Marion County Remembers

Remembering PVT Harold Hershal Austin July 19, 1921 - May 29, 1943 ---- PVT Harold Hershal Austin (Service Number 35746790) was born July 19, 1921 in Randall, West Virginia (near Star City in Monongalia County), the son of Jesse Ray and Goldie Ethel (Boyce) Austin. At the time of Harold's birth, their family was living on McKinley Avenue in Morgantown, while Jesse worked as a coal miner.  Sometimes between 1925 (Morgantown City Directory) and the 1930 Census, they moved to Fairmont. There they lived with Goldie's parents at 347 Blaine Street (where the Gateway Connector Playground now is). Jesse was a laborer at the local lumber company (1930 Census). By 1940, they were back in Monongalia County, where Jesse worked as a farmer and Harold and his older brother Paul worked as laborers for the National Youth Association (1940 Census). Military Service: On December 22, 1942, Harold enlisted in Clarksburg, WV. Harold was listed as a semi-skilled foundry employee, with a 7th grade e...

Remembering SSGT Kenneth L. Morgan (Fairmont) September 16, 1920 - April 26, 1945 ---- SSGT Kenneth L. Morgan (Service Number 20544885) was born in Fairmont, WV on September 16, 1920, the son of William and Lovie (McShaver) Morgan. MSGT William H. "Curley" Morgan was a veteran of more than 14 years of service, including in France during WWI. At the time of Kenneth's birth, William was working as a policeman, and the family lived at 617 Spring Street. They remained there for a least a decade, before moving slightly further up the mountain to 723 Spring Street, between 1930 and 1935. By 1930, William was working as a fireman for the Fairmont Fire Department, which was his career until he retired as Fire Chief. Education: Kenneth attended Fairmont Senior High School, from which he graduated in 1939. Kenneth was a student at Fairmont State when WWII began overseas. While at Fairmont State, he was a member of the Tau Beta Iota (TBI) fraternity Military Service: He enlisted on ...

Remembering PVT William Melvin Conner (Fairmont/Millersville) November 9, 1906 - November 26, 1944 ---- "Still water runs deep" -1925 East Fairmont High School Orion Yearbook ---- PVT William Melvin Conner (Service #35760940) was born in Fairmont, WV on November 9, 1906, the son of Charles and Anne/Annese (Drake) Conner. City directories show their family living at 418 Diamond Street (1911 City Directory) and 217 Merchant Street (1913 City Directory) while Charles worked as a brakeman, before moving to Millersville to work as a car repairman for the B&O (first noted in the 1917 City Directory). Anna died sometime between 1913 and 1918. On October 14, 1918, when William was close to 12 years old, his uncle PVT Thomas Melvin Conner was killed in service during WWI. Their family remained in Millersville, and 1920 found Charles and William living with Charles' dad and brother (1920 Census).  Education: William attended East Fairmont High School, and graduated in the clas...

Remembering CPL William Von Harris (Fairmont) May 24, 1917 - November 6, 1944 ---- CPL William Von Harris (Service #15324425)   was born in Fairmont, WV on May 24, 1917, the son of Lester and Arretia "Rita" (Williams) Harris. Their family lived on Front Street in Fairmont, and Lester was a laborer (1920 Census) and later a deliveryman for the laundry while the family lived at 702 Columbia Street (1930 Census). William, often listed by his middle name Von, attended East Fairmont High School for 4 years, though the 1946 EFHS WWII Honor Call does not give a graduation year for him.  Marriage and Enlistment: On October 8, 1936, Von married Mary Kathleen Richardson in Farmington, WV. They had two children, Thomas Leroy Harris (1939-2024) and Howard Paul Harris (1942-2011). Their family lived at 14 Roy Terrace near Monroe Street in Fairmont, while Von worked at Owens-Illinois as a laborer (1940 Census). Von registered for the draft on October 16, 1940 in Winfield, near whe...

Remembering PFC Carl Edward Tatterson (Fairmont) June 25, 1912 - October 20, 1944 ---- PFC Carl Edward Tatterson (Service #35762658) was born in Fairmont, West Virginia on June 25, 1912, the son of Charles and Rosa (Fleming) Tatterson. Charles was an ice wagon driver (1910 Census), a farm operator on the Grafton Pike (1920 Census), and by 1930 both Charles and Carl were working as dairy men (1930 Census).  On October 24, 1936, Carl married Letha Marie Shuck in Watson. The 1940 census shows Carl as working for the State Roads Department and living on "Road 31."  Military Service: Carl registered for the draft on October 16, 1940. He lists himself as self-employed and living at Rt 4. Carl was 6' and 206 lbs, with brown eyes, black hair, and dark skin. He enlisted in the military on October 25, 1943 in Clarksburg, WV, where his occupation was listed as farm hand. Carl went on to join the 29th Infantry Division, 116th Infantry Regiment, Company B. An August 19, 1944 article i...

