Not once, but twice the William Hawley family was devastated by fire. The logging industry was a primary industry in Northern Michigan in the late 1800s and early 1900s. William Hawley's family was no exception.
William moved his family from upstate New York to Long Rapids Township, Alpena County, Michigan in about 1867.
Although William classifies himself as a farmer on both the 1870 and 1880 US census, his family, being in the mostly unpopulated area of Long Rapids Township, was surrounded by the logging industry
In May of 1874, William was living in Long Rapids Township with his second wife Sara Ann Healy, and their five children; From William's first marriage Franklin Hawley, Charles Hawley, and Minnie Hawley, and from his marriage to Sarah were Ellen and William.
The great influence of people during the logging era, and the large areas of dry pine slash increased both the possibility of fire and the intensity of those which occurred. Many reached tremendous proportions, burning unchecked for weeks or months through slashings, standing timber, cities and settlements, causing human misery, death, and waste. There is evidence to show that these lumbering era fires destroyed more merchantable timber than was cut.[zref]HSRBI9B5[/zref]
On Saturday, May 12th, 1874 tragedy struck William's family in the form of a forest fire.
[zref]"The Fires in Alpena County," Article, Detroit Free Press, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, 14 May 1874, In the Township of Long Rapids, , p. 1, col. 8;; online images, Newspapers.com (www.Newspapers.com : Downloaded 9 January 2019); https://www.newspapers.com/image/118157662/?terms=The%2BFires%2Bin%2BAlpena%2BCounty%2BHawley.[/zref]
[zref]"Long Rapids," Article, Alpena Argus, Alpena County, Michigan, 13 May 1874, Details about fire at residence of William Hawley Family; online images, Newspapers.com (WWW.Newspapers.com : Viewed 19 April 2021). Page 3.[/zref]
From these two newspaper articles, one from the Detroit Free Press and the other from the Alpena Argus, we learn that William Hawley and his family suffered a catastrophic loss. The family lost two houses, all household goods, two barns, and all that was inside of them.
But even worse than the financial and structural loss was the personal loss. The Hawley family barely escaped with their lives. The children were all injured in some fashion. The heroine of the story is Mrs. Sarah Ann Hawley. While trying to save her son William Martin Hawley who was 10 months old, Sara's dress caught fire and she was only saved by tearing it off.
21 years later, the family was once again devastated by fire. on September 11th, 1898 fire once again destroyed their property. The family was living in Rust Township in the Village of Hillman, Montmorency County, Michigan.
[zref]"Forest Fires in Hillman," Article, Detroit Free Press, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, 13 September 1895, p. 3, col. 2, William Hawley; online images, Newspapers.com (www.Newspapers.com : downloaded 10 January 2019); https://www.newspapers.com/image/121684334.[/zref]
This time, the fire destroyed the Hawley barn and everything inside it. The total loss caused by the fire, including the Hawley property, was $3,000. That would be a value of $94,598.93 today.
The Hawley family continued living in the Hillman area until about 1909 when they moved back to Alpena County to live in Ossineke. To my knowledge, the eager enemy called fire did not strike the family again.
In previous posts, I wrote about my great grandmother Mae Arla (King) McKenzie and the letters she wrote to her daughter Cora.
As in everything, timing and context are important when analyzing the lives of our ancestors. To catch up on the life of Mae and her family thus far, take a moment to read my previous blog posts.
I have also included a timeline of the events in Mae's life, in the left sidebar or at the bottom of the screen if you are using a mobile device.
In this post, I am going to share two letters written ten days apart. Both letters are written from Mae to Cora. The first letter is written on March 18th, 1943, only seven days after Donna's letter to Cora. The next is written on March 28th, 1943.
What struck me the most about these letters was the feeling you get for what life was like for the people at home battling their own struggles created by the war going on overseas.
There is one front and one battle where everyone in the United States - every man, woman, and child - is in action and will be privileged to remain in action throughout this war. That front is right here at home, in our daily lives, and in our daily tasks.
---President Franklin D. Roosevelt, April 28th, 1943
One common theme in these two letters is the struggle to financially make ends meet.
