| An Afflicted Verona Family |
Franklin Douglass, of Sunset Avenue, Verona, is still dangerously ill at Camp Dix. A
telegram received by his sister, Mrs. Henry Roy, late yesterday afternoon stated that he
was slightly improved, as was Mrs. Douglas, his mother, who has been sick with bronchitis
for the past week.
Douglas has had a severe time during the past three weeks following a trip to Jersey City
that he made in the line of duty, with a particularly stubborn case of pneumonia. He was
taken sick while there waiting the return of the officers whom he had taken to the city,
and he was unable to drive his car back to the camp. They left him without procuring
medical aid. That night he stayed in the apartment over the garage and was cared for by the
garage man and his wife. He had a high fever. About three o'clock in the morning he
received a telegram ordering him to return to the camp at once. He started out to do so
despite the strong protests of the garage man and his wife. After his arrival at camp, which
he accomplished with great difficulty at that hour of the night, he became rapidly worse,
and two weeks ago the authorities telegraphed his parents to come to him at once as he
was critically ill. The telegram was delayed twenty four hours in its delivery, which of
course added to the anxiety of the parents. Mrs. Douglas broke down after one week at the
camp and is now in a rest house near the camp.
The Caldwell Progress Saturday, October 12, 1918
telegram received by his sister, Mrs. Henry Roy, late yesterday afternoon stated that he
was slightly improved, as was Mrs. Douglas, his mother, who has been sick with bronchitis
for the past week.
Douglas has had a severe time during the past three weeks following a trip to Jersey City
that he made in the line of duty, with a particularly stubborn case of pneumonia. He was
taken sick while there waiting the return of the officers whom he had taken to the city,
and he was unable to drive his car back to the camp. They left him without procuring
medical aid. That night he stayed in the apartment over the garage and was cared for by the
garage man and his wife. He had a high fever. About three o'clock in the morning he
received a telegram ordering him to return to the camp at once. He started out to do so
despite the strong protests of the garage man and his wife. After his arrival at camp, which
he accomplished with great difficulty at that hour of the night, he became rapidly worse,
and two weeks ago the authorities telegraphed his parents to come to him at once as he
was critically ill. The telegram was delayed twenty four hours in its delivery, which of
course added to the anxiety of the parents. Mrs. Douglas broke down after one week at the
camp and is now in a rest house near the camp.
The Caldwell Progress Saturday, October 12, 1918
| Benjamin F. Douglas |
Private Funeral Services for Private Benjamin Franklin Douglas were held Tuesday
morning at the residence of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. David Douglas, 102 Sunset Avenue,
Verona. Private Douglas died at Camp Dix of Pneumonia, following influenza last Friday
night. He had been ill about three weeks. The soldier was twenty-seven years old. He was
born in Verona May 25, 1891, and resided there up to the time of his induction into
service in June. He was a member of the Verona Congregational Church. Besides his
parents, he is survived by two sisters and three brothers. They are Mrs. L. W. Jacobus, Mrs.
Henry B. Roy, and David R. Douglas of Verona; Newton Douglas, of Newark, and Elbert
Douglas of Philadelphia. Interment was in Mt. Prospect Cemetery, Caldwell.
The Caldwell Progress Saturday, October 19, 1918
morning at the residence of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. David Douglas, 102 Sunset Avenue,
Verona. Private Douglas died at Camp Dix of Pneumonia, following influenza last Friday
night. He had been ill about three weeks. The soldier was twenty-seven years old. He was
born in Verona May 25, 1891, and resided there up to the time of his induction into
service in June. He was a member of the Verona Congregational Church. Besides his
parents, he is survived by two sisters and three brothers. They are Mrs. L. W. Jacobus, Mrs.
Henry B. Roy, and David R. Douglas of Verona; Newton Douglas, of Newark, and Elbert
Douglas of Philadelphia. Interment was in Mt. Prospect Cemetery, Caldwell.
The Caldwell Progress Saturday, October 19, 1918
| Gravestone from Prospect Hill Cemetery, Caldwell, NJ (Lot 616 East #3) |
| The Caldwell Progress Saturday, October 26, 1918 |
| The goal of this project is to preserve the memory of these heroes and not let their stories be lost to history. Their sacrifices should be honored and their histories should be available to school children and adults to learn about the heroic Verona residents who came before them. It is vital that friends and family of these heroes be found, so that they may share pictures, service records, and other information to add to these stories. If you are a family member or friend of one of these heroes, or you know someone who is or may have additional information, please contact: Robert Caruso Heritage Preservation Associates Verona, New Jersey veronaheroes@heritagepreservation.us |
| This Website is maintained by Heritage Preservation Associates |
| Verona Hero |
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Private Benjamin Franklin Douglas
| Verona Residence: 102 Sunset Avenue |
