Clifford Sturgeon
Early Life
Clifford Leverett Sturgeon was born on December 20, 1888, in Avon, Connecticut, the son of Joseph Sturgeon and Rose Pendes. He grew up in a large family with numerous siblings, reflecting the rural New England household structure of the late nineteenth century.
By the time of the First World War, he had relocated to Rye, New York, where he was living at 70 New Street and working as a farmer. His move from Connecticut to Westchester County reflects the broader pattern of labor mobility between rural and suburban communities during this period.
He was married and the father of three young children, all under the age of twelve, placing him among the many family men whose wartime obligations were shaped by responsibilities at home.
World War I Service
Sturgeon registered for the draft on June 5, 1917, in Rye, New York. His registration reflects that he was a natural-born citizen and physically fit for service, but also notes his status as a married man with dependent children.
There is no confirmed record of active military service, enlistment, or overseas deployment. His responsibilities as a husband and father of multiple young children likely contributed to his classification status during the draft process.
Like many men in similar circumstances, his role during the war appears to have remained on the home front, contributing through essential civilian labor rather than direct military service.
Life After the War
Following the war, Sturgeon continued working in labor-intensive occupations. By 1920, he was employed as a teamster, a role that involved transporting goods by horse-drawn or early motorized vehicles, reflecting the transitional nature of transportation work in the early twentieth century.
He later returned to Connecticut, where he worked as a caretaker for a golf course in Avon, indicating a shift toward maintenance and groundskeeping work as he aged.
His life reflects that of a working-class laborer who moved between agricultural and service roles across state lines, adapting to changing economic conditions.
Clifford Leverett Sturgeon died on May 6, 1943, at the age of 54.
He was survived by his family, including his wife and children, though detailed records of survivors remain limited.