WWII started right after "The Great Depression" had ended, leaving many households, especially farming households, struggling with finances. I can imagine this was even more difficult for the McKenzie family because Mae's husband Orlie was having a difficult time finding and keeping a job due to the trauma caused by his time served during WWI. Today we would refer to this as PTSD.
If you would like to learn more about Orlie's life, please read some of my previous posts.
We have all heard about how hard the depression era was on our ancestors and the hardships that followed during the war years, but have you compared their struggle to your life today?
If you know me, you know that I have a degree in accounting and love budgets. So I decided to see if I could create a monthly budget for the McKenzie family based on what I found in these two letters and historical research.
This can not be considered an all-inclusive budget or a 100% historically accurate, but I do think it will provide us with a glimpse into what the letters can tell us about life and Mae's financial struggles.
We can see from Mae's letters that she did the washing and ironing for local women and neighbors.
Below are three examples of the type of work that Mae was doing to help provide for her family. Two examples are from letters she wrote in March of 1943, the other is from an earlier letter written in July of 1941.
I don't know if Mrs. Smith will give me more then six days (?) this month or not.
---Letter - 07/10/1941
As I did laura wash & ironing this week that will give me 75¢ to $1.00.
---Letter - 03/18/1943
I am doing the washing a week for Weaver & I got me a new hat & I gave Donna half of the money for doing the ironing.
---Letter - 03/28/1943
We know from previous letters that Mae was receiving money sent home from Alex's work at the C.C.C. camps. At the time of these letters, we know that Alex was no longer working in the C.C.C. camp but was serving in the Navy and Garnet had a job away from home. We can assume that both boys were sending money home to help with expenses. I am also going to assume that Orlie was bringing in some income made from the odd jobs he was able to find.
Based on the information from the letters and my assumptions, I figure that the McKenzie family's monthly income was about $10.00. Today that would amount to $152.06.
| Income | 1943 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Mae's work doing laundry and ironing | $6.00 | $91.23 |
| Other Income (From Orlie, Alex, and Garnet) | $4.00 | $60.82 |
| Total Income | $10.00 | $152.06 |
Now that we have a general idea of the family's income, let's take a look at their expenses.
| Expense | 1943 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 lbs of Granulated Sugar | $0.75 | $11.40 |
| 2 Gallons Vitamin D Milk | $1.24 | $1.99 |
| 1 lb bacon | $0.45 | $3.99 |
| 3 lbs of Fresh Ground Beef | $0.90 | $11.97 |
| 2 Dozen Eggs | $0.42 | $5.98 |
| 3 Loaves of Fresh Bread | $0.30 | $8.97 |
| Total | $4.06 | $44.30 |
As you probably noticed, the amount of food included in the budget above was probably not enough to support a family of seven. During WWII, families used several other methods to supplement their food supplies. Some of these included victory gardens, home canning, and wartime recipes.
Use the buttons to the right to learn more.....
People were encouraged to grow their own food And these homegrown victory gardens helped lessen the negative effect of war rations. Individual homeowners and governors of public land all planted and tended these small plots. In addition to letting more of the overall food supply go to the troops in the war trenches, the victory gardens ensured that growing children would get enough servings of fruits and vegetables.
Victory Garden Promotion in the Saturday Evening Post
Home canning soared during World War II, reaching its peak in 1943, with over 4.1 billion jars canned in homes and community canning centers (Bentley, 1998).
Due to food shortages and rationing, families needed to be creative. War recipes were published and distributed to help.
War Cake Recipe from 1918
Using up Stale Bread
We had a very bad storm yesterday. Had to go to town to buy two new window glasses as our front dining room window blew out, broke all to pieces.
---Mae McKenzie
I made an assumption about the size of the window glasses that Mae had to replace, based on the standard windows in my 1950's home. It was almost impossible to know what someone would have paid in a small northern Michigan town. I used the next best thing available to me, The Sears, Roebuck, and Co. Catalog.
Based on the 1943 catalog, it may have cost about $.36 per window pane. Having to replace two window panes, it would have cost Mae about $.73.
Donna said I bought a new cost. Yes it is new to me, but I only gave 75 cents for it. It is all wool navy blue crepe has 6 buttons down the front princess style with a white collar. I bought it at Red Cross store it is second hand. I also bought your dad a pretty good pair dress shorts for 25 cents.
