Harold Burton Bragdon
Harold B. Bragdon was born on July 21, 1891. As a child, he lived at 85 Fern Street, Bangor, Maine and he lived with his mom, Minnie, dad, Lincoln, and a servant named Maggie Griffin. Here is the 1900 census document that records this information.
Here is what that address looks like today.
Harold Bragdon joined the Bangor band in 1906-1907 and played first trombone 1908-1909.
This is a source that directly lists Harold in the band staff.
He later moved to Boston, Massachusetts, with Lincoln. Lincoln was a store salesman and Harold repaired typewriters.
This is the second census that Harold B. Bragdon was on, in 1910.
This is the second census that Harold B. Bragdon was on, in 1910.
58 Dwight Street is the address where they lived as lodgers, receiving meals as well as accommodation.
Harold married Edna M. Wehr on August 15, 1913. They lived in Lewiston, Idaho, and Edna was born in Illinois. Edna was 22, but Harold was 24? This is one or two years too old, maybe he lied or they mixed the ages up or just entered the wrong info; we may never know. Below is the marriage records.
They moved to Spokane, Washington. Harold B. Bragdon became a salesman for Gorham Revere Rubber Co. which may have developed his mechanical skills. The city directory lists the couple.
Harold was drafted at the age of 26. He was married, living in Spokane and working for the US Rubber Company as a salesman. His draft registration card is shown.
Here is the apartment building that he was living in, taken twenty years after his draft. It looks almost the same today.
He developed mechanical skills may be why he was in the Motor Transport Corps, skilled auto mechanics that facilitated the speedy delivery of supplies and troops out onto the front line—a task critical for winning the war.
This is a video that shows what the work was like for the Motor Research Corps. The men can be seen cleaning and repairing cars, as well as relaxing.
A year after his draft, on June 10, 1918, Harold sailed from the Hoboken New Jersey Port on the USS Orizaba for France. Here is the passenger log for that voyage.
These are pictures of the Assembly Hotel. Minnie lived here when he was sent to France.
The Motor Transport Corps operated throughout France. Here is a map of their operations, found in the Manual of the Motor Transport Corps.
This newspaper clipping shows that the “Gas Hounds,” members in Motor Transport Corps were risking their life as much as the infantry, going to the front line with valuable supplies.
These are some badges that Harold Bragdon would have worn. The two chevrons represent a corporal, and the spoked wheel with a winged hat was the insignia of the Motor Transport Corps.
So far, Harold’s middle name has not been mentioned or just abbreviated to “B.” His full middle name is revealed in the Maine Births and Christenings catalog.
Harold died in October 1918, during the global influenza epidemic. We do not know the exact reason of his death, but that may be the cause.
This is a record of the Gold Star Mothers, the mothers of dead soldiers who got a free trip to see their deceased’s grave. It mentions whether Minnie wanted to visit her son’s grave in 1930 or later.
After the war, Minnie lived at Seattle and joined the American Legion Auxiliary, an organization dedicated to honoring veterans. She served at a “fancy work” (decorative needlework) booth at an ALA fundraiser.
Lincoln divorced and moved to Medford, Massachusetts with a woman named Maude W.
Citations:
"United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6G13-1KD?cc=1325221&wc=9BWZ-ZJH%3A1030551401%2C1031615201%2C1031676901 : 5 August 2014), Maine > Penobscot > image 7 of 44; citing NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
"BANDMASTERS of the Bangor Band." BANDMASTERS of the Bangor Band. Tripod, n.d. Web. 12 May 2017.
"United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2KG-VWN : accessed 20 May 2017), Harold Bragdon in household of Minard L Nichols, Boston Ward 9, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 1389, sheet 5A, family 45, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 617; FHL microfilm 1,374,630.
"Idaho, County Marriages, 1864-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F3YZ-F99 : 26 December 2014), Harold B Bragdon and Edna M Wehr, 15 Aug 1913; citing Shoshone, Idaho, county courthouses, Idaho; FHL microfilm 1,548,797.
"U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 for Harold B Bragdon." www.ancestryclassroom.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2017. <https://www.ancestryclassroom.com
Bragdon, Harold B. Registration Card. Digital image. Familysearch. N.p., n.d. Web
Evening star. (Washington, D.C.), 22 Dec. 1918. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1918-12-22/ed-1/seq-62/>
Page 194 US Army WWI Transport Service, Passenger Lists. Digital image. Fold3 by Ancestry. Ancestry, n.d. Web. 15 May 2017.
