Veterans' Day: American Legion Forms in Pike Co., MS 1919

This is one of my favorite types of newspaper articles because it includes names from several branches of our family. This one includes: Alford, Brumfield, Ellzey, Fortenberry & Ott family members. This is also useful to identify men from our family who served in World War I. Veterans' Day seems the perfect time to publish this list of WWI soldiers.

Read my endnotes to learn more about those men I was able to identify. 

 

 

 

Pursuant to call issued by J. H. Price, Jr., delegate to National caucus, a meeting of soldiers, sailors and marines convened at the Pike county court house at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon, June 21^st, 1919, and organized by the Pike County Post of the American Legion. Temporary were elected as follows: K. G. Price, McComb, chairman; Thomas Cotton, Summit, vice-chairman; Van H. Weathersby, secretary and treasurer.

 

Although this was the first attempt that has been made to organize a Post of the American Legion in Pike county, a great deal of enthusiasm was manifested by those present, and plans were perfected for organizing Posts over the entire county, the desire being expressed that every soldier, sailor or marine who had served honorably during the war should become a member of his local post.

 

The only credentials required of a candidate to make him eligible for membership to the American Legion is his honorable discharge, and fifteen or more such members can organize a local post and obtain a charter from the National organization.

 

The following committees on membership were appointed for the purpose of organizing posts at the various places in the county, and they are urged to do this at once as it is desired that as many Posts as possible be organized by July 12^th. In addition thereto, it was decided to have a general meeting or rally, inviting every soldier, sailor or marine in the county. The time and place of this rally to be the same as the celebration which will be given the soldiers by the Council of Defense. The time and place will be announced later.

 

The following is a list of committees on memberships, and they are urged to perfect their organizations without delay, and are requested to apply to the chairman or secretary for information.

 

Johnston Station – E. I. Carruth, Claude C. Carruth, J. A. Parnell.

 

Summit – Thomas Cotton, H. F. Wolbrecht, A. B. Reeves.

 

McComb – Harry Naul, Ewell Martin, Luther Lane, Pelham Mills, Jr.

 

Fernwood – C. L. Taylor, Albert Fitzgerald, unreadable name

 

(Unreadable Location) – L. C. Allmand, Ernest Curruth, Emmett Carruth, L. M. Speed.

 

Osyka – Sam Fortenberry^[1], John Mixon, Culver Ott^[2], Hollis Webb.

 

Silver Springs – H. L. Simmons, A. E. Fortenberry^[3]. 

 

Progress – (Address R. F. D. Magnolia) Elmer Alford^[4], Edwin Alford.

 

Walker’s Bridge – (Address R. F. D. Magnolia) L. M. Brumfield^[5], J. C. Rimes, Emmett Gulledge^[6].

 

Holmesville – (Address R. F. D. Magnolia) Luther Brent, Hugh Bullock, Chas. A. Gibson, Joe Bullock.

 

Graycoat – (Address R. F. D. Osyka) Willie Bryant, Ben Spears.

 

Carter’s Creek – (Address R. F. D. McComb) D. P. Walker, Jr., Tom Norman, Purser Boyd.

 

Felder’s Camp Ground – (Address R. F. D. Summit) Jack Felder, Jewell Dunaway, Rayner McEwen.

 

Source: American Legion for Pike County Organizes. (McComb, MS: The McComb City Enterprise, 10 Jul 1919) 1; digital image, Newspapers.com: accessed Sept. 2021.

 

 

 

 

 

^[1]Samuel Floyd Fortenberry, b 15 March 1889 Pike, MS, d Feb 1964 Pike, MS; husband of Maude Robert Easley; son of Richard A. Fortenberry & Josephine Ellzey.

^[2]Culver Lamer Ott, b 2 May 1895 MS, d 17 Jan 1924 LA; son of Samuel Adolphus Ott & Georgia Ritchie.

^[3]Alfred Eugene Fortenberry, b 26 June 1879, d 7 April 19953 LA; husband of Annie Elizabeth Ott; son of William Franklin Fortenberry & Mariah B. Hall.

^[4]Elmer C. Alford, b 19 March 1890 Pike, MS, d 30 Jan 1966 Pike, MS; husband of Willie Belle Hall; son of Julius Ceaser Alford & Sarah Elizabeth Fortenberry; US Army, 345^thInfantry.

^[5]Leura McCauley Brumfield, b 5 October 1887 LA, d 19 August 1948 LA; husband of Norma Flint; son of Uriah V. Brumfield & Julia McElveen.

^[6]Willis Emmett Gulledge, b 14 September 1895 MS, d 26 October 1961; husband of Hettie Muriel Ellzey; Corporal WWI Army Infantry.

 

Ancestor Anniversaries, November

Do you have a November anniversary?  

Maybe you share a date with a family member. 

2 November 1902     George Howard Alford [Son of Jeptha Josephus Alford and Olevia Luminda Fortenberry] & Mayme Indiana Simmons. George and Mayme were born in MS. They were married about 47 years.

