Jefferson County Records
Located in the North Country of New York State, Jefferson County spans approximately 1,300 square miles and borders Lake Ontario and Canada, It is comprised of twenty-two towns, twenty villages, and one city.
With the passing of the Selective Service Act on May 18, 1917, which required all men in the U.S. between the ages of 21 and 30 to register for military service, the president was given the power to draft soldiers for war. Jefferson County was divided into three draft districts. District two was comprised of Adams, Brownville, Ellisburg, Henderson, Houndsfield, LeRay, Lorraine, Rodman, and Worth. There were four Federal registrations and one State registration. The State registration was one of preparedness and included an industrial as well as a military census of the people, both men and women between the ages of 16 and 50 years of age, while the Federal registration included those of 21 to 30 inclusive. The last registration expanded to include those between the ages of 18 and 45. The first registration was held on June 5, 1917 between 7 A.M. and 9 P.M. On this day, 1,726 individuals registered from draft district two. The second registration was held one year later on June 5, 1918 and targeted all boys who reached the age of 21 during that past year. A third registration was held on August 24, 1918. As call was so great for men and so many of them had been called for service of the previous draft, the government changed the registration to 18 to 45 years. The fourth and last registration was held September 12, 1918. The total number registered of Draft District No, 2 was 2, 847.
Source
J. Frank Morgan, Local Historian, Town of Brownville and Village of Dexter, 1922, New York State Education Dept. Division of Archives and History World War I Veterans' Service Data and Photographs, 1917-1939. NYSA_A0412-78.
Cpl. Roy M. Firle’s regiment the 16th was among the first of the American troops to shed blood in contact with the Germans and also among the first to march on German soil. His regiment received the honor of wearing the French cord for the noble work it did. On July 19, 1918 during the great Scisson Advance, he was severely wounded in the hip. The boys did not give in; but forced the Germans to retreat.
J. Frank Morgan, Local Historian, Town of Brownville and Village of Dexter, 1922
Ralph Frederick Bassett Photograph
Identifier
NYSA_A0412-78_B10_F20_Bassett_photo
Description
Photograph of Ralph Frederick Bassett in his military uniform. Basset enlisted on September 29, 1917 and was killed in action on September 21, 1918 during the St. Mihiel offensive.
New York State Archives. New York (State). Education Dept. Division of Archives and History. World War I veterans' service data and photographs, 1917-1938. Series A0412-78, Box 10, Folder 20.
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Ralph Frederick Bassett Questionnaire with Funeral Description
Identifier
NYSA_A0412-78_B10_F20_Bassett_bio
Description
Ralph Frederick Bassett Questionnaire answers for the New York State Historian summarizing his service in the United States Army, accompanied by a description of his funeral service on June 17, 1920 in West Carthage cemetery.
New York State Archives. New York (State). Education Dept. Division of Archives and History. World War I veterans' service data and photographs, 1917-1938. Series A0412-78, Box 10, Folder 20.
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Floyd Leander Baxter Questionnaire
Identifier
NYSA_A0412-78_B10_F20_Baxter
Description
Floyd Leander Baxter Questionnaire answers for the New York State Historian summarizing his service in the United States Army. Baxter enlisted in the Army on September 27, 1917 and was killed in action on October 20, 1918 at Grand Pre, France.
New York State Archives. New York (State). Education Dept. Division of Archives and History. World War I veterans' service data and photographs, 1917-1938. Series A0412-78, Box 10, Folder 20.
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Clair W. Sheldon Questionnaire
Identifier
NYSA_A0412-78_B10_F22_Sheldon_Clair_bio
Description
Clair W. Sheldon Questionnaire answers for the New York State Historian summarizing his service in the United States Army. Sheldon sailed for his service in Northern Russia in July 1918 and was discharged in July 1919.
New York State Archives. New York (State). Education Dept. Division of Archives and History. World War I veterans' service data and photographs, 1917-1938. Series A0412-78, Box 10, Folder 22.
