FAMILY LINE AND HISTORY
Melvin Lawrence Whitaker (baptized Claude Lawrence Whitaker)
5th of 7 children of Edward Lawrence Whitaker & Ada Agnes Chamberlin
Born: Apr 18, 1911, Paddy Creek, Baker Co., Oregon
Died: Dec 19, 1943 (age 32), took ill in New Guinea, died a few days later in US Naval Hospital in New Zealand; food poisoning
Buried: Mar 31, 1949, re-interred in National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Oahu, Hawaii
Military Service: US Navy WWII in the Pacific theater, Navy Seaman 1st Class
Occupation: Turner Chevrolet, Safeway clerk
Never married, no children
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Timeline and Records
Seven children of Ada Agnes Chamberlin & Edward Lawrence “Ed” Whitaker:
1. Vera Stanislaus Whitaker
1903 – 1983
2. Leonard Fenley “Len” Whitaker
1905 – 1965
3. Zelda Beatrice Whitaker
1907 – 1989
4. Donald Edward Whitaker
1909 – 1995
5. Melvin Lawrence Whitaker
1911 – 1943
6. Thelma Marie Whitaker
1912 – 1996
7. Edward Joseph Whitaker
1914 – 1978
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Apr 18, 1911: Birth of Melvin Lawrence Whitaker, 5th of 7 children of Edward Lawrence Whitaker & Ada Agnes Chamberlin in Baker (or Paddy Creek), Baker Co., Oregon
May 14, 1915: Letter from Ada (Chamberlin) Whitaker to her sister Mamie and Ada’s children:
Spokane, Wash.
May 14, 1915
My dear Sister & Children –
Isn’t this cold, wet weather just awful and it makes one feel so lonesome and dreary.
Your letter and the one from Howard just came and I thought we would get one from Mr. Lumsden also but did not. I had a telegram from Mr. Strayer yesterday and he said a letter would follow so will get that in a few days now. I am glad you are getting along nicely and only hope all will stay well.
The baby coughs real hard but not often and mostly at night.
It still stays cold and very windy here but the cool weather is far better for poor Ed than the warm would be. I wish I might write you something encouraging about Ed’s condition but can’t, not yet anyway. Ed seems to get a little thinner and thinner every day and a little quieter. The sight has gone from his right eye entirely and he said this morning that the left eye hurts him now and it begins to look bad. You should see what quantities of morphine he takes – 15 and 20 gr and 25 grams some times in 24 hrs.
If Howard sends any pictures you can send them to me please. Doesn’t he write a poor hand and compose a childish letter for a boy 16 yrs. old? I wonder if after Ed is gone, I’ll have any trouble getting Howard home, in case I need and want him. I don’t believe I will. Well dear, I will write every two or three days and if you find time, do the same. Do you have any trouble with Thelma and Mildred quarreling and Melvin’s stubborness?
Did I tell you that Ed wants to be taken home to be buried. If you see Mr. Strayer again, ask him what I can do about it for I can not afford it now but could pay the expenses in the future, if he thinks that the expense could be put up when necessary.
If you see and talk to him, what he has to say write on a separate paper since Ed won’t see it for he always asks for your letters.
Mamie, the hole in Ed’s face now reaches from his nose right up to under his eye and straight across to his temple, then clear down his nose and a little below, straight across his cheek it is almost in a square and yet I can’t believe he is to be taken away. You never saw such a skelaton as he is, no meat at all, simply the skin and mussel drawn over his bare bones. And now he is getting bed sores, poor boy. It is pitiful to see and watch.
Love to all,
Your loving sister, Ada
Note: Mr. William Henry Strayer (b. 1866) was an attorney in Baker, Oregon
May 18, 1915: Letter from Ada (Chamberlin) Whitaker (age 37) to her young children:
Spokane, Wash
May 18, 1915
My dear little Children all –
Mamma hasn’t much to write to you only to ask you to be good. I received your letters yesterday but poor papa could not read them, but I did and was glad to get them.
