Ervin Earl Putnam (1893-1988) (P1) from 1893-1920

So, I am going to start with my grandfather, Ervin Earl Putnam(P1).  He was really the only grandparent I remember, and I suspect this will take multiple posts.  I’ll start with some basic information and then get into more details.  I have a lot of photos of my grandfather and I will include some of them here.  Many of them will end up in other posts.

Ervin Earl Putnam

Ervin Earl Putnam (1893-1988) (P1)

Born: July 9th, 1893 in Oakfield, ME

Father:  Amos Putnam (1863-1936) (P2)

Mother: Cora Margaret Carpenter (1872-1964) (P3)

Married: Mary Gertrude Connelly (1895-1972) (C1) in 1926 at Leeds, MA

Children:

Robert Ervin Putnam (1927-2011) (P0)

Living Son

Died: March 10th, 1988 in Newark, OH

Now, let’s move on to more of the story.

1893-1900

Ervin was born in Oakfield, ME on July 9th, 1893 to Amos

Ervin Earl Putnam
Age 18 Months

Putnam(P2) and Cora Margaret Carpenter Putnam (P3)  According to his birth record, the family was living in Oakfield at the time.  His father is listed as a farmer and mother as a teacher.  The physician was Dr. Henry Putnam.  I haven’t taken the time to see how they were related, but I am sure they were. I've noticed that some of the documents, such as his draft cards list his place of birth as Houlton, ME.

In the 1900 U.S. Census we find Ervin, listed as being 5 years old, living with his parents and siblings in Houlton, ME.  The siblings were:

• Brother: Frank H. age 8
• Sister: Margaret L. age 3
• Sister: Harriet C. age 2
• Sister: Ruth L. age 5 Months

1901-1910

I currently don’t have much for these years, other than the 1910 U.S. Census record where he is still living in Houlton. He is listed as not having attended school and able to read and write.  I assume the school is a reference to higher education.  

1911-1920

Now things start to get interesting.  His World War I draft card, dated June 5th 1917, has him living in Bridgewater, ME and working as a clerk in a store for Franklin Bradstreet.  He is described as being of medium height, medium build, with grey eyes and light brown hair.  Since I am covering his World War I experiences in other posts, I won’t go into any detail here.  I believe he left the army medical services as a corporal with x-Ray machine experience.  

Army Medical School July 10th, 1918

Based on the 1920 U.S. Census, he seems to have come back to live and work in Bridgewater, ME.  He is listed as being 25 years old, and working as a salesman in a retail grocery store.  He is living as a boarder in a house on Main Street with Asa H. Bradstreet (age 56), Minerva B. Bradstreet (age 52) and James H. Bradstreet (age 15).  Asa is listed as a farmer but I assume he has some connection to the Franklin Bradstreet we heard about earlier.

The next post will cover 1921-1940. Below is a map of the different locations where Ervin lived.This will end up showing up in all the posts.



Sources:

• Maine, Birth Records, 1621-1922: Maine State Archives; Cultural Building, 84 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0084; 1892-1907 Vital Records; Roll #: 46
• 1900 United States Federal Census: Database online. Year: 1900; Census Place: Houlton, Aroostook, Maine; Roll: T623_31077_4119816; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 0028; FHL microfilm: 1240589.
• 1910 United States Federal Census: Year: 1910; Census Place: Houlton, Aroostook, Maine; Roll: T624_537; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 0035; FHL microfilm: 1374550
• U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918: Database online. Registration Location: Aroostook County, Maine; Roll:  ; Draft Board: . Record for Ervin E Putnam
• U.S., Adjutant General Military Records, 1631-1976: California State Library; Sacramento; Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Maine Volume 2, pg. 196
• 1920 United States Federal Census: Database online. Year: 1920; Census Place: Bridgewater, Aroostook, Maine; Roll: T625_638; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 7; Image: 538.