Germany, Jan. 20, 1853. At the age of 12 years, in 1865, he came to America with his parents, making the voyage in a sailing vessel, and after being out of sight of land for 33 days, arrived in New York City, whence the family came on to Washington county, Wisconsin. From there, after a year's resi- dence, they moved to Calumet county, buying a farm near Appleton. It con- sisted solely of wild land when they moved onto it, but they made improve- ments and carried on the farm until 1885, when they sold it and came to Bar- ron county, where they lived retired until their death. Albert W. Arndt attended school in Germany, but had no further opportunity, as after arriv- ing in this country his parents needed his services on the farm. At the age of 20 he left home and for four years worked out as a farm hand. On Oct. 20, 1877, while working on a farm near Owatonna, Minn., he was united in marriage with Lydia A. Alverson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Alver- son of Blue Earth county, Minn. She was born in Delaware county, New York, Dec. 14, 1854, and settled in 1858 with her parents near Oxford, Marquette county, Wis., where the family remained a short time on a farm. From there they moved to Blue Earth county, Minnesota, where they took another farm. Her mother died about 1868 and her father in 1890. After his marriage Mr. Arndt continued for some years to reside in Steele county, Minn., near Owa- tonna, but in the fall of 1885 he moved with his family to Barron county, Wis- consin, and began farming in Maple Grove township on 320 acres of wild land, among his first acts being the erection of a good eight-room frame house and a substantial barn. There he followed agriculture for twenty-five years, by the end of which time he had cleared 120 acres and had a good set of buildings. In September, 1910, he moved to Barron to become manager of the Barron Co-operative Creamery, a position which he has since retained and in which he has made a good record. In the spring of 1920 he sold his farm to his son, Fred M. He owns a good, modern home on LaSalle street, Barron, and he and his wife are members of the First Baptist church, of which he is senior deacon and a trustee. Politically he is a Republican, and while living in Maple Grove township served in some minor local offices. For a number of years he has been in strong sympathy with the prohibition movement. Mr. and Mrs. Arndt have been the parents of four children : Edward G., Minnie E., Fred M., and Ernest A. The first, Edward G., born in Steele county, Minn., Dec. 8, 1879, died Dec. 27, 1907. Minnie E., born in Steele county, Minn., Feb. 3, 1883, is the wife of H. H. Chapman of Barron, and has one child, Albert, who is attending school. Fred M., born in Steele county, July 31, 1885, and now on the home farm in Maple Grove township, Barron county, is married and has three children, Marian, Bruce and Barbara. Ernest A., born in Barron county, March 26, 1888, is proprietor of a garage in Delisle, Saskatchewan, Canada. He is married and has two children, Norine and Edward.


W. Edward Gleason, highway commissioner for Barron county, in which office he has now served for three years, was born on a farm near Three Rivers, St. Joseph county, Mich., Jan. 27, 1878, son of William C. and Elizabeth (Morton) Gleason. Both his parents were born at Three Rivers, Mich., the father March 29, 1850, and the mother Nov. 3, 1855. They were there married in


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August, 1875. Their children were: Helen, now the wife of James G. King, who is in the mail service at Bay City, Mich .; W. Edward, of Barron, Wis., and Jesse W., an attorney and newspaper publisher of Saginaw, Mich. When W. Edward Gleason was five years old he accompanied his parents to the vicinity of Glendive, Mont., where his father became proprietor of a sheep ranch, and there the family remained from 1883 to 1889, when they returned to Three Rivers, Mich. In the meanwhile W. Edward had attended school, and he now entered the Three Rivers Normal and Business College, from which he was graduated in 1894. In the fall of that year he returned with his parents to Montana, where his father resumed sheep raising, W. Edward becoming his partner. In 1901 they sold their interests, and the subject of this sketch came to Cumberland, Barron county, Wis., where for two years he was engaged in the real estate business. At the end of that time he took up general farming, buying 400 acres of wild land in Lakeland township, on which he began the work of improvement by building a residence. From 1906 to 1910 he served the township on the board of supervisors, and again from 1913 to September, 1917, during which latter period he was chairman of the board. He was then appointed highway commissioner for the county, to fill the unexpired term of S. S. Berg, who had resigned, and in November, 1917, he was elected to the same office for a term of one year by the county board. In the fall of 1918 he was re-elected for a two-year term. He owns a nice residence on Division street, Barron, which he has occupied since becom- ing highway commissioner. Mr. Gleason was married Dec. 31, 1903, to Pearl M. Schultz, who was born at Baldwin, Pierce county, Wis., May 24, 1880, daughter of William and Clara (Heasley) Schultz, who later settled in Cum- berland, Barron county. Mr. and Mrs. Gleason have had three children: Vir- ginia, born Sept. 30, 1911, who died May 5, 1912; Marcella, born Sept. 7, 1913, and William R., born Dec. 20, 1916. Mrs. Gleason is a member of the Epis- copal church, and Mr. Gleason of Cumberland Lodge, No. 223, F. & A. M. In politics he has always been a Republican.