Now Vera you know what you ought to do and can do to help Aunt Mamie. You can wash the dishes and on Saturday and Sunday sweep the kitchen and pantry and your bed room has to be straightened up every week and Zelda must help with the dishes and wash Thelma and empty the slops and try to keep things picked up in the bedroom and help dress the little ones in the morning and Len’s business I guess he knows, to get the wood and kindling, make the fires, empty the ashes, shake the mats and make your own bed and feed and water the chickens.
And don’t any of you go to communion unless you are sure you have no sin on your souls, and every time you go to confession tell every thing you can remember both great and small and then you will make no mistake and leave nothing out, you know it would be a most terrible thing not to tell everything in confession.
And tell Donald and Melvin to try and be good for I have told Aunt Mamie to make her a good paddle and to use it on all alike when they need from Thelma up. How does she get along, does she seem to miss her mamma?
You will have to look after Melvin the most. Vera you know how stubborn he is and Aunt Mamie won’t want to exactly kill him, altho she may feel like it so you take him in hand and relieve her of some of the trouble, and do lots of little things to help her for remember she is doing what very very few would do for us and it is hard work and lots of it.
It is going to rain again and we are so tired of it and I guess you are also.
When does your school let out? There was a big fire here last night. A six story building all burned to the ground.
You wouldn’t know your poor papa now he is so very thin and I don’t know whether I can bring him back with me or not so you must all be good and pray hard that you may meet him someday in heaven, where he will look as he did a year ago and more.
And now I must close and write to Grandma Chamberlain
With love and kisses to all,
Mamma
Note: Ada’s children: Vera (age nearly 13), Leonard (10), Zelda (8), Donald (6), Melvin (4), Thelma (2yr, 6 mo)
May 24, 1915: Parting letter from Edward Whitaker (age 41) to his children:
To Vera, Len, Zelda, Donald, Melvin & Thelma,
Papa is going away dear little souls and before I am gone I must write a little note to you all. Be good to mama always. Papa loves you very dearly and wants you all to remember him. I hope we meet again in the after hours. Good-by to you one and all for ever.
From your passing heart-broken papa. Promise to always be true to your Christian duties.
Good-by.
Note: the six oldest Whitaker children were staying with Ada’s sister, Mamie, in Baker, Oregon
May 26, 1915: Death of Edward Lawrence “Ed” Whitaker (age 41), the father of Melvin Lawrence Whitaker, in Spokane, Spokane Co., Washington; of a cancerous mouth tumor. Ed is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker, Baker Co., Oregon.
May 27, 1915: Morning Democrat, Baker, Baker Co., Oregon:
DEATH CLAIMS ED WHITAKER
Baker Man Passed Away In Spokane.
Ed Whittaker of this city, whose life hung in balance for several weeks at Spokane, where he went for treatment for cancer, passed away early yesterday morning, according to advices received by friends here yesterday. The body will be shipped here for burial and will arrive at 1:40 tomorrow afternoon. The funeral will be held Friday at the St. Francis Cathedral, but the exact hour has not been set. Mrs. Whitaker, summoned to Spokane about a week ago, was at his bedside when the end came.
The deceased was well known in mining circles, at one time being manager of the Paddy Creek properties and interested in others in this section for many years past. His wife and several children survive. Mr. Whittaker was about 45 years of age.