"Gas Hounds Want Chance to Get at Hun Shwinhunde." The Seattle Star [Seattle] n.d.: 7+. Print.
Walker, M. L. Manual of the Motor Transport Corps. Place of Publication Not Identified: American Expeditionary Forces, Headquarters Service of Supply, 1919. Hathitrust. Web. 15 May 2017.
The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.), 12 Dec. 1914. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
Emerson, William K. The World War I Motor Transport Corps, the Transportation Corps, and the World War II to Present Transportation Corps. N.p.: Emersoninsignia.net, n.d. PDF.
Bragdon Mothers Pilgrimage 1929. Digital image. Washington State Archives. Benjamin Helle, n.d. Web. 17 May 2017.
"Maine Births and Christenings, 1739-1900," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4MS-XS 8 : 4 December 2014), Lincoln G. Bragdon in entry for Harold Burton Bragdon, 21 Jul 1891; citing ;
Dill, Elliott C. "Record of Field and Staff, Non-Commissioned Staff and Band---Concluded." Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Maine For the Year Ending December 31, 1912. Waterville: Sentinel, 1913. 81. Google Books. Web. 13 May 2017.
"Les «Gold Star Mothers»." Le Figaro [Paris] 1 June 1925: 1. BNF Gallica. Web. 17 May 2017.
THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION, DECEMBER 1, 1918 TO SEPTEMBER 1, 1919, 42ND DIVISION. Department of Defense. Department of the Army. Office of the Chief Signal Officer., 1936. National Archives Catalog. Web. 13 May 2017.
The Seattle star. (Seattle, Wash.), 30 Nov. 1922. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
"United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6G13-1KD?cc=1325221&wc=9BWZ-ZJH%3A1030551401%2C1031615201%2C1031676901 : 5 August 2014), Maine > Penobscot > image 7 of 44; citing NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
"BANDMASTERS of the Bangor Band." BANDMASTERS of the Bangor Band. Tripod, n.d. Web. 12 May 2017.
"United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2KG-VWN : accessed 20 May 2017), Harold Bragdon in household of Minard L Nichols, Boston Ward 9, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 1389, sheet 5A, family 45, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 617; FHL microfilm 1,374,630.
"Idaho, County Marriages, 1864-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F3YZ-F99 : 26 December 2014), Harold B Bragdon and Edna M Wehr, 15 Aug 1913; citing Shoshone, Idaho, county courthouses, Idaho; FHL microfilm 1,548,797.
"U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 for Harold B Bragdon." www.ancestryclassroom.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2017. <https://www.ancestryclassroom.com
Bragdon, Harold B. Registration Card. Digital image. Familysearch. N.p., n.d. Web
Evening star. (Washington, D.C.), 22 Dec. 1918. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1918-12-22/ed-1/seq-62/>
Page 194 US Army WWI Transport Service, Passenger Lists. Digital image. Fold3 by Ancestry. Ancestry, n.d. Web. 15 May 2017.
"Gas Hounds Want Chance to Get at Hun Shwinhunde." The Seattle Star [Seattle] n.d.: 7+. Print.
Walker, M. L. Manual of the Motor Transport Corps. Place of Publication Not Identified: American Expeditionary Forces, Headquarters Service of Supply, 1919. Hathitrust. Web. 15 May 2017.
The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.), 12 Dec. 1914. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
Emerson, William K. The World War I Motor Transport Corps, the Transportation Corps, and the World War II to Present Transportation Corps. N.p.: Emersoninsignia.net, n.d. PDF.
Bragdon Mothers Pilgrimage 1929. Digital image. Washington State Archives. Benjamin Helle, n.d. Web. 17 May 2017.
"Maine Births and Christenings, 1739-1900," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4MS-XS 8 : 4 December 2014), Lincoln G. Bragdon in entry for Harold Burton Bragdon, 21 Jul 1891; citing ;
Dill, Elliott C. "Record of Field and Staff, Non-Commissioned Staff and Band---Concluded." Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Maine For the Year Ending December 31, 1912. Waterville: Sentinel, 1913. 81. Google Books. Web. 13 May 2017.
"Les «Gold Star Mothers»." Le Figaro [Paris] 1 June 1925: 1. BNF Gallica. Web. 17 May 2017.
THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION, DECEMBER 1, 1918 TO SEPTEMBER 1, 1919, 42ND DIVISION. Department of Defense. Department of the Army. Office of the Chief Signal Officer., 1936. National Archives Catalog. Web. 13 May 2017.
The Seattle star. (Seattle, Wash.), 30 Nov. 1922. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
