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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.

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