Born in Ben Davis, Marion County, Indiana, on November 19, 1887, he was one of the seven children of Ohio-born Alice (Serber) and Missouri-born Martin Poland. His parents married in Marion County on August 1, 1876. His father was a horse dealer and his parents eventually took in lodgers with his mother acting as landlady. In 1900, the family lived in Wayne Township (possibly Ben Davis or west Indianapolis) with six of the children still living at home. At the time Norman was going to school as were his sister, Sarah, and brother, Raymond. In 1910, the family, lived on Germania Avenue, which was renamed Belleview Street in 1917 because of anti-German sentiment during World War I. The 1910 census record indicated that Norman was a laborer at odd jobs. On June 5, 1917, he completed his WWI draft registration. At the time, he still lived with his parents, but they had moved to West Washington Street just west of North Tibbs Avenue. The registration indicated he worked for his father. He did enter the service, but there is no indication if he was drafted or if he joined. His stone is inscribed "Indiana, Pvt 18 Inf 1 Div." His mother passed away in 1919 about age 61. In 1920, he was living with his 76-year-old father and working at the foundry. One lodger, who was living with them, also helped his father with the livery stable. His father died in 1921. On April 19, 1922, he married Elsa Anna Dorella Meyers in Marion County. The couple moved a little further west, but stayed in the Indianapolis area. The 1930 census recorded him as a disabled veteran. He died seven years later at the age of 50.
Born in Ben Davis, Marion County, Indiana, on November 19, 1887, he was one of the seven children of Ohio-born Alice (Serber) and Missouri-born Martin Poland. His parents married in Marion County on August 1, 1876. His father was a horse dealer and his parents eventually took in lodgers with his mother acting as landlady. In 1900, the family lived in Wayne Township (possibly Ben Davis or west Indianapolis) with six of the children still living at home. At the time Norman was going to school as were his sister, Sarah, and brother, Raymond. In 1910, the family, lived on Germania Avenue, which was renamed Belleview Street in 1917 because of anti-German sentiment during World War I. The 1910 census record indicated that Norman was a laborer at odd jobs. On June 5, 1917, he completed his WWI draft registration. At the time, he still lived with his parents, but they had moved to West Washington Street just west of North Tibbs Avenue. The registration indicated he worked for his father. He did enter the service, but there is no indication if he was drafted or if he joined. His stone is inscribed "Indiana, Pvt 18 Inf 1 Div." His mother passed away in 1919 about age 61. In 1920, he was living with his 76-year-old father and working at the foundry. One lodger, who was living with them, also helped his father with the livery stable. His father died in 1921. On April 19, 1922, he married Elsa Anna Dorella Meyers in Marion County. The couple moved a little further west, but stayed in the Indianapolis area. The 1930 census recorded him as a disabled veteran. He died seven years later at the age of 50.
Bio by: J.Sullivan
Inscription
INDIANA PVT 18 INF 1 DIV
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