Daniel W. Slater
Early Life
Daniel Wynott Slater was born on August 16, 1891, in Rye, New York, the son of Mortimer Burnside Slater and Julia Alden Slater. He grew up in Rye as part of a long-established local family, residing on Park Lane and later at 15 Locust Lane.
By the time of the First World War, he was married with a young child and working in the industrial sector in nearby Port Chester, reflecting the working and family responsibilities that shaped many men’s wartime experiences.
World War I Service
Slater entered military service on September 8, 1918, when he was inducted at Port Chester, New York, into the United States Army. He was assigned to the 156th Depot Brigade, a training and processing unit responsible for receiving, organizing, and preparing soldiers for potential assignment to combat or support units.
Depot brigades played a crucial role during World War I, particularly in 1918, as the Army expanded rapidly and required large numbers of men to be processed, trained, and distributed efficiently. Soldiers assigned to these units often performed duties related to training, administration, and logistical preparation within the United States.
Slater’s service came during the final months of the war, and there is no record of overseas deployment or combat engagement. Like many men inducted late in 1918, his military experience was largely stateside as the war drew to a close.
He served in the rank of Private and was honorably discharged on December 31, 1918.
Life After Service
Following his military service, Slater remained in the region, eventually settling in Stamford, Connecticut, where he lived for approximately three decades. He worked as a painter for various contractors and later as a guard at Belltown School, reflecting a steady working-class career.
He was married to Emma Shanz Slater and maintained close ties with his extended family, including siblings who also resided in the area.
Daniel W. Slater died on December 10, 1969, in Stamford, Connecticut, at the age of 78.
At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife, Emma Slater; his daughter, Mrs. George Andriunas of Stamford; his sisters, Emma F. Slater and Anna Tomaino; and four grandchildren.