By: Mark Holtsberry
Harold George Stewart is an interesting fella who left the boxing ring to serve his country. Harold was born January 4, 1891 in Blue Creek Township, Paulding County, Ohio. The son of David Clinton and Mary S. (Coe) Stewart. David was born August 5, 1851 in Shelby County, Ohio. Mary was born December 21, 1854 in Denver, Miami County, Indiana.
David and Mary were married in 1874. By 1880, the couple had two daughters, Maud P., born in 1873, and Susan M., born in 1877. By 1900, the Stewart’s daughters had married and moved on. A son, William H., was born September 26, 1884 and Harold G. were still at home living on the farm in Blue Creek Township.
On November 21, 1907, Harold had enlisted in the Marine Corp at Washington D.C. Mustered in as an apprentice, December 1907. January 1909, Harold was a trumpeter at Marine Barracks, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In September 1909, served as a trumpeter on the U.S.S. Wisconsin, stationed at Provincetown, Massachusetts, then served as a drummer on the U.S.S. Nebraska July 1910.
Harold’s father passed away, October 3, 1910. In June 1911, Harold served as a trumpeter with Marine detachment U.S.S. Washington. In September 1911, Harold served as Barracks Detachment at Marine Barracks Navy Yard, Boston, Massachusetts. After he left the Marine Corp. Harold was single and living in Akron, Ohio working as a laborer at a rubber factory.
Harold, or Hal as most knew him, became a boxer. He had numerous bouts during his career in the ring and met some of the foremost fighters of the country. Harold joined the regular army at Fort Thomas, Kentucky on May 8, 1917, and was listed as 5’6″, brown hair, gray eyes, fair complexion, and of course, listed boxing as a career.
Harold was promoted to Corporal, August 1, 1917. Harold served in the 36th Aerial Squadron to April 7, 1918, then was sent to serve with the 1103rd Aerial Squadron to January 3, 1919, then served with the 16th Aerial Squadron to discharge.
Harold left Pauillac, France April 23, 1919 and arrived at Hoboken, New Jersey, May 6, 1919 on the ship, Housatonic. He was honorably discharged, May 24, 1919. On July 19, 1919, Harold married a gal named Myrtle Croy in St. Joseph, Michigan. She had a son, Morton, from a previous marriage. By 1920, Harold, Myrtle and now stepson, Morton, was living in Ft. Wayne at 221 Berry Street and Harold became a truck driver.
By 1930, Harold and Myrtle were living in Chicago on Champlain Avenue. Harold became a mailman. Harold’s mother, Mary, moved to live with her son and she passed away December 26, 1938. By 1940, still living in Chicago, but on Halsted Street, he was still a mail carrier.
In 1942, Harold registered for the draft, as World War Two was underway. By 1950, still living in Chicago, Harold and Myrtle were slowing down a bit. On April 22, 1961, Myrtle passed away. On October 10, 1969, Harold joined her corner of the ring as he passed away. They both are buried in Sparta Cemetery, Kimmel, Noble County, Indiana.
… Next Time!
