Perrysburg in Wood County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
World War I Veterans' Memorial
Photographed By Craig Doda, May 16, 2021
1. World War I Veterans' Memorial
Inscription.
World War I Veterans' Memorial. . , On April 6, 1919, the New Century Club planted three oak trees at Hood Park in memory of the three Perrysburg men who lost their lives in the Great War, now known as World War I. These veterans were Millard Davenport, Frederick Yeager, and Merlin Hufford. This memorial faded from community memory but in 2017, the centennial year of America's entrance into World War I, the Way Library, re-discovered how these men had been so honored. Local consensus then desired that their service be acknowledged anew.
Millard Davenport 1895 - 1918 , Millard Davenport was born November 26, 1895 in Liberty Center. His father, Everett Davenport died in 1898 and his mother Rose, came to Perrysburg. They moved in with family in the first block of West Fifth across from the water tower.
Mr. Davenport went to the old Louisiana public school and attended Grace Evangelical Church. As a child he took music lessons. He entered high school in 1909, leaving school after his freshman year to go to work, not uncommon for those days. He worked at Union Station in Toledo and was later a deliveryman.
In 1917 he registered for the draft and was called up April 17, 1918. Shipped overseas, he arrived in France on June 12, joining the American Expeditionary Forces. He was a member of the 322nd Field Artillery and played in the company band.
Several months later, during the Meuse-Argonne offensive, Millard Davenport fell ill and died October 3, 1918 in a French hospital of flu-induced lobar pneumonia. He was the first Perrysburg boy to die in World War 1. He is buried in the Meuse-Argonne Cemetery near Verdun, France.
Frederick Yeager 1897 - 1918 , Frederick Yeager was born January 18, 1897 in Toledo. His parents, John and Sarah Yeager moved the family to Perrysburg around 1900.
The Yeager family owned a home at 343 West Indiana and the family moved here. Mr. Yeager's grandfather also Fred already lived in Perrysburg, and no doubt was named for him. The elder Fred Yeager was a Civil War veteran, merchant, and Village Postmaster. He was also mayor from 1884-1886. Mr. Yeager's own father would later be mayor from 1922-1923.
Mr. Yeager attended the old Louisiana School. He was a member of the Methodist-Episcopal Church. He began attending high school but left to work at Champney's Drugstore located across from Hood Park, showing interest in becoming a pharmacist.
He worked at Champney's until he was called in, reporting to Camp Sherman in Chillicothe September 6, 1918. He never got out of camp. The flu epidemic claimed him also and after several sick days, he died on October 10, 1918, the second Perrysburg boy to die in World War I. He is buried in Fort Meigs Cemetery.
Merlin Hufford 1892 - 1919 , Merlin Hufford was born November 7, 1892, the son of George and Rosia Hufford. Mr. Hufford's great- grandfather was Jacob Hufford who came to Perrysburg in 1831. As a young boy, Mr. Hufford lived on West Third near Walnut Street and later on West Second near Mulberry.
Mr. Hufford went to the old Louisianan public school and attended Grace Evangelical Church. He left school and at 18 was working at National Wheel Company located on Cherry Street by the railroad. He later was employed as a concrete worker before going into the army.
Mr. Hufford was one of the early ones from Perrysburg to leave, departing in September of 1917, reporting to Camp Sherman, in Chillicothe. He was assigned to Company B, 308th Engineers.
Mr. Hufford was transferred to New York City and stationed in the 34th Guard and Fire Company, with duty at the Manhattan debarkation hospital. On Wednesday, January 22, 1919, he was taken suddenly ill with influenza and died just as suddenly on Friday in the hospital he was helping to guard. He is buried in Fort Meigs Cemetery.
Re-dedication September 16, 2017 , It was no coincidence that all three of these Perrysburg men died of influenza. During 1918-1919 there was a worldwide influenza epidemic, causing 20-50 million deaths. An estimated 500,000 from the united states alone.
An unusual feature of the epidemic is that it mostly killed young adults. Disease in general would kill more American military personnel in World War I than enemy bullets and artillery. . This memorial was erected by City of Perrysburg, Ohio. It is in Perrysburg in Wood County Ohio
On April 6, 1919, the New Century Club planted three oak trees at Hood Park in memory of the three Perrysburg men who lost their lives in the Great War, now known as World
War I. These veterans were Millard Davenport, Frederick Yeager, and Merlin Hufford. This memorial faded from community memory but in 2017, the centennial year of America's
entrance into World War I, the Way Library, re-discovered how these men had been so honored. Local consensus then desired that their service be acknowledged anew.
