 Harry was born to Horace and Julia M. (Oberdier) Watkins in Plainfield, Bremer County, Iowa on 14 February 1893. His mother died in Otter Tail County, Minnesota on 10 October 1903. A burial for her could not be found [2022]. Horace later married Leah May Dudgeon in Minnesota. Known siblings of Harry included; Sarah, Eli, Emma, Alva, and Hazel.
Harry was inducted into the World War I U. S. Army while living in Towner on 28 March 1918. He was sent to Camp Dodge, Iowa serving in Company B, 5th Battalion, 163rd Depot Brigade to 20 April 1918; then Provisional Battalion, 138th Infantory to 15 May 1918, then to 35th Division, 140th Infantry. Harry embarked to overseas on 27 May 1918 where he was killed in action on 27 September 1918 in France. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
JOSEPH IRA FRANCIS WELLER In honor of Joseph, the Velva American Legion, Post 39, is named Joseph I. Weller.
Joseph was born in New Maysville, Putnam County, Indiana on 12 February 1893 to Joseph D. and Sarah A. Mills [10 May 1864-15 August 1952 (McHenry County)] Weller. Joseph D. died three months before Joseph I. was born. Joseph I. had two known siblings; Mary [11 May 1884-7 March 1953 (McHenry County)] and Cyrus Raymond [11 Jun 1886-26 Oct 1938]. After the death of Joseph D., Sarah and family moved to North Dakota, first to Rugby in Pierce County, then settled in Velva.
Joseph was inducted into the U. S. Army at Towner on 28 March 1918 and sent to Camp Dodge, Iowa. He served in 5th Battalion, 163rd Depot Brigade, to
18 April 1918 then Company E, 5th Depot Battalion, Signal Corps, to 9 July 1918; which had embarked overseas on 21 June 1918. Then he served in Company C, 1st Field Signal Battalion, 2nd Division where he became a Private 1st Class on 23 August 1918. He was wounded on 2 October 1918 and died from these wounds on 6 November 1918. He participated in Offensives at St. Mihiel; Meuse-Argonne and Defensive Sectors in Marbache and Limey (Lorraine). He is buried in Grave 24, Row 38, Block G,
Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial, Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, Departement de la Meuse, Lorraine, France.
In 1929 his mother, Sarah, indicated she wanted to participate in the U.S. World War I Mothers' Pilgrimage to France but this writer could not find [2022] a record that she actually participated.
James was born on 13 May 1837 in Elgin County, Ontario, Canada to Henry and Mary Wilson.
Prior to the Civil War James married Lucy A. St. Clair on 14 February 1858 in Newbury, Orange County, Vermont and before the war they had one child William H. born in 1858 in Vermont. By 1860 they were in Haverhill, Grafton, Vermont where James enlisted into the Civil War.
He enlisted as a Private on 18 September 1861 serving in Company I, New Hampshire 4th Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to Corporal during his service and was mustered out at Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina on 23 August 1865.
By 1880 the family was in Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, South Dakota. The children now included along with William; Eliza, Mary, Albert Lyman (1876), and Mable.
On 4 October 1889 the family is homesteading in Velva Township on Sections 18 and 19 and they are still there in the 1910 Census.
James died on 30 June 1914 in Velva and is buried there. In 1920 Lucy is living with her daughter Eliza in Velva and in 1930 she is in a Seniors Home in Ransom County. Lucy died on 28 March 1932 in Velva and is buried there.
James Burial, Tombstone Photo, Obituary with links to some family members; Lucy Burial, Tombstone Photo with links to some family members.
|