PROFILES

• Colonel Jack Treadwell
• Treadwell Inn
• Miriam Treadwell

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Colonel Jack Treadwell




Colonel Jack Treadwell was a congressional medal of honor winner of World War II, now a colonel with the Fourth United States Army sta- tioned in San Antonio. This interview was taped March 2, 1970 by the Oklahoma Living Legends department, Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma Christian College, Oklahoma City.

Col. Treadwell died Dec. 10, 1979 in Alabama and is buried in the Fort Sill Military Cemetery.

"I was born in Alabama. My folks moved to Snyder when I was less than a year old. I was raised in Snyder and attended the Snyder schools. Then I enrolled at Southwestern University for a short time then entered the Ar- my in January of 1941.

"At that time I joined the 45th division. I was in G company of the 180th infantry and received my basic training with this company and went into Sicily and later into France and Germany. I received my battlefield commission in Italy. At that time I was transferred over to the third batallion, K company, and stayed with them for a period of about six months. Then I went to F company whlch was the National Guard com- pany from Hugo, Oklahoma. I commanded that company until I was wounded at the end of World War II.

"I was a volunteer. I knew I would be assigned to the 45th division which was at Ft. Sill.

"Our initial combat was on the invasion of Sicily on June 10, 1943. It was considerably dif- ferent from what we thought. However, our training we had been through was very beneficial. It took us a week or so to settle down until we were allowed to keep our units together and move forward.

"To me the most memorable action was on the break out of Angio which as I recall was on the 23rd of May, 1944. We had been on Angio since January, 1944. The break out of there and getting our troops forward and going into Rome to me was a most memorable action.

"When I start praising the Oklahomans, I start praising myself, but their actions in com- bat were second to none in my experience. We had a lot of replacements in the division that were non-residents of Oklahoma. They were from the New England states, to me the Oklahomans took second place to none.

"There are two men in particular who stick out in my mind. One was a young man named Quintis T. Herndon from Idabel. He was the most outstanding soldier that I saw. He receiv- ed a battlefield commission early in World War II. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant and then was later very seriously wounded and shipped back to the states.

There are many memorable soldiers. Jake Young was another. He was also from Idabel. If I mention several from Idabel the reason is probably that when I joined G company they were a national guard unit from Idabel.

"Some of the others in K company were excellent soldiers and came through in real fine color.

"General Muldrove, who is now retired, living at Norman, and the late General McLain also come to mind. McLain was the only national guard soldier to reach the rank of Lieutenant General. He was from Oklahoma City.

"The action where I received the congressional medal of honor occurred on March 18. It was near the end of the war. We had gotten up to the Maginot line. We had been moving quite rapidly until we got there. We were completely stopped by the pillboxes which were so well camoflauged and concealed.

"I remember the taking of one pillbox in particular. It was done by an Indian boy, his last name was Billy. He was a young lieutenant from Oklahoma. He did just a splendid job of leading his platoon. He was later wounded and evacuated back to the states.

"I was wounded on Mar. 30, 1945 (which is on my birthday). There was a group of Germans who had holed up in some woods and slowed our advance. I was told to send a patrol out and remove this resistance.

"I sent the patrol out under a young patrol leader. It went to the wrong place. So I went out and took over the patrol and led them down into the woods where the Germans were. This was the time when I was wounded and evacuated back to the states.

"After World War II, my first assignment was at Ft. Benning, Georgia with the 25th infantry combat team. After which I went to Ft. Devons, Massachusetts with the Seventh Infantry that was moved there to reopen that post.

"Following that I went to school at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. Then I went to Austria and spent three years. Next I went to New York, First Army Headquarters where I was an aide to the commanding general of the First Army.

"From there I went to Leavenworth to the commander general staff college and then out to Eniwetok and left my family here in Oklahoma while I had a short tour in Pacific and then to Ft. Benning again. I served there for two years.

"Then I went to the armed forces staff college and back to the fourth army headquarters at Ft.Sam, from there to the army war college then on to Germany for three years. Back to Ft. Benning and then to Viet Nam from which I just returned, in October and have been down at San Antonio at that time.

"Names that come to my mind of Oklahomans who were outstanding were Jim Dan C_____ , from Durant; Shelby Sattersfield, Wagoner, who is now retired; those are the two that I remember right off.

"There was a Johnny Sessions from Idabel that went to Officers Candidate School after the war. I haven't seen him for several years. However, I did see him quite often when he was going through the Officers Candidate School at Ft. Benning.

"Actually most of the others that I knew after the war and during the war have retired.

"Of course in the regular army when the 45th is mentioned they have a very good reputation with the regular army divisions.

"They know what the 45th division did during World War II and its record there and its record in Korea. Which is one of the best in the army."

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Treadwell Inn Last summer Treadwell Inn Bed and Breakfast was presented with the Award of Merit from the St. Andrews Civic Trust..The award, according to Trust President Lois Fenety, is given in recognition of an outstanding effort in recording, preserving or restoring segments of our Civic Heritage which will enrich the quality of life of the Citizens of St. Andrews, and enhance the appreciation of visitors to our historic area.Overlooking St. Andrews harbour, Treadwell Inn was built in the 1820's by John Treadwell, a carpenter who specialized in ship's blocks and spars.

