O'Brien Assumed Name

OBRIEN, TAYLOR, WATSON

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 6/13/2015 at 09:39:12

Commander Of Reinbeck Legion Changed His Name

James O'Brien, Reinbeck Business Man, Was Formerly Ivan C. Taylor

Changed Name When He Came To Reinbeck In '14

Family Living in Blair, Nebraska, Believed He Was Lost In Late War

James O'Brien, commander of the American Legion Post at Reinbeck, was formerly Ivan C. Taylor. His folks live at Blair, Nebraska. He came to Reinbeck in 1914 and got work on a sewer construction job. When he was asked his name, he gave it as Jack O'Brien. The boy objected to the treatment he received at home. His father had farmed him out and collected his wages. He left for parts unknown and assumed the name by which he has been known since he came to Reinbeck.

When this country entered the war the young man enlisted under his assumed name and saw service over seas. While he was in France he wrote his folks once which was the last message they received from him up to the time that they learned of his whereabouts a week ago.

The mother advertised her son's disappearance in the state legion paper and published his photograph. When the young man first came to Reinbeck he was in the employ of James Cameron now living in Waterloo. Mrs. Cameron saw the photograph and recognized it as James O'Brien. The outcome was the man's identity was revealed.

After his enlistment in the army he was in training at Camp Dodge until he went overseas with the Three Hundred and Thirty-six Field Artillery. While he was at Camp Dodge he went home for a short visit with his folks in Nebraska.

Following the close of the war, O'Brien returned to Reinbeck and worked in a restaurant. Later he went into the restaurant business for himself. He sold this business and later opened another restaurant which he now owns.

He married a daughter of former mayor Watson of Reinbeck and a sister of A. E. Watson of Grundy Center. They have one girl four years old.

O'Brien has been successful in business and he is held in high regard by all who know him. He has not indicated as to whether he will claim his former name or continue under the name of his adoption.

Mr. O'Brien is now in Nebraska to spend a few days with his family.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 5 February 1931, pg 1