Oak Hardenbrook (1891 - 1928)

Born 21 Mar 1891 in Coville, Clallam, Washington, United States

Husband of Bertha Agnes (Easton) Hardenbrook — married 22 Dec 1923 in Newport, Pend Oreille, Washington

Died 28 Jul 1928 at age 37 in Ione, Pend Oreille, Washington, United States

Biography

O K was born about 1891, the son of John Hardenbrook and Phoebe Waller. In 1917 he was already a self-employed farmer in Colville, Washington.^[1] On 4 November 1917 he enlisted in the 67th Spruce Squadron. He was discharged on 21 December 1918.^[2] He married Bertha Easton in 1923.^[3] In 1928 he was working at Panhandle Lumber Co. in Ione as a pond man. (The pond man walked the logs using a pikepole to arrange the logs for entry into the sawmill.) He drowned. He was 37 years old.^[4]

The Spruce Squadron

"The U. S. Army Order of Battle book provides some information on the history of the Spruce units serving during the First World War. Most of the units were created at Vancouver Barracks, Washington. Once established, some of the squadrons were transferred into the forests of Washington and Oregon to work on spruce logging and road and railroad construction. Others stayed at Vancouver Barracks: (1) Some men were made part of the military presence at Vancouver, and performed military duties for the duration of the War. (2) other men built and worked at the cut-up plant where the spruce lumber was specially processed to be made into airplane parts."

"The 67th Spruce, was originally called the 428th Aero Squadron (construction). This group was formed in January 1918 at Vancouver Barracks. In the same month they were transferred to Seaside, Oregon, Hammond Lumber Co. During the time this unit was here, several smaller sub-groups of this Squadron were sent to work at other mills and operations in this area. During July 1918, the unit was re-designated the 67th Spruce." ^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:29JZ-BNG : 23 February 2021), Oak Hardenbrook, 1917-1918.
2. ↑ "United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q5RT-RVN2 : 25 October 2019), Oak Hardenbrook, 21 Dec 1918; citing Military Service, NARA microfilm publication 76193916 (St. Louis: National Archives and Records Administration, 1985), various roll numbers.
3. ↑ "Washington, County Marriages, 1855-2008," database with images, FamilySearch (https:/familysearch.org/ark:/619031:1:QPMJ-RBD3 : 28 November 2018), O K Hardenbrook and Bertha A Easton, 22 Dec 1923, Newport, Pend Oreille, Washington, United States, Washington State Archives, Olympia; FamilySearch digital folder 005008712.
4. ↑ "Washington Death Certificates, 1907-1960," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N3PV-XZX : 10 March 2018), Oak Hardenbrook, 28 Jul 1928; citing Ione, Pend Oreille, Washington, reference cn 41, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Olympia; FHL microfilm 2,022,476.
5. ↑ Swanson, Robert. Unit Listing of the U.S. Army Spruce Squadrons in the First World War, 1918. 2020.

• "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMPB-W9R : accessed 25 March 2021), Oak Hardenbrook in household of James Hardenbrook, Colville, Clugston, Meyers Falls, Old Dominion, White Lake, and Marcus Precincts Colville town, Stevens, Washington, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 75, sheet 2A, family 22, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,752.
• "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MGV4-2V4 : accessed 25 March 2021), Oak Hardenbrook in household of John Hardenbrook, White Lake, Stevens, Washington, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 220, sheet 13A, family 5, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1672; FHL microfilm 1,375,685.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 25 March 2021), memorial page for Oak Hardenbrook (21 Mar 1891–28 Jul 1928), Find a Grave Memorial no. 23513370, citing Highland Cemetery, Colville, Stevens County, Washington, USA ; Maintained by Arthur Allen Moore III (contributor 46828136) .