Military History in Paulding County
By: Mark Holtsberry
Rueben James Smith was born August 11, 1891, in St. Joseph, Illinois. He was the son of Louis Alfred Smith, born in July 1856 in St. Joseph, Illinois, and Matilda C. (Clinesmith) Smith, born in January 1862 in Ohio. The couple was married in 1881 in Champaign, Illinois.
By 1890, the Smith family was living in St. Joseph, Illinois, where Louis was farming. Their home was bustling with children. Earnest A. was born in August 1880, followed by Clarence Ivan in January 1883, who would go on to serve in World War I. Twins Floyd Vernon and Mabel E. were born in July 1885; Mabel would pass away in 1899. The boys were in school, and Matilda had her hands full.
By 1900, the family was still residing in St. Joseph, and it had grown even more. Rueben was born in August 1891, followed by George W. in December 1892, Deward W. in 1893 (who died in 1900), Edith Effie in August 1895, and George Lorin in August 1897. An unnamed infant son was born and died in 1899.
On August 4, 1903, Matilda passed away and was buried in Mt. Olive Cemetery, Mayview, Champaign County, Illinois.
In 1904, Rueben, showing a keen interest in farming, entered corn samples in the Farmers Institute competition. He placed well and received attention for his high-quality entries.
By 1910, Louis, Rueben, Edith, and George were still living in St. Joseph. Rueben, unmarried, worked alongside his father on the family farm. Sometime between 1912 and 1915, Rueben moved to Paulding County, Ohio.
On June 5, 1917, Rueben registered for the World War I draft at the Harrison North Precinct in Paulding County. He was described as tall and slender, with blue eyes and dark brown hair. He was working as a farm laborer for Joseph Heck in Harrison Township.
On July 17, 1917, Rueben enlisted in the National Guard out of Paulding, serving in Company B, 2nd Ohio National Guard. He remained with that unit until October 4, 1917, after which he was transferred to the 11th Company, 3rd Training Battalion, 62nd Depot Brigade. He served there until October 27, 1917, when he was moved to Company I, 145th Infantry, serving until April 12, 1918. From there, he was transferred to Company I, Pioneer Infantry, until April 8, 1918 (a possible date discrepancy), and then finally to Company A, 1st Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun Battalion.
Rueben, serving as a Private, participated in the St. Mihiel Defensive Sector in France. On September 25, 1918, Rueben James Smith was killed in action. His father, Louis A. Smith, was notified of his death.
Records suggest Rueben may have married a woman named Mary Ethel Perl in 1918 in New Jersey before shipping off to France. However, research shows that she never listed Rueben as a husband and later married in Virginia in the 1920s.
Military records note that Rueben was initially buried on September 29, 1918, in a churchyard in Beney, France. His body was later returned to St. Joseph, Illinois, and interred in the St. Joseph Cemetery in Mayview.
A memorial service was held in Payne, Ohio. Reverend Father Roach conducted the solemn requiem mass, assisted by his brother Rev. Alphonse Roach of Van Wert as deacon, and Rev. Ludwig of Antwerp as sub-deacon. In his sermon, Father Roach paid a beautiful tribute to the fallen soldier, honoring his sacrifice for the greater good of his fellow man.
The Payne American Legion post is named in Rueben Smith’s honor.
… Until Next Time!
