Hugh Vernon White and Mabel Wright White

Jane Leddy writes “My father’s cousin Mabel Wright married a minister who grew up in Delano, California….His name was Hugh Vernon (we called him Vernon)…When I first moved to California, Mabel and Vernon invited me to come North to Berkeley for Thanksgiving.  They were very cordial and eager to include me in their extended family.   The day after Thanksgiving, their son Malcolm drove me to Sacramento to meet and visit with Mabel’s father and mother.  Her father was my Grandfather Winter’s brother, Malcolm Wright….Later, after Jack and I were married and had moved to San Mateo, Vernon and Mable came to visit a couple of times. …

Jane then reflects back on her childhood memories of Vernon and Mable.  They “traveled back and forth from California to Massachusetts quite often – camping out, and staying with friends and family along the way.  Iowa became one of their layover stops.   Vernon as a great story teller – mostly about their round-the-world travels (he worked for the World Council of Churches) and also about adventures on the road crossing the country in the late 20s and early 30s.  Gas stations and mechanics were few and far between on Route 55.  He had to patch worn tires and wire parts together (obviously the origin of ‘haywire’). 

He happened to be visiting one winter when I was getting ready to go out beyond the barn to slide downhill on my sled.  He said that growing up in Delano, California had not offered such possibilities – could he join me?  When we got to the hill I demonstrated – holding the sled up to my chest, running a few steps downhill, throwing it on the snow and stretching out full length on top.  I steered with the front bar and slowed down by dragging my toes.  There was a delicious feeling of being one with the sled. 

When it was his turn we both realized there was a problem.  He was too tall – more than six foot – what to do?  He finally folded himself up tight and sat upright on the sled – feet on the steering bar, hands holding on at the side.  I pushed all my weight to get him started.  Well, of course he gained speed and then fell off before going far.  Nevertheless he was game to make three or four more runs and went a bit further each time.  At dinner that night he talked animatedly about this new experience.” 

Hugh Vernon White was for many years an official of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.  He wrote “End Missions Imperialism Now!” which can be found here https://www.religion-online.org/article/end-missions-imperialism-now/  He wrote several books including A Theology for Christian Missions Willett, Clark (1937) A Working Faith for the World, Harper & Brothers; 1St Edition (1938) One Gospel for Mankind, Friendship Press 1939, and Truth and the person in Christian theology: A theological essay in terms of the spiritual person Hardcover  –  Oxford U. Press, 1963  available online here http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupname?key=White%2C%20Hugh%20Vernon%2C%201889%2D  (He should not be confused, as this site does, with Rev. Hugh Wright who wrote Meditations in 1842.) 

He and his wife Mabel Wright White were listed as students 1914 Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley. He graduated from U. of California with B.A. in Greek in 1917. According to the Circular of Information for UCB found here https://books.google.com/books?id=8KRIAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA8-PA48&lpg=RA8-PA48&dq=%22Hugh+Vernon+White%22+Mabel&source=bl&ots=ehDhzD8FW8&sig=ACfU3U25J7cFmLyPm9DfZk0zmZRwUP6DdQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjyxaakuODhAhUKKqwKHbKlDUkQ6AEwCXoECAcQAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false

In the book In that there may be minister’s disciples:  Ministerial Education in California by Lester G. McAllister there is some material on him.  There we learn that he was a pastor at the First Christian Church in Berkeley in 1916 and that he attempted at that time to introduce progressive reforms and that he found conservative resistance and resigned later that year.  He went on to pursue a degree at Harvard. 

We pick him up again in Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions ed. Gerald H. Anderson?  Eermans William Publishing Co.  The entry states he was a Professor of Theology at Pacific School of Religion from 1944-59.    This would have been the period in which Jack and Jane Leddy visited them.       

 

Harold D. Leddy at Camp Mead, MD.

I have a Souvenir Folder of Camp Meade Md. which Harold Leddy sent to his cousin Francis Leddy (who was ten at the time) at 899 No. Chester Ave in Pasadena, year 1917.  He was obviously on route to the European front. (This souvenir postcard folder can be purchased on Amazon.com for $25.)  There is no note on the car.  It contains 16 black and white photos of life at Camp Meade.  Information about Camp Meade can be found here  www.history.army.mil    In the "From" section it can be seen the Harold was in Truck Co. #4.

Souvenir Folder 

Harold and Margaret Leddy

Harold and Margaret Leddy 1920s?

Two US Navy Sailors and Albert Leddy?

Albert Leddy and two sailors?  WWII.   I am not sure who these are.  The fellow on the left has glasses like Don Leddy, but doesn't look quite like him. I suspect the one in the center is Albert Leddy Probably Jack Leddy took the picture.