Joseph Willard Heffner, farmer and business man, was born in Belle Fontaine, Ohio, Jan. 8, 1860, son of David and Ruth (Shoup) Heffner. He was the second of seven children, the others being: Francis, deceased; Wil- liam; Margaret, deceased; Minnie; Wingate, and Charles. David Heffner was born in Johnstown, Pa., in 1832, of good old Holland ancestry. He came to Prairie Farm township, this county, in 1874, brought his family here the following year, and in 1878 acquired 80 acres of wild land in Dallas town- ship, which he developed by clearing and erecting a house and other buildings. Joseph Willard Heffner received a common school education in Indiana, walk- ing three miles to a primitive log schoolhouse, in which the desks and seats were of logs, into which stakes had been driven for legs. He came to this county with his parents and shared in their privations and struggles, helping his father in his endeavors to clear a farm in the woods. In 1876 he started work with Knapp, Stout & Co. in the woods, and continued in this employment for a number of winters. In 1882 he bought 80 acres in Dallas township, this county. He moved thereon in 1885, and spent the succeeding years in its development. There the family remained until 1900. In that year, he purchased a farm on the north city limits of Barron. In 1915 he sold the farm, and the family moved into the city. In the meantime, Mr. Heffner had been pursuing a successful business career. In 1893, with Knute Espeseth as partner, he engaged in the agricultural implement business at Dallas, in this county. Two years later he bought his partner's interest, and moved to Barron city, where in 1900 he acquired the hardware stock of Clay- ton Roberts. In 1905 he erected a block to which he gave the name of the Heffner Block, and in 1907 he purchased the adjoining Carpenter Block. Both blocks were destroyed by fire in 1908. The next year, on the site of these two blocks he erected the sightly Heffner Opera House Block, with a front of 134 feet on Third street, and a rear extension of 98 feet on Division street. The


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JAMES R. BECKWITH AND FAMILY


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building is of concrete construction, with ornamental front. In 1915, Mr. Heffner sold a part of the building together with the privileges of the Opera House, and the hardware and implement business and stock to Anderson & Sons. In 1917 he sold a part of the building to John Borg for a garage. In 1920 he sold the part between the garage and the store to Peterson & Weston, of Two Harbors, Minn. He moved his own business May 1, 1921 to a location the first door west of the First National bank on La Salle street. He is still engaged in the sale of stoves and furniture. Mr. Heffner is a stockholder in the First National bank of Barron, and his fraternal relations are with the Odd Fellows in the local lodge of which he has been secretary for many years.


Mr. Heffner was married June 13, 1884, to Sarah O'Flannigan, daughter of John and Sarah O'Flannigan, of Dallas township. They are the parents of four children, Alice Mae, Francis Willard and Minnie Elvira and Linnie Elmira, twins. Alice Mae was born May 26, 1885, and is the wife of Milo Milliser, who has a farm adjoining the Barron city limits. Francis Willard lives in Barron. He married Goldie Machlan and they have one child, Francis, born in 1914. Minnie Elvira and Linnie Elmira were born April 30, 1894, graduated from the Barron High school, the teachers' training course at the Eau Claire High school, and the Rice Lake training school, and are both teachers.


