Birth Locations – Page 126 – The Exasperated Historian

173) William Alden Smith

173) William Alden Smith

United States Senator who Presided Over the US Enquiry Into the Sinking of the RMS Titanic

Born: 5 May 1859, Dowagiac, Michigan, United States of America

Died: 11 October 1932, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America

As a child he started his own Popcorn selling business where he earned twice as much as the average family in a week.

His political career began when William earned a job as a page in the Michigan House of Representatives.

He was a member of the Republican party; he was Fiscally Conservative but Socially Liberal. William served in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

William’s Enquiry into the Titanic disaster made him many enemies on both sides of the Atlantic as he fought for the truth to be revealed. The surviving officers like Charles Lightoller never forgave William for his deep probing into the truth, and the steamship companies were just as angry.

One of the more famous moments from the inquiry came when William asked Fifth Officer Harold Lowe what the composition of the iceberg that struck Titanic was. Harold’s answer? “Ice.” While the question may seem stupid today, it was actually a scientifically significant one. William had asked Fourth Officer Joseph Boxhall the same question. Joseph knew what William was asking, whether there were rocks or other earth were a part of the iceberg’s composition.

Also, according to the article I’m reading, William deemed it pertinent that a law be passed that binoculars were needed in the crow’s nest and other areas for the crew to use. The binoculars from Titanic had been removed before they left Queenstown, and some of the crew said they would have been able to spot the iceberg sooner had they had binoculars. However, according to 101 Things You Thought You Knew About the Titanic…But Didn’t! Science disproves that theory (read the book for more information, but the gist is that the night was so dark, plus other factors, would have meant the iceberg was invisible to binoculars until the naked eye could have seen it anyway).

Outside the Titanic Hearing, William also worked to improve the lives of African Americans by blocking a proposition to stop African American women from voting, pushing for more rights for African American landowners in the South, and leading the Senate to approve of the Emancipation Proclamation Exposition.

William passed away from a heart attack. His only son died from pneumonia he had contracted during World War I, in 1919.

This is a totally weird coincidence, but according to History Because Its Here, William was a descendant of Israel Putnam; you can read his entry on this site by clicking his name.

Badges Earned:
Find a Grave Marked

Located In My Personal Library:

Centennial Presents The Titanic: The Shipwreck That Shocked the World, What Really Happened by Ben Harris and Sebastian Raatz

Gilded Lives, Fatal Voyage: The Titanic's First-Class Passengers and Their World by Hugh Brewster

Titanic and the Mystery Ship by Senan Molony

Sources:

https://historybecauseitshere.weebly.com/william-alden-smith-michigans-titanic-senator.html

https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/image/SmithWilliamA.htm
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7994087/william-alden-smith

172) Helmuth Günther Guddat Hübener

172) Helmuth Hübener

The Youngest Opponent of the Third Reich to be Sentenced and Executed by the Volksgerichtshof (People’s Court)

Born: 8 January 1925, Hamburg, Germany

Died: 27 October 1942, Berlin, Germany

Helmuth was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints (more commonly known as Mormons).

When he was seventeen years old, Helmuth tried to tell the German People what Hitler really was outside the propaganda regime, and he was killed for it.

Helmuth was a devoted Boy Scout before the rise of the Third Reich. After the rise he had no choice but to become a member of the Hitler Youth after the Nazis banned the Boy Scouts from Germany in 1935.

However, after Kristallnacht, Helmuth quit the Hitler Youth, not at all okay with what the party was doing. He was also upset when the leader of the LDS church in Germany joined the Nazi Party, and most members of the congregation became supports of the Reich as well (though this was probably, at least for some of them, due to self-preservation).

Helmuth began listening to illegal radio broadcasts from the BBC as early as 1941. The BBC was using counter-propaganda techniques at the time and said that the Nazis were losing the war and had no way of winning (most historians today agree that the Nazis didn’t start losing until 1942 or 1943, but you get the point).

With the help of friends, Helmuth distributed around sixty pamphlets with the illegal information he’d uncovered in the radio broadcasts, trying to convince those who didn’t listen to turn against the Nazis and recognize they were going to lose the war.

In February of 1942 one of Helmuth’s coworkers turned him in, and he was arrested by Nazi officials. Helmuth and his friends spent ten weeks under torture, awaiting trial.

Oh, and the leader of his congregation excommunicated him from the Church.

During his trial, Helmuth’s friends later told his family they believed Helmuth was purposely baiting the judges so that they’d punish him more harshly and give his friends lighter sentences.

If that was his wish, it came true. His friends were sent to labor camps, but Helmuth was sentenced to death by beheading.