Sister Marie Eddie

This is the woman I knew as "Aunt Mari" (Marie C. Eddie 1899-1975 in Los Gatos) sister of Margaret Leddy.  In the second photograph she is shown with Margaret, wife of Harold D. Leddy.  There is a possibility, however. that this is my aunt Alma Leddy who was Harold's sister.  She was also a Catholic nun and also was at the convent in Los Gatos towards the end of her life.  I do not know the "nun" names of either.

Sister Marie Eddy

Sister Marie Eddie and Margaret Leddy

Images of Soldiers, probably WW1, probably Harold D. Leddy regiment of EngineersPictur.

Picture of an unknown soldier probably by Harold D. Leddy, 1918 or 1919

Picture of an unknown soldier probably by Harold D. Leddy 1918 or 19, probably northern France

Harold Leddy runs for State Assembly 1916 and State Senate 1950

Harold D. Leddy ran for the California State Assembly 48th District in Los Angeles as a Republican, 1916.  He received 931 votes:  a clear loss.  Information is found in Statement of the Vote

Harold D. Leddy runs for  State Assembly

In 1950 he ran in Kern county, California, for State Senator.  Here he is listed as running against Jess R. Dorsey who was the winner.  This information is from the same book mentioned above, pg. 23.   

Happy Birthday Jack

Jack left some undeveloped negatives.  Here is one with him and his two brothers.  In honor of his birthday I have posted a number of them on Jan. 21.

Harold and Margaret Leddy   Balboa Island?

Jack (upper left), Don (glasses), Jim and Albert Leddy

Oil Well in Bakersfield 1930s?

Harold Leddy on left as one of the oil well owners?

Same oil well and some owners?

Jack and friends as life-guards at the Bakersfield Inn

Jack Leddy (to right?) was a life guard at a Bakersfield hotel.  See previous post on how he saved Johnny Weismuller's life

Andrew Leddy who fought for the North in the Civil War

According to a letter written by Harold Leddy, his grandfather was an Andrew Leddy who lived in New York City and died right after the Civil War from his wounds.  Until recently I knew nothing more about Andrew Leddy than was in that letter.  However I have found this entry in a book:  Annual Report of the Adjudant-General of the State of New York for the year 1901, Registers of the Sixty-ninth, Seventieth, Seventy-first,Seventy-second, Seventy-third and Seventyfourth Regiments of Infantry. TRANSMITTED TO THE LEGISLATURE JANUARY 7, 1902. SERIAL No. 28., ALBANY, J. B. LYON COMPANY, STATE PRINTERS 1902, pg. 1031.  

The gist of the entry is that an Andrew Leddy enlisted at age 37 July 12, 1861 in Staten Island as a private, was in Co. F., 73rd Infantry of New York, transferred to Co. H. Sept. 1, 1861, was wounded (no date), and mustered out on Aug. 2, 1864.  This gives him time to die of his wounds in the following year. 

If he was 37 in 1861, the date of enlistment, he would have been born in 1824.  It is not clear whether he was born in the U.S. or in Ireland.  Chances are he was born in Ireland and came over during the Potato Famine between 1845 and 1849.  The letter below mentions the Potato Famine and, although it does not directly say that Andrew came over during it, this is likely.  That would have meant that he would come over to the U.S. when he was about 25.   

Harold Leddy's father, John T. Leddy, was born in 1857 and died in 1935.  John T. was married to Mary Amanda Murray.  According to Harold's letter the sister of Andrew Leddy was a Jennie Snee of New York.  I am re-posting the letter here:

Harold Leddy on his ancestors: letter from approximately May, 1967 to my father John B. Leddy before we [Jack, Jane,  Tom, Robin, Bill, John] took our first trip to Europe as a family.

"I wish I could give you some good leads on the Leddy geneology (?)  Msgr. Leddy [he was no relation, but was in Bakersfield and married Jack and Jane Leddy, first name Patrick] thinks we came from County Clare or Cavin,  They kept no passenger lists of the Irish who came over at the time of the potato famine (1848 et sec [sic])  There is a paper in Belfast that used to print a list of family names and trace them back to some early king or saint.  I'm sure we would be included and probably could boast a coat of arms.  All I know is that my father was born in New York; that his father (whose name I believe was Andrew Leddy) served in the civil war.  That he died from wounds tho not on the battlefield.  That Papa was raised by an uncle named Daley or Daley who operated a shoe blacking factory near the waterfront in Philadelphia.  Helen says there is a A Snee living in New York or Brooklyn;  Jennie Snee was Papa's sister.  They operated a ship chandlers business and made a lot of money converting passenger ships to troop ships in W.W.I. and vice versa.

Some day you might carry on my research.  On my mothers side Anna Breen has the complete dope (or thinks she has)   She wanted to belong to the D.A.R. and for a price the experts produced a long line of ancestors which went beyond the Revolution and an ancestor is buried in Old Swedes churchyard in Phila. 

As to Mother's ancestry you have all the information needed.  At least you have living Scottish relations.