The Customs office was established in the lower half of the Treadwell home and the red, white and blue glass is still evident over the entrance. Since that time, the building has served a number of retail interests: a watchmaker's shop established by Nathan Treadwell; a magistrate's office under James Stoop; a clothing store and a barber shop. In recent memory the Treadwell building was home to Beacon Press, owned and operated for 40 years by Edward Williamson. Drawn by the charm of Charlotte County, Jerry Mercer and Annette Lacey moved to St. Andrews from Ontario in 1989 and purchased the Treadwell building. This 2 1/2 story Vernacular Georgian home with spectacular view of the harbor and seaside garden was well suited to their retail needs. In 1992 Mercer and Lacey opened a bed and breakfast operation, retaining the Treadwell name along with a unique gift shop on the Water St. level, called Nature and You.

In 1994 the proprietors were successful in obtaining technical and financial assistance from the Cooperation Agreement for Urban Economic Development. A program administered by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. Extensive renovations to the building commenced under the expertise of Montreal Architect Wolfgang Triebsch and workmanship of contractor Joe Mortimer & Sons of Saint John. Concerned with maintaining the original integrity of their heritage building, Mercer and Lacey proceeded to replace the exterior commercial siding with wooden clap boarding. They restored the original character of the double windowed doors and street level bay windows. As in many homes of this period the third level was never completed. Major work was undertaken to transform the space into two large self-contained suites with the addition of six attractive dormers. Lacey recalls their delight in discovering evidence of charred timbers in the attic caused by the fire of June 21, 1883 that destroyed the nearby American House.

Today Treadwell Inn Bed and Breakfast attracts guests from all parts of the continent. The four spacious guest rooms and two suites offer every modern convenience including private bath, country style breakfast and three story verandah overlooking Passamaquoddy Bay. The warmth of this well maintained heritage home, enhanced by antique furnishings and Battenburglinen duvets, attests to the rewards of caring for and enhancing our built heritage.

From the Charlotte Heritage Region May 1996 As a side note: John Treadwell builder and operator of the Inn was the father of John Treadwell, the owner of Treadwell Gold Mines in Alaska



Miriam Treadwell In all my work on the family history to date, the name of Miriam Treadwell keeps coming to my mind. She had to be one of the strongest and bravest women of her time. She married her second cousin Ephraim Treadwell in 1759 and they settled in North Fairfield, Ct. When or why the family's loyalties turned against the colonists I do not know, but they were staunch supporters of the King So much so that there was a warrant out for Ephraim's arrest and to hold him in exchange for American farmers held by the Loyalists on Long Island. The story is told below as taken word for word from her claim filed against the US Gov't in the taking of their lands in North Fairfield. I guess one of the things that caught me eye is that after being alone for two years and keeping the family together, she left the land with her children and went to the British lines carrying the white flag . She certainly was a brave woman. Sometime after that she rejoined her husband and family on Long Island. In the spring of 1783 they went by ship to St. John, New Brunswick, Canada. After they landed they were taken up river and left on the banks with no more than guns , axes and some provisions. They had to build cabins and clear land to ready for the next winter. Ephraim, it has been reported died in the spring freshet the following year in 1784. Life was not over for Miriam as she became acquainted with Nicholas Rideout, also a single parent of 11 children, then youngest of which was two years old. They were married and combined families. As time went on Miriam's daughter and son, married Nicholas's two children and our lines have continued in both directions. Read on, her claim is just how it was transcribed. I feel there are several errors in it based on our other information but that does not change her story nor what she did.

Page 830, THE REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF ARCHIVES

NEW CLAIM (Treadwell)

714 Case of MARIA Redout, late of CONNECT.

Claimt. Says she came in May, 83 Her Hus., Ephraim Tredwell, came with her. They went up the River, immediately settled on Musquosh Island Thinks she did not hear of the Act till about 2 years ago. Her Husb., Ephraim Tredwell, lived in Fairfield Co. He joined the British at Danbury, went with the Army to Long Island Their eldest son went to Danbury with his Father, he died in the British service. Her Husband continued at Long Island till be came to this Province He died in 84 without a will, leaving 8 Children, the Eldest Son, Mathew, lives with the Claimt. now, 24.

All the Children are in this Province.

Her Husb. had a farm of 93 acres in North Fairfield. Purchased about 16 years ago. Was in Possession till he went away. Claimt staid 2 years after him when SHE WENT INTO THE LINES WITH A FLAG.

There was a chore house, very good Land, almost all meadow & Plough land. Thinks it is greatly undervalued in her scheule. Does not know wbat is become of the Lands. One Bennson was in possession when she heard. Left 20 Sheep with a neighbor which she knows nothing of since. Her Husb. was plundered when he lived at Long Island. Things vere taken out of a vessel which belonged to her Huaband. Had a boat of his own from whence these things were taken, to value of 28. Lost some Cord Wood, burnt at Eatens Neck, where they staid a little time before they got to Loyds Neck. The Rebels attacked their house there, burnt 1O Cords of Wood.

The Land goes among the Children. She has eight now living, Nathanel, Frederick Sanuel live with their Mother, Abel, Majorfield, Ephriam, in St. John, Reuben with his Mother,Ruth Camb at the Falls, Rebecca with her Mother, Mary with her Mother.

She now lives at Majorfleld. Maintains the Chillren that live with her.

Is told to get Certificate of Confiscation

54: AR.




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