They Served with Honor: The 809th Pioneer Infantry---"Quiet Heroes of the Brawny Arm"

Samuel Walton - Ft. Smith, Arkansas

My grandfather Samuel Walton served in World War I. He was drafted like other able bodied men of his age. He enlisted in the 809th Pioneer Infantry. He sailed on the USS President Grant and served in France during the War.

Not much is written about the experiences of black men in World War I, but like all men who served in the war, they formed friendships that lasted both during and after the war. But there are a few facts that have emerged about those men who served in the 809th Pioneer Infantry. While sailing to France many of the soldiers black and white on the ship became ill with influenza. And with so much illness around them, those who remained in good health became even closer. Upon arrival in France, many men of the 809th Pioneer Infantry at least75 men of the unit had the morbid task of pulling bodies of soldiers that had died of Spanish Inflenza. Afterwards their assignment was to work as a supply unit on the docks and to provide construction also when needed.

The unit was not allowed to engage in direct combat and they were assigned to a construction crew.  At one point, according to an interview with Thomas Davis who served in the same unit, they ended up working for 10 days without a resupply of food. (http://www.worldwar1.com/sftdavis.htm )   The Pioneer units had some function of the infantry, some of those of engineers and some of those of labor units. (History of the American Negro in the Great World War  p. 241)

In that same book it spoke of the Pioneer units and stated: "The Negro Service of Supply men acquired a great reputation in the various activities to which they were assigned, especially for efficiency and celerity in unloading shipes and supplies of every sort at the base ports. They were a marvel to the French and astonished not a few of the officers of our own army."

During the 14-day voyage aboard the troop ship President Grant, about half of the 5000 men on board fell ill with "Spanish flu". They were from many regiments being posted to Europe. So many men died en route that their bodies had to be buried at sea. (The best evidence indicates that this disaster began at Camp Funston, an army base in Kansas on March 8, 1918. An influenza virus mutated into a lethal strain. It arrived in Europe on American troop ships in early April 1918, and perhaps mutated again. The epidemic traveled fast in three waves of infection, reaching almost every corner of the world by the spring of 1919, when the virus played itself out. Influenza killed over 20 million people in the span of a year. This was more than twice the number of people who died in the horrific battles of World War. (Source: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ap.htm)

But for the most part--so much of the work  of the Pioneer Infantry consisted of loading and unloading the supplies off of other ships coming into France and long hours of labor working essentially as stevedores When America's poet, Ella Wheeler Wilcox, traveled to France to entertain the US soldiers she noticed the work of the black men at the ports. They labored at the docks as stevedores and she wrote a poem dedicated to these black men:

The unit served honorably throughout the war. These men of the 809th returned with honor, having served their country.

Because of the high death rate on the way to France the men in the 809th became immediately close to each other and formed what would become life long relationships. Upon his return from France, my grandfather Sam maintained contact with some of his army buddies for some time. They exchanged photos of each other and these photos of his comrades remained with my grandfather till he died in 1940.

I have occasionally looked at them over the years, and this Carnival of Af. American Genealogy honoring those men and women who served our nation between 1915 and 1953, provides the perfect opportunity for me to share these photos.

My grandfather was Pvt. Samuel Walton of the 809th Pioneer Infantry, and this is an image of his headstone in Oak Cemetery in Ft. Smith, Arkansas.

His Army Buddies
These images reflect the men with whom he served and with whom he became close. Because he treasured them, I too, treasure them.  Most of them are identified and so their names are also listed here, so that they too can be honored.

                        

Seles Bates (His Bunk Mate) of New York, New York

Henry Steward, St. Louis MO

William E. Turner, Indianapolis IN

Cobe Sides, Allenville Missouri

Oliver W. Bragg, Macon MO

Lewis A. Brown, Indianapolis IN

E.W. Rogers Martin, Tenn

One Friend, No Name Provided

USS President Grant took 809th Pionner Infantry to France.

Although they were still treated as second class citizens upon their return, they served proudly and many of their own sons would later follow their father's footsteps and serve in the next World War.  (His son, my father Samuel Lewis Walton would serve in World War II.)

Thankfully Samuel Walton and his mates returned from the War safely 

He returned to Oklahoma where he married Sarah Ellen Bass of Horatio Arkansas.  To provide better educational opportunities for his sons, he eventually moved his family across the river into nearby Arkansas. He remained in Ft. Smith Arkansas till he died in 1940. He is buried at Oak Cemetery in the Walton family plot. 

I send a special thank you to Grandpa Sam and his army buddies and all of the men of the 809th Pioneer Infantry for their service to our nation during World War I. 

They are my heroes, and they were truly men who served with honor.

                              

Carnival of African American Ancestry: Remembering Harlem's Hellfighters Upon Their Return

I am compelled to submit two posts for this Carnival! This first post contains some rare footage of Black Soldiers from World War I.

