Howard County Indiana USGenWeb Project Biographies

This page contains biographical sketches (full or extract) of former Howard County residents. The majority come from pre-1921 published sources as cited in the sketch. If you have a sketch you would like to add, please view the Submission Policy

DARST, Lee Charles

DARST, Lee Charles, son of Charles and Lucretia HAWKINS DARST, was born in Marion Ind. April 23 1896. He left Kokomo Ind. for Fort Hamilton NY April 3 1918 and was assigned to Bat. D. Seventieth Coast Artillery Corps. He sailed for France July 15 1918 and was located at Angers, France until in February 1919, when he returned and received his discharge at Camp Sherman, Ohio about March 1, 1919.

NOTE: The following entry was found in the Social Security Death Index at Rootsweb http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi (POSSIBLE match)
Lee DARST born 23 Apr 1895; died Oct 1970. Last Residence: Indianapolis, Marion, IN. SSN: 309-18-2645 issued in Indiana.

DAVIS, Roscoe Gayle

DAVIS, Roscoe Gayle , son of Isaac M. and Amanda Davis, was born in Clinton County, Indiana July 10, 1892. His wife is Edythe M. Gregory Davis. After graduating from the high school at Russiaville, Indiana, he took a course in music and shorthand at Marion and Indianapolis. On October 15, 1918 he entered the Army at Kokomo, Indiana and was sent to Rolling Prairie, Indiana; then he was transferred to Valpariso, Indiana, and assigned to Co. D SATC. He was mustered out of the service November 14, 1918.

NOTE: No entry was located in a basic search of the Social Security Death Index

DAVISSON, Robert Amazie,

DAVISSON, Robert Amazie, son of L.A. and Josephine DAVISSON, was born near Chalmers, White Co Ind., July 26, 1889.
Upon entering the army at Kokomo, Ind., May 2, 1918, he was assigned to Co G. and later to Co. L, Fifty-First Infantry, Sixth Division, Camp Zachary Taylor, Ky. He was at Chickamauga Park, Ga. for a short time before he sailed for overseas service from Long Island July 5, 1918.
He was in active service at the front from Sept. 10 to Nov 11, 1918. He states "The Germans were driven so rapidly during the last offensive, that at times, only one meal a day could be had."

NOTE: No entry was located in a basic search of the Social Security Death Index

Roscoe Crete DEMOSS

Roscoe Crete DEMOSS, son of Lewis N. & Winnie B. DEMOSS (now Mrs. TUTTLE) was born in Hartford City, Ind. 17 Aug 1895. He married Margaret NEBOE 13 Feb 1918. He enlisted in the army 16 Nov 1917 and when he reported at Fort Thomas, Ky. he was placed in the school for buglers, then advanced to quartermaster; and later to guard. His record was marked "Excellent" on his discharge given 5 Mar 1919.

NOTE: No entry was located in a basic search of the Social Security Death Index for a Roscoe DEMOSS born 1895.

Additional Info from Lorelei Roberts
I have his marriage record (as recorded in Newport, Campbell Co, Kentucky) and it has his wife as Margaret L NIEBAUM.

DENMAN, William O.

DENMAN, William O., son of Elmer and Rosa DENMAN, was born in Franklin Co. Mo. 13 Feb 1897.
He enlisted in the army at Kokomo Ind. 5 May 1917, and was on duty with Co. E at East Chicago Ind. guarding munition factories until October 1918, when he was transferred to Camp Mills, L.I.
Co. B. 307th Infantry, to which he was attached, was not on the firing line. He remained in France until May 1919, when his regiment was returned to the United States.

NOTE: No entry was located in a basic search of the Social Security Death Index

Orville S DEWITT

Orville S DEWITT, son of Alvin F and Zella E WILSON DEWITT was born in Tipton Co. Ind 22 Jun 1899. He had his first experience as a soldier when he joined Company E of Kokomo, and went to East Chicago as a guard at the munition plants; then he went to Camp Shelby, Hattiesburg, Miss. He was advanced to corporal and bugler. On 20 May 1919, he returned from overseas service.

NOTE: No entry was located in a basic search of the Social Security Death Index

Raymond C DEWITT

Raymond C DEWITT, son of Thomas Marion and Mary DEWITT, enlisted in the army at Kokomo Ind. in June 1916 and was assigned to Troop L, Third US Cavalry and sent to France. He arrived at Newport News, 5 Sep 1919 after 21 months of foreign service.

NOTE: Multiple possible matches were located in a basic search of the Social Security Death Index

Rollie Clemens DEWITT

Rollie Clemens DEWITT, son of John W. DEWITT was born 30 Sep 1897. He enlisted in the army 18 Jun 1917 and went to France with Co. E 327th Infantry. Sergeant DEWITT reached New York on the return voyage 18 May 1919 and was mustered out of service at Camp Upton. A possible match in the Social Security Death Index (birth year off by one):

NOTE: The following possible match was found in the Social Security Death Index at Rootsweb http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi
ROLLIE DEWITT born 30 Sep 1896; died Jun 1967. Last Residence: Kokomo, Howard, IN. SSN: 308-09-1557 issued in Indiana.

DRUMM, Russell Jay

DRUMM, Russell Jay, son of Frank M. and Nellie MILLER DRUMM was born in Peru, Ind. 18 Oct 1896.
He attended school at Peru, and the Utah Military School, Ogden Utah.
His parents live in Kokomo Ind., but he enlisted at Jackson, Ky. for the first O.T.C. at Fort Benjamin Harrison and was commissioned second lieutenant in August 1917; the next five months were spent at the Louisville cantonment training recruits; then he was sent to the Browning Machine Gun School at Camp Hancock, Ga.
Upon completion of that course, he was appointed instructor and promoted to first liuetenant. He had been recommended for a captaincy when the armistice was signed. His discharge was received in December, 1918.

A basic search of the Social Security Death Index yielded a POSSIBLE match: Russell DRUMM born 18 Oct 1894; died Sep 1972 Last Residence: Monroe, Monroe, MI SSN: 371-03-8167 issued in Michigan.

DUNLAP, Worley Holmes

DUNLAP, Worley Holmes
Born: 28 Mar 1893, Kokomo IN
Parents: Joseph D. DUNLAP and Clara HOLMES
Married: Emma H. RYNO before 1920
Enlisted: 25 Jul 1917, Hagerstown MD Discharged: 19 mar 1919, Camp Meade MD

NOTE: No entry was located in a basic search of the Social Security Death Index

DURHAM, John David

DURHAM, John David, son of Elisha and Mary E. CROUSORE DURHAM was born in Howard Co. Ind May 18, 1900.
After enlisting on the engineers corps at Indianapolis Ind., June 11, 1918, he spent some time in training at Jefferson Barracks Mo., Camp Humpreys Va., and Camp Merritt, N.J.
On Sept 7, 1918, he landed in France and after ther armistice was signed, he was detailed to S.O.S. at R.T.C. work at Camp G.M. Dodge, France until his return to the States.

NOTE: The following entry was found in the Social Security Death Index at Rootsweb http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi
John DURHAM born 18 May 1900; died Jun 1973. Last Residence: Kokomo, Howard, IN. SSN: 308-09-6357 issued in Indiana.
The following information was found in the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library Genealogy & Local History Services Cemetery Database

DURHAM, John D. 
Date of Birth 1900 Date of Death 19-Jun-73 Date of Burial 22-Jun-73 
Age 73 Cemetery Crown Point  
Plot Section 22 Lot 123