We find Howard living with his parents and sister Esther Gove Spaulding in Vermont in the 1900 and 1910 censuses at age 5 and 14 and know that he was only 21 years old when he registered for the draft on June 5, 1917. We know from his death notice that he enlisted on February 9, 1917, attended training at Campt Greene, North Carolina and was sent overseas on May 9, 1918. He served in the Headquarters of the 58th Company until he died of pneumonia six months later at the age of 23. His body was returned home and he was buried in the Lyndon Center Cemetery. Thanks to Find a Grave contributor Tyler Lawrence and photographer Anne, a picture of his gravestone can be seen at Find A Grave Memorial# 146480640
Because of an article about the Vermont Congressman Dale, we also know that there was a problem with his life insurance policy. Three Vermont comrades, his company officer and the assitant director of the War Risk then testified that he had signed an insurance policy and the case was settled in July 1920 resulting in an insurance payment to Howard's mother. It is very sad that not only did she lose a son at a very young age but then had to followup to ensure that his requests regarding his possible death were followed.
DEATH OF PVT. SPAULDING
His Lyndonville Parents Receive
Official News
Lyndonville, Dec. 17-Mr. and Mrs.
A. E. Spaulding have been notified of
the death from pneumonia of their
only son, Howard Rollins Spaulding,
on November 21. He enlisted Feb-
ruary 21, going to Camp Greene,
N. C., and going across on May 9,
1918. He was a member of Head-
quarters Company, 58th U. S. In-
fantry, Fourth Division. He was 23
years old and leaves besides his par-
ents one sister, Miss Esther Spauld-
ing of this village.
SOURCES:
1900 United States Federal Census, Caledonia County, Vermont, population schedule, Lyndon, enumeration district (ED) Enumeration District No 47, Sheet No 17, Main Street, dwelling 302, family 406, Albert E Spaulding; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 5 June 2015).
1910 United States Federal Census, Caledonia County, Vermont, population schedule, Lyndon, enumeration district (ED) Enumeration District No 46, Sheet No 12B, dwelling 174, family 277, Albert E Spaulding; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 5 June 2015.
"CONGRESSMAN DALE WORKS FOR SOLDIERS," The Caledonian-record (St Johnsbury, Vermont), 2 July 1921; digital images, Library of Congress Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 5 June 2015).
"DEATH OF PVT. SPAULDING," The Evening Caledonian (St. Johnsbury, Vermont), 17 December 1918; digital image, Library of Congress Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 5 June 2015)
Find A Grave, Find A Grave, digital images (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 5 June 2015), Howard Rollins Spaulding, Find A Grave Memorial# 146480640.
Johnson Herbert T., Roster of Vermont Men and Women in the World War (Montpelier, Vt: 1927), page 1202; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 5 June 2015.
"U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 5 June 2015), Howard Rollins Shackford; citing : United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library microfilm
Vermont, Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954, , Howard Robbie Spaulding, birth, 11 June 1895; digital images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 24 July 2013).