Jefferson County, Indiana - The whole text, 1920 (part 3 of 3)

Charles Henry Ritchey

Died at Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga., January 24, 1918, of scarlet fever and pneumonia. He spent most of his life in Jefferson County and was educated at 'Wirt, North Madison and Hanover College. Was working his way through Hanover by alternately teaching and attending school, and was taking the norm^al course when he volunteered, entering the medical service. It was stated by the local papers that he was the first Jefferson County soldier to die in service.

Morris P. Sappington

Born and reared in Madison. Was one of three men selected from that place to enter the engineers' corps at Ft. Harrison. Subsequently he was put in the 336th regiment of Infantry, then in the 337th Infantry. He went to France and was on the front, but just where his family does not know. He was wounded in the foot Nov. 3, 1918. He wrote to his wife that he was "hit in the foot," but was '^getting along fine," and subsequent letters made light of the wound. Nevertheless the foot was amputated and blood poisoning followed, from the effects of which he died four months later, on March 29, 1919. He left a widow with an infant child.

Merrill Norwood Selig

MERRILL NORWOOD SELIG. Died November 1, 1918, of wounds received on the battlefield, though place of death and name of battle are unknown to his family ; nor do they know any particulars of his services abroad. His parents have a testimonial of their son's bravery, signed by General Pershing, and also a bronze medal which, as shown by the inscription, was "presented by the people of Carnegie, Pa., for Patriotic Services." He had been employed in a munition factory at Carnegie. He joined Company I, 145th Infantry, A. E. F. Selig was born and reared in Madison and left school to go to work when fourteen years old. He is described by one who knew him as *'a boy of few words but who thought a lot."

Robert Shepherd

Of Madison Township enlisted in the regular army in July of 1916, and was in a cavalry regiment. He died at Fort Worth, Texas, and was buried at Brushy Fork cemetery, this county, June 11, 1918.

Earl Vincent Slater

Entered the service from Indianapolis, but was a Madison boy. He was inducted June 5, 1917, and was assigned to Company D, Limited Service regiment. He died of influenza at Camp Grant, 111., September 30, 1918.

Ezra Gale Stevenson

A resident of Jefferson County for about ten years. In 1907 he joined the regular army, served in the Philippines two years and was on the Mexican border about four years. In 1917 he went to France, where he was in the motor truck service, with the rank of sergeant. He died of pneumonia February 21, 1919, but his family have never learned where he died or where he is buried. He left a widow but no children.

William G. Smith

Died of pneumonia, at Camp Taylor, March 29, 1918. His mother, who was with him in his illness states that when his regiment left camp for overseas, as he lay sick, his disappointment at being left behind was so keen that he cried. William was born, reared and educated in Madison. He was in the 336th Infantry.

John Warren

Of Company H, 28th Infantry, was killed in action in France, May 30, 1918, but beyond that his family have no specific information. A newspaper notice of his death states that he was the first man from Madison to fall in battle. He was reared in Jefferson County.

Nicholas John Weber

Was killed in action June 14, 1918, in France, though his family have been unable to learn just where. Nicholas was born and reared in Madison. At the age of 13 he left school and went to work in the cotton factory. When the United States declared war he was so anxious to join the army, though but seventeen years old, that his father, contrary to his own wishes, gave his consent. He was in service in France a little more than a year, and one of his last letters intimates that for three months he participated in much fighting, though he does not indicate where.

Benjamin Dillard Whitham

We have little information about Private Whitham other than that he died of pneumonia at Base Hospital No. 10, in France, October 11, 1918. His home was Shelby Township.

Everett Corbett Wyne

Died at Camp Colt, Gettysburg, Pa., October 6, 1918, of bronchial pneumonia. He was in the motor transport service, and was a volunteer. He was one of Jefferson County's selected men and was in the tank corps, having taken training at Valparaiso, Ind., and at Carnegie Institute. When sick in the hospital he professed religion and died happy, with his parents at his bedside. He was buried at Deputy with military honors.

John W. Wyne Chauncey Land

Of Shelby Township. Died at Camp Grant, Rockf ord. III., October 9, 1918, of pneumonia, and was buried at West Fork Church, east of Bryantsburg. Of Chauncey and Walter H. Land, brothers,, we were unable to learn further facts.

Walter H. Land

Of Shelby Township, one of Jefferson County's selected men died in France, November 15, 1918. from wounds received in an accident. We have been unable to learn further particulars, beyond the fact that he had been overseas for several months.

WILLIAM BUCKNER was not buried at sea, as at first reported. Since our sketch of him printed on page 108 the body was returned to the family at Madison.

MORRIS SAPPINGTON was not born in Madison but spent much of his life there. He enlisted in the 22d engineers corps, was trained at Fort Benjamin Harrison, then was sent to Camp Merritt, where he was transferred to the 336th infantry. He went overseas with the 84th division, then was transferred to the 90th division. He saw much hard service and was shot through the foot while fighting in the Argonne forest.

Omission

OMISSION. Among the speakers who assisted in the various Red Cross and government drives should be mentioned the Rev. G. W. Pearce, whose name was unintentionally omitted from the proper place.