World War I Veterans Buried in the Town and Village of East Bloomfield Medal presented to World War I veterans by the Town of East Bloomfield. Artifact loaned by the East Bloomfield Historical Society Compiled by Preston E. Pierce Ontario County Historian 2017 November 22, 2018 Page 1
Bayles, Charles B. East Bloomfield Cemetery (North) Village of Bloomfield No documentary evidence has been found to substantiate veteran status. He was 45 years old at the time of US entry into the war. More research required since he is listed on some lists of veterans. Findagrave.com. On the Internet at: http://www.findagrave.com/cgibin/fg.cgi?page=gr&grid=107265413&ref=acom Vicinity Deaths. Charles B. Bayles. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. May 13, 1939. p. 21. [Death notice says that he died unexpectedly at the home of his cousin in Varick, Seneca Co., NY.] November 22, 2018 Page 2
Buell, Frederick A. Rice Cemetery Town of East Bloomfield Buell, Frederick. New York, New York Guard Service Cards, 1906-1918, 1940-1948 for Frederick Buell. Bodkin, Edward - Burns, Frank S. Available on the Internet from Ancestry.com. State Guard service card indicates that Buell enlisted in Co. L., 3 rd Regt. NY Guard, the East Bloomfield company, on Mar. 18, 1918. Buell, Frederick Augustus. AGO fm 724-1. New York, Abstracts of World War I Military Service, 1917-1919 for Frederick Augustus Buell. WWI Army Cards Budia - Bump (Box 74). Available on the Internet from Ancestry.com. Buell s service summary indicates that he was inducted at Cambridge, MA in Oct. 1918. He was born in Holcomb and listed that as his residence. He was assigned to the Harvard unit of the Student Army Training Corps and was discharged in Dec. 1918. Buell, Frederick. Frederick Buell in the U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010. Available on the Internet from Ancestry.com. Record indicates that Buell died on Jan. 8, 1996. Buell, Frederick A. Area Deaths. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Jan. 10, 1996. p. 12. Very brief death notice does not mention military service. November 22, 2018 Page 3
Childs, Egbert J. East Bloomfield Cemetery (North) Village of Bloomfield Deaths Reported in Western New York Area. Egbert Childs. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. May 26, 1951. p. 31. [ Obituary reports his eight years service in the Navy including World War I. He is also mentioned as a member of the Bloomfield Savage Post of the American Legion.] November 22, 2018 Page 4
Craig, Harry E. East Bloomfield Cemetery Village of Bloomfield Qualifies as Marksman. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Jul. 1, 1917. p. 30. [Article includes a picture of Craig in a Marine uniform and provides details of his service to that time.] Craig, Harry E. NMC fm 311B A&I. New York, Abstracts of World War I Military Service, 1917-1919 for Harry E Craig. WWI Marine Cards Cain, H - Cropsey, C (Box 730). Available on the Internet from Ancestry.com. Craig s service summary indicates that he was born in Searling, Canada and was living in the Town of Perinton, Monroe Co., NY at the time of his enlistment. He joined the Marine Corps in Rochester in Apr. 1917 [Naval Militia Marine Co.] and served aboard the USS Delaware from Jun. 1917-Jan. 1919. He was discharged in Apr. 1920. Image from D&C, Jul. 1, 1917. November 22, 2018 Page 5
Dawley, Floyd L. East Bloomfield Cemetery (South) Village of Bloomfield Deaths Reported in Western New York Area. Floyd L. Dawley. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Mar. 26, 1961. p. 29. [Obituary mentions that Dawley was a Holcomb native who was a World War I veteran and died in the Mt. Morris, NY hospital.] November 22, 2018 Page 6
Driscoll, Timothy St. Bridget s Cemetery (Center) Village of Bloomfield Obituaries. Timothy Driscoll. Daily Messenger. Feb. 25, 1963. p. 3. [obituary mentions his service in World War I.] November 22, 2018 Page 7
Dudley, Harry C. East Bloomfield Cemetery (Center) Village of Bloomfield AGO Form 724-1 ½. New York. Abstracts of World War I Military Service. Dudley, Harry C. Available on the Internet through Ancestry.com. [Dudley s service summary indicates that he was an immigrant from England. He was a member of Base Hospital 19 [now Rochester General Hospital] and a member of the Enlisted Reserve [Medical] Corps living in Rochester, NY.] A detailed summary of the organization service of Base Hospital 19 can be found in Rochester in History with Portraits and Our Park in the World War. Ch. XIV. Base Hospital 19. Rochester, NY. Wegman-Walsh Press. 1922. pp. 38-49. Obituaries. Harry Dudley. Daily Messenger. Feb. 26, 1973. p. 2. November 22, 2018 Page 8
