Thank you to Bill Wealot for the photographs of headstones. And to Bill Sellers for the photograph of Edwin Mady.
CIVIL WAR
Israel Burles 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. We have applied to the Veterans Administration and have received a headstone for Israel.
Rice Anderson served in Company I of the 62nd United States Colored Infantry.
Henry Colley served in the 18thUnited States Colored Infantry Regiment, which was organized in Missouri. Unlike other African-American regiments from Missouri, the regiment was mustered directly into U.S., rather than state service. Henry enlisted August 19, 1864, and mustered out February 21, 1866. One of the main engagements of the 18thwas the defense of Nashville, and the Battle of Nashville. Following the war Henry was an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic, which was a fraternal organization of veterans of the Union Army.
Nelson Davis–On February 3, 1864, Nelson joined Company C of the 11th Colored Infantry in St. Louis, Missouri. In its early days the unit was known as the “Missouri Rifles.” The men of the 11th saw action from Perryville, Missouri to Selma, Alabama. While in Alabama, Nelson was admitted to a hospital for illness. Nelson mustered out on January 15, 1866, at Memphis, Tennessee.
SPANISH AMERICAN WAR
Two of our Spanish American veterans have no headstone: Charles Johnson and Howard Kinslow.
John Hegwood was part of the 7th U.S. Volunteer Infantry.
WORLD WAR I
William Bell (1892-1960) served in Company B of the 325th Service Battalion QMC.
David Gibbs (1891-1933) served on the R.S. Norfolk.
Eddie Clark (1894-1982) was a member of the United States Army
Fred Gilmore (1889-1927) was part of the 6th Regiment of the 164th Depot Brigade.
Roy Gilmore (1895-1963) was part of the 9th Cavalry.
Preston Hancock (1896-1963) served as a trombone player in the 816th Pioneer Infantry band. They played at the ceremony establishing the Meuse Argonne Cemetery in France. (It is the largest American war cemetery in Europe.
Henry W. Henderson (1894-1929) served in the 524th Engineers Service Battalion. He has no headstone.
Benjamin Hunter (1891-1934) was part of Company D, 92nd Division of the 350th Machine Gun Battalion.
Emmett Johnson (1890-1954) served in Company B of the 527th Engineering Service Battalion.
Floyd Thomas Lacey (1898-1967) was part of the 92nd Infantry of the 317th Sanitary Train.
Abraham Lawson (1888-1967) served in Company B of the 92nd Division of the 349th Machine Gun Battalion.
Edwin Mady (1897-1926) served as part of the 317th Sanitary Train.
John Baxter McCorkle (1901-1945) was in the 65th Pioneer Infantry.
Ambrose Morris (1886-1920) was in the 6th Regiment of the 164th Defense Brigade.
Emmanuel Saunders (1889-1951) was part of the 164th Depot Brigade (ambulance company; sanitary train)
Hubert Saunders (1890-1963) was in the 15th Res. Labor Battalion QMC.
Harry Turner (1889-1920) was in Company A of the 25th Infantry.
Forest Walker (1884-1931) was in the 823rd Transportation Corps.
Linwood Ward (1892-1936) was in the 804th Pioneer Infantry. He has no headstone.
John Westley (1890-1959) was part of the Machine Gun Division of the 25th Infantry.
Emmett Williams (d. 1918) was in the U.S. Army. He has no headstone.
George Williams (1900-1928) was in the 92nd Division of the 317th Sanitary Train.
John Williams (1889-1960) was in Company C of the 806th Pioneer Infantry.
WORLD WAR II
Robert Boldridge (1928-1970) was in the United States Navy.
Edgar Bowen (1906-1984) was in the United States Army
Oscar Edward Crumble (1924-2001) was in the United States Army
Joe Gaines (1909-1952) was in the 933rd Air Base Security Battalion.
John Wesley Johnson (1910-1977) served in the United States Army.
Samuel Johnson (1921-1982) was in the United States Army.
Leonard Oliver McGee (1910-1956) was CK2 United States Naval Reserve.
Jackson Miller (1888-1968) served in the United States Army.
John Parker (1922-1975) was in the United States Army.
Alfred Slaughter (1919-1971) was Tec5 in the 866th Quartermaster Company.
Matthew Clyde Taylor (1924-2000) served in the United States Army.
Louis D. Williams (1909-1974) was in the United States Army.