They were known as Harlem's Hellfighters, and not enough is known of their story. They were honored in a parade down 5th Avenue when they returned.

Most black soldiers from WWI fought with hopes that America would see their courage and give them status as full citizens. Sadly most would not live to enjoy the fruits of their efforts. But we honor these men nevertheless for they gave their all, and many paid the ultimate price.

May these brave men never be forgotten!

An Ancestor Approved Award

I was recently approved the Ancestor Approved Award, for which I am honored and grateful.  After researching for more than 20 years and only having recently joined the blogging to share my personal data, I am truly grateful and send a special thank you to Joann of J-Macs Journey. (I have taken the liberty of inserting one of my ancestor's images on the award on the right, nav. bar.)

As a recipient of this award I am happy to share 10 things that I have learned from my own journey into my past.

Surprised

 1) I was surprised to learn that my ancestors were enslaved by Indians--my gr. grandparents Sam & Sallie Walton were Choctaw Freedmen, having been enslaved in Indian Territory.

2) I was surprised to find the records of Lydia Talkington a name that rested for many years in an old family Bibile and unknown to the family as to who she really was. She was my gr. gr. grandmother. Her son was Samuel Walton the first of 4 men to carry that name. 

3) I was surprised to learn about the story of Uncle Sephus, a gr. uncle whose only known reputation was to have shot a white man and fled to Texas for his life.  I learned about the family being attacked by the Klan in 1888 in Giles County TN.  He shot the Klansman who had killed his father---my gr. gr. grandfather Irving Bass.   

4) I was surprised to FIND Uncle Sephus who was indeed in Texas, and learned about his life prior to the incident in 1888.  He had served in the Civil War as a soldier in the 111th US Colored Troops.  

5) I was surprised to learn about another uncle previously unknown---a brother to Uncle Sephus and to my gr. grandfather Louis Mitchell Bass.  The brother was Braxton Bass who was a Sgt. in the 111th US Colored Infantry.

6) I was surprised to be able to research my mother's line. She was an only child, who had lost both of her parents to tuberculosis before she was 2 years old.  She was raised by her Grandmother Harriet Young Martin, and her Aunt Viola Martin.  She knew little about her ancestors other than they were from Ripley Mississippi and were slaves of a Tandy Young and her grandmother's mother's name was Amanda Young. I found Amanda Young, and was surprised to learn about her life, and to learn the name of her husband Berry, who joined the Civil War, and the names of Amanda's parents---Martha and John both from Virginia, and born in the 1790s.

Grateful
7) Thanks to a fellow researcher who has also become a good and dear friend, I have learned more about my ancestors in NW Arkansas.  Through this friend, I learned where Lydia is buried and I learned more about Patrick Drennen a mulatto slave of town founder John Drennen. Thank you Tonia Holleman.

Encouraged
8) I have had the opportunity twice in the past 3 years to meet a direct descendant of John Drennen 3 years ago.  Although she was originally nervous at our meeting, I was pleasantly surprised to see her attend an reception for me recently in Ft. Smith Arkansas where I spoke at the first Black History conference sponsored by the University.

Caroline Drennen & Angela chatting at the Black History Conference, Feb 2010

9) I met a direct descendant of the Choctaw family that were slave owners of my gr. grandmother Sallie.  The meeting was cordial and we have remained in contact.  We now are working together to document the history of both families further and are assisting me with locating the burial site of Sallie's mother and grandmother.

10) My niece who now has young children of her own has asked me when I can start to tell her the stories of the family history.  She is the first person of the next generation to express this interest, and I am thrilled to know that at last, the family legacy will be carried forth to the next generation.

I am happy to pass this award to the next 10 bloggers to receive the Ancestor Approved Award:

1) Find Your Folks
2) Our Georgia Roots
3) Family Tree Writer
4) In Honor of My Ancestors
5) Mariah's Zephr

6) Reclaiming Kin
7) Historical Researcher's Blog
8) Black & Red Journal
9) James A. Field House
10)My Mississippi Memories

Treasure Chest Thursday: Two Interesting Books for Children

Remember Dick and Jane?  And remember Fun with Dick & Jane? These were the fictional children upon whom a generation of children in America learned to read.

But how about Johnnie Mae and Floyd?  Or Clara, Rosa Lee and Harold?

These are children found in a series of books produced in 1938 as part of the Negro American Series and these are the children whose real lives are depicted in these supplementary readers.  And these two books are among some of the historical "treasures" in my personal libary.

My mother managed to "rescue" these books from being destroyed when Howard Elementary School, was cleaning out old books, and had set aside several boxes of books to be thrown away.  Knowing my love of books and appreciation of Black history, she saved them for me. And what a treasure they were!  An entire community, a black community in Drumright, Oklahoma is depicted, and instead of drawings---they consist of the images of the children! 

