Dorchester Illustration no. 2367 Charles Manoog Samuelian
Vivian Portner has been following our World War I servicemen blog posts and contacted us about her great uncle, Charles, who was a Dorchester resident and veteran of World War I. Charles’s brothers, Yeghia and Michael, were founders of Dorchester’s Seymours Ice Cream Company which produced ice cream and novelties for corner stores and supermarkets – including Popsicles, Dixie cups and Nutty Buddies. We are honored to have another serviceman to feature in our exhibit with a connection to such a treasured part of Dorchester’s history.
CHARLES SAMUELIAN
Charles Manoog Samuelian was born in Mezereh, Armenia, on June 15, 1886 to parents Almas and Manoog Samuelian. According to his naturalization papers, Charles immigrated to the United States in 1907 and arrived in New York City sometime in November 1907 aboard the ship “La Lorraine,” which had set sail from Havre, France. Charles was naturalized on October 29, 1913.
The Samuelian brothers got involved in the retail business when they came to the United States. Their business card states, “Samuelian Brothers, manufacturers of ice cream and fancy ices, dealers in fruit, confectionary, cigars, tobacco, and stationary.” Their stores were located at 1051 and 1375 Dorchester Avenue – both in the Fields Corner neighborhood of Dorchester. Charles and his brothers, Yeghia, Avedis, and Michael, all lived together near their stores on Dorchester Avenue. By 1913, their mother, Almas, was also living with them.
Charles registered for the draft on June 5, 1917. He was still living in Dorchester and his occupation wais listed as “fruit dealer.” His draft card described him as a single, thirty year old man of 5’ 11”, stout, with brown eyes and black hair. He was inducted into the United States Army on April 28, 1918 in Boston. He first served as a private in the 25th Company, 7th Battalion, 151st Depot Brigade at Fort Devens until May 1918. Subsequently, he was transferred to Company E, 301st Infantry until July of 1918 during which time he was deployed overseas. While overseas, he was transferred to Company C, 163rd Infantry until August 1918 and then finally transferred to Company D, 168th Infantry which he served in until his discharge. While in Europe, Charles was a part of several engagements, including the offensive at St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne and the defensive sectors at Essey-Pannes. His service card indicates that he was “slightly” injured in October of 1918. He returned from Europe in January 1919 and was honorably discharged from Camp Devens on February 13, 1919.
After the war, Charles returned home to Dorchester and continued to work with his brothers. According to the 1920 census, he was back living on Dorchester Avenue with his mother, Almas, his brother Michael and his wife, and his brother Yeghia, Yeghia’s wife and their four children. The brothers’ occupations are all listed as “confectioners.”
Sadly, Charles died later that year, at the U.S. Parker Hill Hospital (present day Jamaica Plain VA Hospital), on December 8, 1920; he was only 34 years old. According to his family, Charles suffered the effects of mustard gas attacks during his time in the Army which contributed to his early death. He is buried in the family plot in Cambridge Cemetery. In 1921, the Boston City Council submitted an order, signed by Mayor Andrew Peters, naming a Hero Square in his honor at the corner of Dorchester Avenue and King Street.
Sources:
Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.
Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Death Index, 1901-1980 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2013.
Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Naturalization Records – Originals, 1906-1929 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2011.
Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.
“Samuelian” obituary, Boston Globe, 11 Dec 1920.
Military, Compiled Service Records. World War I. Carded Records. Records of the Military Division of the Adjutant General’s Office, Massachusetts National Guard.