When asked if he had anything to say before his sentencing, Helmuth told the judges, “I have to die now for no crime at all. Your turn is next!”

Badges Earned:
Find a Grave Marked

Sources:

https://www.history.com/news/meet-the-youngest-person-executed-for-defying-the-nazis

https://www.gdw-berlin.de/en/recess/biographies/index_of_persons/biographie/view-bio/helmuth-huebener/?no_cache=1

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21859097/helmuth-hubener

171) Nathan “Nearest” Green

The Former Slave Turned Master Distiller

Born: c.1820, Maryland, United States of America (I’m trusting the Nearest Green Foundation when they say Maryland, other sources claim Tennessee with no documentation to back it up)

Died: 1890

He was the first African American master distiller in United States History.

According to his foundation, it isn’t known if he was born into slavery or became one in later life. In any case, he became a master distiller while working on a farm.

While working the farm, one day a young poor white boy showed up looking for work. That boy was Jasper Newton—otherwise known as Jack Daniel.

After a couple years of learning from Nearest, Jack began selling the whiskey around the community. He even sold it to soldiers during the War Between the States.

During the war, Jack’s father was killed, and he became an orphan at the age of fifteen. It was then that Jack decided to make the whiskey business his career.

Jack and Nearest went into the business together as partners. After a while, Jack bought Nearest out and ran the company on his own. When he started the business, Jack asked Nearest to be his master distiller.

Once Nearest retired, his sons and grandsons would continue working with Jack as the business grew. The picture often passed off as Nearest today is actually most likely one of his sons or grandsons, but who in particular is not known.

Badges Earned:

Find a Grave Marked

Sources:

https://www.nearestgreen.com/about-nearest-green/

https://theundefeated.com/features/foundation-honors-nearest-green-jack-daniels/

https://www.jackdaniels.com/en-us/vault/how-jack-daniel-came-make-whiskey

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/183022035/nathan-edmund-green

170) Sergeant Sylvester Antolak

Medal of Honor Recipient who was Awarded the Honor After Charging 200 Yards Through Open Terrain to Destroy a German Machine Gun Nest

Born: 10 September 1916, Saint Clairsville, Ohio, United States of America

Died: 24 May 1944, Cisterna di Latina, Italy

Sylvester ran thirty yards ahead of the rest of his squad through machine gun, rifle, and pistol fire.

He was shot and knocked to his feet three times, but he kept getting back up and kept going. His right arm was completely shattered and yet he managed to wedge his gun under his uninjured arm—he killed two enemy combatants and single-handedly got the other ten to surrender. Sylvester then continued without medical treatment and made it three-fourths of the way to the next enemy stronghold before being struck down and instantly killed.

His squad was so inspired they quickly took over the rest of the enemy combatants.

Sylvester was the youngest son of Polish immigrants from a small town in Ohio (whose population today is 6,000) and he led Audie Murphy into this very battle.

He is featured in the Netflix series Medal of Honor.

I've included the trailer for the series in this article.

Badges Earned:

Find a Grave Marked

Sources:

https://themedalofhonor.com/medal-of-honor-recipients/recipients/antolak-sylvester-world-war-two

https://heavy.com/news/2018/11/sylvester-antolak/

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55821588/sylvester-antolak

169) Major General Israel Putnam

169) Israel Putnam

"Don't Shoot Till You See the Whites of Their Eyes!"

Born: 7 January 1718, Salem Village, the Colony of Massachusetts (Present-day Danvers, Massachusetts, United States of America)

Died: 29 May 1790, Brooklyn, Connecticut, United States of America

He was the great-grandson of one of the prominent families in the Salem Witch Trials (Yes, the Putnams). Israel served in the French and Indian War and was taken captive by a Native American tribe. After his release he was raised to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Israel also Fought Valiantly at the Battle of Bunker Hill in the American Revolutionary War; and was given the rank of Major General as soon as the war broke out.

His service ended in December of 1779 after he suffered paralysis from a stroke.

His Famous Quote was, “Men, you are all marksmen—don’t one of you fire until you see the whites of their eyes.”

Badges Earned:
Find a Grave Marked

Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Israel-Putnam

https://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1294.html

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8046/israel-putnam

168) Kevyn Aucoin

168) Kevyn Aucoin

Before James, Jeffree, and Manny, there was Kevyn

Born: 14 February 1962, Shreveport, Louisiana, United States of America

Died: 7 May 2002, Valhalla, New York, United States of America

He was One of, if not the First Famous Make-up Artist to ever achieve fame and celebrity (before YouTube was a thing—crazy right? [that was sarcasm, hopefully you got that]).

Kevyn was also an author, and photographer; with his books teaching normal every day people the tricks to make their own makeup as fabulous as a celebrity's.

