Born at the Valentine log cabin homestead in East Schuyler, NY (Now Frankfort, NY)
In 1909 at 14 he was a troubled youth and spent a few years at the State Agricultural & Industrial Reform School (now called Industry) in Rush, NY; where he learned how to care for animals and performed farm chores. Various farm shows were held on the grounds.
When he was 18 he enlisted in the NY Guard Military- Rank: Private. Company M, 1st Infantry. At 20 yrs old in 1915, he moved to Utica, NY to live with his maternal uncle Stephen Valentine & family, they were both mason laborers. It is there he met his 1st wife Lulu Smith and married her at her mother's house. William's brother Byron attended. William and Lulu had a son the following year, Robert Murdock.
William worked at a Punch Press in Frankfort/Herkimer NY when he was drafted into the service for WW1. In Dec 1917 at 22 yrs old, he was a Private in the US Army, put in the First Veterinary Detachment, which was organized on Jan. 9, 1918, from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Bn. 151st Depot Brigade at camp Devens, Mass. Camps Devens, Ft. Ontario.
On April 16, 1918, as part of Squad 8 he left on Steamship Czaritza, arriving at Brest France on April 28. Stationed at Base Veterinary Hospital No 1, it was located in a terrible place near Nevers, France; with several of its commanders complaining about the pour drainage and deep mud. The U.S. Navy established a Naval Operating Base, with the French Navy, at Brest, France, in June 1917 to engage German submarines. The location became a landing point for U.S. Army troops for service with the American Expeditionary Forces. APO 708 Commanding Officer, 1st Lt. Thompson -"over 2 1/2 million horses were treated in Hospitals, with 2 million being returned to duty. I think that shows what a good job they must have done under difficult circumstances".(from this website, which has a wealth of info with pictures):
http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~gregkrenzelok/genealogy/veterinary%20corp%20in%20ww1/baseveterinaryhospno1.html
Came back from WW1 aboard Transport USS President Grant. arrived at Hoboken, N.J. on
June 9, 1919: Honorably discharged on June 13, 1919.
William was a changed man when he returned from war. For reasons that were never spoken of, he did not return to his wife and child, there could be many different reasons, on her part, or his.
William met Ruth Campbell from Agawam, MA and they fell in love. In 1920 they were "married" at Niagra Falls, NY. This is the date & place that Agnes (Ruth's sister) stated in a letter that they had a ceremony. Since he was not divorced they were never legally married, but Ruth was unaware. No paperwork on this marriage has been found.
Nine months later their firstborn Elthea Murdock is born. Ruth is pregnant with their 2nd child when William dies of a ruptured appendix. On his deathbed he confesses to being previously married and having another child.
1 week later Ruth gave birth to their 2nd daughter Thelma Murdock. She met his 1st wife Lulu and her son at his gravesite. Because he is still legally married to her, Lulu gets his military pension, and Ruth is left with nothing. Ruth says living at his mother's house for a couple more years, until her own mother passes and goes back to Agawam, MA with their 2 daughters.
William was only 28 yrs old when he passed away, and is buried at East Schuyler Miller Cemetery in Section B.
In 1909 at 14 he was a troubled youth and spent a few years at the State Agricultural & Industrial Reform School (now called Industry) in Rush, NY; where he learned how to care for animals and performed farm chores. Various farm shows were held on the grounds.
When he was 18 he enlisted in the NY Guard Military- Rank: Private. Company M, 1st Infantry. At 20 yrs old in 1915, he moved to Utica, NY to live with his maternal uncle Stephen Valentine & family, they were both mason laborers. It is there he met his 1st wife Lulu Smith and married her at her mother's house. William's brother Byron attended. William and Lulu had a son the following year, Robert Murdock.
William worked at a Punch Press in Frankfort/Herkimer NY when he was drafted into the service for WW1. In Dec 1917 at 22 yrs old, he was a Private in the US Army, put in the First Veterinary Detachment, which was organized on Jan. 9, 1918, from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Bn. 151st Depot Brigade at camp Devens, Mass. Camps Devens, Ft. Ontario.
