Paul Victor Bahney, a Peru resident, was born 19 Apr 1896 in Roann to Henry Bahney and Emma (Paul) Bahney. He enlisted 31 May 1917.  Private Bahney was scheduled to sail to Europe from New York City 16 Mar 1918 on the steamship Orduna with his unit, Company A, 7th US Engineers, but for unknown reasons was scratched from the list. He finally sailed out of Hoboken, New Jersey, aboard the USS Von Steuben 26 Apr 1918. He returned to the states from Brest, France, onboard the USS Radner as a private first class, departing 15 July 1919 and arriving in Hoboken en route to Camp Merritt in nearby Bergen County 28 Jul 1919. He was discharged as a private 14 Aug 1919, just a month before a deadly influenza outbreak tore through the camp. After returning home, he worked as a finisher for the Chute & Butler Piano Company in Peru. He later owned and operated Bahney’s Home Store, later Bahney’s Market, at 64 South Broadway in Peru until 1965. Paul married Daisy Pleasant who predeceased him in 1924 and Kathryn Landgrave who survived him. He was active in the American Legion and the Elks Lodge. He also served as the Miami Democratic chairman. He died 10 Feb 1982 in Rochester and was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Peru, Indiana.

Sources: Obituary | Death Cert. | Grave | Trip to Europe | Trip Home                                                                                     Bio written by Jennifer Sparks