Have a Happy Trip and tell the boys [Tom, Bill and John, children of John B. Leddy] to watch out for those French girls. 

 Love Dad [Harold Leddy]"

Elza Perkins and J. E. Leddy "House of Kuppenheimer's Clothing"

I discovered this in the Pasadena City Directory for 1918:

Perkins and Leddy  Elza Perkins and J. E. Leddy "House of Kuppenheimer's Clothing" Hats and Men's Furnishings, 16 E. Colorado.   The building is now described as 14-16 East Colorado.  It was built in 1892 in Spanish Colonial Revival style with a frame with pilasters and scrolls. 

Joe E. and his wife Mabel lived at 899 N. Chester Ave., Pasadena.  Built in 1910 this is a charming bungalow even today.

Wikipedia says that "Kuppenheimer, was a men's clothing manufacturing and retail operation based in Chicago, Illinois and later Atlanta, Georgia."   


Not surprisingly Joe was a member of the Chamber of  Commerce for Pasadena in 1918 according to the Pasadena Star News.

New Information about Harold D. Leddy

Bridge worked on by Harold D. Leddy's battalion, Nevers, France, from the National WW Museum and Memorial web site

Harold D. Leddy dog tags

Richard Gilliam contacted me and it turns out that his grandfather was in the same battalion in WW1 as mine, Harold D. Leddy.  Richard has done a lot of research on the battalion and the regiment.  He has graciously allowed me to post material from his letters to me.  My father, John B. Leddy, had told me that the regiment was all-black.  Gilliam's research contradicts this family story, although apparently after initial deployment in France there were in fact African Americans in the regiment.  

"According to a Regimental Roster, 23rd Engineers printed in 1920, there was a Harold D. Leddy of Company F living at 3020 Kansas Ave., Los Angeles, Cal. listed. My grandfather served in Company F, 23rd Engineers from Washington State where I live."

I was unaware of the 3020 Kansas Ave. address.  That address now sports a very modern looking grammar school.  Gilliam goes on in a later letter to say:

"The 23rd Engineer was an all white regiment consisting of technical Companies A thru L (4 battalions, 3 companies each), 10 Truck companies 1 thru 10 and 5 Wagon companies 1 thru 5. My grandfather and yours served in company F, 2nd Battalion which embarked Hoboken NJ for France aboard the USS George Washington on March 30, 1918 and arrived Brest on April 13, 1918. They debarked Brest, France aboard USS Plattsburg on June 7, 1919 and arrived Hoboken NJ on June 16, 1919. My grandfather received final pay and discharged at Camp Lewis, Tacoma, Washington on June 27, 1919.

   The 23rd Engineers in the early days of their arrival had no support regiments so most of the work done was with pick, shovel wheel barrels. Later on, they were supplemented by colored service regiments, Vietnamese, Chinese, French and POWs. The technical, Truck and Wagon companies were spread throughout France not only building, repairing, maintaining roads but building bridges, barracks, rail roads, work and storage buildings, dams and other miscellaneous jobs as required.

   I have to say that I learned quite a bit about grandfathers regiment and history. I started with just his dog tags and a few stories that my father told me. Grandpa passed away in 1941 when my father was 15. Father claims that his death was early due to grandfather's exposure to gas at the forward zone. I believe that I found supporting documentation for that in my research."

My grandfather also suffered from exposure to gas throughout his life.  Mr. Gilliam also provided me with a copy of the two page Company F's commanding officers Experience report.  From that I determined that in April 1918 the Company was working on the bridge in Nevers, France, on the Loire.  This corresponds to the photograph at the beginning of this post.  The construction of the bridge is further described in the Historical Report of the Chief Engineer, Including All Operations of the Engineer Department, American Expeditionary Forces, 1917-1919
United States. Army. American Expeditionary Forces. Engineer Dept, January 1, 1919, U.S. Government Printing Office, pp. 283-4  which is available through Google Books here   It was the longest bridge which the Engineers of the American force built in France.

Mr. Gilliam also sent me the ship manifest port of embarkation Hoboken, NY  which shows Harold's residence as 18 East Colorado.  This was right next to Perkins and Leddy's Furnishings at 16 East Colorado.   [Could he just have been using the store address as his home address?]

I also learned from Mr. Gilliam that on Oct. 28, 1918 a cloudy and cold day, Company F moved into the northern French town of Charpentry.  They were shelled and several were wounded.  This was reported in a history of Company A.  Also, earlier, back in the U.S. on Jan 9 it was very cold and Company F arrived in Laurel [Deleware?] and moved into the mill there.    This information can be found here.   You have to search under "F." 

Wikipedia informs us that "At the beginning of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive (26 September – 11 November 1918), the 79th US Infantry Division captured Charpentry"  

Also there was a publication of Company F in which Harold D. Leddy is listed as a member.  The Squeek, 1930.   His address there is 181 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena.  This area is no longer residential.