On April 16, 1918, as part of Squad 8 he left on Steamship Czaritza, arriving at Brest France on April 28. Stationed at Base Veterinary Hospital No 1, it was located in a terrible place near Nevers, France; with several of its commanders complaining about the pour drainage and deep mud. The U.S. Navy established a Naval Operating Base, with the French Navy, at Brest, France, in June 1917 to engage German submarines. The location became a landing point for U.S. Army troops for service with the American Expeditionary Forces. APO 708 Commanding Officer, 1st Lt. Thompson -"over 2 1/2 million horses were treated in Hospitals, with 2 million being returned to duty. I think that shows what a good job they must have done under difficult circumstances".(from this website, which has a wealth of info with pictures):
http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~gregkrenzelok/genealogy/veterinary%20corp%20in%20ww1/baseveterinaryhospno1.html
Came back from WW1 aboard Transport USS President Grant. arrived at Hoboken, N.J. on
June 9, 1919: Honorably discharged on June 13, 1919.
William was a changed man when he returned from war. For reasons that were never spoken of, he did not return to his wife and child, there could be many different reasons, on her part, or his.
William met Ruth Campbell from Agawam, MA and they fell in love. In 1920 they were "married" at Niagra Falls, NY. This is the date & place that Agnes (Ruth's sister) stated in a letter that they had a ceremony. Since he was not divorced they were never legally married, but Ruth was unaware. No paperwork on this marriage has been found.
Nine months later their firstborn Elthea Murdock is born. Ruth is pregnant with their 2nd child when William dies of a ruptured appendix. On his deathbed he confesses to being previously married and having another child.
1 week later Ruth gave birth to their 2nd daughter Thelma Murdock. She met his 1st wife Lulu and her son at his gravesite. Because he is still legally married to her, Lulu gets his military pension, and Ruth is left with nothing. Ruth says living at his mother's house for a couple more years, until her own mother passes and goes back to Agawam, MA with their 2 daughters.
William was only 28 yrs old when he passed away, and is buried at East Schuyler Miller Cemetery in Section B.
Born at the Valentine log cabin homestead in East Schuyler, NY (Now Frankfort, NY)
In 1909 at 14 he was a troubled youth and spent a few years at the State Agricultural & Industrial Reform School (now called Industry) in Rush, NY; where he learned how to care for animals and performed farm chores. Various farm shows were held on the grounds.
When he was 18 he enlisted in the NY Guard Military- Rank: Private. Company M, 1st Infantry. At 20 yrs old in 1915, he moved to Utica, NY to live with his maternal uncle Stephen Valentine & family, they were both mason laborers. It is there he met his 1st wife Lulu Smith and married her at her mother's house. William's brother Byron attended. William and Lulu had a son the following year, Robert Murdock.
William worked at a Punch Press in Frankfort/Herkimer NY when he was drafted into the service for WW1. In Dec 1917 at 22 yrs old, he was a Private in the US Army, put in the First Veterinary Detachment, which was organized on Jan. 9, 1918, from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Bn. 151st Depot Brigade at camp Devens, Mass. Camps Devens, Ft. Ontario.
On April 16, 1918, as part of Squad 8 he left on Steamship Czaritza, arriving at Brest France on April 28. Stationed at Base Veterinary Hospital No 1, it was located in a terrible place near Nevers, France; with several of its commanders complaining about the pour drainage and deep mud. The U.S. Navy established a Naval Operating Base, with the French Navy, at Brest, France, in June 1917 to engage German submarines. The location became a landing point for U.S. Army troops for service with the American Expeditionary Forces. APO 708 Commanding Officer, 1st Lt. Thompson -"over 2 1/2 million horses were treated in Hospitals, with 2 million being returned to duty. I think that shows what a good job they must have done under difficult circumstances".(from this website, which has a wealth of info with pictures):
http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~gregkrenzelok/genealogy/veterinary%20corp%20in%20ww1/baseveterinaryhospno1.html
Came back from WW1 aboard Transport USS President Grant. arrived at Hoboken, N.J. on
June 9, 1919: Honorably discharged on June 13, 1919.
