WWI Veterans from SUM

The War to End All Wars

Two years ago, Pastor Gene dug up a long-forgotten plaque with the names of members of SUM who had fought in WWI. As a family historian, I was intrigued and spent some time looking up these men to see who they were and what happened to them. This is a brief look at their stories.

In all, 158 men and one woman served during WWI. That is about 6% of the population at that time. Three Simsbury men were killed, and several were disabled. The following twenty men who joined the fight belonged to Simsbury United Methodist Church and survived:

Private 1st Class Archie Freeman Andrus was born in Simsbury on 24 April 1893. He registered for the WWI draft on the 5th of June 1917. His WWI registration describes him as tall and slender with blue eyes and brown hair. Archie sailed to France with Company B 504th Engineers Battalion on 26 Nov. 1917 and returned to the States on 29 May 1919. Archie was honorably discharged in 1919 and died on 23 July 1959. He is buried in Center Cemetery in Simsbury.

Private 1st Class Carl Thadius Andrus was born on 22 Oct. 1896 in Simsbury. He registered for the WWI draft on the 5th of June 1918. His WWI registration describes him as tall, medium build, with blue eyes and brown hair. Carl served from Aug. 1918 to Dec. 1918 in the 3rd Company Replacement Medical Group. Archie was honorably discharged in 1919. He married Emma Bradley and lived in Simsbury. His obituary says he worked in this area for over 50 years and was considered the oldest well driller in New England. He died on 23 July 1959. He is buried in Center Cemetery in Simsbury.

Private Archie Leopold Brown was born on 21 May 1899 in Simsbury. He registered for the WWI draft on the 5th of June 1918. Archie served from Aug. 1917 to Mar. 1919 in the US Army and was honorably discharged in 1919. It appears Archie married and divorced several times. He died on 21 April 1993 in Bradenton, FL.

Private Harold Hobbs Brown was born on 24 March 1895 in MA, but the family moved to Simsbury. He later married and moved to New Haven, where he was an engineer for the New Haven Railroad. His WWI draft registration describes him as tall, medium build, with blue eyes and brown hair. His military service only states April 1919, which is likely his discharge date.

Private Raymond Barnes Brown was born on 8 March 1898 in Simsbury. He enlisted in the US Army in Aug. 1917 and was honorably discharged Dec. 1919. He served in Company K 1st Regiment. He married Ernestine, and they had three daughters. He lived in Manchester, CT, until his death on 7 Sept. 1987.

Private Joseph Raymond Dewey was born on 5 May 1897 in Simsbury. His WWI draft registration describes him as slender and tall with brown hair and gray eyes. He joined the US Navy in 1918 (dates of service not available).

Private 1st Class Morris Giddings was born on 14 July 1901 in Simsbury. He joined the US Army 35th Military Police in July 1918 and was discharged in July 1919. He was later employed by the town of Simsbury and owned Giddings Gas Station in Simsbury. In his WWI draft registration, he is described as having a ruddy complexion with brown hair and blue eyes. He died on 28 April 1975 and is buried in the Center Cemetery in Simsbury.

Private Seth Royal Hall was born on 17 April 1893. He enlisted in Aug. 1918 and was honorably discharged in Dec. of that year. Seth went on to become a prominent businessman, founding Hall Bros, electrical contractors, and appliance dealer in 1916. He remained president up until his death on 28 Feb. 1957. He served two terms as a state representative. His funeral was held at SUMC, and he is buried in Center Cemetery in Simsbury.

Private Arthur Henry Illing was born on 10 July 1895 in England. He emigrated in 1910 and moved to Simsbury. He became a naturalized citizen in 1917 and joined the US Army in May 1918, with an honorable discharge on Dec. 1918. After the war, he became a teacher and school administrator – there is a school in Manchester, CT, named after him. He died in Manchester on 18 May 1986.

Private Edwin Dwight Jones was born in Simsbury on 3 June 1894. He joined the 1st Division Engineers in June 1917 and took part in the Argonne campaigns. He was honorably discharged in 1919. Edwin died in a tragic accident in 1929 at the age of 35. A metal water tank exploded in the summer home of Frank Furlong.

Private Archibald William Laughlin was born on 13 Feb. 1895 in Tariffville. He enlisted in the US Army 1st Company 152nd Depot Brigade in August 1918 and was honorably discharged in Feb. 1919. His WWI draft registration describes him as slender and short with brown hair and eyes.  Archibald died on 25 Jan. 1961 and is buried in Center Cemetery in Simsbury.

Private Felix Laughlin was born in Tariffville on 21 May 1892. His WWI draft registration describes him as medium height and slender with brown hair and eyes. He joined the US Army 41st Division in Sept. 1917 and was honorably discharged in Feb. 1919. He was working at Ensign Bickford when he joined. Felix served in France from March 1918 to Feb. 1919. Felix died on 24 March 1966 and is buried in West Hartford.

Private James Lemuel Laughlin was born on 4 Dec. 1901 in Windsor, CT. He served in the US Navy and died on 18 Sept. 1932. He is buried in Simsbury.

Private Harold Humphrey Marks was born on 30 Aug. 1894 in Simsbury. His WWI draft registration describes him as medium height and slender with red hair and gray eyes. He joined the US Army in May 1918 and was discharged in Jan. 1919. Harold was in the 28th Squadron. He was working at the Travelers in Hartford when he registered. He died on 10 Aug. 1967 and is buried in Bozrah, CT.

Private Hugh Edward McIntyre was born in Simsbury on 19 June 1897. He joined the US Army in April 1918 and was honorably discharged in Dec. 1918. He died on 23 May 1978 and is buried in Rocky Hill.

Private Charles Jewett Munigle was born on 6 Jan. 1897 in Simsbury. His WWI draft registration describes him as tall with a medium build with light brown hair and blue eyes. He joined the US Army in Sept. 1918 and was honorably discharged in Dec. 1918. He died on 25 April 1969 in Florida. He is buried in Center Cemetery in Simsbury.

Sergeant Charles Freeman Nielson was born in Vermont on 2 Oct. 1895. He was living in Simsbury when he registered. His WWI draft registration describes him as tall with a medium build, light brown hair, and blue eyes. He enlisted in the US Army in Aug. 1918 and was honorably discharged in Feb. 1919. He worked as a supervisor at American Dispatch Telegraph. He died in Avon, CT, on 6 Feb. 1987.

Private Paul Louis Nielson was born in Simsbury on 28 May 1898. He joined the US Navy as a Coxswain in April 1917 and was discharged in Aug. 1919. Paul was a retired chauffeur and gardener when he died on 11 March 1965.

Private Harold Francis Tanner was born in Bridgeport, CT, on 27 March 1894. He was a painter living in Simsbury when he joined. His WWI draft registration describes him as tall with a medium build, brown hair, and blue eyes. He worked at Ensign Bickford after the war. He joined the US Army 103rd Field Artillery in July 1917 and was honorably discharged in April 1919. Harold died at age 43 on 15 Feb. 1943 and is buried in Center Cemetery in Simsbury.

Eileen Brogan