Hollenbeck, George A. East Bloomfield Cemetery (North) Village of Bloomfield George A. Hollenbeck died of broncho pneumonia in France. He is not listed as a casualty from Ontario County, but was listed as a casualty from Monroe County where he lived at the time of the war. AGO Form 724-8. New York. Abstracts of World War I Military Service. Hollenbeck, George A. Available on the Internet through Ancestry.com. [Abstract confirms that Hollenbeck was a resident of Rochester when he entered the service. He was inducted in Cleveland, OH.] J Leslie Kincaid. Roll of Honor: Citizens of the State of New York who Died While in the Service of the United States during the World War. Albany, NY. The State. 1922. p. 82 November 22, 2018 Page 9
George A. Hollenbeck Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Dec. 10, 1918. p. 22. [Brief mention of Hollenbeck mentions his address in Rochester and states that he is listed as having died of disease.] Edward R. Foreman (Comp; Ed). Rochester and Monroe County, NY. World War Service Record. I-III. Rochester, NY. City of Rochester. 1924. A brief sketch of Hollenbeck s life in included in V. 1, p. 209. It mentions that Hollenbeck s body was returned from France on the transport Wheaton, July 2, 1921. This source says that Hollenbeck was drafted in Rochester whereas his service summary states that he was drafted in Cleveland, OH. Obituary. Hollenbeck. Victor Herald. Jul. 29, 1921. p. 4. The obituary published in this paper provides details of Hollenbeck s grave-site funeral and confirms that he had once lived in East Bloomfield and was buried next to his parents. November 22, 2018 Page 10
Hollenbeck, James East Bloomfield Cemetery (North) Village of Bloomfield James Hollenbeck, 72, Veteran, Custodian Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Oct. 24, 1959. p. 15. [Article mentions Hollenbeck s service and that he died at the Bath VA hospital.] November 22, 2018 Page 11
Ingraham, Cecil V. East Bloomfield Cemetery (Center) Village of Bloomfield Obituaries. Cecil Ingraham. Daily Messenger. Mar. 14, 1966. p. 3. [Obituary does not mention his military service. It does say that Ingraham was a native of East Bloomfield he lived in Chicago for many years. His funeral was held in Syracuse where he died.] November 22, 2018 Page 12
James, Charles A. East Bloomfield Cemetery (North) Village of Bloomfield Deaths. Charles A. James. Daily Messenger. Feb. 28, 1940. p. 3. [Death notice does not mention military service or veteran activity. James died at F. F. Thompson Hospital in Canandaigua, NY.] Vicinity Deaths. Charles A. James. Daily Messenger. May 6, 1940. p. 2. [Obituary mentions that the Bloomfield-Savage Post American Legion conducted ceremonies at his funeral.] November 22, 2018 Page 13
McMahon, Bartholomew St. Bridget s Cemetery (South) Village of Bloomfield Obituaries. B. P. McMahon. Daily Messenger. Jul. 31, 1969. p. 3. [McMahon s obituary mentions his service in the British Army and Royal Marines as well as in the Canadian army during the Boer War and World War I.] November 22, 2018 Page 14
McWilliams, Andrew St. Bridget s Cemetery (South) Village of Bloomfield New York. Abstracts of World War I Military Service. McWilliams, Andrew. Available on the Internet through Ancestry.com. [Summary card indicates that McWilliams was born in Holcomb, NY but enlisted in the Marine Corps in Portland, OR in 1913. It confirms his service in the Dominican Republic. It also indicates that he had four years prior service in the Marine Corps.] Obituaries. Andrew McWilliams. Daily Messenger. Jun. 1, 1965. p. 3. [Obituary mentions his service in World War I. It mentions that he served eight years in the Marine Corps, some of it on Guadalcanal and Mexico City.] November 22, 2018 Page 15
McWilliams, Wallace East Bloomfield Cemetery (North) Village of Bloomfield Deaths. McWilliams, Wallace. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Nov. 17, 1974. p. 38. [Obituary does not mention military service, but does indicate the the Bloomfield-Savage American Legion Post.] November 22, 2018 Page 16