William was a changed man when he returned from war. For reasons that were never spoken of, he did not return to his wife and child, there could be many different reasons, on her part, or his.
William met Ruth Campbell from Agawam, MA and they fell in love. In 1920 they were "married" at Niagra Falls, NY. This is the date & place that Agnes (Ruth's sister) stated in a letter that they had a ceremony. Since he was not divorced they were never legally married, but Ruth was unaware. No paperwork on this marriage has been found.
Nine months later their firstborn Elthea Murdock is born. Ruth is pregnant with their 2nd child when William dies of a ruptured appendix. On his deathbed he confesses to being previously married and having another child.
1 week later Ruth gave birth to their 2nd daughter Thelma Murdock. She met his 1st wife Lulu and her son at his gravesite. Because he is still legally married to her, Lulu gets his military pension, and Ruth is left with nothing. Ruth says living at his mother's house for a couple more years, until her own mother passes and goes back to Agawam, MA with their 2 daughters.
William was only 28 yrs old when he passed away, and is buried at East Schuyler Miller Cemetery in Section B.
In 1909 at 14 he was a troubled youth and spent a few years at the State Agricultural & Industrial Reform School (now called Industry) in Rush, NY; where he learned how to care for animals and performed farm chores. Various farm shows were held on the grounds.
When he was 18 he enlisted in the NY Guard Military- Rank: Private. Company M, 1st Infantry. At 20 yrs old in 1915, he moved to Utica, NY to live with his maternal uncle Stephen Valentine & family, they were both mason laborers. It is there he met his 1st wife Lulu Smith and married her at her mother's house. William's brother Byron attended. William and Lulu had a son the following year, Robert Murdock.
William worked at a Punch Press in Frankfort/Herkimer NY when he was drafted into the service for WW1. In Dec 1917 at 22 yrs old, he was a Private in the US Army, put in the First Veterinary Detachment, which was organized on Jan. 9, 1918, from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Bn. 151st Depot Brigade at camp Devens, Mass. Camps Devens, Ft. Ontario.
On April 16, 1918, as part of Squad 8 he left on Steamship Czaritza, arriving at Brest France on April 28. Stationed at Base Veterinary Hospital No 1, it was located in a terrible place near Nevers, France; with several of its commanders complaining about the pour drainage and deep mud. The U.S. Navy established a Naval Operating Base, with the French Navy, at Brest, France, in June 1917 to engage German submarines. The location became a landing point for U.S. Army troops for service with the American Expeditionary Forces. APO 708 Commanding Officer, 1st Lt. Thompson -"over 2 1/2 million horses were treated in Hospitals, with 2 million being returned to duty. I think that shows what a good job they must have done under difficult circumstances".(from this website, which has a wealth of info with pictures):
http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~gregkrenzelok/genealogy/veterinary%20corp%20in%20ww1/baseveterinaryhospno1.html
Came back from WW1 aboard Transport USS President Grant. arrived at Hoboken, N.J. on
June 9, 1919: Honorably discharged on June 13, 1919.
William was a changed man when he returned from war. For reasons that were never spoken of, he did not return to his wife and child, there could be many different reasons, on her part, or his.
William met Ruth Campbell from Agawam, MA and they fell in love. In 1920 they were "married" at Niagra Falls, NY. This is the date & place that Agnes (Ruth's sister) stated in a letter that they had a ceremony. Since he was not divorced they were never legally married, but Ruth was unaware. No paperwork on this marriage has been found.
Nine months later their firstborn Elthea Murdock is born. Ruth is pregnant with their 2nd child when William dies of a ruptured appendix. On his deathbed he confesses to being previously married and having another child.
1 week later Ruth gave birth to their 2nd daughter Thelma Murdock. She met his 1st wife Lulu and her son at his gravesite. Because he is still legally married to her, Lulu gets his military pension, and Ruth is left with nothing. Ruth says living at his mother's house for a couple more years, until her own mother passes and goes back to Agawam, MA with their 2 daughters.
William was only 28 yrs old when he passed away, and is buried at East Schuyler Miller Cemetery in Section B.
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About 1923
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