May 28, 1915: Burial of Edward L. Whitaker in Mount Hope Cemetery, Baker, Baker Co., Oregon:
Jan 9, 1920: Federal Census for Baker Precinct, Baker Co., Oregon:
Whitaker, Ada A: head, rents, widow, age 42, born Texas, father born New York, mother born Pennsylvania, clerk in paper office
Vera: daughter, age 16, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas
Leonard: son, age 14, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas
Zelda: daughter age 12, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas
Donald: son, age 10, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas
Melvin: son, age 8, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas
Thelma: daughter, age 7, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas
Edward: son, age 5, born Oregon, father born Kansas, mother born Texas
Circa 1920: Melvin Lawrence Whitaker:
Circa 1924: Whitaker brothers Melvin, Edward, and Donald:
1928: Melvin Whitaker (age 16), St. Francis High School Boy’s Basketball team, Baker City, Baker Co., Oregon:
Apr 9, 1930: Federal Census for Baker City, Baker Co., Oregon:
Whittaker, A: head, age 52, widow, born Texas, father born United States, mother born England, circulation manager for newspaper
Zelda: daughter, age 22, single, born Oregon, father born Nevada, mother born Texas, bookkeeper for newspaper
Thelma: daughter, age 16, single, born Oregon, father born Nevada, mother born Texas, salesgirl in variety store
Edward: son, age 15, single, born Oregon, father born Nevada, mother born Texas, messenger boy for telegraph
Melvin: son, age 18, single, born Oregon, father born Nevada, mother born Texas, commercial salesman in hosery
Note: (Ada Agnes Whitaker, Vera’s mother) Ada’s father born in New York, mother born in Pennsylvania; children’s father born in Kansas
1932: City Directory for Baker City, Baker Co., Oregon (pg 118):
Name: Melvin L Whitaker
Residence Year: 1932
Street Address: 1353 Washington av
Residence Place: Baker City, Oregon, USA
Occupation: Stdt
Publication Title: Baker City, Oregon, City Directory, 1932
Feb 18, 1940: Death of Emily S. (Hoy) Chamberlin (age 89 yr, 6 mo), maternal grandmother of Melvin Lawrence Whitaker, of chronic nephritis and acute uremia, in her home in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California.
Feb 21, 1940: Family photo at Emily S. (Hoy) Chamberlin’s three days after her death:
Children and grandchildren of Emily Chamberlin the day of her funeral: standing: Mamie, Fred, Nellie, Willard “Joe,” Ada, Ada’s son Edward Whitaker: kneeling: Nellie’s son Roy Chatfield, Ada’s son Melvin Whitaker
Feb 1940: Chico Enterprise, Chico, Butte Co., California:
Chicoan Returns From Her Mother’s Funeral in L.A.
Chico—Mrs. N.C. Chatfield and her son, Roy, have returned from Los Angeles, where they were called because of the illness and death of Mrs. Chatfield’s mother, Mrs. Emily S. Chamberlin.
Mrs. Chamberlin was the widow of Finley Chamberlin, a Civil War veteran, who died in 1905. She was born in Howard, Penn., in 1850, and was the mother of seven children, five of whom are living. They are Mrs. Chatfield of this city, Mrs. Ada Whitaker of Oregon, Mrs. Mary Rosborough of Morton, Washington; Willard Chamberlin of Corvallis, Oregon, and Fred Chamberlin of Los Angeles, with whom she made her home.
The funeral was held in Los Angeles with Requiem mass in St. Columbkill’s Church. Mrs. Chamberlin had been a member of the Third Order of St. Francis for 30 years.
Apr 27, 1940: Federal Census for Tule Lake, Siskiyou Co., Oregon:
Name: Melvin Whitaker
Age: 29
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1911
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Oregon
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Lodger
Home in 1940: Tule Lake, Siskiyou, California
Map of Home in 1940: Tule Lake, Siskiyou, California
Farm: No
Inferred Residence in 1935: Hettinger, North Dakota
Residence in 1935: Hettinger, North Dakota
Resident on farm in 1935: Yes
Occupation: Salesman
House Owned or Rented: Rented
Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 20
Highest Grade Completed: High School, 4th year
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 60
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work
Weeks Worked in 1939: 44
Income: 900
Income Other Sources: No
Household Members: Age, Relationship
Florence Spencer: age 50, Wife
Lawrence Mc Carthy, age 24, brother Brother
Melvin Whitaker: age 29, Lodger
Clarence SchurtzL age 22, Partner
Oct 16, 1940: U.S. WWII Draft Card:
Name: Melvin Lawrance Whitaker
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 29
Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
Birth Date: 18 Apr 1911
Birth Place: Baker, Oregon, USA
Residence Place: Tulelake, California, USA
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: Tulelake, California, USA
Employer: Charles Steinhawer
Weight: 145
Complexion: Light
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Blonde
Height: 5 9
Next of Kin: A A Whitaker
Household Members:
Name Relationship
Melvin Lawrance Whitaker Self (Head)
A A Whitaker Mother
Dec 19, 1943: Death of Melvin Lawrence Whitaker (age 32), 5th of 7 children of Edward Lawrence Whitaker & Ada Agnes Chamberlin. Melvin took ill in New Guinea and died a few days later in US Naval Hospital in New Zealand from food poisoning.
