Individual Details
Christopher William Baughman
(17 Nov 1915 - 11 Dec 1948)
Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque, New Mexico, January 3, 1942, Page 2: under 11 Enlist Here in Mary, Marines. The Navy recruits who left Friday included...Christopher William Baughman.
Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque, New Mexico, December 15, 1948, Page 1 and 2: Fire Wipes Out Family of Four; Had Lived Here. Pvt. Christopher Baughman formerly of Albuquerque, his wife and two children, were buried to death early Sunday at Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, it was learned here Tuesday. First word of the tragedy came in a telegram from the Department of the Army to Baughman's mother, Mrs. L. L. Kesterson, Guadalupe Trail. The Associated Press later confirmed the tragedy, stating the fire destroyed the Baughman home in the northern outpost town of Churchill where the Corps of Engineers maintains a detachment. The victims were Baughman, his wife, Betty and their two sons, Christopher William Jr., 4, and Robert Richard, 2. The Canadian Mounted Police and a corner's jury are investigating. Baughman was born in Missouri and moved with his family to Albuquerque in 1933. The family lived in the mountains for a time, then took up a homestead at Fence Lake. Later it moved to Albuquerque.
Baughman served four years in the Navy in the war enlisting within a month after Pearl Harbor. He saw active duty in the South Pacific and had several harrowing experiences, although his mother says; "He would never tell me about them: He reached the grade of signalman, second class. He enlisted in the Army last summer. Mrs. Baughman was the former Betty Clason of Los Lunas. They met there and were married Jan. 23, 1944. Her parents now live in Westminister, Cal., but are now visiting in New Mexico. The Kestersons drove to Moriarty to notify them of their daughter's death Tuesday afternoon, but could not find them. It was later learned they were visiting that day near Edgewood, and a relative of theirs went to Edgewood Tuesday night to notify them.
Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque, New Mexico, December 17, 1948, Page 16: Baughman---Pfc. Christopher W. Baughman, his wife Betty, and two sons, C. William and Robert R. Baughman passed away at Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, Saturday, Dec. 11. Mr. Baughman is survived by his mother, Mrs. L. L. Kesterson of Albuquerque, by his father, Floyd Baughman of Baxter Springs, Kas. and by three sisters and two brothers. Mrs. Baughman is survived by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. M. H. Clason and by three sisters in California. Their bodies will be brought to Albuquerque for interment and service arrangements will be announced by the French-Fitzgerald Mortuary.
Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque, New Mexico, December 26, 1948, Page 2: Baughman--The bodies of Pfc. Christopher W. Baughman, his wife, Betty, and two sons, who passed away at Churchill, Manitoba, have arrived in Albuquerque. Service arrangements will be announced by the French-Fitzgerald Mortuary.
Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque, New Mexico, December 27, 1948, Page 2: Wednesday Burial For Fire Victims. Funeral services for Pvt. Christopher W. Baughman, Mrs. Betty Baughman, and their two children will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at French-Fizgerald Mortuary, the rev. Elias Atencio officiating. The four were killed Dec. 11 at Ft. Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. A corner's verdict indicated they were asphixiated [sic] in their sleep after their house caught fire. The Baughman family lived here until last summer when Mr. Baughman enlisted in the Army. Mrs. Baughman was the former Betty Clason of Los Lunas. Their two children were Christopher William Baughman Jr., age 4, and Robert R. Baughman, age 2. Mr. and Mrs. Baughman are survived by his mother, Mrs. L. L. Kesterson, Guadalupe Trail and by Mrs. Baughman's parents, Mr. and Mrs. M. H. Clason of Westminister, Cal.
Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque, New Mexico, December 15, 1948, Page 1 and 2: Fire Wipes Out Family of Four; Had Lived Here. Pvt. Christopher Baughman formerly of Albuquerque, his wife and two children, were buried to death early Sunday at Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, it was learned here Tuesday. First word of the tragedy came in a telegram from the Department of the Army to Baughman's mother, Mrs. L. L. Kesterson, Guadalupe Trail. The Associated Press later confirmed the tragedy, stating the fire destroyed the Baughman home in the northern outpost town of Churchill where the Corps of Engineers maintains a detachment. The victims were Baughman, his wife, Betty and their two sons, Christopher William Jr., 4, and Robert Richard, 2. The Canadian Mounted Police and a corner's jury are investigating. Baughman was born in Missouri and moved with his family to Albuquerque in 1933. The family lived in the mountains for a time, then took up a homestead at Fence Lake. Later it moved to Albuquerque.
Baughman served four years in the Navy in the war enlisting within a month after Pearl Harbor. He saw active duty in the South Pacific and had several harrowing experiences, although his mother says; "He would never tell me about them: He reached the grade of signalman, second class. He enlisted in the Army last summer. Mrs. Baughman was the former Betty Clason of Los Lunas. They met there and were married Jan. 23, 1944. Her parents now live in Westminister, Cal., but are now visiting in New Mexico. The Kestersons drove to Moriarty to notify them of their daughter's death Tuesday afternoon, but could not find them. It was later learned they were visiting that day near Edgewood, and a relative of theirs went to Edgewood Tuesday night to notify them.
Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque, New Mexico, December 17, 1948, Page 16: Baughman---Pfc. Christopher W. Baughman, his wife Betty, and two sons, C. William and Robert R. Baughman passed away at Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, Saturday, Dec. 11. Mr. Baughman is survived by his mother, Mrs. L. L. Kesterson of Albuquerque, by his father, Floyd Baughman of Baxter Springs, Kas. and by three sisters and two brothers. Mrs. Baughman is survived by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. M. H. Clason and by three sisters in California. Their bodies will be brought to Albuquerque for interment and service arrangements will be announced by the French-Fitzgerald Mortuary.
Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque, New Mexico, December 26, 1948, Page 2: Baughman--The bodies of Pfc. Christopher W. Baughman, his wife, Betty, and two sons, who passed away at Churchill, Manitoba, have arrived in Albuquerque. Service arrangements will be announced by the French-Fitzgerald Mortuary.
Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque, New Mexico, December 27, 1948, Page 2: Wednesday Burial For Fire Victims. Funeral services for Pvt. Christopher W. Baughman, Mrs. Betty Baughman, and their two children will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at French-Fizgerald Mortuary, the rev. Elias Atencio officiating. The four were killed Dec. 11 at Ft. Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. A corner's verdict indicated they were asphixiated [sic] in their sleep after their house caught fire. The Baughman family lived here until last summer when Mr. Baughman enlisted in the Army. Mrs. Baughman was the former Betty Clason of Los Lunas. Their two children were Christopher William Baughman Jr., age 4, and Robert R. Baughman, age 2. Mr. and Mrs. Baughman are survived by his mother, Mrs. L. L. Kesterson, Guadalupe Trail and by Mrs. Baughman's parents, Mr. and Mrs. M. H. Clason of Westminister, Cal.
Events
| Birth | 17 Nov 1915 | Cedar Creek, Taney Co., Missouri |  | ||
| Marriage | 23 Jan 1944 | Betty Lucille Clason | | ||
| Death | 11 Dec 1948 | Fort Churchill, Manitoba, Canada | | ||
| Death | 11 Dec 1948 | Age: 33 | | ||
| Alt name | Christopher W Baughman | | |||
| Burial | Fairview Cemetery, Albuquerque, Benalillo Co., New Mexico | | |||
| Burial | Albuquerque, Bernalillo Co., New Mexico | |
Families
| Spouse | Betty Lucille Clason (1924 - 1948) |
| Child | Christopher William Baughman Jr. (1944 - 1948) |
| Child | Robert Richard Baughman (1946 - 1948) |
Endnotes
10. Find A Grave.