You can still purchase his products at most major makeup retailers: Sephora, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and his brand’s personal website.

He was raised in Louisiana, and was adopted, just like all his siblings. From the age of six, Kevyn knew he was gay, and was obsessed with Barbra Streisand and Vogue. He claimed his first step into the makeup world came when he was eleven; Kevyn did his five-year-old sister’s makeup.

Kevyn worked with all the greats in the late 1980’s and 1990’s and was an activist for LGBT+ Youth.

He died at the age of forty, far too soon. It was reported that Kevyn suffered from acromegaly, a condition that meant his pituitary gland secreted too much growth hormone. In the last years of his life, Kevyn grew two inches and two shoes sizes, and suffered from massive headaches. He became addicted to a dangerous cocktail of prescription drugs, which ultimately led to him overdosing.

So, here’s what I don’t understand. Kevyn paved the way for these big-name makeup artists today. He bridged the gap, to make the makeup artist just as famous as the person’s face they were making up, and yet today, I don’t think I’ve ever heard any of the beauty gurus I watch on YouTube even mention him. So, what’s the deal? The day I see James or Jeffree reviewing Kevyn’s line and talking about him is the day I will be a happy Sister.

A documentary about Kevyn’s life was released in 2017, entitled Larger Than Life. I’ve included a link to the section of the film where Cher recounts her experiences with Kevyn.

Badges Earned:
Find a Grave Marked

Sources:

https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/opinion/kevyn-aucoin-the-man-who-invented-the-modern-makeup-artist

https://www.beautylish.com/b/kevyn-aucoin

http://www.kevynaucoinfilm.com/

https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/aucoin-remembered

https://kevynaucoinbeauty.com/pages/about-kevyn-aucoin

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16154607/kevyn-james-aucoin

167) Walter Knott

167) Walter Knott

Created Knott’s Berry Farm

Born: 11 December 1889, San Bernadino, California, United States of America

Died: 3 December 1981, Buena Park, California, United States of America

Walter sold Knott’s Berry Farm Preserves and introduced the Boysenberry.

Walter had always dreamed of being a farmer and left high school in his sophomore year to pursue that dream (despite his mother’s protests). For several years he, his wife, and their growing family struggles, moving from place to place, seeking better opportunities.

To survive the depression, they began selling preserves, pies, and eventually chicken dinners. Soon the restaurant became so popular Walter decided to make some kind of entertainment for the people waiting to eat.

First, he built a scenic park area, but soon Walter was acquisitioning old homes and historic buildings from the Wild West, purchasing and moving them from their locations to the Berry Farm. By 1947, the name was officially Knott’s Berry Farm.

Walt Disney and Walter were friends, with Walt even taking advice from Walter on how to run a theme park. Walter and his wife even received invitations to attend Disneyland’s Grand Opening, and while they were happy for their acquaintance, they were also terrified that Disneyland would mean the end for Knott’s Berry Farm.

Luckily the opposite came true, and the activity at Knott’s Berry Farm increased. He built a theatre for up and coming performers, among those being Steve Martin. Walter also built new attractions to keep the visitors coming. When the log ride opened in 1969, John Wayne, another friend of Walter’s, made an appearance for the grand opening.

In 1966, Walter, a lover of American History and the Founding Fathers, oversaw the construction of an exact replica of Independence Hall added to the park.

In 1997, the Knott family sold Knott’s Berry Farm to a company out of Ohio, after seventy-eight years of ownership. Today, the Knott’s Berry Farm Food Company is owned by JM Smucker Company.

Badges Earned:
Find a Grave Marked

Sources:

https://americacomesalive.com/2017/05/23/walter-knott-farmer-and-theme-park-pioneer/

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6081372/walter-marvin-knott

166) Jason Everman

166) Jason Everman

Musician who turned from Rock and Roll to Special Forces Training

Born: 16 October 1967, Ouzinkie, Alaska, United States of America

Jason performed for Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mindfunk, OLD, and several others. He holds the distinction of being the only person kicked out of both Nirvana and Soundgarden.

Before leaving Nirvana, he paid the debt on recording their album Bleach, just over $600 out of his own pocket. And Kurt and Krist didn’t actually fire Jason, per se, they just canceled the tour they were on and drove home (Fifty hours from New York to Washington State) in silence. The meaning was clear enough. Kurt would later brag that he never paid back Jason (The album eventually sold over two million copies). And the reason why Jason was “removed” from the band? He was too moody and “Mental” (Cue Ironic by Alanis Morrissette).

Only months later, Jason was working for Soundgarden, who at that point were a much bigger deal than Nirvana. However, after only a few months, Chris Cornell fired Jason. It was for the same reason as why he left Nirvana; Jason was too moody.