Jan 20, 1944: Herald and News, Klamath Falls, Klamath Co., Oregon (pg 1):
Jan 21, 1944: The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California (pg 9):
U.S., World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas:
Name: Melvin L Whitaker
Inducted From: Oregon
Rank: Seaman First Class
Combat Organization: United States Navy
Death Date: 19 Dec 1943
Monument: Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Last Known Status: Buried
Mar 31, 1949: Re-interred in National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Oahu, Hawaii, also known as Punchbowl Cemetery.
Mar 31, 1949: U.S. National Cemetery Interment Control Form:
U.S. Veterans’ Gravesites:
Name: Melvin Lawrence Whitaker
Rank: Sergeant First Class
Death Date: 19 Dec 1943
Internment Place: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Cemetery Address: 2177 Puowaina Drive
Cemetery Postal Code: 96813
Cemetery: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
Section: C
Plot: 1057
Branch of Service: US Navy
Relative: Melvin Lawrence Whitaker
Comments: Veteran (Self)
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific:
Nearly 13,000 World War II Dead from the Pacific are buried here. They came from such battle sites as Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, China, Burma, Saipan, Guam, and Iwo Jima and from the prisoner of war camps in Japan (recovered after the war). Also interred in the cemetery are the unidentified remains of U.S. servicemen who died fighting in World War II, Korea, and the Vietnam Wars. Also the Dead of World War II and the Korea and Vietnam Wars whose next of kin requested that they be buried here.
Few national cemeteries can compete with the dramatic natural setting of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. The “Punchbowl” was formed some 75,000 to 100,000 years ago during the Honolulu period of secondary volcanic activity. A crater resulted from the ejection of hot lava through cracks in the old coral reefs which, at the time, extended to the foot of the Koolau Mountain Range.
Although there are various translations of the Punchbowl’s Hawaiian name, “Puowaina,” the most common is “Hill of Sacrifice.” This translation closely relates to the history of the crater. The first known use was as an altar where Hawaiians offered human sacrifices to pagan gods and the killed violators of the many taboos. Later, during the reign of Kamehameha the Great, a battery of two cannons was mounted at the rim of the crater to salute distinguished arrivals and signify important occasions. Early in the 1880s, leasehold land on the slopes of the Punchbowl opened for settlement and in the 1930s, the crater was used as a rifle range for the Hawaii National Guard. Toward the end of World War II, tunnels were dug through the rim of the crater for the placement of shore batteries to guard Honolulu Harbor and the south edge of Pearl Harbor.
During the late 1890s, a committee recommended that the Punchbowl become the site for a new cemetery to accommodate the growing population of Honolulu. The idea was rejected for fear of polluting the water supply and the emotional aversion to creating a city of the dead above a city of the living.
Fifty years later, Congress authorized a small appropriation to establish a national cemetery in Honolulu with two provisions: that the location be acceptable to the War Department, and that the site would be donated rather than purchased. In 1943, the governor of Hawaii offered the Punchbowl for this purpose. The $50,000 appropriation proved insufficient, however, and the project was deferred until after World War II. By 1947, Congress and veteran organizations placed a great deal of pressure on the military to find a permanent burial site in Hawaii for the remains of thousands of World War II servicemen on the island of Guam awaiting permanent burial. Subsequently, the Army again began planning the Punchbowl cemetery; in February 1948 Congress approved funding and construction began.
Prior to the opening of the cemetery for the recently deceased, the remains of soldiers from locations around the Pacific Theater—including Wake Island and Japanese POW camps—were transported to Hawaii for final interment. Eventually, over 13,000 soldiers and sailors who died during World War II would be laid to rest in the Punchbowl.
Source: Find A Grave, National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific page
2021. Catherine (Clemens) Sevenau.