--Mae McKenzie
The coat pictured to the right is similar to the one that Mae bought second hand at the Red Cross.
I wished I could go and pick me out a new Easter outfit. But I will have a part of one I am going to try buying me a new hat.
---Mae McKenzie
Garnet wants a clock as he cannot get up in the morning. I don't know where to get him one. He has had a raise & a new boss & does good.
---Mae McKenzie
Mae mentions that her son Garnet, who is working away from home, would like an alarm clock. Although this seems like a simple request, it wasn't that simple during WWII.
I attempted to find the cost of an alarm clock in the Sears, Roebuck catalog but found an asterisk instead. When looking further down the page I realized why...
The asterisk indicated that it wasn't possible to purchase an alarm clock due to "the shortage of critical materials or manufacturing facilities".
Mae also talks about having to spend money, that she didn't have, to get her daughter Cora's dog fixed because it seems they couldn't keep the male dogs away. Reading her comments below, this seems to be an interesting story in and of itself.
I took your dog to Dr. Carney Tuesday to get operation as we have been having a terrible time with her. Carl Rises dog stayed here continuously & then someone shot him. Of course there was just I and the children home at that time but I felt as though they blamed me as Ida came up & asked about him. I think the game wardens got him as they have been killing dogs that are running deer. He said it was $5.00 to operate on her.
---Mae McKenzie
Mae speaks about wanting to get her sons each a suit for Easter. She talks about getting sport suits for the older boys and a navy blue sailor suit for her youngest boy Clayton.
I am going to try & send for each of the boys, a Easter suit those sport kind & Clayton I think a navy blue sailor suit.
---Mae McKenzie
| 1943 | 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Household Expenses | |||
| 2 new window glasses for the front window | $0.73 | $11.10 | |
| Used coat for Mae from Red Cross | $0.75 | $11.40 | |
| Used pair of dress short for Orlie from the Red Cross | $0.35 | $5.32 | |
| Vet bill for Cora's dog | $5.00 | $76.03 | |
| Total Household Expenses | $6.83 | $103.85 | |
| Wish List | |||
| Easter Dress | $3.00 | $45.62 | |
| Easter Hat | $2.50 | $38.01 | |
| Alarm Clock | |||
| Easter Suits for Vern and Herb | $14.00 | $212.88 | |
| Sailor Suit for Clayton | $5.00 | $76.03 | |
| Total Wishlist Expenses | $24.50 | $372.54 | |
| 1943 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|
| Income | $10.00 | $149.52 |
| Monthly Food Costs | $(4.06) | $(44.30) |
| Household Expenses | $(6.83) | $(103.85) |
| Income after necessary expenses | $(0.89) | $1.37 |
| Wishlist | $(24.50) | $(372.54) |
| Income after Necessary Expenses and Wishlist items | $(25.39) | $(371.17) |
Seeing the financial struggles that Mae and her family faced in this format gives me a greater respect for her and the strength that she possessed. We take so many little things about the way we live today for granted. I believe that a little dose of historical reality helps put things in perspective.
I truly believe that by gaining a better understanding of our ancestors we also gain a better understanding of ourselves. I feel that these cherished letters help me to better understand my great grandmother, her life, and the impact that she had on future generations.
In previous posts, I wrote about my great grandmother Mae Arla (King) McKenzie and the letters she wrote to her daughter Cora.
As in everything, timing and context are important when analyzing the lives of our ancestors. To catch up on the life of Mae and her family thus far, take a moment to read my previous blog posts.
I have also included a timeline of the events in Mae's life, in the left sidebar or at the bottom of the screen if you are using a mobile device.
This next letter was written on March 11th, 1943, 11 months after the last letter I shared, which was written on March 29th, 1942. It was written by Donna McKenzie to her older sister Cora.
In the first part of this letter, Donna speaks about how wonderful it was to get a letter from her sister Cora.
However, the letter doesn't stay positive for long. Donna quickly begins to relay news about their father Orlie Charles McKenzie
I suppose you have already heard that dad is home again, got a job but didn't keep it.