Millard Davenport
1895 - 1918
Millard Davenport was born November 26, 1895 in Liberty Center. His father,
Everett Davenport died in 1898 and his mother Rose, came to Perrysburg.
They moved in with family in the first block of West Fifth across from the
water tower.
Mr. Davenport went to the old Louisiana public school and attended Grace
Evangelical Church. As a child he took music lessons. He entered high school
in 1909, leaving school after his freshman year to go to work, not uncommon
for those days. He worked at Union Station in Toledo and was later a
deliveryman.
In 1917 he registered for the draft
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and was called up April 17, 1918. Shipped
overseas, he arrived in France on June 12, joining the American Expeditionary
Forces. He was a member of the 322nd Field Artillery and played in the
company band.
Several months later, during the Meuse-Argonne offensive, Millard Davenport
fell ill and died October 3, 1918 in a French hospital of flu-induced lobar
pneumonia. He was the first Perrysburg boy to die in World War 1. He is
buried in the Meuse-Argonne Cemetery near Verdun, France.
Frederick Yeager
1897 - 1918
Frederick Yeager was born January 18, 1897 in Toledo. His parents, John and
Sarah Yeager moved the family to Perrysburg around 1900.
The Yeager family owned a home at 343 West Indiana and the family moved
here. Mr. Yeager's grandfather also Fred already lived in Perrysburg, and no
doubt was named for him. The elder Fred Yeager was a Civil War veteran,
merchant, and Village Postmaster. He was also mayor from 1884-1886. Mr.
Yeager's own father would later be mayor from 1922-1923.
Mr. Yeager attended the old Louisiana School. He was a member of the
Methodist-Episcopal Church. He began attending high school but left to work
at Champney's Drugstore located across from Hood Park, showing interest in
becoming a pharmacist.
He worked at Champney's until he was called in, reporting to Camp Sherman
in Chillicothe September 6,
Photographed By Craig Doda, May 16, 2021
2. World War I Veterans' Memorial
1918. He never got out of camp. The flu
epidemic claimed him also and after several sick days, he died on October 10,
1918, the second Perrysburg boy to die in World War I. He is buried in Fort
Meigs Cemetery.
Merlin Hufford
1892 - 1919
Merlin Hufford was born November 7, 1892, the son of George and Rosia
Hufford. Mr. Hufford's great- grandfather was Jacob Hufford who came to
Perrysburg in 1831. As a young boy, Mr. Hufford lived on West Third near
Walnut Street and later on West Second near Mulberry.
Mr. Hufford went to the old Louisianan public school and attended Grace
Evangelical Church. He left school and at 18 was working at National Wheel
Company located on Cherry Street by the railroad. He later was employed as
a concrete worker before going into the army.
Mr. Hufford was one of the early ones from Perrysburg to leave, departing in
September of 1917, reporting to Camp Sherman, in Chillicothe. He was
assigned to Company B, 308th Engineers.
Mr. Hufford was transferred to New York City and stationed in the 34th Guard
and Fire Company, with duty at the Manhattan debarkation hospital. On
Wednesday, January 22, 1919, he was taken suddenly ill with influenza and
died just as suddenly on Friday in the hospital he was helping to guard. He is
buried in Fort Meigs Cemetery.
Re-dedication September 16, 2017
It was
no coincidence that all
three of these Perrysburg
men died of influenza. During
1918-1919 there was a
worldwide influenza epidemic,
causing 20-50 million deaths.
An estimated 500,000 from the
united states alone.
An unusual feature of the
epidemic is that it mostly
killed young adults. Disease in
general would kill more
American military personnel
in World War I than enemy
bullets and artillery.
Erected by City of Perrysburg, Ohio.
Topics. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • War, World I. A significant historical date for this entry is April 6, 1919.
Location. 41° 33.654′ N, 83° 37.849′ W. Marker is in Perrysburg, Ohio, in Wood County. Marker is at the intersection of West Front Street (U.S. 20) and Louisiana Avenue, on the right when traveling west on West Front Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 112 Water St, Perrysburg OH 43551, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 22, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 20, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 110 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on May 20, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
