Oak Park in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Gold Star Men of the World War
Photographed by Sean Flynn
1. Gold Star Men of the World War Marker
Elmer J. Bishoff, 5th Field Sig. Bn. Arthur D. Mott, Jr. 154th Engrs. William F. Creighton, 7th Bn. Marines Richard R. Shea, 27th Bn. Can. Forces Lloyd Havens Ghislin, Q.M. Corps Frank A. Sturtevant, 128th Inf. George Henry Grimm, U.S. Navy Frederick A. Taylor, 161st F.A. Charles H. Kellum, 5th Marines Walter Edmund Thomas, 127th Inf.
Erected 1921 by Women's Auxiliary of the American Legion.
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World I.
Location. 41° 53.277′ N, 87° 46.671′ W. Memorial is in Oak Park, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on Lake Street just east of Taylor Street, on the right when traveling east. The plaque is in Stevenson Park, a few yards behind a sidewalk railing that leads from the parks main entrance to the playground and the side entrance to the community center. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 49 Lake Street, Oak Park IL 60302, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in Greater Chicago. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: OPRF Museum (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Hello (about 500 feet away); The Telephone (about 500 feet away); Communications (about 600 feet away); The First Computer Chip
this page online
More about this memorial. This marker is one of at least five similar monuments dedicated to "Gold Star Men of the World War" that can be found in neighborhood parks in Oak Park. The memorials were dedicated on November 11, 1921, along with individual elm trees that were planted for each of the men listed. When this memorial was dedicated, the park was called Pyott Playground.
Regarding Gold Star Men of the World War. Two of the men included on this plaque are not included among Oak Park's war dead on the Peace Triumphant statue, located in the center of the village in Scoville Park: Richard Shea and George Grimm.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Photographed by Sean Flynn
2. Gold Star Men of the World War Marker
Courtesy of Chicago History Museum, circa 1918
3. Elmer Bischoff (1895-1918)
Elmer Bischoff was born in Oak Park and died during battle in Belleau Wood while laying a telephone line. He is buried at the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery. In Oak Park, he is memorialized on the plaque at OPRF High School, on Peace Triumphant in Scoville Park, and on the Gold Star Men of the World War marker in Stevenson Park. His name appears as Bischoff on the OPRF plaque and Peace Triumphant, but as Bishoff on the Stevenson Park plaque and in this photo, which is part of the Chicago History Museum's archive of photographs of Chicago-area men who died in World War I.
Courtesy of Chicago History Museum, November 1916
4. Lloyd Havens Ghislin (1896-1917)
Ghislin grew up at 407 N. Humprhey in Oak Park, the only child of Henry and Caroline Ghislin. According to the Chicago Tribune, Ghislin died suddenly at Fort Riley, Kansas, while on duty as a corporal in the quartermaster's division. He is buried at Graceland Cemetery in Chicago.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 7, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 211 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 7, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on May 13, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 4. submitted on May 14, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
