Military History in Paulding County

By: Mark Holtsberry

Elyehue Lee Underwood

This fella was born May 25, 1898, in Paulding County. The son of Orlando Addison Underwood, born June 9, 1878, in Paulding, and Mary Jane (Lee) Underwood, born May 12, 1880, in Harlan County, Kentucky.

This couple was married July 24, 1898, in Paulding. By 1900, a son, Elyehue, was born. This family was living in Blue Creek Township, Paulding County. Orlando was farming. On January 28, 1901, a son, Ora Edward, was born. In 1903, a son, Olen Aaron, was born. A daughter, Cleo Belle, was born in 1904. By 1910, this family was still living and farming in Blue Creek Township. The children were in school. In 1914, Elyehue left home at the age of fifteen. On March 5, 1914, Elyehue arrived in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. He lived in Cottom, Ontario, Canada. On May 28, 1917, Elyehue came home to Van Wert and joined Company D, 2nd Ohio National Guard, out of Van Wert. This unit was consolidated into the 145th United States Infantry. This occurred November 17, 1917. He served in Company C. He was transferred to Headquarters Company March 27, 1919. He served in the Meuse-Argonne defensive sector. Slightly wounded October 16, 1918. On March 20, 1919, he boarded the ship “Great Northern” at Brest, France. On March 27, 1919, the ship landed in Hoboken, New Jersey.

On April 16, 1919, he was honorably discharged. In 1920, Elyehue stayed in the military. He was stationed at the Aviation Field, Riverside, California. Also in 1920, he married Helen Ruth (Mumy), born September 9, 1901, in Kansas. On January 25, 1921, a son, Vernon Lee, was born, followed by Helen Louise, August 19, 1922, and Donald Charles, October 24, 1925. He served in World War Two as a radioman second class.

He retired from the California State Highway Patrol. By 1930, Elyehue, Ruth, and family had moved to Dearborn, Wayne County, Michigan. He was working for a construction company. He was living with his brother, Olen, and his wife, Violet. By 1934, Elyehue was working as a construction engineer-foreman for the Victorville County Water District. He was running a W.P.A. (Works Progress Administration) crew. They were working on a new water supply system for Victorville County. Elyehue and his wife, Ruth, were living at 4485 Riverside, California. On December 5, 1937, Elyehue was going home to Riverside for the weekend to spend time with family. He was traveling down Cajon Pass and, apparently, he did not see the truck in front of him in time. He hit the brakes and slid 32’, and his sedan struck the truck from behind. Elyehue was killed instantly. Tuesday, December 7, at 2:00 p.m., funeral services were held in the chapel of the Simmons Mortuary at Riverside, California. The #1726 V.F.W., Odd Fellows, and American Legion were present. Burial was in the Legion Post plot at the Riverside Cemetery. His wife, Ruth, passed away June 14, 1955. She was buried beside Elyehue.

…Until Then!