Farewell to Eldred TOC

by Louise Smith Posted on June 23, 2013

I am hoping to have the whole manuscript (with well over 1,000 photos) for Book 3: “Farewell to Eldred,” 1920–1950, ready for Gary within a couple weeks. Typically it takes another 2 months before the book is ready to go to press.

Each chapter usually includes World, National, and Local News. Most chapters have information on the Boarding House Ads for the corresponding year. I thought my Halfway Brook readers might be interested in the chapter titles.

Chapter 1: Most Pleasant Time of All, 1920
Introduction to the people, the area, and the Boarding Houses.

Chapter 2: The First Real Sorrow, 1921–1924
The year 1921 was a sad year for the Austins. It was a time of sorrow for some other families as well.

Chapter 3: A Fortunate Occurrence, 1925–1926
Eldred Central was built, making it possible for my dad to go to High School.

Chapter 4: Lights, Toasters, Radios, 1927–1929
Electricity arrives at the Garfield Leavenworth residence.

Chapter 5: Better Life in the Country, 1929
This chapter features the Boarding Houses in 1929. Continue reading →

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Asa and Esther Hinman Hickok

by Louise Smith Posted on June 21, 2013

Do anyone of my Halfway Brook readers know if anyone with the surname Hickok still lives in the Town of Highland?

Asa and Esther Hinman Hickok and their five children moved from Connecticut to what was Lumberland in 1811. Their daughter Hannah married James Eldred (my ancestors) after his first wife died. Their son Justus seems to have been the only other descendant who stayed in the area.

Justus and Mary Wells Hickok’s children:
David and Mary Russell Hickok had several children.
William and Almeda Drake Hickok had several children.
Robert Land (d. 1918) and Charlotte Hulse Hickok.
William and Mary Hickok Stidd.
Charles (d. 1923) and Sarah DeHart Hickok.

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Madeleine Farm, France, 1923

by Louise Smith Posted on June 21, 2013
Madeleine Farm, near where McKinley died in October 1918. Photo taken by Aida Austin when she visited France in 1923.

Montfaucon, France,
October 12–17, 1918
McKinley’s outfit arrived in the vicinity of Montfaucon on October 12. They suffered casualties from the heavy shelling of enemy guns the next day. That evening the 11th Infantry took up a position around Ferme de la Madeleine.

At the Battle of Romagne-sous-Montfaucon (October 14–17), the Americans launched a series of costly frontal assaults that finally broke through the main German defences of the Hindenburg Line.

The enemy waiting until the forward movement is commenced, throws down a terrific barrage upon our front so that the division going ‘over the top’ at daylight (October 14th) with the 9th Brigade (60th and 61st Infantry) on the right, and the 10th brigade, 6th and 11th Infantry on the left, is immediately plunged into a perfect storm of shell fire which inflicts heavy casualties in its ranks at the very outset of the advance.—Moss and Howland, p. 287.

McKinley is Hit
It was our [11th Infantry’s] first day in the Argonne drive and we went over at 8 the morning of the 14th of October. We hadn’t gone far when we were held up by the German machine guns. They [Germans] were firing on us from three different directions and there wasn’t enough of the boys left to advance farther so we were forced to stop and dig in.

The Corporal of his squad being a casualty, [I] made [McKinley] Austin as I knew him, Squad leader and when we reached the hill which was Madelaine Farm, the German’s made it so hot for us we could not advance further. So I directed him to put his gun into action on the west of the hill.

Then I went on seeing the other gun put into action which was even more perilous and came back. Seeing him on the side of the hill I asked him if he had the gun in action. He said, no. He came back for a shovel. I paid no more attention to him then and went on to report to Capt. Dashiell who was killed later.—Sgt. John Popp letter. Continue reading →

Posted in Echo Hill and Mountain Grove, People, World War I | 2 Comments

Jennie Austin Gold Star Mother

by Louise Smith Posted on June 13, 2013
Service Flag with Gold Star, courtesy of Mary A.

It was a custom of families of servicemen to hang a service Flag in the window of their homes. The Service Flag had a star for each family member in the military.

