Military History in Paulding County
By: Mark Holtsberry
Robert Patterson Staley is another Paulding County young man with a sad ending. Robert Patterson Staley was born May 17, 1895, in Paulding, Ohio, the son of Edward S. and Blanche (Patterson) Staley. Edward S. Staley was born in Lafayette, Indiana, March 7, 1858, and later became a popular Paulding County sheriff, elected November 3, 1891. Blanche was born July 25, 1867, in Fostoria, Ohio. Ed and Blanche were married May 11, 1892, in Paulding, Ohio, by Judge Lafayette Lewis.
By 1900, the Staley family consisted of a daughter, Jessie P., born in April of 1885. She was the daughter of Edward and his first wife, Elva (Day) Staley. Elva passed away due to complications from childbirth on July 1, 1886. The family also included two sons, Nelson, born in April of 1893, and Robert, born in May of 1895. Edward was employed as a timber dealer, and all the children were in school.
On October 22, 1903, the Staley family welcomed another son, John Edward. By 1910, the Staley family was living at 520 Main Street in Paulding. On August 22, 1911, Robert’s brother Nelson accidentally drowned while visiting St. Ignace, Michigan. His body was brought home and buried in Live Oak Cemetery.
By 1916, Robert was a college student at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Robert was a member of the Varsity Social Club, serving as vice president. By 1917, every able-bodied male between the ages of 18 and 45 had to register for the draft. On May 31, 1917, Robert did so. He was listed as tall, slender, 5 feet 10 inches tall, with brown eyes and dark brown hair.
Robert went to California in mid-1917 and ended up getting married. The young woman was Nelle G. Mugridge. They were married August 5, 1917, by minister F. S. Brush. After that, the trail of their marriage goes cold, and it is not clear what happened. Robert later returned to Ohio, where on May 12, 1918, he went to Cincinnati and signed up to join the Marine Corps.
Robert was sent to Parris Island, South Carolina. By July 31, 1918, Robert was working with the Overseas Depot Headquarters Company in Quantico, Virginia. On August 7, 1918, Robert was serving with Company C, Separate Battalion, and was promoted to sergeant on August 21, 1918.
Robert was sent to Brooklyn, New York, where he boarded the ship Aeolus and was shipped overseas to Brest, France, on August 27, 1918. On October 1, 1918, while in France on the Meuse-Argonne front, Robert was serving with the Second Division. Then on October 16, 1918, Robert was serving with the 84th Company, 6th Regiment.
After the end of the war, Robert served in the Army of Occupation, working in the office of the Chief Paymaster. He served in that position until April 2, 1919. On June 19, 1919, Robert was sent back to the 84th Company, 6th Regiment. Robert served in France until August 26, 1919.
Robert was shipped home on the ship Aeolus, arriving in New York on September 5, 1919. On September 7, 1919, Robert served with the 140th Casual Company in Quantico, Virginia. Robert was honorably discharged with excellent character on September 22, 1919 (File Number 116364).
Now I know you, the reader, are wondering where the sad ending is.
In 1920, Robert was living in Cincinnati, working as a night chef at the Hotel Gibson before moving back to Paulding. Robert moved in with his parents on Water Street, where he got a job as a hotel manager.
In 1924, Robert was scheduled to set sail out of New York to Bermuda on the ship Express of Britain. On March 21, 1924, the ship left dock to sail back to New York from Bermuda, arriving in New York March 24, 1924. The ship’s passenger list verifies much of what I have shared, but Robert was not on board.
Robert was actually at a Veterans Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, on February 5, 1924. He was dismissed March 24, 1924. Robert had two very crippling ailments: tuberculosis and meningitis.
Robert passed away July 30, 1927. The coroner’s report states that those illnesses were the cause of death. Robert was buried in Live Oak Cemetery in Block F, Lot 74, Grave 3.
Robert’s grave is marked with just a small, simple stone. He needs his upright military-issued stone!
Oh, I think I just came up with another project!
… Until Next Time!