Remembering PVT Jennings Bryan Vincent (Fairmont) November 7, 1914 - October 17, 1944 ---- PVT Jennings Bryan Vincent (Service #35077862) was born in Fairmont, WV on November 7, 1914, the son of Anthony and Zillah (Griffith) Vincent. Anthony, a farmer, and his family lived on Goose Creek (1910 Census) before settling down on Vincent Road off Rt 310 (1920 census). By 1930, Anthony, now 63, was working as a laborer at the Aluminum Plant and living at 510 East Ferry Street (1930 census).  Jennings attended East Fairmont High School and graduated in the class of 1932. Anthony went on to work as the deputy assessor for the City of Fairmont (1938 City Directory, 1940 Census). Jennings, now 25, worked as a truck driver for the road construction company (1940 Census). Marriage and Enlistment: Jennings married Wanda Rife (unofficially by his 1940 draft card, officially in 1944), and their son Jennings Anthony Vincent was born September 16, 1940. Jennings entered the draft on October 16...

Remembering PFC Jennings Owen Chriswell (Fairmont) January 12, 1921 - October 8, 1944 ---- PFC Jennings Owen Chriswell  (Service #35386762) was born in Fairmont, WV on January 12, 1921, the son of Jennings (William) and Katherine (Amama) Chriswell.  Jennings W. was an engineer for the Traction Company in Monongah (1920 census). In August of 1920, Jennings W. and Katherine announced that they had married secretly the previous October, before welcoming baby Jennings in January of 1921.  By 1930, their family had moved to Mill Fall, and Jennings W. was serving as a Power Plant Superintendent. Katherine died August 31, 1931 at age 32 of eclampsia, seven months into her last pregnancy. She was preceded in death by one child, one-year-old Paul, and survived by her husband and three kids under the age of 13. Jennings William remarried, adding two more half-siblings to their blended family. Education and Marriage: Jennings Owen graduated from Fairmont Senior High School in 1940. ...

PVT Woods Elbert Hayes (Mannington) August 6, 1911 - October 1, 1944 ---- Early Years and Marriage: PVT Woods Elbert Hayes (Service #35761762) was born in Mannington, WV on August 6, 1911, the son of  Henry and Nancy (Gump) Hayes. Henry was a farmer (1900, 1920 Census) and their family lived in the Broom Field area of Marion County, near Rachel (Lincoln District, 1920 Census). By 1930 their family, including 17-year-old Woods, was living on Dickson Street in Mannington. Henry (58) was no longer a former, with Nancy (54) instead doing "general housework" for a local family. On May 12, 1932, 20-year-old Woods Elbert Hayes married 22-year-old Opal Marie Staggers in Fairmont, WV. Their wedding was officiated by Rev A.H. Elsey, the first pastor of what is now the Fairmont First Church of the Nazarene (at the time housed in the old Dunbar School). Woods and Opal had two children: Marjorie (1936) and Elaine (1941). Military Service: PVT Woods Elbert Hayes entered the draft on Octobe...

Remembering PFC James Edward Monroe (Worthington/Fairmont) July 7, 1922 - September 8, 1944 ---- PFC James Edward Monroe (Service #33554254) was born in Chiefton, WV (near Worthington) on July 7, 1922, the son of Arch and Lura (Post) Monroe. Their family spent most of James' life in the Grant District of Marion County, where Arch worked as a "mining machine" operator (1920 Census) and farmer (1930 census). The 1935 Fairmont City Directory shows a brief detour to the Westchester area of Fairmont, but by 1940 they were back in the Grant District, this time specifically on a side road near Boothes Creek/ (Old) Monongah Road (1940 Census). At that time Arch was working as a "coal loader" (1940 census).  Military Service: James entered the draft on Jume 30, 1942 in Calvert County, Maryland. At that time he was living in North Beach, Maryland and working at "Uncle Billy's Amusement Park." James was 6'1 1/4" and 191 lbs, with gray eyes, brown hai...

