PFC Thomas Andrew Jackson

courtesy of SoilSister

PFC Thomas Andrew Jackson was born in February 1893 in Tazewell County, Virginia to James Henry and Margaret Ellen (Lowe) Jackson.  The family lived several places in Russell and Tazewell counties where the family farmed.

Although he was apparently known as Andrew in the family he enlisted as Thomas A. Jackson. He enlisted in the 2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry on 3 Jun 1917.  When the unit was reorganized with others to form the 116th Infantry he was assigned to F Company 116th Infantry.  He shipped with that unit for France aboard the Finland on 13 Jun 1918.  We do not know when he was wounded but it was most likely in the action at Molleville Farm sometime between 12 and 25 Oct 1918.  We believe he recovered from his wound but was killed on 4 Jan 1919 when he was shot with a rifle by another soldier.

PFC Jackson was buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

You might note that the year of death on his marker is incorrect.  It is not the first or last time the Army has made a clerical error.

PVT Thurman Lewis Evans

courtesy of Ernestine Massie Tabor

PVT Thurman Lewis Evans (aka Lewis T. Evans) was born 3 Sep 1897 in Massie's Mill, Virginia the 6th of 8 children of William Matthew and Hannah Frances (Grant) Evans.  The family farmed.

Lewis (as he was known in the Army) enlisted in A Company 2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry on 4 Jul 1917 for the "emergency" being the Mexican border duty.  He was apparently moved to E Company.  When the 2nd Virginia was mobilized for the Great War, E Company was  re-organized with other companies as F Company 116th Infantry. PVT Evans shipped out for France aboard the Finland on 13 Jun 1918 along with the rest of the 116th Infantry.  PVT Evans is variously reported as having died of wounds or disease on 7 Nov 1918.

PVT Lewis was repatriated and now rests forever with family members in Jonesboro Cemetery in Jonesboro, Virginia.

Lewis' grandfather, Tarleton Jackson Evans, served 4-years in the Nelson Light Artillery during the Civil War.

PVT Elbert J. Honaker

courtesy of Andrew Okes

PVT Elbert J. Honaker was born in November 1896 in Russell County, Virginia to Jabess A. and Mollie Virginia (Cumbow) Honaker.  His father died in 1909. The family farmed. His mother did re-marry.  Elbert began working as a miner.

Elbert enlisted in A Company 2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry on 12 Jun 1917 in Roanoke, Virginia.  After re-organizing of the Virginia National Guard for Federal service, PVT Honaker was assigned to G Company 116th Infantry.  He shipped out for France aboard the USS Finland on 15 Jun 1918.  PVT Honaker was wounded and died of those wounds on 25 Oct 1918.

PVT Honaker was repatriated and is buried in Tate Cemetery just outside Abingdon, Washington County, Virginia.  (36°44'12.7"N 82°03'29.6"W) off of Rich Valley Road. We are very thankful to Mr. Okes' son who restored this cemetery.

PVT Albert Dennis Chafin

PVT Albert Dennis Chafin was born in April 1898 in Castlewood, Virginia the eldest of 11 children of Meredith Thomas and Jerusha Elizabeth (Fields) Chafin.  The family farmed.

Dennis (as he was known in the Army, he apparently never went by Albert or used that name in the service), enlisted in H Company 2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry on 12 Jun 1917.  When the unit was mobilized for service in France and units were consolidated into new units, Dennis was assigned to G Company 116th Infantry.  He was with that unit when it left Hoboken, New Jersey on 15 Jun 1918 on the USS Finland destined for France.  PVT Chafin was killed in action on 24 Oct 1918.

PVT Chafin was repatriated and re-interred in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Supply SGT Clifton Ogden Burks

Supply SGT Clifton Ogden Burks was born 14 May 1894 in Rockbridge County, Virginia to John Robert and Mildred Ann (Ogden) Burks.  The family farmed near Natural Bridge.

