Meet Urlin Sargent – Lorain's Renaissance Man

It was back in June when I received an intriguing email from Ben (who lives in another state). He had acquired an antique pocket watch with an inscription on it and was attempting to research its story. His initial email mentioned that it had an inscription of 1915 and may have been given to someone in Lorain, Ohio. The only problem was that it had "LHP Graduation" on it, instead of "LHS."

It seemed a little odd. But not so odd when you know that sometimes script fonts have some weird-looking characters.

And that was the case here. A similar font (called Palace Script) has a 'S' that resembles an 'P.'

Next, the name on the watch was unusual: Urlin Sargent. 'Urlin' is not a common name. Nevertheless, I made the trek into Lorain to see if I could find him in the library's collection of Lorain High School yearbooks. The only information I had was that he had graduated in 1915.

The problem was that Lorain High School's high school yearbook – the Scimitar – originally started out as a thin, magazine-like publication that came out several times a year (since there were several graduation classes each year, such as -A, -B, etc.) The helpful librarian at the Lorain Public Library made several trips to the archives to retrieve stacks of these thin volumes for me.

But while Urlin may have graduated in 1915, he was not to be found in any of the available books. I was feeling somewhat despondent over it.

As library closing time neared, I dejectedly returned the tall stack to the reference desk – only to see that there was another stack of Scimitars there from earlier in the day waiting to be filed. I excitedly thumbed through them and sure enough, I found a different book from 1915, and in it was our man Urlin.

His yearbook biography was short and sweet. "As Urlin came to us only this year, we do not feel that his case can be so easily diagnosed. From our short acquaintance, however, we know he is jolly and kindhearted. He has a pleasant word or smile for everyone." Now that's a pretty nice sentiment. 

What's somewhat odd, however, is that Urlin, unlike the rest of his classmates listed in the Scimitar, had no birthday listed.

Anyway, while searching through available online archives of the Lorain Journal, I discovered that Urlin was a true Renaissance man. He did it all: local musician performing with a band, a singer, an actor, a radio performer, an athlete (tennis player) and was generally well-known and popular in Lorain. 

Ben shared his research with me. He discovered that Urlin served in World War I as part of the 329th Infantry Band. So Urlin was a Veteran too.

Here are some Lorain Journal clippings depicting an interesting life well spent.

May 6, 1926

May 5, 1927

March 27, 1928

Nov. 10, 1928

Aug. 29, 1931

March 28, 1932

May 27, 1932
Note mention of Harrison Baumbaugh

June 24, 1932

Aug. 5, 1935

After a short but busy life, Urlin died in the Cleveland Clinic after a month's illness on March 13, 1936. The news items at the time of his death list his age as both 45 and 46. 

Lorain Journal, March 13, 1936

Lorain Journal, March 14, 1936

March 14, 1936
Note that Urlin was living at the Overlook Apts

The two ages listed only add to the mystery around Urlin. If either of those reported ages were correct, it means he would have finished high school at the age of 24 or 25. Also, apparently there was a wife that lived in Cleveland, as this clipping from later that year shows.

Sept. 14, 1936

Nevertheless, Urlin's sad passing rated a special mention in the Editor's column on page 4 of the Lorain Journal on March 16, 1936. It's a great tribute.

"The death of Urlin Parker Sargent removes one of Lorain's most well-known and well-liked figures," it notes.

"Every activity in which he took part, and they were many, will miss him. He was equally at home twirling a baton in front of a drum corps, taking a leading part in lodge affairs, or singing light opera on the radio.

"There is this in particular to be said about him. In the vernacular of the day, he "got a whale of a kick out of life." He was always busy, always had a good word to say, and did not even let middle age cut down his activities.

"He lived a full life, and enjoyed it. And that, after all, is an important point."