Arthur Babb (1895-1918)

BABB, ARTHUR--PRIVATE

Son of Alfred F. (deceased) and Mary L. Babb; born June 6, 1895, Warsaw, Kosciusko County, Ind. Moved to Whitley County in 1900. Carpenter. Entered service August 1, 1918, Columbia City, Ind. Sent to Valparaiso University, Ind.; assigned to Company B, Training Detachment. Transferred to Carnegie Institute of Technology, Pittsburgh, Penn. Died of pneumonia October 13, 1918, McGee Hospital, Pittsburgh, Penn. Buried, Columbia City, Ind.

Gold Star Honor Roll: A Record of Indiana Men and Women Who Died in The Service of the United States and The Allied Nations in The World War 1914-1918 (Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Commission, 1921) Page 717. Contributed by Meredith Thompson.

Columbia City Post ~ Wednesday, October 16, 1918

Sunday night at 7:17 a message was received by Miss Ruth Orner of this city from Miss Nellie Babb, at Pittsburg, containing the sad intelligence that another Whitley county soldier had died of pneumonia. The telegram read as follows: Miss Ruth Orner. Columbia City, Ind. “Arthur is dead. Nellie.”

The telegram contained no other information, but it is presumed that death was due to pneumonia which followed Spanish influenza. Friday morning, Mrs. Babb, mother of the young man, received a telegram announcing that he was very sick. She wired back for information as to his condition and whether or not she could see him if she went to camp. The reply was that his condition was critical and that she should come at once. She and her daughter, Miss Nellie Babb, left here Saturday morning at five o’clock. Whether they arrived before the son and brother passed away is not known.

Arthur Babb was a son of Mary L. Babb of this city. He was born June 6th, 1895, at Warsaw, and was 23 years, 4 months and 7 days old at his death. He worked at the carpenter trade here and was sent to Valparaiso August 1st, 1918, to take special training. He remained there just a short time and was then sent to Pittsburg, where he remained until the time of his death. His father preceded him in death several years ago and he is survived by his mother, Mary L. Babb, and his sister, Nellie. News of his untimely death came as a great shock to his friends and associates in this city and county.