James R. Beckwith, retired farmer living on Fifth street, Barron, has been prominent in the community for many years. In the township he has served as chairman and treasurer of the town as well as in other positions; he did good work as a school board member for many years, and in 1915 he won added honors by his work as a member of the legislature. Fraternally, he has passed through the chairs of the local lodges of the Odd Fellows and the Beavers, and he has also served in official positions with the Rebekah degree. He helped organize the Barron Co-operative Creamery Co., and in many other ways has demonstrated his fitness as a man and a citizen. James R. Beckwith was born in Elmira, N. Y., July 14, 1857, son of John G. and Mary A. (Garrison) Beckwith. He came to Barron county with the family as a boy of sixteen and devoted his life to farm work at home until he was twenty years of age. Then he worked out for a year. When he was of age he bought 80 acres of wild railroad land in section 25, Barron township, and this place he developed into a most excellent farm as good as any in the community. After nearly forty years of arduous farm labor he sold out in the summer of 1919 and moved to the city of Barron where he now lives. Mr. Beckwith was married March 23, 1879, to Elva B. Skinner of Maple Grove township, this county, who was born in Waupon, Wis., Nov. 9, 1856, daughter of Austin and Cordelia (Pardee) Skinner, and came to this county with her parents about 1870. She was the second of eight children, the others being Elbert (deceased), William, Mary, Mabel, Ernest (deceased), Alice and Clement (deceasd). Mr. and Mrs. Bckwith are the parents of seven children: Alfred J., Clifton A., Clara A., Florence, Pardee G., Margueritte M. and Lawrence. Alfred J. was born April 6, 1880, and is now dead. Clifton A. was born Jan. 31, 1882, and is a grocer of Barron. Clara A. was born March 12, 1884, and is the wife of Otto Krueger, of Barron township. Florence was born July 23, 1886, and is dead. Pardee G. was born Aug. 2, 1890, and is in the grocery business with his brother Clifton in Barron City. He enlisted for the World war June 16, 1918, was assigned to the 94th Aerial squadron, organized July 3, 1918; trained at Vancouver Barracks, Washington, and was discarged at Camp Grant, Illinois, after the armistice. Margueritte M. was born Jan. 12, 1894, graduated in the normal course from the Barron High school, and is now a public school teacher in Montana. Lawrence J. was born May 19, 1898, enlisted in the World war Oct. 18, 1918, was sent to Paris Island, South Carolina, where he trained for the Marine corps, and was discharged Nov. 10, 1919. He is now attending the School of Electrical Engineering at Milwaukee.


John G. Beckwith, a pioneer, was born in Hartford, Conn., and as a young


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man became a painter. He married Mary A. Garrison, a native of New York state, and in 1870 brought his family west and located in Columbia county, this state. Three years later they came to Barron county and settled on a farm in section 26, Barron township, which they homesteaded. Their first house was a log cabin, their first cultivated lot not much larger than a modern garden. But they persevered in their efforts and in time developed a well equipped farm and achieved a substantial place in the community. Mr. and Mrs. Beckwith were the parents of five children: John C., deceased; Garrison, of Virginia; Grove, deceased; James R., a leading citizen of Barron, and Charles, of California.


Elmer Albert Rockman, banker, now deceased, was one of the best known and best liked young men in Barron county, and his death left a vacancy in the hearts of his friends that cannot well be filled. He was well liked both in business and social relations, and his sad demise came as a sad blow to the community. From boyhood up his general good nature, courtesy, and never failing cheer won friends for him, and as he grew to manhood he developed a soundness of business judgment that was to carry him far on the road to success. He was a cherry companion, a good friend, a dependable business man, a dutiful son, and a loving husband, and for these qualities will long be cherished in the hearts of those who knew him. Elmer O. Rockman was born in Maple Grove township, this county, Dec. 16, 1878, son of Nicolaus and Julie (Christiansen) Rockman, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. He received his early education in the district schools of his township and in the high school at Barron, to which town he came with his parents in 1893. Subse- quently he took a business course in the Valparaiso university, of Valparaiso, Ind. After this he worked for a time as clerk and bookkeeper for several firms in Barron, including the Normanna Savings bank. In May, 1913, he became assistant cashier of the concern and served in that position with much ability until his death, being both an expert accountant and a good judge of finances as well as possessing an understanding of human nature to an unusual degree. He was interested in public affairs, and in 1906 was elected city clerk, rendering the city excellent service during his term of office. His fraternal relations were with the Knights of Pythias and the Pythian Sisters. In religion he adhered to the Norwegian Lutheran church, being the first child baptized in the church of that denomination in Barron. His success career was suddenly cut short Jan. 18, 1919, when he died of pneumonia following an attack of influenza. Mr. Rockman was married July 11, 1917, to Grace Sprague of Detroit, Mich., daughter of William and Mary (Wineland) Sprague, and the oldest of five children, the others being Carrie, Gail, Ethel and Bertha. Mr. Sprague is engaged in the wool business. Mrs. Rockman, then Miss Sprague, came to Barron in July, 1915, and purchased the millinery shop of Mrs. Thomas Madden, which she operated until a short time after her marriage when she sold to Mrs. Harry Meyers. Mr. and Mrs. Rockman have one son, Elmer A., born Aug. 12, 1919.


