World War I Veterans
Kentucky enlisted over eleven thousand men who served in segregated units during the Great War. Military markers identify some veterans; others found through archive research.
Nathan Caulder began his military career 25 October 1900 with the 24th Infantry and 9th Cavalry as a Buffalo Soldier. He enlisted in the 92 Division, 351st Machine Gun Battalion and served overseas during World War I.
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Clarence Brown Espy enlisted in the 801 Pioneer Infantry but transferred to the 369th Infantry before deploying to Europe. This regiment, earned the name “Harlem Hellfighters” and received the highest honor awarded by the French military, Croix de Guerre. (History)
Arthur Black CPL Co. I 814 Pioneer Infantry, Section B, Row 8
Service: 7/31/1918-1/8/1919 - marker order
Born - 5/8/1883, Jeffersonville, IN
Died - 11/8/1951, age 68, certificate #
Parents: William and Gertrude Black
Wife: Marguriette Black
Occupation:
Obit: Lexington Leader, 11/9/1951, p12, c4-survived by wife, sons Harold and Arthur Black, lived 145
Colfax
Charley Carpenter 159 Depot Brigade, Section B, Row 5
Service: 7/18/1918 -12/17/1918 demobilized - marker order
1900 KY Fay Index 10:Bros, James (8/1875) 9th Cav; Abraham (5/1877) 25th ;William (12/1879) 9th Cav.
Born - 6/1/1891
Died - 2/22/1934, age 43; certificate #3212
Parents: Zack and Jane Helm Carpenter
Single
Occupation: Phoenix Hotel (WWI); porter, theatre
Obit: Lexington Leader, 2/23/1934, p17, c8 - survived by sister Lucy Merritt; brothers, George, Isaiah,
Albert, Joseph, Robert, lived 156 N. Eastern Ave, home of Sallie Hall
Nathan Caulder Sgt. 351 Machine Gun Battalion, 92 Div California, Section B, Row 13
Service: age 18, 10/25/1900 Co A 24th Infantry Fort D.A. Russell, WO
1908 9th Cavalry Troop K, Camp McGrath, Philippines
1910 9th Cavalry Troop K, Fort Russell, WO
1915 Manila, Philippine Island
1918 351st Machine Gun Battalion, 92 Div.; June 10 from New Jersey to Brest, France
1919 March 6 from Brest, France to New York
1920 Sept 4 from St. Nazaire, France to New Jersey - remains
Born - 8/1882, Lexington, Fayette County
Died - 6/1/1919, age 37; France; burial in Lexington; certificate #
Parents - Nathan and Fannie Allen Caulder
Single
Occupation: Soldier, 20-year veteran
Nathan Caulder American Legion Post #132 Lexington, formed June 1920, it is an active post
Post named - Lexington Leader, 6/20/1920, p2, c6
Obit: Lexington Herald, 9/24/1920, p14
Harry Crittenden CPL 159 Depot Brigade, Section A, Row 2
Service: 7/18/1918 - 12/10/1918 - marker order
Born - 10/18/1887, Woodford County
Died - 4/5/1944, age 57; certificate # 8997
Parents: Harry and Laura Brackston (Braxton) married 6/25/1879, B4, p36, Woodford Co
Wife: Susie
Occupation: Lincoln Restaurant (WWII); laborer
Obit: Lexington Leader, 4/6/1944, p19, c8 - survived by wife, son William B., bro Rev. John and B.
Crittenden; member St. Peter Claver Catholic; lived 732 N. Limestone
William M.C. Davis Pvt 1 Cl 42nd Res. Labor BN QMC, Section C, Row 2
Service:
Born - 10/31/1883, Lexington, Fayette County
Died - 3/20/1932, age 49; certificate #5605
Parents: Henry and Martha Morgan Davis
Wife: Emma L. Davis Daughter: Rosa Mae Davis
Occupation: Groom (Horsemen file) Employer: Ben White?
