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 also in Ohio. Warren and Anna was married in 1882. By 1900, the Cottrell family was living in Carryall Township on the family farm. Bessie was in school learning the basics of education.
By 1910, Bessie had graduated from school and was single still living at home, but I feel that she had a longing for the study of medicine. Bessie will get that opportunity as the world went to war. As America had sent men overseas, her brother Donel G. Cottrell included, the need for nurses was an opportunity for her to serve.
Bessie was a registered nurse serving with the American Nurse Corp. She was serving with the Base Hospital #71 when her unit was shipped off to France, December 1, 1918 on the ship, “Aeolus”. Departing from Hoboken, New Jersey. She was given the service number, #1234567. Her family was living in Hicksville, Ohio at that time. As her service to the wounded and dying I can only imagine what she saw!
It is unclear where she was stationed while in France, but on July 14, 1919, she was sent home, her service complete. She had found out that her brother, Donel, was killed in action, November 7, 1918. It was not until 1921, that his body was brought home and buried in Forest Home Cemetery, Hicksville, Ohio. Her mother Anna passed away, June 14, 1927, followed by her father Warren, September 11, 1927. Both were buried in Maumee Cemetery, Antwerp.
Bessie continued her nursing education and became an instructor in the nursing field.
Still single by 1930, Bessie was living with her sister, Edith, and brother-in-law Ralph H. Baker, at 2320 Central Drive, Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Bessie worked as a nurse at Irene Bryan Tuberculosis Santorium, in Ft. Wayne for many years before moving on to becoming an administrator of Cameron and Elmhurst Hospital in Angola, Indiana. After retirement, Bessie lived out her years at 624 West Wayne Street in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
Also during her retirement years, she was active in the Hicksville Eastern Star Lodge, the Business and Professional Women’s Club, Ft. Wayne, Indiana and Ladies Auxiliary to the American Legion Post, Angola, Indiana. While visiting in Paulding, May 1964, Bessie suffered a heart attack and passed away May 22, 1964 at the Paulding County Hospital. Gravesite rites were conducted by the Cottrell- Boylan American Legion Post Antwerp. (The legion was named after her brother) She was buried in the 1.0.0.F. Cemetery, New Haven, Indiana, Grave 3 rear, Lot 103, Section E.