Cortes P. Taylor, veteran of the Civil war, pioneer Wisconsin business man and farmer and for some years a prominent merchant of Barron City, was born in Waukegan Village, Wis., Jan. 30, 1845, son of Philo C. and Mary Jane (Buckland) Taylor. Philo C. Taylor was born in Cataraugus county, New York, in 1818 and was descended from Revolutionary stock. His wife was born in Ogdensburg, N. Y., and was descended from both Mayflower and Revolutionary stock. They came to Wisconsin in the early thirties and settled in Walworth county, then a wilderness. For a while he followed his trade as a carpenter and millwright and then became a farmer. He died in Vernon county, Wiscon- sin, about 1887. His wife died about 1882. Cortes P. Taylor was reared amid pioneer conditions and was able to secure but little schooling, his educational attendance being limited to six months a year from the time he was seven until the time he was ten years of age. This meager training he has supple- mented by wide reading and close observation, and there are today few better


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informed men of his age in the county. In 1864 he enlisted in the 39th Wiscon- sin Volunteer infantry under the 100-day call and served 127 days. He was then taken ill, but after his recovery re-enlisted in February, 1865, in the 37th Wisconsin Volunteer infantry, participating in the Battle of Petersburg and serving until after the surrender of General Lee, receiving his discharge at Madison, Wis., in August, 1865. He then spent a few months with his parents after which he went to Sparta, Wis., and with a comrade and tent mate as a companion, secured employment as a woodchopper. In two months and a half he cut 252 cords of 4-foot wood for which he received $1.00 a cord and boarded himself. The following summer he cradled grain and did other farm work at very small wages. He also spent considerable time for some years in the forest, hunting and trapping the bears, lynx and wildcats in which Wisconsin then abounded. He became a famous marksman and was widely known for his ability. In 1866 he purchased 40 acres of wild land in Clinton township, Vernon county, this state, and erected thereon a cabin of hewed logs, one of the best in the vicinity at that time. With this beginning he cleared and developed the land and later opened a small store. In 1879 he once more did the same thing, purchased 40 acres, built a cabin, did a little farming, and operated a store. His next location was at Cashton village, Monroe county, this state, where he built a store building and engaged in the general mercantile business. Starting with $450 he built up the establishment to such an extent that in a few years he was carrying a stock valued at $10,000. In 1890 he sold out and came to Barron City, this county, where he bought a general mercantile business from his cousin, J. W. Taylor. Five years later he gave up the general line and devoted himself exclusively to the dry goods and clothing business. This he sold in 1902 and retired. Shortly after coming here he acquired three excellent building lots on La Salle street. On the middle of these he erected one of the best brick business blocks in Barron. This he sold in 1918, having earlier disposed of the two lots. That same year he sold his pleasant summer cottage on Poskin lake, in this county. He still owns a comfortable home on La Salle street and is enjoying a life of tranquility after the many busy years of worthy endeavor. Mr. Taylor is a Republican in politics and has served as town supervisor of Barron township. He is a member and liberal supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church and a strong temperance advocate. He is associated with Martin Watson post, No. 172, G. A. R. Mr. Taylor was married May 2, 1867, to Thurza J. Perkins, daughter of Lewis B. and Harriet Perkins. This union has resulted in five children: Harriet J., Charles C., Myron E., Carrie May and Raymond C. Harriet J. was born March 12, 1868, and died in 1882. Charles C. was born Sept. 10, 1871, and is a practitioner in Barron City. Myron E. was born Oct. 22, 1878, married Catherine Ditmar, and has two children, Harrison and Charles. He devoted all his early life to study and was graduated from the Evanston (Ill.) Theological seminary. He makes his home at Rice Lake, this county, and travels over the country doing evangelical work in connection with the Methodist Episcopal church, in which denomination he is an ordained clergyman. He has been very successful in his chosen calling and his life is resulting in much good. Carrie May was born May 18, 1889, and keeps house for her father. Raymond C. was born March 9, 1893, and is taking a com- mercial course in the University of Wisconsin. He served two years in the World war with the 34th infantry. He was in the front trenches 42 days, saw active service at the Argonne and at Vimey Ridge, and was wounded five times, in both legs, in the shoulder and in the head. He was left on the field for dead but crawled to cover, and after lying seven months in a hospital was returned to the States. Mrs. C. P. Taylor died Sept. 23, 1918.




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