8 May 1891 – 14 October 1977
John William Applegate
The Man of Many Chapters | Survivor of War and Work | Keeper of Quiet Roads
Some lives are drawn in straight lines — John’s was a patchwork quilt of moves, marriages, and reinventions. Born in Crothersville, Indiana, in the spring of 1891, he grew up in a household where the door was always swinging for siblings, extended family, and visitors.
By the time the First World War arrived, John had already endured a serious hand injury but still stepped forward to serve. After his discharge, his life unfolded in restless chapters: from Indiana streets to Ohio hotels, from sales counters to bakery offices, and eventually, the Arizona desert. His five marriages marked turning points, each carrying him into a new role, a new address, a new attempt at permanence.
He was a man who kept moving — not because he lacked roots, but because he carried them with him.
Want the full story?
Head over to John William Applegate’s Family Page for a detailed, milestone-based history of his life, complete with records, photographs, and research notes.
Tell Us What You Know
The documents tell us where John lived and when he married, but they don’t tell us how he laughed, what stories he told at the dinner table, or whether he liked the desert sunsets in Arizona more than Indiana’s summer evenings.
If you knew John — or if he was part of your family’s stories — please share your memories, photographs, or anecdotes in the comments below. Every detail helps stitch together the man behind the records.