LIVING HISTORY
FORT PIERCE’S LARGEST FUNERAL
The St. Lucie County Tribune reported that the remains arrived
28
at 10 the night of Feb. 18 and were taken to the home
of A.M. Sample for visitation the next morning, “where they
were viewed by hundreds of old acquaintances and sorrowing
friends.’’ The visitation was held at the Samples’ home
for convenience because the Gladwins had moved out of the
heart of downtown.
The flag-draped coffin was then carried to the First Presbyterian
Church, with a funeral service given by Dr. E.P Thompson.
The coffin was then carried to Pine Crest Cemetery, now
known as Riverview Memorial Park. The pall bearers, all
returned soldiers in uniform, were Cader Hart, Harold Bell,
George Ford, Ralph Cain, B.M. Jones and Howard Richards.
Businesses were closed during the funeral and flags were
flown at half-staff, the St. Lucie County Tribune reported.
“His funeral was perhaps one of the largest and most
impressive ever held in this city,’’ the Tribune wrote. “The
spacious Presbyterian church was filled to overflowing with
sorrowing friends and acquaintances, thus showing the high
regard and appreciation in which he was held by the citizens
of the town and community.’’
The newspaper account described the floral arrangements,
including one given by the friends in his battalion that was
made to represent the insignia of the Signal Corps. Created of
red and white carnations, violets and greenery, the arrangement
had two guns crossed, with a sword in the center. The
word “Comrade,’’ created of blue violets, appeared under the
insignia against a background of white violets.
At the graveside, Dr. Thomson delivered a short prayer,
which followed a three-volley shot fired by the St. Lucie
County Guards. As the body was lowered into the grave, Tod
Backus, a friend since their fathers’ days in the boat business
together, sounded taps on the cornet.
“This was the first military funeral held in this city,’’ the
Tribune declared toward the end of its account, “and Stephen
Gladwin was the first soldier brought back to Fort Pierce for
interment since the war began.’’
Underneath the newspaper account of the funeral, R.R.
Gladwin and wife, Florence, gave a note of thanks to all, especially
“our soldier boy’s comrades for the magnificent and
Bob Gladwin, left, brother of Stephen N. Gladwin, was present when a
painting of his brother was presented to American Legion Post 40.
appropriate floral piece contributed by them and accompanying
the remains to their last resting place. The gratitude of a
loving father and mother will ever be theirs.’’
The newspaper account settled the question of Stephen
Gladwin’s place in Fort Pierce history. While others had died
or were killed in war, none had been brought home for burial.
In an age before radio or television, the funeral with military
honors must have been the city’s biggest spectacle, an
event that would remain etched in the minds of citizens for
years. R.R. Gladwin’s early prominence in the city made it
all the more significant.
So it was inevitable that when the local American Legion
post was formed in Fort Pierce, the citizenry chose to name it
after the man the city had just memorialized.
The account of the flower arrangement from his brothers
in arms in Texas
settled the question
of whether
he had died alone
and unconnected.
But also did a surprising
reference
in the newspaper
accounts that we
never knew about.
He had a best
friend with whom
he’d enlisted and
served and who
had fulfilled the
extraordinary mission
of accompa- >>
Wayne G. Watkins’ grave in Putnam Hall, Fla. Watkins
was the likely bunkmate of Stephen Gladwin,
who enlisted with Gladwin when the U.S. declared
war with Germany, served with him at Fort Bliss
and accompanied his body home by train when
Gladwin died of Spanish influenza in 1919.
Stephen Gladwin’s tombstone in the Gladwin/Enns family plot at Riverview
Memorial Park in Fort Pierce bears the insignia of his battalion. His 1919 funeral
was reported as being one of the largest in Fort Pierce up to that time.