Remembering PVT John Edwin "Buck" West (Fairmont) February 10, 1915 - August 29, 1944 ---- Note from the author: two days ago, we published a story about PVT West's brother-in-law, PVT Charles William Reynolds . Tragedy struck their family three times in two months, as PVT Reynolds was killed August 27, 1944, PVT West was killed August 29, 1944, and the brother of their respective wives, PFC Carl Tatterson , died as a POW on October 20, 1944.  ---- PVT John Edwin "Buck" West was born in Fairmont, WV, on February 10, 1915, the son of Clinton and Edna (Pople) West. Their family lived at 326 Haymond Street in Fairmont at the time of John's birth ( November 1914 West Virginian ), and Clint worked as a laborer at Owens-Illinois (1920 Census). The family moved around a bit, living at 332 Blaine Street for a time (1923, 1929 Fairmont City Directories) while Clint worked as a tinner, before moving to Holidays Cove in Brooke County where Clint worked as a house paint...

Remembering PVT Charles William Reynolds (Fairmont/Crossroads) March 16, 1914 - August 27, 1944 ---- PVT Charles William Reynolds (service #35847826) was born in Fairmont, WV on March 16, 1914, the son of William and Lessie (Lake) Reynolds. William, a farmer, lived with his family on what was listed on census records as Goose Creek (1920-1950 censuses), but more specifically, on what is now Levels Road, near Cross Roads. In 1929, Charles' only brother, Robert, died at age 17 of influenza and pneumonia. Charles attended East Fairmont High School for three years (Enlistment Record), and likely would have been in the graduating class of 1932 if he had completed his time there. Charles married Pauline Emma Tatterson on July 27, 1933. Three years later, in 1936, they welcomed a daughter named Patricia. Their family lived next door to Charles' parents, William and Lessie, on the family farm, while Charles worked as an apprentice mold maker at Owens-Illinois (1940 Census, Draft Card)....

Remembering PVT Boyd Bragg (Baxter) July 29, 1925 - August 8, 1944 ---- PVT Boyd Bragg (Service #35762660) was born July 29, 1925 in Wyatt, WV, the son of Russell and Carrie (Singleton) Bragg. Wyatt, WV is in Harrison County, about 8 miles from Enterprise. In 1930, their family was living in Otter, Braxton County, while Russell worked as a farmer. Sometime after 1935, their family moved to Baxter and Russell worked as a timberman in the coal mine (1940 Census). Boyd attended one year of high school (Enlistment Record) Military Service: On Boyd's 18th birthday, July 29, 1943, he entered the draft. Boyd's address was listed as Rivesville, where he worked on his father's farm. Boyd was 5'6" and 134 lbs with brown eyes, red or brown hair, and freckled skin. He enlisted on October 25, 1943 in Clarksburg, WV. PVT Boyd Bragg was serving with the 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, 2nd Battalion, Company F during the Operation Lüttich counter-offensive, the Ba...

Remembering PVT Nick Lourick (Rivesville and Jordan) August 12, 1925 - July 17, 1944 ---- PVT Nick Lourick (Service # 35762664) was born August 12, 1925 in Talbott, WV, the son of Pasquale "Patsy" and Lena (Spitto) Lourick. Patsy and Lena, as well as their oldest daughter, Christine, were originally from Salerno, Italy. Salerno is about a half hour away from Pompei. Patsy immigrated in 1909, Lena and Christine in 1911 (1930 census). No 1920 census data was immediately available, but from 1930-1940, their family lived in the Paw Paw District of Marion County, where Patsy worked as a coal miner and farmer (1930, 1940 census). A 1943 City Directory gave their phone number as being a Rivesville extension, but it's unclear how close they lived to Rivesville. Military Service: Nick entered the draft on August 18, 1943-- 6 days after his 18th birthday. At the time, his family was living at Box 13, Jordan. Nick is listed as being 5'8" and 135 lbs, with brown hair, brown ...

PFC Frank Albert Cosco (Monongah/Fairmont) August 21, 1919 - July 12, 1944 ---- PFC Frank Albert C osco (Service #35213852) was born  August 21, 1919 in Monongah, WV, the son of Calabrian immigrants Domenick and Mary Teresa (Mascara) Cosco. When Frank was born, his father was working as a coal miner in Monongah, and they lived at 148 Pike Street (1920 census). By 1930, the family had moved to 1209 Speedway Avenue. During their time there, Frank attended East Fairmont High School (enlistment records show that he attended for two years). Military Service: Frank registered for the draft on October 16, 1940. He was 5'6" and 175 lbs, with black hair, black eyes, and dark skin. At the time of registration, he was working for Owens Illinois Glass Company in the mold shop (1940 Census). 364 days later, Frank enlisted in the military in Huntington, WV.  PFC Frank Albert Cosco  was serving with the 165th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division, Company C in the Northern Marianas ...

