MILITARY HISTORY IN PAULDING COUNTY
By: Mark Holtsberry
Now you, the reader, know how I like to go into the groundhog hole and explore, getting off the beaten path—so here it goes.
John Eugene Anderson was born January 12, 1893, in St. Joseph, Missouri. He was the son of Frank H. Anderson, born in December of 1853 in Ohio, and Maggie (Wilson) Anderson, born in December of 1860 in Missouri. The couple was married on February 6, 1889, in Missouri. By 1900, the Andersons were the parents of four children: Henry (1891), John (1893), Ruth (1896), and Albert (1898). This farming family was still living in Missouri.
By 1910, the Anderson family had moved to Union, Brown County, Ohio. Frank continued farming, and Henry had become a school teacher. John had quit school after the seventh grade and was helping out on the farm. Ruth and Albert were still in school.
By 1916, John had moved to Cincinnati and was living at 729 West 8th Street. On June 30, 1917, John joined the National Guard out of Cincinnati. He served with Battery F, 3rd Field Artillery, Ohio National Guard. This unit was later consolidated into Battery F, 136th National Army. On June 5, 1917, John registered for the draft at the 16th precinct in Cincinnati. He was described as tall with a slender build, gray eyes, black hair, and was working as a stockroom clerk for the S.S. Kresge Company.
While serving in the National Guard, John was promoted to Private 1st Class on October 31, 1917, Corporal on April 28, 1918, and Sergeant on June 12, 1918. After being inducted into the National Army, John was sent overseas in mid-June 1918, leaving behind a girlfriend, Carrie Amelia Rotart. Carrie was born December 20, 1886, in Ohio and worked as a bookkeeper at a department store.
While serving in the defensive sector of the Meuse-Argonne region, John was promoted again to Private 1st Class on November 1, 1918, and to Corporal on March 25, 1919. He was honorably discharged on April 10, 1919.
By 1920, John had returned home and was living at his parents’ house on Baymiller Street in Cincinnati, working as a machinist. On June 1, 1921, John and Carrie were married. They moved to a house on Highland Avenue in Elmwood Place, Cincinnati.
By 1930, John and Carrie were living with her parents, William and Clara Rotart. John was working as a salesman for a heating company. By 1940, they were still living with her parents, and John was working as a thermistor installer.
In 1942, John registered for the World War II draft. At that time, he had his own business—Anderson Automatic Heat Service—located at 1714 Logan Street, Cincinnati. By 1950, John and Carrie were living once again on Highland Avenue in Elmwood Place, and John was the manager of a heating company.
John filed for Social Security benefits between 1953 and 1955. In 1958, he was working as a sales representative for the Weil-Roth and Irving Company Investment Group. He retired from his business in 1960.
On April 13, 1965, John passed away at his home. Funeral services were held at the Wain A. Bolton Funeral Home. He was a member of the Melrose Masonic Lodge #871, Halker-Flege Post #69 American Legion, Scottish Rite, and Syrian Temple Shrine. He was buried in Vine Street Hill Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio. His wife, Carrie, passed away on March 4, 1969, and is buried with John.
Now for the rest of the story. I purchased an old photo of Carrie some time ago, which was inside a sleeved cover. It belonged to John—he carried it with him when he was overseas. Along with the photo was his identification card. I just had to research who this fella was.
And now you know the rest of the story.
… Until Next Time!
