I wish to thank Matt Sutton for making this watch and the provenance available.

It was my good fortune to have been in the right place at the right time.

I now become the temporary caretaker until it passes some time in the future to the next caretaker.

Please take a look at the original post here at 185.

I am going to ask Sheila if she will do some research to see if we can find out what happened to the 1st Sargent.

1st Sgt. John c Fern

Phillip

Interesting watch.

Here is what I have found so far.

In the 1920 census of Fort Amador Panama Canel John Fern is listed as 1st Sergeant from 612 Brackway St. Saginaw Michigan, W-M 35 years of age born in West Virginia both father & mother are from the Rhine Province Germany

This census has most if not all of his command at the time.

Tom

Oh, thank you so much Tom. That is fantastic. Are you saying then that he was born in 1885?

I don't know why this kind of detective work is so spell binding.

It makes you wonder. Did he have children? A wife? If so did one of them sell the watch?

We can use them pages to keep solving the mystery.

John C Fern

1945 fla Census shows him as 61 yrs old, and as retired from US Army.
Married to Violet age 42
Daughter June Alice age 7
Son John C age 5

Born Jan. 28, 1884

and TONS of other items.

He also worked in a coal mine when he was 16

Lots of Military information.

He completed High School

I will send you the information.
It's about 7 pictures, so I will e-mail it to you.

Phil and Sheila, There is a business in Florida that may connect to the youngest Mr. Fern;

John C. Fern, President
J C Fern & Associates Inc
1035 Sunshine Ln Ste 106, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714-3813
Contact Phone: (407) 774-0737

Business Category: Construction Consultant in Altamonte Springs, FL
Industry (SIC): Management Consulting Services

Sheila,

Where do you find all this census information?

Steve

Steve

I don't know about Sheila but I belong to ancestry.com & pay dues to access all the census info & military & newspaper etc. Kind of expensive but I use it for other stuff too.

Tom

Is Sheila the greatest or what?

Dave, I am going to give the Junior, if that is correct a call. I will post the outcome here.

Tom, thank you so much for your assistance. I wonder if someone will be looking for us in a hundred years.

Steve,
Same as Tom!
(and other sources)

I use the WORLD version of Ancestry, it has so much more than the others. I also use old newspaper information, and regular searches like google, yahoo, and others. You would be amazed at the difference in them.

For some items Google is the only way to go, for others Google is no good at all.

The real answer..... Practice.


PS The World version gives you just that, information from all parts of the world that is available.

Sheila

It is probably a one sided competetion but whenever anyone posts something that can use some research I think "can I find it before Sheila", I get so much enjoyment out of finding little pieces of info & putting them together. I guess that is why I have been a detective all these years.

So if anyone out there need some info on a private label or engraved watch let me know, I need another case to crack.

Tom

Tom,

What can you tell me the Illinois Jewelry Co.? I have a dial marked as such but it may not even be for an Illinois watch. I will try to post a picture tonigh and check dial feet positions.

Steve

Tom! lololol

That's so cool. I think I may have to take up the competition!

I do it just because I enjoy it, but doing it fast, is something I will have to work on.

Maybe we need another link just for private label name "look-ups"

I didn't know you were a detective! Wow!

Yes, I would like to see a Private Label forum where we can post the watches & any info we find on them.

Another thing I have been doing when I have time is saving jewelery store business card images I run across on the web but I don't search for them as often as I should.

I don't know if I would say WOW to being a detective, I am in my 35th year now of doing this & I would rather just play on the computer & work on watches but I guess I have to pay for this hobby.

Tom

Dave, I just got off of the phone with John C Fern from Altamont Springs, Fl. Not the son. This John C Fern's father's name was Louis and they are from Manchester England.
He did tell me that there is a John C Fern listed on the Veitnam war memorial. That would have been too late to be this John C fern, the original owner of the watch.

Tom, Sheila, more sleuthing, now necassary.

The Vietnam Memorial would be in the right age group (mine) and is worth looking into as there must be more family.

Phil

The watch owner John C. Fern, his son John C. Fern Jr. was born about 1939-1940 in Michigan. I found where a John C. Fern born 1939 in Michigan died 10/04/1986 in LA. Ca.

The John C. Fern that died in Vietnam was born 10/19/48 & died 03/16/1970, God Rest His Soul!

Tom

This John Fern is from Saginaw Michigan, and one of the photos I sent was from 1920, at Fort Amador Panama Canal Zone. He's listed as a 1st Sergeant, and is 35 years old at the time.

I have updated the original post with some information on John C. Fern as he was my Great Uncle.

John C. Fern