Mason, Howard. East Bloomfield Cemetery (South) Village of Bloomfield Howard L. Mason. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. May 21, 1950. p. 103. [Obituary indicates that Mason had been a patient in the Bath VA hospital for eight years. His funeral was conducted by the Bloomfield-Savage Post, American Legion. It mentions that he was a veteran of World War I. He was a life-long resident of East Bloomfield.] Mason, Howard L. OQMG fm 623. U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963 for Howard L Mason. 1950-1951 Maltby, Thomas Earl - Michelhaugh, Bernard A. Available on the Internet from Ancestry.com. Form indicates that Mason served in the army from May 1917-Jan. 1919. He served at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Form confirms Mason s government stone and burial in East Bloomfield Cemetery. Mason, Howard L. AGO fm 724-1. New York, Abstracts of World War I Military Service, 1917-1919 for Howard L Mason, WWI Army Cards Marxgut - Massey, W (Box 400). Available on the Internet from Ancestry.com. Service summary confirms that Mason was born in East Bloomfield and lived in Holcomb at the time of the war. He was drafted in May 1918 and served at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD until his discharge in Jan. 1919. He did not serve overseas. November 22, 2018 Page 17
Monahan, Frank L. St. Bridget s Cemetery (South) Village of Bloomfield Deaths. Monahan, Frank L. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Apr. 4, 1977. p. 18. [Death notice does not mention military service or veteran status. It does say that Mr. Monahan was a former resident of Rochester.] November 22, 2018 Page 18
Pestel, Glenn T. East Bloomfield Cemetery (North) Village of Bloomfield Fear for Second Crash Victim. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. May 20, 1936. p. 18. [Article details the death of Pestel in a one-car crash on Route 20 at Factory Hollow, near Lima, NY.] November 22, 2018 Page 19
Plympton, John H. St. Bridget s Cemetery (South) Village of Bloomfield Jefferson County [NY] in the World War. Available on the Internet through Ancestry.com. [The list simply confirms Plympton s Navy service. His hometown of Alexandria Bay is in Jefferson County.] Vicinity Deaths. John Plympton. Daily Messenger. Mar. 2, 1949. p. 6. [This obituary says that Plympton was to be buried in East Bloomfield Cemetery.] John Plympton. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Mar. 3, 1949. p 38. [This obituary says that Plymton died at the VA hospital at Bath, NY; that he served in the Navy during World War I; and was a native of Alexandria Bay, NY. It also states that Plympton was to be buried in St. Bridget s Cemetery. He wife, Agnes Harrington Plympton was a native of East Bloomfield.] November 22, 2018 Page 20
Repard, Edward L. East Bloomfield Cemetery (Center) Village of Bloomfield Pennsylvania. World War I Service and Compensation Files. Repard, Edward L. Available on the Internet through Ancestry.com. [This file indicates that Repard was born in Tioga Co., Pennsylvania, and was inducted into the service there. It gives his birth date as April 6, 1890. It was signed in Holcomb, NY and witnessed by Lewellyn Van Buren. It confirms that Edna was his wife.] Area Deaths. Repard, Edward L. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Dec. 10, 1979. p. 39. [Death notice mentions his service in World War I and states that he served in France with the 314 th Infantry.] November 22, 2018 Page 21
Sheehan, Thomas L. St. Brdget s Cemetery (Center) Village of Bloomfield Deaths. Thomas L. Sheehan. Daily Messenger. Sep. 22, 1934. p. 3. [Obituary mentions his service in World War I and that the American Legion participated in his services.] November 22, 2018 Page 22
Silha, Joseph F. Rice Cemetery Town of East Bloomfield Findagrave.com. Available on the Internet at: http://www.findagrave.com/cgibin/fg.cgi?page=gr&grid=64828579. [An image of Silha s stone is available, but no other information.] US. Dept. of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010. Silha, Joseph. Available on the Internet through Ancestry.com. [Silha s file shows that he served in the Army from Feb. 1918- Apr. 1919.] Deaths. Silha, Joseph F. DDS. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Oct. 21, 1973. p. 13. [Death notice does not mention military service and says that burial will be private.] 35-Year-Old Band Carries on City Tradition. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Aug. 17, 1958. p. 87. [Article includes picture of Silha taking over a conductor of the Genesee Valley Band. It details Silha s education and love of music, but does not mention his military service. Silha was a dentist who practiced in Rochester for many years.] November 22, 2018 Page 23