---Donna McKenzie
In my blog post Thriller Thursday: The Tragic Death of Orlie Charles McKenzie I wrote about my great grandfather Orlie and his troubled life.
Orlie was a WWI vet. His struggle with alcoholism after the war eventually led to his tragic drowning death on July 30th, 1948.
This letter provides us with an interesting insight into how his family felt about his ongoing struggles to find and keep steady work in efforts to support the family.
My heart goes out to his children. It must have been very difficult to see daily the impact that this had on their mother Mae.
In the next part of the letter, Donna talks about the blouses that her and her mother made. Mae's blouse was yellow and Donna's was green.
Although, we don't know exactly what the blouses that Mae and Donna made looked like, they may have looked similar to the styles shown here that were popular in 1943.
Donna goes on to talk about their brother Garnet.
We haven't heard from Garnet since he went back but Johnny (?) got a letter from him.
---Donna McKenzie
At the time this letter was written Garnet would have been a few months shy of 17 years old.
I'm not sure where Garnet "went back" to. I know that he had not yet joined the military and by this time the C.C.C. camps, that I spoke about in my previous blog post, were no longer in operation. Could he have been working away from home to provide additional income for the family?
Donna makes reference to Johnny, could this be the Johnnie that we heard about in the letter from my last post?
Donna also asked her sister if she has heard from Fred yet. I have not yet figured out who Fred is. However, in some later letters there is mention of a Fred Milliron. Could this be who she is referring to?
In this part of the letter, Donna talks about the recent weather. As typical in northern Michigan, it can change at a moments notice.
Gee it snowed here all day and was it ever warmer. A nice day for once, Hope it rains tomorrow.
---Donna McKenzie
In this part of the letter, Donna talks to Cora about school.
Our school gets out the twenty ninth of May. When does youre's get out?
---Donna McKenzie
At the time of this letter, Cora was 21 years old and Donna was just shy of 15. Donna was probably attending the local high school. Cora, who had received her teaching certificate the previous year, was either teaching at a local school in Gladwin, Gladwin County, Michigan or continuing her own college education.
Somethings in Michigan never change. As a parent from Michigan, I am very familiar with late winter / early spring flu season.
Here Donna talks about flu that is making the rounds at her school. Luckily it is only lasting a couple of days.
Seems as through every one is having the flu around here. It only lasts for about one or two days. Almost all the kids in school have had it.
---Donna McKenzie
Donna closes her letter by telling her sister that she was listening to the radio while writing the letter and hopes that Cora is able to read it.
Hope you can read this, as I am trying to listen to the radio too.
---Donna McKenzie
The letter was written on a Thursday. The image below shows the possible programs that Donna may have been listening to while writing to her sister.
The Radio Guide / Movie Radio Guide published listings network radio programming schedules and programs with articles about the stars, stations, and networks. Issued weekly from October 30, 1931, to February 1943 and then monthly until November 1943.1
It is very interesting to browse through this guide. The effect of the war on everyday life is obvious.
I find joy in reading the words of my ancestors. It is like listening to them tell me their story.
Although these letters may not have any significant historical value, they allow me a peek inside the daily lives of people that I barely knew, but because of their daily survival in tough times, I am here today to be able to share their stories.
I am thankful for the little pieces of history that they left behind for me to find.
In a previous post, Letters From Home: Mae McKenzie I wrote about my great grandmother Mae Arla (King) McKenzie and the letters she wrote to her daughter Cora.
As in everything, timing and context are important when analyzing the lives of our ancestors. To catch up on the life of Mae and her family thus far, take a moment to read my previous blog post.
I have also included a timeline of the events in Mae's life, in the left sidebar or at the bottom of the screen if you are using a mobile device.
The letter I am going to share today was written on March 29th, 1942, and was written from Mae to her daughter Cora. The letter is written 8 1/2 months after the last letter I shared, which was written on July 10th, 1941.
In those eight months, some changes have happened in the family. It is hard to tell for sure, but I don't believe that Orlie is living in the household with his family. He may still be staying at the VA hospital in Bedford Township, Calhoun County, Michigan or he may be living somewhere else.
Mae and Orlie's son, my grandfather, Alexander Orlando McKenzie is no longer working at the C.C.C. camps, instead, he has joined the U.S. Navy. Alexander enlisted on December 18th, 1941 and at the time of this letter is serving aboard the U.S.S. Merrimack.
