February 1917

Claude Wylie, the 19 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. William Wylie, who live southeast of this city, and the grandson of A.G. Wylie, of this city, died on Tuesday evening of last week at Jefferson Barracks, near St. Louis, the result of measles.

The young man had gone north to work and was seized with the desire to see the world from the position of a soldier of Uncle Sam and had enlisted in the regular arm. After enlisting he had written fully to his parents and grandfather and had sent home his picture, taken at the Barracks.

The next word received was a message from the army hospital telling of the serious illness of the young soldier and a request for his relatives to come. The father and grandfather went on the next train and reached the barracks at about eight o’clock Tuesday night.   The young man died at five. The stricken relatives brought the body home for interment and services were held at the Helen Moore Mission on Friday.

After he had taken sick the young man regretted very much that he had joined the army and was anxious to see his relatives. It seems that a younger brother had joined the army only a short time before and had been sent to the border for duty and young Claude thought that he wanted to go also.

The following obituary was read at the funeral:  Claude Ernest, oldest son of William J. and Annie Wylie was born May 29, 1897 in Piatt County, Ill., and died in the hospital at Jefferson barracks, Mo., Feb. 20, 1917.

At the age of seventeen he united with the General Baptist Church at Rock Branch.

Claude enlisted in the army at Jefferson barracks in January 1917.

He leaves father and mother, two sisters and three brothers to mourn his sad departure.

The funeral was held at his father’s residence on Friday at 10 a.m. conducted by Rev. S. Albrecht and the burial was made in the Koontz cemetery.