WWI & Homestead updates

Sign in photo reads: This is the Site of the New Town of Sanish and Van Hook.  The photo is from the State Historical Society of North Dakota

 Why did Fred Cole change his name to James Edward Sullivan?

In my last post I stated that we believe Fred Cole changed his name to James Edward Sullivan in order to avoid being called back into active duty in the army.  When he changed his name he also created a story about his life and his family.  Fred Coles birthday was originally the 4th of July 1885 making him 30 years old in July of 1915.  In his new life story his birthday was the 4th of July 1879 making him six years older so in July of 1915 he would be 36 years old.  

National Archives/Military records states:

https://www.archives.gov/research/military/ww1/draft-registration

During World War I there were three registrations.  The first, on June 5, 1917, was for all men between the ages of 21 and 31.  The second, on June 5, 1918, registered those who attained age 21 after June 5, 1917.  A supplemental registration was held on August 24, 1918 for those becoming 21 years old after June 5, 1918.  This was included in the second registration.)  The third registration was held on September 12, 1918, for men age 18 through 45.

I realize that this information is not proof that this is why he changed his name.  It is speculation that he changed his name so military records wouldn't be found for him and he changed his age so he would be old enough to avoid being drafted at the beginning of the war.

Homestead Papers

Also in one of the past posts I speculated that Fred Cole stayed in San Francisco at the Pacific Panama Exposition until December 1915 when the Exposition concluded.  This past week-end at RootsTech 2023 I did a search of the BLM homestead records.

https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx   

The homestead papers for James Edward Sullivan are dated 1 June 1920.  The gentleman helping me at the booth told me that the homestead papers are issued at the end of a five years period.  The person receiving the papers had to live on the property, make home improvements and farm the ground for five years before he was granted the property.  This would mean that Fred Cole, now James Edward Sullivan was in North Dakota in June of 1915 and didn't stay to the end of the exposition.  The original James Edward Sullivan, director of the sporting activities of the exposition died September 16, 1914.

I currently have copies of these homestead records ordered.  I'm told it can take months to get them so we are waiting patiently for them to arrive.