Memorial To The 6 From Montgomery Who Died in WWI

In Montgomery Park stands a memorial to the Montgomery Men who lost their lives in WW1.  Six trees were planted, and a cannon once stood here. 

 The cannon was scrapped during World War II, and the 1972 flood destroyed most of the original memorial, but a new stone was later placed, and today, markers remain for each of the 6 killed in World War I.

 Raymond O. Bartlett

Who Died October 26 1918

Raymond Oscar Bartlett was born June 18 1888, the son of Chester Wesley & Mary Catherine [Manley] Bartlett. His enlistment papers state that he was a farm hand at the farm of Ward Fox, of Hughesville.Pvt Bartlett served Co. M, 11th Infantry, Battalion E, 314th Field Artillery from April 30 1918, until his death from pneumonia on October 26 1918.

Bartlett was disinterred and brought home to Montgomery as part of the removal project in 1921.

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 Freeman Bower

Who Died March 31 1918

Freeman Wilbur Bower was born September 14 1889, the son of Charles  & Matilda [Kolbe] Bower. His draft card lists him as doing clerical work for AC&F in Milton.

Pvt. Bower served with Co. B., 3rd Div, 6th Eng. Reg of U.S. Engineers. On March 30, 1918. at the age  of 28, he  was killed in action in between Bois De Tailloux and Warfusée, France. He was the first boy from Lycoming County to be killed in action during this war.

ACF in Milton displayed a flag with 1562 stars, representing the employees of the company who were serving in the war. The large flag was to be placed in the main office of the company, and the star of Freeman W. Bower, an employee killed in action, was to be gold.

There is a grave marker commemorating him, an his mother received a letter after his death, saying his body would be sent home after the war.  I did not find a record of the transfer.  [that does not mean it didn't happen, merely that I could not find the record].  The American Battle Monuments commission lists him as : "Missing in Action or Buried at Sea, Tablets of the Missing at Somme American Cemetery Bony, France".  In Fairview Cemetery in Montgomery, 

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Lloyd L. Manley

Who Died October 1 1918

Lloyd Lester Manley was born March 15 1896, the son of Joseph and Mary E. [Bridinger] Manley. Before the war, he was employed at Penn Manufacturing Co. in Montgomery.

PFC Manley was killed in action on October 8, 1918.

In December of 1918, he was listed on the "Missing In Action" list

Removal Project records show that as part of the Removal Project, PFC Manley was disinterred on 8/6/21, transported to Antwerp, and from there transported home on the ship Wheaton for reburial at Montgomery.

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Charles K. Mull

Who Died September 26 1918

Charles Klapp Mull was born August 24 188, the son of Henry & Anna [Ellis] Mull.

Before going to war, Mull worked as a machinist for the Williamsport Machine Company.

Serving in the 314th Inf Reg 79th division, Pvt Mull was killed in battle at Meuse-Argonne, France. He is buried at Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in Romagne, France,  Plot G Row 31 Grave 27

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Russell Shoemaker

Who Died January 18 1918

Russell Lloyd Shoemaker was born in Antes Fort Pa, on Nov 22 1894 [according to his draft registation] or 1898 [listed on his grave]  His draft registration listed him as a farm laborer for W.H. Fegley of Washington  Twp, with his residence listed as Elimsport, in 1917.

In 1910, a Russel Shoemaker, age 13 [born 1897] is found in the census in Mifflin, Lycoming COunty PA, as a farm laborer at the home of Henry Zinck.  I did not find any other records for Shoemaker, other than his death and burial records and draft card.

Enlisted into  Co A 314th Inf 79th Division on Nov 3 1917, Shoemaker died of disease just two months later, at Camp Meade on  January 19 1918.

He's buried at Wildwood Cemetery, in Williamsport Pa.

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 Judson Strong

Who Died October 8 1918

Judson Strong was born November 11 1889 in Berwick, Columbia County Pa, the son of Thomas Alden & Ida [Gordner] Strong. By 1906, Judson's father Thomas was in Iowa, where he married Sarah Evalina Franklin.  His first wife, Ida, remained in Columbia County, where she died in 1921. In 1900, Judson went to live at the home of Ellis and Melissa Snyder.  When Judson filled out his draft registration in 1917, he listed Mrs E.M. Snyder as a friend and point of contact.

Pvt. Strong was part of the Company C 120th Machine Gun Battalion.  He was killed in action 10/1/1918.

His body was brought home in September/October of 1921, as part of the removal project, on the boat Wheaton. He was buried in Marble Rock Iowa, where his father had resided.

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A List Of All Of Those From Montgomery Who Served
As published in the Montgomery Mirror, 1939

I do appear to be missing the second part of this list.  When I find it, I'll add it.

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The new memorial was dedicated on Memorial Day 1985