Jason moved to New York, worked in a record warehouse, and played for a few smaller bands, but he still wasn’t happy. It was while he was playing with Mindfunk and living in San Francisco that he realized he wanted something different, and in 1993 he met with Army Recruiters. They offered him a fast track to Ranger school, and eventually the Special Forces.

After training himself for a few months, waking up early, working out, getting in shape, Jason took the plunge. He quit the band, put his stuff in storage, and flew to New York, where he signed his contract. A few weeks later, he was in Georgia.

Jason entered basic training with his hair cut, his nose ring gone. He was twenty-six years old and just another recruit.

Until a month later. Just after Kurt Cobain committed suicide; one of his drill sergeants found out about Jason’s past after reading an article in a magazine about Kurt, and spotting Jason in a photo of Nirvana.

The drill sergeants had a lot of fun with that. Suddenly it was, “Okay Rock Star, give me fifty.”

Luckily, Jason says he was fully prepared and expected it. He finished out his first enlistment as a Ranger but was still hoping to get to the coveted title of Special Forces.

He was in his last month of Special Forces training on 9/11. After, he served as a Green Beret in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

After leaving the military in 2006, he used his GI Bill and was accepted into Columbia University. He received his bachelor’s degree in philosophy at the age of forty-five.

In the interview he gave for Rolling Stone (Linked Below) he said he’d probably become a bartender somewhere—something anonymous, just the way he likes it.

Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/02/magazine/evermans-war.html

165) Commander Charles “Chick” Parsons

The Man who Made General MacArthur’s Triumphant Return Possible

Born: 22 April 1902, Shelbyville, Tennessee, United States of America

Died: 12 May 1988, Manila, Philippines

Chick first arrived in Manila at the age of five when his mother sent him there for a better life. However, he returned stateside for high school, then went back to Manila as a merchant marine in the 1920’s.

When he married, he was twenty-eight and his wife was sixteen.

Before the war, he was a high society figure in Manila, playing polo and working as a businessman.

After the Japanese occupation of Manila, Chick was able to spy for four months by posing as a Panamanian Diplomat. He had a Panama flag, happened to be the honorary consul general to the Philippines, and spoke enough Spanish he could pass in public. The Japanese fell for it, leaving him, his wife, and three children alone. He was only arrested after the now famous Doolittle Raid on Tokyo. Japan retaliated by arresting every non-Asian man in Manila.

Chick was held and tortured for weeks, but never broke, and was finally released.

In 1942, he and his family were forced to leave Manila, and settled in Washington DC, where he started to relay information to the State Department that he had gathered over the months he’d lived in occupied territory.

However, by February 1943 he was headed back to the Philippines after being asked by MacArthur personally.

Chick led three separate missions onto the islands, providing food and supplies to the guerrilla fighters hiding all throughout the islands. Ultimately, he made MacArthur’s return possible, and the Americans were eventually able to drive the Japanese off the islands entirely.

Unfortunately, not before the Japanese had taken Chick’s mother-in-law for suspicion of being connected to the guerrilla fighters. The Japanese were correct, beyond her being Chick’s mother-in-law, her son was also a rebel fighter. The Japanese beheaded her and threw her into a mass grave alongside many others.

After the war Chick went back to business as usual, continuing with his job and going back out onto the polo field. He was granted Filipino Citizenship by the new independent government.

His children referred to him as Iron Man.

Badges Earned:
Find a Grave Marked

Sources:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/without-chick-parsons-General-MacArthur-Never-Made-Return-Philippines-180964406/

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/183647055/charles-thomas-parsons

164) Benjamin Lay

The Dwarf, Vegan, Abolitionist Quaker

Born: 27 November 1682, Colchester, Essex, England (Present-day United Kingdom)

Died: 3 February 1759, Abington, the Colony of Pennsylvania (Present Day Pennsylvania, United States of America)

In later history, the Quakers were known for their anti-slavery point of view, but in Benjamin’s time, that was a radical and not at all acceptable point of view.

But yes, its true, he was an anti-slavery, Vegan, Quaker, Dwarf.

He was disowned by his fellow Quakers in 1738 for his anti-slavery sentiments.

Benjamin apparently learned to detest slavery after a trip to Barbados.

I first learned about Benjamin when he was featured in Smithsonian Magazine’s October 2017 Edition (Online Article listed below).

Badges Earned:
Find a Grave Marked

Sources:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/quaker-comet-greatest-abolitionist-never-heard-180964401/

http://web.tricolib.brynmawr.edu/speccoll/quakersandslavery/commentary/people/lay.php

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/62051222/benjamin-lay