Robert Patterson Staley is another Paulding County young man with a sad ending. Robert Patterson Staley was born May 17, 1895, in Paulding, Ohio, the son of Edward S. and Blanche (Patterson) Staley. Edward S. Staley was born in Lafayette, Indiana, March 7, 1858, and later became a popular Paulding County sheriff, elected November 3, 1891. Blanche was born July 25, 1867, in Fostoria, Ohio. Ed and Blanche were married May 11, 1892, in Paulding, Ohio, by Judge Lafayette Lewis.
By 1900, the Staley family consisted of a daughter, Jessie P., born in April of 1885. She was the daughter of Edward and his first wife, Elva (Day) Staley. Elva passed away due to complications from childbirth on July 1, 1886. The family also included two sons, Nelson, born in April of 1893, and Robert, born in May of 1895. Edward was employed as a timber dealer, and all the children were in school.
On October 22, 1903, the Staley family welcomed another son, John Edward. By 1910, the Staley family was living at 520 Main Street in Paulding. On August 22, 1911, Robert’s brother Nelson accidentally drowned while visiting St. Ignace, Michigan. His body was brought home and buried in Live Oak Cemetery.
By 1916, Robert was a college student at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Robert was a member of the Varsity Social Club, serving as vice president. By 1917, every able-bodied male between the ages of 18 and 45 had to register for the draft. On May 31, 1917, Robert did so. He was listed as tall, slender, 5 feet 10 inches tall, with brown eyes and dark brown hair…