Israel was born in Ohio in 1841 to parents Lewis and Charlotte (both born in Virginia). In 1863, he enlisted in Company C of the 5th Regiment U.S. Colored Infantry. This Regiment was formed as the 127th Ohio Volunteer Infantry at Camp Delaware, Ohio. They later were based out of Norfolk, Virginia, and were engaged in several battles from Sandy Swamp, North Carolina, to Cox’s Bridge (participating in William Tecumseh Sherman’s Carolinas Campaign). They were mustered out September 20, 1865. He married Annie some time after that. Their first child was born in 1868 in West Virginia. The couple then moved to Lexington (before 1871), where their three younger children were born. He worked as a janitor in a school. Annie died in 1908 and is buried at Forest Grove. Israel died February 12, 1911 from influenza, and we believe is buried at Forest Grove with Annie, infant daughter Maria, and son Luther (headstones below). Israel is one of many veterans (Civil War, Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, Korean and Vietnamese Wars) buried at historic Forest Grove. Our goal is to refurbish and maintain this cemetery and to honor the people buried there.
