By: Mark Holtsberry
Phaon Franklin Craft was born in Paulding County, Ohio October 31, 1882. The son of Wallace A., born January 16, 1838 in Ohio, and Sarah D.(Doering) Craft, born March 10, 1850 in Ohio. The daughter of Joseph and Eliza J. Doering. This couple was married April 24, 1870 in Paulding. By 1880, the Craft family with children, Callia born January of 1871, Minnie E. 1873, Floyd Allen May of 1876, Edith Lenora 1877, were living in Carryall Township.
William was engaged in farming. The farm consisted of 66.55 acres along the river. In 1882, Phaon was born. By 1890, the Craft family was still engaged in farming.
A son Elbert E. was born October of 1890. The children were all in school. The oldest, Edith had married and moved out of the house. On February 3, 1901, mother Sarah passed away in Paulding. She was buried in Maumee Cemetery. On January 29, 1904, the father, Wallace, passed away in Paulding and he too was buried in Maumee Cemetery.
By 1910, Minnie, Floyd, Phaon and Elbert had moved to Antwerp. They were living on Daggett Street. On June 3, 1917, Phaon joined the National Guard out of Paulding. He was listed as 5’4″, single, brown eyes, brown hair, dark complexion and a carpenter by trade.
His brother Elbert also joined. They joined Company B. 2nd Ohio National Guard. On September 10, 1917, Phaon was promoted to Private 1st Class. This unit was form Company B. 166th Infantry 42nd Division. Elbert promoted to Private 1st Class.
On October of 1917, while serving in the National Army, both Phaon and Elbert were shipped overseas on the same ship. On August 20, 1918, Phaon was promoted to Corporal. Both served in the Meuse-Argonne, Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel defensive sectors.
Elbert was slightly wounded, October 22, 1918. On October 25, 1918, Phaon was promoted to Sergeant. On April 15, 1919, Elbert was Honorably Discharged. On April 18, 1919, both Phaon and Elbert were sent to Brest, France to board the ship, “Leviathan”, and set sail for home.
On April 25, 1919, the ship landed in Hoboken, New Jersey. On May 17, 1919, Phaon was Honorably Discharged. After returning home, Phaon by 1920, was an electrician living with his sister Callie and her husband Lewis Curtis and niece, Nola and Nola’s daughter Donna. By 1930 Phaon was living at 111 South Main Street, Antwerp. His sister Minnie was living with him as well as a boarder named Wayne Bernard.
Phaon was doing plaster work. On December 28, 1935, Phaon passed away and was buried in Maumee Cemetery Lot 176, Grave 3. On January 4, 1936, his sister Minnie, signed for his Military Tombstone. The stone was ordered January 29, 1936. Prepared in Proctorsville, Vermont. Shipped to Antwerp February 14, 1936.
As for Elbert, he passed away April 20, 1964 and was buried in Maumee Cemetery.
…Until Then!
