Jacob H. Broad
Jacob H. Broad has an entry among index cards kept by Nathaniel R. Perkins, MD, who examined thousands of men who were going into the war, 1914-1918. Given by Mrs N. R. Perkins in accordance with instructions from her late husband, Dr. Nathaniel P. Perkins of 1122 Adams St, Dorchester.
Jacob H. Broad 34, Athelwold Dorchester
Jacob Henry Broad
Jacob Henry Broad was born either August or October 8, 1890, in Chicago, Illinois. He reported both dates in his military records. The first record that we have found for him is the 1910 Census. His parents were Charles, a scrap iron dealer, and Rose, both of whom were born in Russia. Jacob and his siblings were born in Illinois. In 1910 he had younger sisters Matilda, Charlotte, Jeannette and Lena and a brother Abraham. They were living at 39 Woodlawn Street, Everett, Massachusetts, and Jacob reported his occupation as civil engineer.
When Jacob registered for the draft on June 5, 1917, the family was living at 34 Athelwold Street, Dorchester, not far from Four Corners. He gave his middle names as Henry, but his service record shows it as Harry. He reported that he was working as a machinist for Chadbourn & Moore in Chelsea. He was of medium height, of stout built, with brown eyes and black hair. He enlisted in the US Naval Reserve Force on December 12, 1917. He went to the Naval training camp at Bumpkin Island, Massachusetts, and served there until March of 1918. He was transferred to the Armed Draft Detail in Boston and stayed there until July. Then he was at the receiving ship in Boston until the end of the war. He achieved the rank of Seaman 2 class. He was on inactive duty until his discharge September 30, 1921.
The family had moved a few blocks away prior to the 1920 Census, which found them at 14 York Street, Dorchester. Jacob said that he was an unemployed machinist. In 1930 the family was living at 268 Normandy Street, and Jacob was a mechanic in a textile company. Over time his siblings moved out of their parent’s home. Jacob stayed on and moved with them to 94 Corey Road in Brighton. About 1940 he became a tax collector for the City of Boston.
His father Charles died by 1946, and his mother lived until 1958. Jacob died on May 15, 1968,and is buried in the Independent Pride of Boston Cemetery n West Roxbury.
Sources:
City directories on Ancestry.com
Findagrave.com
US Census 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940 on Ancestry.com
US Veterans Administration Master index on FamilySearch.org
World War I and World War II registration cards on Ancestry.com
World War I service record. Military, Compiled Service Records. World War I. Carded Records. Records of the Military Division of the Adjutant General’s Office, Massachusetts National Guard.