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Clair Sheldon Letter 1
Identifier
NYSA_A0412-78_B10_F22_Sheldon_Clair_letter_01
Description
Letter written by Clair Sheldon in Russia to his mother in Carthage, N.Y., dated December 14, 1918.
New York State Archives. New York (State). Education Dept. Division of Archives and History. World War I veterans' service data and photographs, 1917-1938. Series A0412-78, Box 10, Folder 22.
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Clair Sheldon Letter 2
Identifier
NYSA_A0412-78_B10_F22_Sheldon_Clair_letter_02
Description
Letter written by Clair Sheldon in Russia, to his mother in Carthage, N.Y., dated January 28, 1919.
New York State Archives. New York (State). Education Dept. Division of Archives and History. World War I veterans' service data and photographs, 1917-1938. Series A0412-78, Box 10, Folder 22.
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George Sheldon Questionnaire
Identifier
NYSA_A0412-78_B10_F22_Sheldon_George_bio
Description
George Sheldon Questionnaire answers for the New York State Historian summarizing his service in the United States Army. Sheldon sailed for his service in May 1918 and was discharged in December 1918.
New York State Archives. New York (State). Education Dept. Division of Archives and History. World War I veterans' service data and photographs, 1917-1938. Series A0412-78, Box 10, Folder 22.
This image is provided for education and research purposes. Rights may be reserved. Responsibility for securing permissions to distribute, publish, reproduce or other use rest with the user.
George Sheldon Letter
Identifier
NYSA_A0412-78_B10_F22_Sheldon_George_letter
Description
Letter written by George Sheldon while training at Camp Dix, to his mother in Carthage, N.Y., dated January 22, 1918.
New York State Archives. New York (State). Education Dept. Division of Archives and History. World War I veterans' service data and photographs, 1917-1938. Series A0412-78, Box 10, Folder 22.
This image is provided for education and research purposes. Rights may be reserved. Responsibility for securing permissions to distribute, publish, reproduce or other use rest with the user.
Leslie Sheldon Questionnaire
Identifier
NYSA_A0412-78_B10_F22_Sheldon_Leslie_bio
Description
Leslie E. Sheldon Questionnaire answers for the New York State Historian summarizing his service in the United States Marine Corps. Sheldon volunteered for service and trained at Parris Island, S.C., and Quantico, V.A.. He sailed overseas on May 28,1918, returned to the United States on June 2, 1919, and was discharged on June 25, 1919.
New York State Archives. New York (State). Education Dept. Division of Archives and History. World War I veterans' service data and photographs, 1917-1938. Series A0412-78, Box 10, Folder 22.
This image is provided for education and research purposes. Rights may be reserved. Responsibility for securing permissions to distribute, publish, reproduce or other use rest with the user.
Leslie Sheldon Letter
Identifier
NYSA_A0412-78_B10_F22_Sheldon_Leslie_letter
Description
Letter written by Leslie Sheldon in Rheinbrohl, Germany, to his mother in Carthage, N.Y., dated January 1, 1919.
New York State Archives. New York (State). Education Dept. Division of Archives and History. World War I veterans' service data and photographs, 1917-1938. Series A0412-78, Box 10, Folder 22.
This image is provided for education and research purposes. Rights may be reserved. Responsibility for securing permissions to distribute, publish, reproduce or other use rest with the user.
Sheldon Brothers Color Photograph
Identifier
NYSA_A0412-78_B10_F22_Sheldon
Description
Photograph of the Sheldon brothers standing together outside in their military uniforms. From left to right: George Sheldon, Leslie Sheldon, and Claire Sheldon.
Source
New York State Archives. New York (State). Education Dept. Division of Archives and History. World War I veterans' service data and photographs, 1917-1938. Series A0412-78, Box 10, Folder 22.
This image is provided for education and research purposes. Rights may be reserved. Responsibility for securing permissions to distribute, publish, reproduce or other use rest with the user.