Atlanta, Michigan
March 29, 1942
Dear Daughter
Will drop you a line. Reach here ok. But those people weren’t Johnnie and you know one has to wait 5 days to get married after they get their license.
In this part of her letter, Mae is talking to Cora about someone named Johnnie and the waiting period to get married after getting a marriage license.
Based on only the information from this letter it is hard to determine who Johnnie is and what his relationship to either Cora or Mae may be. I guess that is the problem with only reading one side of the conversation.
Could Johnnie be a family friend, or is Johnnie Cora's boyfriend getting ready to go off to war? Could Cora be considering a marriage to Johnnie? It sure seems to me that Cora may have been asking for some motherly advice in the letter she had written and that Mae was now responding to.
All are fine and Alice stayed for supper then went home. Say Cora why couldn’t you come home Thursday night with John Weber as he probably will come home then. I hope you feel better. I was anxious to get Alice away as you know how she up set (?) me.
This section bothered me a little bit at first. Mae is talking about her oldest daughter Alice. Then when I thought about it a little more I realized that although we love our children, there will always be times that we don't see eye to eye. That does not mean that we love them any less.
Well I hope it is a nice day tomorrow as I want to wash. This is awful scribbling but I thought I should drop you a letter tonight to let you know about those cars. It is quarter to nine and I am going right to bed. Clayton has gone to bed and Donna is looking at magazines. The other boys are playing out doors yet.
In this part of the letter, Mae sat down at 8:45 PM, just before going to bed herself, to update her daughter on a simple day to day activities. She talks about doing the wash if the weather is nice. She refers to her youngest son, Clayton who is just over 2 years old, saying that he has gone to bed. She also refers to her daughter, Donna, who is a few weeks shy of 14 years old and is looking at magazines. This seems like a pretty typical teenage activity. I wonder which magazines she might have been reading?
Mae also refers to her other children, her four boys, Garnet, Neil, Vernon, and Herbert, who are playing outside.
I can easily picture this scenario. The baby is in bed, her teenage daughter is preoccupied with magazines and her rambunctious boys are outside playing. I'm sure with six children at home, she did not have many free and quiet moments to herself. As a mother of two, I can relate.
Well as you know all the news I will close and hope you are feeling much better. Will close and if you get to lonesome I will send Donna down a day or two this week.
Love from Mother and All
Mae closes her letter with concern for her daughter, both for her health and the possibility of her being lonely. She says that if Cora is feeling lonesome, she will send her sister Donna to come and visit for a couple of days.
So, like every mother, she worries about her children, no matter how old they are or whether they are living at home or away.
Although this letter is only one page and fairly simple in nature, we learn more about Mae and her love for her family and children.
It is the simple things in life that give us an insight into the day to day lives of our ancestors. These moments are just as important as the significant events that we read about in the official documents that our ancestors left behind.
My great grandmother, Mae Arla (King) McKenzie would have been 116 years old today. In celebration of her birthday, I would like to share a letter written by her to her daughter Cora.
Several of these letters, as well as cards and photos, were given to me a couple of years ago by my aunt Betty who received them from Cora's daughter Sandi.
The letters span a time period starting in July of 1941 and ending in December of 1946.
The letter I am going to share today was written on July 10, 1941, from Mae McKenzie to her daughter Cora.
First I would like to set the scene and maybe give you some insight into what Mae's life was like in July of 1941.
Mae was born on May 25, 1903, in Superior Township, Chippewa County, Michigan to Truman Edward King and Loretta Alma Ward.
Mae married Orlie Charles McKenzie on July 1st, 1919 when she was 16 years old.
By July 10, 1941, the date of this letter, Mae and Orlie had nine children:
- Alice - age 20
- Cora - age 19
- Alexander - age 17
- Garnet - age 15
- Donna - age 13
- Neil - age 11
- Vernon - age 9
- Herbert - age 6
- Clayton - age 1 1/2
The family was living in Briley Township, Montmorency County, Michigan. Based on additional research I believe that at the time this letter was written, Orlie was not living at home, but instead was staying at a Veterans Administration Facility in Bedford Township, Calhoun County, Michigan. You can read more about this in my post "Thriller Thursday: The Tragic Death of Orlie Charles McKenzie"
The letter was written in 1941, almost two years after the start of World War II and at the tail end of the great depression. Mae was 38 years old, only a year younger then I am now and presumably raising the six children she had still living at home on her own.
