Marion County Remembers

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 PFC Ray Hern December 29, 1908 - September 2, 1944 ---- PFC Ray Hern (Service #35739799) was born in Erie, WV (Harrison County) on December 29, 1908, the son of John "Jack" and Tennessee (Wilson) Hern. Ray grew up in Worthington where Jack was an "oil field worker" (1910 Census) and on Rarker Run Road in the Paw Paw District, where Jack was a farmer (1920 Census). Ray only attended school through 7th grade. On June 22, 1928, Ray married Ida Leo Wilson in Clarksburg, WV. At the time, they were both living in Enterprise, just over the border of Marion County into Harrison County.  The 1930 Census found them living with Leo's mom, Sarah, in Bingamon near Worthington, WV (Marion County). At the time, Ray was working as a coal miner. The duo then lived in Hutchinson on New Hill Road, where Ray worked as a coal loader (1940 census). Military Service: Ray entered the draft on October 16, 1940. He listed his hometown as Worthington and his employer as Consol...

Remembering PVT Louis Maset (Worthington/Four States) December 6, 1923 - July 22, 1944 ---- PVT Louis "Louie" Maset was born in Dalltown, PA, on December 6, 1923, the son of Augustino "August" and Virginia (Coldebella) Maset. August and Virginia were both Italian immigrants. August arrived from Chodagué, Italy in 1914, and in 1920 was living in Fairmont (Guffy Street) and listed as a laborer on "the bridge." This likely means that he participated in the creation of the Million Dollar Bridge, dedicated to Marion County WWI casualties. Virginia arrived in the US in 1912 and lived in Pennsylvania, where her father was a coal miner. August and Virginia married in May of 1923 in Pennsylvania-- ages 24 and 16. By 1930, their young family was living in Rachel, where August was a loader at the coal mine (1930 census). The 1940 census showed August working as a trackman at the coal mine, and the family living at Parrish Run. Louie registered for the draft on June 3...

PFC Mac C. Merrifield (service # 2715610 )  was born September 16, 1891 in Smithfield (Wetzel County), WV to Elery Newton Merrifield and Minerva Ellen (Flowers) Merrifield. Out of the 10 Merrifield children, Mac was born 5th.  One May 27, 1917, Mac married Fara Gladys Martin in Marion County, WV, near Bringamon Church in Marion County, when he was 25 years old and she was 18. Mac registered for the draft on June 5, 1917. He listed himself as tall and slender with blue eyes and brown hair. At the time, he was working as a farmer in Worthington, WV.  On July 8, 1918, Mac departed Hoboken, NJ on the U.S.S. Leviathan as part of the 79th Division's 314th Infantry machine gun company.  There are lots of sources on this, but weirdly enough this random wiki had the best summary of what happened. Check out the reference list for more detailed accounts. "Upon arrival at Brest, France, they continued training until September 1918, then took part in the Meuse Argonne Offensive....

In Memory of Pvt. James H. ("Harry") Shuttlesworth, who died in France merely one day before the end of WWI (November 10, 1918). Harry Shuttlesworth was born July 29, 1895 in Ohio (though his gravestone reads 1896). He gave "mine laborer" as his occupation on his draft card, and listed his town of residence as Worthington, WV when he enlisted in the military on June 5, 1917.  His card also lists that he was of medium height with a slender build, gray eyes, and brown hair. At his time of death, he was a member of Company B of the 128th Infantry Regiment, assigned to the 32nd Division. "In the closing months of the war, the 128th Infantry participated in several major campaigns including Alsace, Aisne-Marne, Oise-Aisne and Meuse-Argonne. For their fury in combat, the nickname "Les Terribles" or "The Terrible Ones" was given to them by the French. As they pierced the famed Hindenburg Line, the 32nd became known as the "Red Arrow" Divi...