Robert Arnold Dewsnap

Robert Arnold Dewsnap was born 6/12/1923 in Binghamton , New York .  His father William Robert Jr., died when he was only 9 yrs old on April 4^th, 1932.  I don’t know if he remembered him or not, but he never spoke of   what kind of a father he was … judging by the early photographs, he looked to have a happy childhood up to that point.  

He and his older brother Edward looked to have lots of fun. 

Dewsnap History written by Robert age 10

Fathers name was William R. Dewsnap.  Mothers name was Nellie G. Dewsnap.  Father born Feb 20, 1877.  Mother born April 20, 1893.  Married Oct. 9, 1918. Two boys Edward and Robert were born  July 7, 1920 and June 12, 1923.  Father died April 4, 1932.  We have lived in Owego 11 years.

We kept about 500 hens.  We had some ducks and rabbits.  We raised fruit and vegtables.  We went on picnics and walks.  We went to bed early.  Robert begain school when he was 5 years old.  Edward had inflamatory rheumatism when he was 9 and did not go to school until he was 12, then he went to Syracuse state school.  We enjoy the birds and make bird houses for them.  We had a big cat Buster and he disapeared when he was 7 years old.  We found a stray cat Rosa which now has 5 kittens.

Once when Edward was about 3 years old he went down celler and there was a jar of butter on the floor and near there was some kerosene, and he poured it in the butter!

The first time Robert went up a lader father was building a chicken coop and he had the ladder up on the coop and Robert went up it.  We had a dog Mikky.  Father pulled Robert to town on the sled in the winter to get his hair cut.  Edward had a doll Peter who has been like one of the family.  He has had many adventures!

Nellie (my grandmother) remarried Robert A. Heller on 9/21/1934.  Before he left on 10/15/1938 he managed to do harm to both the boys, both physical and mental.  Edward was running a very high fever when Mr. Heller accused him of being lazy, and beat him leaving him somewhat retarded until he died ??  Nellie and Mr. Heller were divorced 8/4/1939. 

This is about when my father’s life turned upside down.  His step-father left, his brother was sent away to an institution, his mother moved to the city to get a job, leaving him behind working as a farm hand at a chicken ranch.

Verbal account from

 Robert Arnold Dewsnap’s Military Tour

Boot camp - Ft. Custer, Mich. 3-29-43 M.P. training.