Clifton enlisted as a PVT in F Company 2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry on 8 Jul 1915 and had served continuously since that time. When the National Guard units were mobilized for service and combined to form the 116th Infantry Regiment, he was assigned to F Company 116th Infantry.  When the unit embarked aboard the Finland for the voyage to France, he was already the Acting Supply SGT for the unit.  He remained in that position until killed in action on 16 Oct 1918.  The following account was published in a local newspaper:

FIGHTS DESPITE WOUND: According to Sergeant Glenn, of Company F, recently returned from France, Clifton O. Burks, who worked in Roanoke, but whose parents reside in Glasgow, was killed in the Argonne Forest, October 16, when, had he so chosen, he could have been far in the rear of his command in a hospital. On October 9, Private Burks sustained an injury to his back and was marked up by the Army surgeon for the hospital, but he refused to leave his company and go back. Though suffering intensely at times, he kept his position in the ranks, and at 8 o'clock on the morning of October 16, was shot down right beside Sergeant Glenn, sustaining a broken right leg and a severe cut about the face. Ten minutes later he was instantly killed by a bursting shrapnel shell, a fragment of which passed entirely through his body. His remains were buried by his comrades in the 29th Division burial ground in the Argonne Forest, just beside the Verdun-Sedan road, and a cross erected to his memory.

SGT Burks was repatriated and now rests forever with family members in Falling Spring Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Glasgow, Virginia.

Grandfather Charles Clifton Burks was wounded in the right side while serving as a Lieutenant with H Company 4th Virginia Infantry during the Civil War.

PFC Horace Harris Kennedy

PFC Horace Harris Kennedy was born 17 May 1895 in Norton, Virginia to Winfield Scott and Laura Melissa (Osborne) Kennedy.  His father was a coal miner and by 1910 Horace was working in the mines as well.

Horace was still working as a miner when he enlisted in A Company 2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry on 12 Jun 1917.  When the National Guard units were reorganized for Federal service Horace was assigned to G Company 116th Infantry. PFC Kennedy was transported to France aboard the USS Finland with the rest of the regiment, departing Hoboken, New Jersey on 15 Jun 1918.  PFC Kennedy was killed in action on 13 Oct 1918.

PFC Kennedy was repatriated in 1936 and re-interred in a cemetery in Toms Creek, Virginia. 

CPL Reuben Beverly Padgett

CPL Reuben Beverly Padgett was born in Augusta County, Virginia to James William and Clara Lena (Breeden) Padgett in 1898. 2nd son in a family with 7 children, Reuben was named after his grandfather who served as a Private in D Company 2nd Virginia Infantry Regiment during the Civil War.  His great-grandfather, Spottswood Henry Padgett, served in the War of 1812 in 60th Regiment of Virginia Volunteers. CPL Padgett was serving with A Company 116th Infantry when he was killed by artillery fire at Molleville Farm on 12 Oct 1918. CPL Padgett is buried in Riverview Cemetery in Waynesboro, Virginia. 

Bugler Herschel L. Dix

Bugler Herschel L. Dix was born 14 Mar 1897 in Kingman, Indiana the second of two sons born to Howard Luther and Nettie (Durham) Dix.  The family farmed. 

Herschel enlisted (with his brother Harry Leon Dix) in A Company 2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry in Farmville, Virginia on 11 Jan 1915. Living in Indianapolis when called to serve on Mexican Border, 1 Jul 1916. When the unit was reorganized for service in France, Herschel was assigned to G Company 116th Infantry. Bugler Dix was killed in action 8 Oct 1918, Malbrouk Hill, Meuse-Argonne Forest, France.

Bugler Dix was initially buried at Brabant-sur-Meuse, near Verdun, France. He was later repatriated and re-interred in Crown Hill National Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana.

As previously mentioned, Herschel's brother also enlisted and he was also recalled for the war and served with G Company 116th Infantry.  Harry was promoted to SGT and returned the U.S. in July 1919. Harry passed away in 1973.

Mechanic John N. Garland

Mechanic John N. Garland was born in September 1899 in Richmond, Virginia the eldest of 4 children born to John Alexander and Mary Eaton (Freear) Garland.  His father was a druggist and the family lived in Farmville, Virginia soon after John's birth.