Obit: Lexington Leader, 3/21/1932, p11, c8 – survived by sister Mrs. Margaret Dillard, brother Henry Davis, daughter; service Consolidated Baptist, lived 132 Mt. Mullin
Clarence Brown Espy Pvt Co. L 369th Infantry, 93 Div, Section B, Row 4
Service: 5/21/1918, Pioneer Infantry; 3/1919 Co L 369th, discharged
8/22/1918 - 2/12/1919 369th Infantry “Harlem Hellfighter” overseas
Born - 6/2/1893, Lexington, Fayette County
Died - 12/20/1942, age 49; certificate #26231
Parents: Lewis (Louis) and Louise Shropshire Espy
Wife: Minnie
Occupation: bricklayer
Obit: Lexington Leader, 12/21/1942, p7, c4 - survived by wife and sisters, lived 574 Thomas St
John Wesley Grant Pvt Co D 801 Pioneer Infantry, Section B, Row 10
Service: 7/18/1918 - 1/11/1919, Dayton, OH, Vet. Admin hosp. #5215h
Born - 1/16/1895, Fayette County
Died - 3/31/1926, age 31; certificate #9459;
Parents: Adam and Millie Johnson Grant (Black- see Daniel Black SP AM)
Single
Occupation: Bellboy; hotel porter
Obit: Lexington Leader, 3/31/1926, Sec 2, p11, c - survived by mother Millie Black, lived 214 E. 2nd
George Gordon Pvt Co. D 520th Engineers, Section A, Row 2
Service: 7/18/1918 - 5/29/1919 overseas thru 5/1/1919
Returned 4/21/1919 to New Jersey from St. Nazaire, France aboard Finland with sick and wounded
Multi razor wounds to head and chest
Born - 5/13/1895
Died - 2/21/1923, age 28; certificate #4167
Parents: George Gordon + Cynthia Overstreet
Single
Occupation: laborer
Obit: Lexington Leader, 2/22/1923, p2, c7-8 - survived by mother Cynthia, sister Louise Black, lived 601
Patterson
James Hoskins (Hoskenson) Pvt Co. C 812 Pioneer Infantry. Section C, Row 3
Service:
Born - 6/1887
Died - 3/18/1927, age 40; certificate #5559
Parents: John and Lucy Anderson Hoskins
Wife:
Occupation: Horse trainer (see Horseman file)
Obit: Lexington Leader, 3/19/1927, p7, c7 - survived by sister Mrs. Mittie Carpenter, Pleasant Green
Edward Ingles Bugler Pvt 159 Depot Brigade, Section A, Row 1
Service: 7/18/1918 - 4/4/1919
Born - 9/12/1894
Died - 9/30/1928, age 34; certificate #22040
Parents: Samuel and Minnie McGee Ingles
Wife: Minnie Ingles
Occupation:
Obit: Lexington Leader, 10/1/1928, p11, c8 - survived by parents, sis Eva, Vivian & Geraldine, 535 Maxw
John Jackson Pvt 159 Depot Brigade , Section D, Row 3
Service: 6/21/1918-3/19/1919, overseas 8/22/1918-2/12/1919
Born - c.6/15/1893, Bourbon County
Died - 3/16/1933, age 40; certificate #6188
Parents: Lewis and Mary Jackson
Wife: Tillie Jackson
Occupation: truck driver
Obit: Lexington Leader, 3/17/1933, p18, c5 - survived by wife, sis. Pauline Dudley, Sallie Rice, Lucy
Jackson, brother Rev. Lewis Jackson, lived 407 Race Street
John E. Jones Cavalry Sch Det., Section A, Row 14
Service: age 21, 1/27/1914 - 5/18/1919 at Columbus Banks, OH, Cavalry unassigned to discharge
Born - c.1893, Bourbon County
Died - 1/25/1920, age 27; hospital, Fort Riley, Kansas; burial Lexington; certificate # ; marker order
Parents:
Wife: Amanda; lived 740 Market Street
Occupation:
Obit: Lexington Leader, 1/29/1920, p2, c5 - remains arrived, survived by sis. Mrs. Sarah J. Winn &
Amanda Jones
Barton Augustus Madison Pvt 159 Depot Brigade, non-military marker, Section B, Row 9
Service: 8/13/1918 - 1/16/1919 no overseas
Born - 1/2/1897
Died - 7/29/1923, age 26; certificate #18028
Parents: George and Ella Brown Madison
Wife: Florina
Occupation: Barber, Phoenix Hotel
Obit: Lexington Leader, 7/30/1923, p2, c7 - survived by wife, mother and father, lived 326 N. Upper
Ben Mason Sgt Co. H 801 Pioneer Infantry, Section C, Row 7
Service: 7/19/1918 - 6/16/1919; overseas 9/8/1918 - 6/5/1919
Born - 6/28/1886, Scott County
Died - 7/18/1933, age 47; certificate #15954
Parents: Joe and Martha Kirtley Mason
Wife: Martha Mason, married 1/13/1903, Scott Co
Occupation:
Obit: Lexington Leader, 7/19/1933, p13, c8 - survived by mother, daughter Maggie, sons Lonnie, Leonard,
Joe, James and Bennie, lived 412 Hawkins
Harry Sears Pvt Co. M 801 Pioneer Infantry, Section B, Row 8
Service: 7/18/1918 - 6/16/1919; overseas 9/18/1918 - 6/5/1919-marker order
Born - 7/2/1889, Bourbon County
Died - 12/25/1941, age 52; certificate #28475
Parents: Daniel and Margaret Sears
Wife:
Occupation:
Obit: Lexington Leader, 12/27/1941, p10, c3 - struck by a car; survived by sisters Mattie Mitchell, Annie
McKee; bro. John Henry & Daniel Sears, lived 327 Morris St.
Henry Smalley CPL Co. D 801 Pioneer Infantry, Section B, Row 2
Service: 7/30/1918 - 6/16/1919 - marker order
Born - 1/10/1891, Springfield, Washington, County
Died - 12/7/1942, age 51, certificate #1908620, VA Hospital, Tuskegee, AL
Parents: Sanford and Delaney B. Smalley
Wife: Sallie
Occupation: janitor, University of Kentucky, 10+years
Obit: Lexington Leader, 12/7/1942, p7, c6 - survived by wife,brother George Smally, lived 649 N. Upper
Thompson Smith Pvt Co M 801 Pioneer Infantry, Section B, Row 5
Service: 7/18/1918 - 6/16/1919 overseas 9/8/1918 - 6/5/1919
Born - 1891, Keene, Jessamine County
Died - 8/4/1941, age 50; certificate #19400
Parents: Al and Jane Smith
Wife: Mary Alice Smith
Occupation: Tailor
Obit: Lexington Leader, 8/4/1941, p11, c8 - survived by wife and brother George Smith, lived 351 Dewees Street
Ethelbert Washington Pvt 159 Depot Brigade, non-military marker, Section D, Row 2
Service: 7/29/1918 - 9/12/1918 demobilization; 12 ½ percent disabled
Born - 2/1/1891
Died - 3/9/1930, age 39; certificate #8802
Parents: Henry and Fannie Anthony Washington
Wife: Martha Washington
Occupation: brick mason for Funk Hulitt
Obit: Lexington Leader, 3/10/1930, p15, c8 - survived by wife, parents, bros Jerome and James, lived 143
Prall Street
Jerry Cash Welch CPL Co B 442 Res Lab BN Quarter Master Corp, Section C, Row 9
Service: age 23, 6/21/1918 - 5/2/1919 - marker order
Born - 3/3/1894, McKinney, Lincoln County; listed race as Malayan
Died - 3/27/1948, age 54; certificate #7342
Parents: James and Eliza Huffman Welch
Wife: Lillie Mae Welch
Occupation: laborer
Obit: Lexington Leader, 3/28/1948, p16, c5 - member Nathan Caulder Post, lived 629 Winnie St.