World War One Letters: Emerson

Personography

Earl Walter Emerson 1891 1984 Earl

Earl Ward Emerson, was born in North Baltimore, Ohio, on May 16, 1891, and died May 3, 1984 at the age of 92. During World War I he was a member of the 314th Field Remount Squadron and served from May 27, 1918 to September 2, 1919. After the war he owned a garage, operated an insurance agency in Fostoria from 1941 to 1971, and between 1925 and 1931 he owned the first airport in Fostoria. He was married twice, first in 1921 to Mary Weber, who died in 1926, and later in 1941 to Goldie V. Romig, who died in 1973.

At the time of the letters he was in his late twenties. His draft card describes him as being “medium” in height and “stout” in build, with blue eyes and light brown hair. He was living in Fostoria, Ohio, before his service, working as an automobile repairman.

Scott Harold Emerson 1892 1959 Shorty Harold

Scott Harold Emerson, was born in North Baltimore, Ohio, on June 16, 1892, and died December 17, 1959. He served during the war as a member of Co.C, 309th Supply Train; his service lasted from June 28, 1918 to July 5, 1919. A mechanic by trade after the war, he operated a garage in Fostoria. He married Ida Harpley of Norwalk, Ohio on June 29, 1926 and together they had a son, James. Usually using his middle name, Harold, rather than Scott, he is referred to by his nickname, Shorty, in letters written by his brother.

At the time of the letters he was in his mid-twenties. His draft card describes him as being “short” in height and “stout” in build, with brown eyes and black hair. In a letter dated Oct 1918 he references his weight as 156 pounds. He was living in Bloomdale, Ohio, before his service, working as a self-employed merchant.

Ruth L Emerson Pelton 1894 1987 Ruth Mrs Guy Pelton

Third child of Scott S Emerson and Victoria Cline Emerson and sister of Scott Harold Emerson and Earl Emerson. She is the recipient of a number of the letters. At the time of the letters she was in her mid-twenties, living with her husband Guy Andrew Pelton and their three children Gilbert, Eileen, and Kenneth, on their farm in Perry Township. A fourth child, Darrell, was born in June 1919 and a fifth, Harold, in 1925. The children are often referenced in the letters as a group.

Her husband claimed a draft exemption due to supporting his wife and children and running his mother’s farm.

Guy Andrew Pelton 1894 1929

Husband of Ruth L Emerson Pelton; Ruth and Guy were married 19 Dec 1914 in Bowling Green, Ohio. At the time of the letters he was in his mid-twenties, living with his wife Ruth L Emerson Pelton and their three children Gilbert, Eileen, and Kenneth, on their farm in Perry Township. A fourth child, Darrell, was born in June 1919 and a fifth, Harold, in 1925. The children are often referenced in the letters as a group. Earl Theron Pelton and Guy Andrew Pelton were first cousins.

His draft card describes him as being “medium” in height and “slender” in build, with brown eyes and brown hair. He claimed a draft exemption due to supporting his wife and children and running his mother’s farm.

Marie C Emerson Slotterbeck 1898 1980 Marie

Fourth child of Scott S Emerson and Victoria Cline Emerson and sister of Scott Harold Emerson and Earl Emerson. Marie is a joint recipient of many of the letters along with her father. She married her husband Clayton Merle Slotterbeck in March 1918. At the time of the letters she was her early twenties and living with her father on his farm in Bloom Township while her husband was serving overseas in the National Army from September 1918 to March 1919. Her marriage and eventual life as a newlywed after Clayton’s discharge are referenced in the letters. They had three children, S Franklin, born in 1920, and twin daughters Nancy and Nannette, born in 1938.

Clayton Merle Slotterbeck 1896 1974 Clayton

Husband of Marie C Emerson Slotterbeck; Marie and Clayton were married 18 March, 1918. At the time of the letters he was in his mid-twenties. He served in the National Army’s 8 Co 2 Training Battalion 158 Depot Brigade from September 1918 to March, 1919. Clayton’s service began after Harold and Earl were already overseas, and he was discharged sooner. Harold and Earl express concern in their letters over how Clayton was getting along overseas during his tour of duty. None of Clayton’s correspondence is part of the collection.

Clayton’s draft card describes him as being “medium” in height and “medium” in build, with blue eyes and light brown hair.

Victoria Inez Cline Emerson 1868 1956 Mother

Mother of Scott Harold Emerson and Earl Emerson, wife of Scott S Emerson; Victoria and Scott were married 3 July 1890. From at least April 1910 onward she lived in Perry Township with her elderly parents, Philip Fahs Cline and Laura Hannah personer Cline, on their farm. Philip Cline passed away in September 1910 at age 77, and at the time of the letters Victoria, in her early fifties, was living with her widowed mother, then in her late seventies. After her mother’s death, Victoria lived with Clayton and Marie Emerson Slotterbeck on their farm in Bloom Township.

Harold and Earl kept up a separate correspondence with Victoria during their service that is referenced in the letters but is not part of the collection.

Scott Smalley Emerson 1868 1943 Dad Mr S S Emerson

Father of Scott Harold Emerson and Earl Emerson, husband of Victoria Cline Emerson; Victoria and Scott were married 3 July 1890. Scott Emerson is the recipient of most of the letters. At the time of the letters he was in his early fifties, living on his farm in Bloom Township with his married daughter, Marie Emerson Slotterbeck, then in her early twenties.

Catherine Adelaide Smalley Emerson 1844 1919 Grandma

Mother of Scott S Emerson and grandmother of Scott Harold Emerson and Earl Emerson. Scott Emerson was the second of the nine children born to her and her husband Elijah Pearl Emerson. At the time of the letters she was in her mid-seventies; her husband passed away in 1915. In the letters she is referenced as being gravely ill, and she passed away in September 1919 at age 75.

Horace Wilber Emerson 1871 1943 Uncle Wilby

Fourth child of Elijah Pearl Emerson and Catherine Adelaide Smalley, brother to Scott S Emerson and uncle to Scott Harold Emerson and Earl Emerson. At the time of the letters he was in his late forties.

Lola Edith Emerson 1884 1953 Aunt Lola

Eighth child of Elijah Pearl Emerson and Catherine Adelaide Smalley, sister to Scott S Emerson and aunt to Scott Harold Emerson and Earl Emerson. At the time of the letters she was in her mid-thirties, living with her husband Earl Theron Pelton and their three children Horace Wilbur, Olive Mae, and Emerson Dale. A fourth child, Eugene Earl, was born in 1923. Earl Theron Pelton and Guy Andrew Pelton were first cousins.

Florence Emerson 1892 1977 Aunt Florence

Ninth child of Elijah Pearl Emerson and Catherine Adelaide Smalley, sister to Scott S Emerson and aunt to Scott Harold Emerson and Earl Emerson. At the time of the letters she was in her mid-twenties, close in age to her nephews. Her upcoming engagement to Carl Brown is referenced in the letters.