John enlisted in A Company 2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry on 14 Mar 1917.  When the unit was activated for service in France it was reorganized as part of G Company 116th Infantry. As the Mechanic in his unit he was responsible for the repair of unit equipment much like the Artificer of earlier generations. John sailed with the unit aboard the USS Finland on 15 Jun 1918.  Mechanic Garland was killed in action on 8 Oct 1918.

We do not know where Mechanic Garland is buried but suspect it is in the Farmville area.

CPL Willie Watson Hillsman

CPL Willie Watson Hillsman was born 8 Oct 1893 in Amelia County, Virginia the first of 10 children born to James Albert and Lula Lee (Watson) Hillsman. The family farmed while living near Leigh, Virginia.

Willie enlisted in C Company 2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry on 26 Mar 1917.  When it was reorganized for service in France, Willie was assigned to G Company 116th Infantry. He married Evlyn Gladys Fretwell on 9 May 1918.  It may be that the couple eloped just prior to the regiment going to Camp McClellan, Alabama. Of course, Willie had to go with them. After the unit trained there, CPL Hillsman shipped with the unit aboard the USS Finland to France, departing Hoboken, New Jersey on 15 Jun 1918.  CPL Hillsman was killed in action on 8 Oct 1918.

CPL Hillsman was repatriated in 1930.  He now rests forever in Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Amelia County, Virginia.

Willie and Evlyn had no children.  She would re-marry and have several children with her second husband. 

CPL Herbert William Fowlkes

CPL Herbert William Fowlkes was born in November 1892 in Haytokah, Virginia to Rufus C. and Alice (Anderson) Fowlkes.  The family farmed.  Alice died 22 Sep 1895 and Rufus remarried a year later.

Herbert enlisted in E Company 2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry on 26 Jun 1916.  He was still assigned to the unit when it was mobilized and re-organized as part of F Company 116th Infantry. CPL Fowlkes was aboard the Finland when the 116th shipped out for France on 13 Jun 1918.  CPL Fowlkes was killed in action on 26 Aug 1918.

CPL Fowlkes was repatriated and re-interred in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

COL James Carr Baker

2nd Virginia Infantry Staff at Camp Cuba Libre, Jacksonville, Florida - 1898

 

Colonel James Carr Baker was born at "Greenwood," Winchester, Frederick county, Virginia, on 7 Oct 1851. He was first taught by private teachers, then entered Shenandoah Valley Academy, a notable  educational institution in Winchester. He witnessed the constant fighting in the area during the Civil War. James left the academy and continued his studies at Romney Institute in West Virginia then under private tutors until he began the study of law under Judge James W. Allen. James was admitted to the Virginia bar at the age of 21 and practiced law privately and as commonwealth attorney in the states of Virginia and West Virginia. Colonel Baker married Ada H. Keene on 7 Apr 1874. The couple would have 5 children. He began practice at Moorefield, West Virginia and continued there until 1876 when he accepted a position in the West Virginia government at Wheeling, where he remained until 1880. James returned to Virginia in that year, locating at Woodstock. He remained at Woodstock for nineteen years, spending 7-years in the private practice 12-years as Commonwealth's Attorney of Shenandoah county, to which he was first elected in 1884. An officer in the Virginia militia, James was a colonel of the Second Regiment Virginia National Guard in 1898 and he served with his regiment in the Spanish-American war, his regiment being held in Jacksonville, Florida, until their release from the United States service in 1899. After the war Colonel Baker re-located to Newport News, Virginia, where he practiced law from 1899 until 1906. He again re-located in 1906 to Stephens City, Virginia, and practiced law there. He was a member of the bar associations of the district, is a past master of Moorefield Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, is a companion of Wheeling Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and a practicing Episcopalian. He was a Democrat, serving for 2-years as mayor of Stephens City, 1912-13, and then as a justice of the peace. His military service in the Virginia National Guard began in 1886 and in 1898 he was elected colonel of the Second Regiment, holding that command until 1900.

COL Baker died of influenza on 17 Jan 1917 in Winchester, Virginia. He rests forever in the Mount Hebron Cemetery in Winchester, Virginia. 

This memorial was published on the 150th anniversary of COL Baker's birth.