Remembering PVT Arthur Hudson Gault (Mannington) June 27, 1910 - July 3, 1944 ---- PVT Arthur Hudson Gault (service # 35761754 )  was born in Sutton, WV on June 27, 1910, the son of John and Neoma "Susie" (Rose) Gault. In 1910, John was a foreman at a cooperage company in Otter, WV (Braxton County). By 1920, their family had moved to Plum Run in Marion County, where John worked as a laborer at the gasoline plant. The Gaults later moved to Hope Hill in Rachel (1930 census), and though the 1940 census vaguely describes their 1935-1940 address as "Rt 250," Arthur's 1940 draft card indicates that their family remained in Rachel. Arthur graduated from Mannington High School, likely around 1937 or 1938. Arthur entered the draft on October 16, 1940. At that time, he was working as a laborer for Jones Collieries, Inc. He is listed as being 5'8" and 150 lbs with blue eyes, brown hair, and ruddy skin. Military Service On September 30, 1943, Arthur enlisted in the...

Remembering PVT Paul Wade Fowler (Mannington) July 2, 1912 - June 1, 1944 ---- PVT Paul Wade Fowler (service # 35760510)   was born July 2, 1912 in Mannington, WV, the son of James and Zeffie (Harden) Fowler. Paul was the middle child of five kids- four sons, one daughter. The family lived on Glover Gap Road. Paul's father, James, was a carpenter who worked on oil rigs in the United States and Mexico. Unfortunately, James died on April 7, 1920 in Lewis County. Paul married Frances Olive Currey in 1935, and they remained in Mannington. Paul entered the draft on October 30, 1940. He listed himself as 5'10.5" and 145 lbs with blue eyes and brown hair. At the time, Paul and Frances were living at 232 Grant Street in Mannington, and he worked at Bowers Pottery. He enlisted in Clarksburg, WV on August 27, 1943. He is listed as a semi-skilled miner or mining machine operator who completed grammar school. While in the military, Paul served in the 179th Infantry, 45th Division.  PV...

Remembering PFC Salvatore "Sam" Oliverio (Monongah)    June 23, 1925 - May 13, 1945 --- PFC Salvatore "Sam" Oliverio was born June 23, 1925 in Chiefton, WV (near Worthington), the son of Giovanni "John" and Costanza (Iaquinta) Oliverio. Both of Sam's parents were born in San Giovanni in Fiore, immigrating around 1909 (John) and 1913 (Costanza) for John to work in the coal mine. Sam attended Monongah High School for three years (1941-1943) before leaving school to join the military. Sam listed "Student-Monongah High" as his occupation when he completed his draft registration on June 23, 1943-- his 18th birthday. He listed himself as 5'6" and 140 lbs with brown hair, brown eyes, and dark skin. Sam enlisted on August 28, 1943 in Clarksburg, WV. He served in the 132nd Infantry Regiment, Americal Division. The U.S. Army Center of Military History records : "On 8 January 1945, the Division began movement to Leyte and Samar, to take pa...

Remembering PFC Glenn Erlin Nichols August 28, 1918 - April 16, 1945 ---- PFC Glenn Erlin Nichols (service # 35082055) was born August 28, 1918 in (North View) Clarksburg, WV, the son of Rev. Ira and Julia (Debroux) Nichols. Ira was born in West Virginia, and Julia was born in Belgium.  In the 1920s, the family was living in North View in Clarksburg at 1216 North 17th Street, while Ira worked as a mold maker at a glass plant. Unfortunately, Julia died in 1929, leaving Ira with five kids under the age of 14 to raise alone, four sons, and one daughter. Ira married Edith Cork on May 31, 1930, in Fairmont. Their home addresses are both listed as Fairmont, WV on the marriage certificate. Unfortunately, Edith died less than 8 years later at age 25, on February 9, 1938. Ira remarried one last time on June 3, 1940, in Virginia. Ira's 1940 address is listed as 1321 Speedway Avenue, Fairmont, and his bride, Ethel Louise Thomas, hailed from Carolina. At that time, Ira was working at Owens Ill...