Paterka

Pvt John Paterka

Found with my grandmother's photo collect was was this image of a young man in WW I uniform.  The inscription read; "John Paterka, Corp Co D, 168th Inf, Rainbow Division, US Army.  Kill in Action 1918, Chateau Thierry France."  The problem is, who is John Paterka?  I have no idea who John is and how he connects to the family.  However, both my grandmother and great grandmother were also from Chicago during the same period of time.

Who is John Paterka?  Using the three initial hints; 1918, Chateau Thierry, 168th Inf,  I started by looking into John's military records.  Here, I found that John was from the Chicago IL. according to his draft record, which reflects that he registered on 5 Jun 1917.  He was working and living at 4402 So Wood Street, Chicago IL. John, while in battle at Chateau Thierry France contracted an unlisted disease and died  3 Oct 1918 in hospital.  Which hospital?  I found no memorial for John at the Chateau Thierry Memoral, so I had to broaden my search.  I soon found that John was laid to earth in Magdalen Hill Cemetery in Winchester England, but still no reference to reason of death.  Then, on 12 April 1920, the order was given to exhume and transport John's remains back to the states for burial.  He traveled aboard the USAT Princess Matoika from Southampton England to Hoboken NJ in care of his father Frank B. Paterka, 5217 Hermitage Ave Chicago Il.  See image below for the transport documentation.

June 1917

So, now we have more of a picture of John, lets look into his civilian life prior to the war by using the new hints; Chicago, John's address on draft registration, and John's fathers address.  Using the US Census and old newspaper, a more complete picture will come into focus.

Chicago Tribune

The US Census is a great tracking tool.  John and family can be found in the 1900 and 1910 census living  at 3152 Muspratt Street and South Wood Street, Chicago IL  As you can see, the addresses are matching with the other sources.  Then, the Chicago Sunday Tribune reported, on May 30th 1920 the arrival of John remains from England.  See the image Chicago Tribune.

John Anton Paterka was born 11 May 1896  to Frank and Victoria Paterka of 3152 Muspratt Street, Chicago IL.  Frank and Victoria immigrated from Germany/Poland in 1891. See the image Birth Record 1896.
 

Birth Record 1896

Transport Record 1920

                       



 






The 1920 and 1930 US Census has the Paterka family living at 5217 South Hermitage Ave  Chicago IL.matching the address given in the image Transport Record 1920.

So, Who is John Paterka?  He was a young man born to German/Polish parents that had recently, in time, immigrated to the USA.  At the age of 22, John enlisted or was drafted in the US Army.  His service record was short as it was for many during a war.  While fighting in a battle in France, John contracted a disease that in the end took his life.  John was initially buried in England before coming home to his family in 1920.  His finally resting point is in question, but inquiries have been sent to those that may know.  John was a young man that grew up in 1900 Chicago and then gave his life fighting for his country, in which was at war with the country his parent came from.  Irony!

 All the above military records match nicely with the civilian records that have been found. However, it didn't answer the question of how my family and his connect.  Maybe, the families were just friends, living in a hard town during a hard time.

With this data I have found a living relative of John, to whom I hope to make contact, so the photograph of John can go home.



Additional information can be found at Fold3 Memorial site for John A Paterka, Pvt, US Army - needs updating

FindaGrave memory for John A Paterka - Update!  Today, 1 Oc 2018,  I received an Confirmation email from The Resurrection Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum office which confirmed that John was in fact resting in their cemetery. 

Confirmation Email

*Click any of the image for a large view.