Military History In Paulding County
By: Mark Holtsberry
Ralph Eugene Reed was born March 7, 1893, in Paulding County, Ohio, the son of Charles Ono Reed (born in 1866) and Eliza (Gorman) Reed (born in 1869). This couple was married March 10, 1889, in Paulding, Ohio. Charles was a farmer.
By 1900, the couple were the parents of Ralph (born in 1893) and Floyd Leven Reed (born April 7, 1894). The family was living in Paulding, Ohio. Charles was still farming, and the boys were in school.
On November 16, 1907, a daughter, Marie Rebecca Reed, was born. By 1910, Charles, Eliza, and their children were still living in Paulding. Charles continued farming.
On May 31, 1916, Ralph’s brother Floyd Leven Reed joined the Paulding National Guard. He later registered for the draft in Illinois. His military career stretched until August 21, 1929, when he was honorably discharged.
Ralph registered for the draft on May 29, 1917, in Illinois. At the time, he was working as a lineman for the American Telephone and Telegraph Company in Chicago. He was listed as 6’0” tall, of stout build, with dark blue eyes and dark brown hair.
On July 17, 1917, Ralph returned to Paulding and joined the National Guard, serving with Company B, 2nd Ohio National Guard. This unit was later consolidated into Company I, 145th Infantry, U.S. Army. He was promoted to Corporal on September 1, 1917, but was reduced to the rank of Private on February 25, 1918. The following day, he was assigned to Company B, 112th Field Signal Battalion. He was promoted to Private First Class on May 2, 1918, and then promoted again to Corporal on July 25, 1918.
Ralph saw action in the Meuse-Argonne and Ypres-Lys defensive sectors. He served until March 25, 1919, and was honorably discharged on April 12, 1919, at Camp Sherman, Ohio.
After returning home, Ralph married Alice C. Fairhead Johnson on October 16, 1919. She was the daughter of Alfred Fairhead and Lena (Wenat) Fairhead. Between the years 1922 and 1925, Ralph and Alice divorced. In 1927, Ralph was hospitalized at the National Home for Disabled Soldiers in Dayton, Ohio, suffering from defective vision and throat issues. He would struggle with these health problems for the next six years, making numerous trips to the facility in Dayton.
Ralph later remarried a woman named Myrtle May Hall Shelton, born May 31, 1899. She was a widow working as a waitress at the National Military Home—perhaps where they met. The couple lived in Dayton, Ohio, at 169 Crown Avenue. Ralph was employed as a carpenter. On August 1, 1936, their son Charles Earl Reed was born. He went on to serve in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.
By 1940, Ralph, Myrtle, their son Charles, and stepdaughter Shirley Shelton were living in Dayton on West Maple Street. Ralph was employed as a sewer superintendent. In 1942, he was working at Patterson Air Field Base in Fairfield, Ohio. The family’s residence at the time was P.O. Box 77, Medway, Ohio. Ralph also registered for the World War II draft that same year.
By 1950, Ralph had returned to working in construction. The family was living at 367 West First Street in Dayton. On June 27, 1955, Ralph passed away. His body was taken to the Ulmer Funeral Home in Dayton. Services were held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 29, 1955. He was buried in Bear Creek Hillgrove Cemetery, Marysville, Ohio, Lot 484, Section 4, Grave 4.
His wife, Myrtle May Reed, passed away on April 9, 1977. She was buried beside Ralph.
…Until Next Time!
