Harry Obeith Anderson was born in Washington, D.C., to Daniel and Robert Anderson and Sarah Parker on September 8, 1892. On May 5, 1915, he married Minnie B. Fields in Boston, who was originally from Nova Scotia from a French-speaking family.
When he registered for the draft in June, 1917, he was living at 12 Windsor Street, Roxbury. The registration card describes him as Negro, tall and stout with grey eyes and black hair. His occupation was mechanic.
Harry enlisted on November 24, 1917 and served in Co. 151 Dep Brig until January 8, 1918. Then he transferred to Hq Co. 367 Infantry and served until his discharge on March 8, 1919, at Camp Meade, Maryland. Harry served in the defensive sectors at St. Die (Lorraine) and Marbach (Lorraine). He participated in the offensive action at Meuse-Argonne, the biggest operation and victory of the American Expeditionary Force in World War I, fought from September 26, 1918, until the Armistice on November 11, 1918.
The 1920 US census locates Harry and Minne at 59 Walnut Street, Neponset, where they owned their home. Harry’s occupation was listed as driller in a shipyard, and they had three lodgers, two of whom were fellow shipyard workers.
The 1926 Boston resident list gives his occupation as Chauffeur. The entry in the Boston Directories in the 1920s through 1927 identify Harry as Harry O. Anderson, lodging house, 59 Walnut Street. After the 1927 Boston Directory entry, there are no further records of Harry Obeith Anderson. In the 1930 Boston Directory and the 1930 US Census, Minnie was listed as a widow. Minnie lived at 59 Walnut Street taking in lodgers through 1936. There are no further records for Minnie.
Sources:
Boston Directories on Ancestry.com
Boston Resident Street Lists online at the Boston Public Library
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive at http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/bigshow.htm
Marriage Record on Ancestry.com
US Census 1920 on Ancestry.com
WWI Draft Registration Card on Ancestry.com
WWI Service Record