Living servicemen were represented by a blue star, and those who had lost their lives were prepresented by a gold star.

This is the Austin flag with a gold star because of McKinley’s death, and a blue star for their son Raymond who also served during World War I.

The body of private McKinley Austin, who died in France October 14, 1918, arrived at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C.M. Austin, in Eldred on Saturday from Hoboken, N.J.

Young Austin was 20 years old and enlisted in the 11th infantry of the Machine Gun Company, and was called to France in May of that year. The funeral was held at his home in Eldred at 1:30 o’clock on Wednesday. Rev. Mr. Ether, pastor of the Barryville M.E. Church, officiating.—News article, September 16, 1921.

It is curious as to who asked that McKinley’s body be shipped back, as the family story had been that Aida Austin went over to France in 1923 specifically to bring the body back.

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1922 Baseball: Eldred versus Yulan

by Louise Smith Posted on June 5, 2013

Eldred Retaliates over Yulan in Second Game this Spring.
The Eldred baseball team, undaunted by their defeat at the hand of the Yulan team on April 16th, again met the Yulan team on the Eldred diamond and defeated them by a score of 12 to 8.

Although the day was raw and chilly, with occasional snow flurries, many spectators turned out to root for both teams. The game was featured by the fast base running of Johnny Steward of the Eldreds. Both teams now have won a game from each other this season.

Yulan’s star pitcher “Speed B. Hazen,” having left his speed home, retired early in the game. Louis Hensel, having thoughtfully brought his speed with him, took to the pitching burden for the visitors making a creditable showing and would no doubt have won the game had the rules permitted more than eight men to assist him.

The Eldred Pitcher Timmerhoff and Catcher Myers, did splendid work considering this was the first game together.

A third game will be played on the Eldred diamond on April 30th. Game called at 2:30 p.m.—Republican Watchman 1921 or 1922.

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McKinley Austin 1890 to 1918

by Louise Smith Posted on June 5, 2013
McKinley at his aunt Aida Austin’s house. Photo in Austin Collection.

Mr. and Mrs. C.M. Austin, of Eldred, Sullivan County, on November 17th received a telegram from the War Department at Washington informing them that their son, McKinley Austin, had been killed in action somewhere in France on October 21st.

“Private Austin enlisted in the U.S. Army early in the war while home from his studies at Mount Hermon Seminary, Northfield, Mass. He was a bright and popular young man. Two of his grandfather’s brothers gave their lives for their country on Southern battlefields during the Civil War; his grandfather, S.S. Leavenworth, having served during the great conflict, is now living in Eldred as one of its most highly respected citizens.”—The Port Jervis Union, November 25, 1918.

Posted in Echo Hill and Mountain Grove, World War I | 1 Comment

The Returned Letter

by Louise Smith Posted on June 4, 2013

Jennie Austin, Eldred, to McKinley Austin, France
October 12, 1918
My dear Mac,

Just a few lines while I have time. I see in the papers in order to send a package to the soldiers that the soldier one sends the package to must first get a label and send it to the one he expects to receive a package from. I hope you have sent yours before this as they claim no packages will be accepted without the labels in it.

The Spanish Influenza is sweeping the country here, even our school is closed for awhile. No cases being nearer than Shohola, as we know of. We often wonder how you are and if you have escaped it. You must be careful and it is a worry to know at times.

You must be in places where you can not be careful. We have a joke on Dad coming home from Monticello. He met a soldier who had been wounded in France and for a month had been in the hospital of Otisville. He was on his way home and Dad fell in with him at Port Jervis and became so interested that he was carried on beyond Shohola. The conductor was kind enough to slow the train down and let him off at Lackawaxen.

I am afraid my pencil is so dim by the time this reaches you, you will not be able to read it. But Elizabeth is learning to write with pen and ink. It is impossible to find a decent pen in the house.

Willie is still working at Procters. Dad expects to work for John Love some as he gathers his garden.

Well I must close as Dad is going to the post office. It has been over a month since we heard from you, so we are looking for a letter every day.
Love from all, Mother
[The letter was returned.]

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