Alice, her oldest daughter, had moved out of the house and had been married in 1939. Her second oldest, Cora, the daughter this letter is written too was not married yet, but appeared to be living in the small community of Alger in Moffatt Township, Arenac County, Michigan.
The letter is three pages long and is transcribed below. I attempted to stay as close to the actual text as possible, adding words only when necessary for understanding and using a (?) for unknown words.
Atlanta Michigan
July 10 1941
Dear daughter:
Received your card today and I was glad to receive. The children all went to a Sunday School picnic at Clear Lake today. Haven’t felt good all day. Don’t think I will get to Alpena as they aren’t going. they (were) working on Donna home yesterday.
I got my check from the C.C.C. camp today what do you think I got only $5.57 that makes only $35.57 to live on this month.
Alexs own check came and it is 4 dollars less then he said he would have. We soon can live with out money if it keeps on. I could have went to the picnic but didn't feel like it. Mrs. Cla…d Sherwood was here lecturing for Mr. Sherwood. Annetta Smith was here after & Donna to go join the 4-H tomorrow. Jack forth were here also. Mrs. Roberts was here last night and Ethel & Chet & Jack & Morgan was over here for supper last night.
Well Alex better make good some place as I sure didn’t get much money out of the C.C.C. from him. It would have been better if he had stayed out of there. I don’t know if Mrs. Smith will give me more then six ? month or not. Well I will close with love from all.
Your mother and all
Answer soon
Haven’t saw Alice since she was here two weeks ago.
Although simple in nature, this letter tells so much about Mae McKenzie and her family.
- The war has obviously had an impact upon the McKenzie family, especially with Orlie not working and not being at home.
- Their son, my grandfather, Alexander McKenzie was only 17 and away working for the C.C.C. (Civilian Conservation Corps) and sending the money back home to his family.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men. Originally for young men ages 18–25, it was eventually expanded to ages 17–28.
The CCC was designed to provide jobs for young men and to relieve families who had difficulty finding jobs during the Great Depression in the United States.
Each enrollee volunteered and, upon passing a physical exam and/or a period of conditioning, was required to serve a minimum six-month period. Enrollees worked 40 hours per week over five days.
In return they received $30 per month (equivalent to $522 in 2019) with a compulsory allotment of $22–25 (about equivalent to $435 in 2019) sent to a family dependent, as well as housing, food, clothing, and medical care.1
I am going to assume that Alex was paid weekly, which is why the check that Mae is referring to was only $5.57.
I have truly enjoyed reading the letters written by my great grandmother. They provide such a wonderful glimpse into the life of her and her family. I did have the privilege of meeting Mae McKenzie when I was a young girl, however, her letters give me a different perspective on the woman I knew.
I have several more letters that I will continue to share.
This picture is of my great grandfather Orlie Charles McKenzie, with an unknown friend, very proudly displaying a bear that one of them had shot. The photo was most likely taken in Montmorency County, Michigan, and was given to me by my grandmother Edna Jean (Burt) McKenzie.
Friday, April 7th, 2017, was the 100th anniversary of the U.S. entry into World War 1. This got me to thinking about my great grandfather Orlie Charles McKenzie, who served in the 330th Field Artillery, Battery C, which was a part of the 85th Infantry Division, commonly known as the "Custer Division"
Orlie registered for the World War 1 draft on June 5th, 1917 in Briley Township, Montmorency County, Michigan. At the time, he was 23 years old. He was a single man working on a farm owned by his mother Mary Anna (Faught) McKenzie and stepfather Adam Hoffman.
Orlie claimed exemption from the draft, his grounds for this claim was Rheumatism. This claim was obviously not enough to keep him out of the war.
The 85th Division, the division that Orlie was a part of, was first established as part of the National Army, on August 25, 1917. Organized at Camp Custer in Battle Creek, Michigan, thus the reason it became known as the Custer Division.