In addition, to the many children depicted who all attend Dunbar School, the life stories of well known figures such as Paul Laurence Dunbar, Roland  Hayes and the Fisk Jubilee Singers are told in these two books.  The first chapters are directed towards beginning readers and the second half of each book focuses on more complex stories directed to more advance readers. 

The story provides a wonderful glimpse into the lives of those who coped within a very segreated school system that is seldom seen.  The pride and dignity of the parents is also reflected as the parents of the children are also pictured.

This treasure also reflects the impact that Jeanes teachers and supervisors had on the education of black children in the Deep South in the years of segregation.  So much more can be learned by studying these text books.  I have a strong interest in learning if any of the children captured might still living today and this becomes one of the many on-going projects that take up my time.

    

Tombstone Tuesday: Remembering Patrick Drennen

Grave of Patrick Drennen

Stone for Patrick Drennen

Patrick Drennen was my gr. gr. grandfather. He was enslaved in Crawford County Arkansas by John Drennen the founder of the city of Van Buren.  He courted my gr. gr. grandmother Lydia Walters, and they lived and loved each other when with permission, of John Drennen, Patrick could go and spend time with her in Dripping Springs.

He was described as a light skinned mulatto man, and was said to have traveled quite often with his master John Drennen.  He became ill in the early spring of 1858, died and was buried in the Drennen family plot in Fairview cemetery. Lydia later remarried John Talkington, and she lived till the 1890s and was buried in the same cemetery in 1898.

I learned more about the life of Lydia, when I located her second husband's pension file.  She spoke of her first love Patrick and how they had courted, but had not been allowed to marry.

With the help of researcher Tonia Holleman, I located Lydia's burial site marked only by a field stone.  Since she was in a family plots I obtained a small marker for her. I also learned that Patrick her first love, was buried about 75 yards away in the Drennen Family plot.  Resting in the same cemetery, but still separated by enslavement.  When I went into the Drennan plot, I noticed that his grave was outlined by bricks, but no marker was placed there.  No name, just bricks outlining his body. His burial was noted in the sexton's record simply as "Negro man belonging to Mrs. Drennen."   But he did have a name----his name was Patrick!  I wanted his name to be there.

When I had decided to obtain a small marker for Lydia, I realized---he deserved a marker as well. His short life, spent entirely in sevitude, deserved to be remembered and his name deserved to be said.  So, I obtained a marker also for Patrick. Since I did not have permission to access the Drennen plot to place his name there I had no idea who to ask.

But where Lydia was buried---that was a family plot---and since the marker was small, I would put his name down where it should have been---next to the woman, the only woman he had loved.  Their names are now side by side, though his body rests "up the hill", their names are together where, had times been different, they would have been all along.

I visited Fairview cemetery this winter, and noticed that some of the bricks that outlined Patrick's grave had been overgrown with grass.  My Patrick was disappearing!  As a recent snow was melting, there were many pine cones on the ground, so I took some of the pine cones and outlined his grave over the bricks that I was able to see.  I wanted his burial site to still be visible in the Drennen family plot.

Patrick Drennen was my gr. gr. grandfather, and I want to say his name and I want the world to know that he lived.

Tombstone Tuesday: Amanda Douglass, Dripping Springs Arkansas

While on a visit to an historic cemetery in western Arkansas with another genealogist and close friend, I was hoping to find ancestors gravesites, who onced lived there at one time. Instead we came upon a headstone in the old "colored" section.  It was a beautiful hand made stone, and the work and care that went into the stone captured my attention. It was the grave of Amanda Douglass. Clearly her survivors could not afford an elegant marker, yet her own marker still spoke to me.  In its humbleness, it is also elegant, reflecting the care and concerns of her family to insure that her final resting place was marked. The very elegance of this stone told me stories---of loved ones who cared for Amanda and wanted to insure that her final resting place would not be forgotten. 

My colleague later found descendants of Amanda Douglass, and learned more about the stone. After

Amanda died, in 1904 one of her sons, located this stone and worked on it so that the base was formed into a point.  He then chiseled her name onto the stone and then placed the base of the stone with the pointed end, at least 3 feet into the ground, and tightly packed the soild around it, so that no windstorm would ever topple the stone.  Still after more than 100 years, her marker quietly stands in peaceful dignity reflecting the love of her children and grandchildren.  And to this day, visitors still come to the resting place of this woman, born on the cusp of freedom in 1865.

Sentimental Sunday - Easter Morning

This was taken in the late 1950s.  All I can recall is that Grandma made me a duster to wear over my Easter dress because it was going to be chilly. I do remember that the duster wasn't warm enough, but because it was Easter I had to dress like it when I really wanted to put on my car coat with the hood.  My mom must have been operating the camera, as there I am with my brother and with Daddy in the middle.