Stierer, Harry East Bloomfield Cemetery (South) Village of Bloomfield Deaths Reported in Western New York. Mrs. Clara A. Finagan. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Apr. 5, 1967. p. 55. [This obituary reports Harry Stierer as Clara Finagan s foster son and says that he was a resident of Buffalo at the time. He is buried next to her.] November 22, 2018 Page 24
Sullivan, Emory East Bloomfield Cemetery (North) Village of Bloomfield New York, Abstracts of World War I Military Service. Available through Ancestry.com on the Internet. [Sullivan s abstract card states that he was born in Pulteney, NY. He enlisted in Columbus, OH in 1916 and was partially disabled at discharge.] November 22, 2018 Page 25
Sweeney, Walter J. St. Bridget s Cemetery (South) Village of Bloomfield Obituary. Walter J. Sweeney. Daily Messenger. Mar. 24, 1966. P.3. [Obituary mentions that Sweeney was a former resident of Rochester who died in Lake Wales, FL. It does not mention military service, however.] Walter Sweeney Dies on Florida Vacation. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Mar. 24, 1966. p 24. [Article provides information about Sweeney s civilian career in the Post Office and does mention his service in the Marine Corps.] November 22, 2018 Page 26
Van Aken, William A. East Bloomfield Cemetery (North) Village of Bloomfield Area Deaths. Van Aken, William A. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Sep. 14, 1988. p. 26. [Death notice does not mention military service.] November 22, 2018 Page 27
Van Buren, Llewellyn East Bloomfield Cemetery (South) Village of Bloomfield Van Buren served in active federal service during the Spanish-American War. He was the commander of a state guard company (Co. L 3 rd NY Inf.) during World War I, but was not on active federal service. Deaths Reported in Western New York Area. Lewellyn Van Buren. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Sep. 27, 1960. p. 4. [Obituary mentions his service in the Spanish-American War, but does not mention World War I. He was a retired rural mail carrier and supervisor of an air observation post for many years.] New York Guard Co. L standing in front of E. Bloomfield High School, 1918. Image from the collection of the E. Bloomfield Historical Soc. Lewellyn Van Buran is probably the officer kneeling in front center. Observe 50 th Anniversary. Daily Messenger. Jun. 8, 1955. P. 2. [Article about the Van Burens 50 th Wedding anniversary details both his civil and military servce.] November 22, 2018 Page 28
Wheeler, Elmer E. East Bloomfield Cemetery (North) Village of Bloomfield Corporal Youngest Man in Squadron. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Feb. 25, 1918. p. 3. Wheeler, Elmer E. AGO fm 724-1 ½. New York, Abstracts of World War I Military Service, 1917-1919 for Elmer E Wheeler. WWI Army Cards Wetzel, O - Wheller, J (Box 641). Available on the Internet from Ancestry.com. Service summary indicates that Wheeler enlisted in the Regular Army a Ft. Slocum, NY in Nov. 1917. He was born in East Bloomfield and was living there at the time of his service. He served in the 173 rd Aero Sq. Wheeler served overseas from Jun. 1918-Mar. 1919 when he was discharged. Democrat & Chronicle Feb. 25, 1918. p. 3 Veteran of World War Now Air Force Aide. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Sep. 5, 1943. P. 20. [Article details Wheeler s service in World War I and his entry into the army during World War II. November 22, 2018 Page 29
Coach at Madison Wins Captaincy. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Aug. 5, 1942. p. 14. [Article details Wheeler s entry into World War II and his career as a teacher and coach at Madison High School in Rochester. Death Notices. Wheeler, Elmer E. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Jul. 11, 1996. P. 4. [Death notice mentions service in both World Wars.] Democrat & Chronicle Dec. 15, 1944 November 22, 2018 Page 30
Wood, Elmer R. East Bloomfield Cemetery (Center) Village of Bloomfield Deaths. Wood, Elmer Rowley. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Jan. 26, 1976. p. 18. [Obituary mentions that donations could be made to several local organizations, including the American Legion. However Wood s military service is not mentioned.] November 22, 2018 Page 31