The slideshow below gives us a glimpse of what life was like at Camp Custer during the time that Orlie was attending basic training.
After nearly a year's training, the Division embarked for England. From here the 339th Infantry Regiment, with attached engineer and medical units, was shipped to Russia where it participated in bitter fighting against the Bolshevik Revolutionary Army. The remainder of the Division, including the 330th regiment, was moved to France where individual organizations supported the IV, V, and VI Corps. In France the Division served primarily as a replacement depot division, furnishing some 20,000 replacements to other organizations.
The uniform shown in the image to the right is an example of what Orlie's uniform would have looked like. It is a good match for the one that he wore in the pictures above. This image shows the patch designated for the 85th Infantry Division, the "CD" stands for "Custer Division".
At the close of the war parts of the Division served in Germany in the American Army of Occupation. Orlie's regiment, the 330th, most likely did not see any combat.
By August 1919, however, the last elements of the Division had returned to the United States.
This collection contains records of the U.S. Army Transport Service (ATS), which was established in 1899 as part of the Army Quartermaster Department. It was originally created to manage the transport of troops and cargo on Army ships that traveled between U.S. and overseas ports during the Spanish-American War. During World War 1, the Quartermaster Corps managed the Army's deepwater fleet.
Specifically, the records in this collection consist of passenger lists created between 1910 and 1939. These lists recorded details on all persons arriving at U.S. ports on ATS ships. One such set of passenger lists provide details of my great grandfather's trip home.
Below is a map of Orlie's trip from Brest, France to his hometown in Atlanta, Montmorency, Michigan.
Orlie's trip home started in Brest, France on March 31st, 1919. Orlie boarded an Army Transport Ship (ATS) called the S.S. Pannonia in Brest, France, departing for Camp Mills in Long Island, New York.
The maps below show the location of Camp Mills
From Camp Mills, Orlie stayed aboard the S.S. Pannonia and continued on his journey towards home. The passenger list does not specifically state the Pannonia's final destination. My assumption, based on research, is that the troops were taken back to Camp Custer in Battle Creek, Michigan.
The image below is a close-up of the record for Orlie Charles McKenzie. The passenger list shows that he was a private in Battery C of the 330th Regiment. His next of kin is his mother Mrs. Annie Hoffman and his final destination is his hometown of Atlanta, Montmorency, Michigan.
Less than three months after his arrival home, on July 1st, 1919, Orlie married Mae Arla King in Atlanta, Montmorency County, Michigan. His siblings Oral and Cora McKenzie were witnesses to the marriage.
I don't have a great war story to share for Orlie, however, it was very interesting to get a glimpse into his life during this time. Although he did not see combat while serving, he was lucky, at the age of 23, coming from a small farming community in Northern Michigan, to see parts of the world that he otherwise would never have had the chance to see.
I'm not quite sure what my 2nd great grandfather William Hawley was doing out in a blizzard that evening, but he did make it home, even without the help of others.
What I found interesting, was that it must have been a fairly significant event to be included in two different newspapers, hundreds of miles from where it occurred. I wonder who it was that refused him shelter. How did they feel about this newspaper write up?
Although this news article will not help me bust through any genealogical brick walls, it was a very interesting find. Newspapers articles like this, help to provide a better understanding of the people behind the pedigree chart.
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Foch Lake
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Foch Lake - Close up
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This was an interesting turn of events, so I decided that I would investigate further when I got home from the reunion. Well, Sometimes the genealogy stars align and you receive the information you need, just when you need it. I was lucky enough to have this happen.
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Homestead application for George Faught
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Location of George Faught Homestead and Foch Lake
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1860 US Federal Census - Bridget Faught and Children
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 Marriage record for George Faught and Elizabeth Miller
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- George is a white male born on July 12, 1837, in the state of New York.
- He died while living in Briley Township, Montmorency county at the Poor House
- He is a Widower
- He had one child of which one is living
- He had been living in Montmorency County for 114 days (March 1, 1905)
- Dr. C.A. Rice certifies that he was attending George Faught from March 2, 1905, until June 22, 1905, when he last saw George alive.
- He is to be buried at the Briley Township Cemetery on June 24, 1905
