Another glass negative - WWI uniform?

Book - How much you want to bet that Carlstrom Field is the site of your Jenny picture?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlstrom_Field

 

I just realized I put the Carlstrom post on the wrong thread.

I thought the page had turned.

Any way, that does look like the uniform of a "driver" and the cap badge and the collar emblems peeking out sure make it armed forces to me.

Perhaps that explains the US flag(s) in the photo of the whole car. Driving for some important officer?

 

Hi,
Here is one of my great uncles with the same flags and he was just showing off his car. It is not as nice as yours.
greg

 

Handsome fellow. Definitely WW I.

 

You officer is a WWI US Army Engineer officer.

 

The officer standing in front of the car is wearing a WWI officers peaked cap and on his collar he has the castle insignia of the engineers. He has on boots and putees.

 

Hi Book,
No one seems to remember what it was. I have another of him with a 1916 model A
greg

 

I've been searching off and on all afternoon for Erle O'Blair, and could not find one. The closest result Ancestry would give me for the Erle spelling was Erle Ogden Blair, born in OH in 1890. I was just about ready to give up when it struck me like a bolt from the blue - Annetta Willson's maiden name was Blair!! He must be a relative of hers.

Not sure to what degree yet (she was born in 1875 and this fellow looks much younger than 40, no?)

 

Yes. I was thinking that if they were siblings, he should be closer to her age.

But guess what! They are siblings. She's the oldest and he's youngest child of Joseph and Sarah Blair of Fayetteville Twp, Lawrence Cty, PA.

I also found his photograph in 1913 yearbook of Ohio State University. BS in Forestry. I zoomed and printed the page and will scan it so I can post. Definitely the same guy.

I did find his 1917 draft registration. Says he's a landscape gardener, single and partially supporting his mother. And his name is really spelled Earl, not Erle.

There is also an entry for him in a Military Men of Ohio book. 42nd Co, Engineers.

 

My pleasure entirely, Book!

Here's his yearbook photo

 

I misread the entry in that military book - it's not him, so scrap that.

I can tell you that he lived in Chicago from before 1917 (he was there when he registered for the draft) until he died in Apr 1965. (Interesting note - his Soc Sec record had his name as Erle, so maybe he just used the other spelling in everyday life because the other spelling is so unusual.)

He was married to a Dorothy Penfield. Have not found children (yet.)