2 November 1950. California.      Glenn Rollin Mark [Son of Eslie Guy Mark and Golda Mae Warner] & Eva Lena Mosley. They had one daughter.

5 November 1934     Otis Charles Massie & Ethel Elizabeth Good [Daughter of Albert Edward Good and Elizabeth Lodema Moore]. Otis and Ethel were both born in Ohio. They had three children.

6 November 1781     Jacob Balliet & Barbara Ritter. They had three children.

6 November 1856. Wayne Co., Ohio.     John Franklin Wolf [Son of John Frederick Wolf and Esther Barbara Shaffer] & Caroline Orwig. John was married twice. Caroline was his second wife. They had one daughter. John was a stone mason.

6 November 1873. Wayne Co., Ohio.     James Custer & Susan Wolf [daughter of John Franklin Wolf & Elisabeth Burkholder]. 

6 November 1886. Wayne Co., Ohio.     William Shirley & Eliza J Wolf [daughter of John W S Wolf & Elizabeth Jane Anderson]. 

6 November 1936     John Wortman & Ruth Grace Hurd [daughter of Roy Hurd & Mona D Morrison]. This couple had three children.

7 November 1925     Lynn Elias Blades [son of Wiley Blades & Elizabeth Breland] & Otera Pierce. They had five children.

9 November 1895. New York City.     Michael Coyle [son of Patrick Coyle & Margaret Brady] & Mary Josephine Mullane [daughter of Daniel Mullane & Brigid English. Michael & Mary Jo were both born in Ireland. Michael was a baker. They had seven children. Their oldest daughter was my maternal grandmother, Helen F. Coyle Gardner. 

11 November 1939    Roy Lawrence Steele & Annabelle Louise Rowlee [daughter of Karl Clayton Rowlee & Florence Vera Morrison]. They had one daughter.

13 November 1848. Plain Twp., Wayne, Ohio.    Isaac Ritter [son of Johannes Ritter, Sr. & Anna Mariah] & Isabell Fisher [daughter of John & Catherine Fisher]. Isaac & Isabell had twelve children. Isaac was a carpenter. 

October Anniversary: Seth Morrison & Margaret Gruissy; 1880 OH

 

Seth Benner Morrison

24 March 1861 PA – 18 April 1952 OH

Son of William Hiram Morrison & Emily Benner

Margaret Jane Gruissy

26 December 1861 OH – 8 March 1946 OH

Daughter of Augustus Ceaser Gruissy & Mary Ann Everett

Married

24 October 1880 Medina, OH

Creston - Mr. and Mrs. Seth Morrison on Oct. 24 will have been married 65 years. They feel that their 65 years have been years of planning and sharing and have enjoyed their children and their families. While Oct. 24 was the date of their marriage in 1880, they will not celebrate until Sunday, Oct. 28, when a family gathering and dinner will be held at their home two and one half miles west of Creston. Open house for friends and relatives will be held Sunday 2 to 5 p. m. and 7 to 9 p. m. The Morrisons, retired farmers, came to this community in 1900 and have made many friends. They are also well known in Medina County, having lived in a farming community near LeRoy for 9 years. Mr. Morrison is 84  years and Mrs. Morrison is 83. He was the son of Hiram and Emily Benner Morrison and was born March 1861 at River Styx. His good wife was formerly Margaret Jane Gruissy, daughter of Augustus Gruisys and lived her girlhood at Marshallville. They later moved to Wadsworth where she was married to Mr. Morrison at a small wedding in her parent's home with the Rev. G. Smith officiating. Little sorrow has come into the lives of the Morrisons, they had eight children, all living. They are Mrs. Mona Hurd, of Sonia, Mich., Mrs. Lena Swagler, Wadsworth, Mrs. Gusta Peters, Ithaca, Mich., Albert Morrison of Creston, Paul Morrison of Middletown, Mrs. Pauline Mowrer, Clifford Morrison of Akron, There are 31 grandchildren and 35 great - grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Morrison feel it's a great blessing never to have a break in their family circle. Friends wishing to send cards should address them to Creston, Rt. 1. 

Source: "Morrisons Married 65 Years Ago." Unknown newspaper clipping, 1945. Copy from Sharon Ambrose, Ohio. 

Parents of

Mona D. Morrison Hurd

Lena Bella Morrison Swagler

Emily Augusta Morrison Peters

Albert Rowlen Morrison

Florence Vera Morrison Rowlee

Paul Allen Morrison

Pauline Ann Morrison Maurer

Peter Clifford Morrison

Other October Anniversaries:

3 October 1878     Jarrett Clymon Smith & Eliza Jane Brock     

5 October 1847 MS     Tyra Jennings Tynes & Harriet Jane Alford    

8 October 1880     Markusz S. Gartner & Libe Ruchel Lefkovits     

18 October 1812 PA     Daniel Ritter & Lydia Knauss     

19 October 1899 OH     William M. Mark & Alice Leota Heacock     

21 October 1711 VA     Robert Wood & Mary Alford     

Albert & Dora Morrison Together for 50 Years

 

Albert Rowlen Morrison & Dora Rand

Married 13 October 1914 OH

Albert  

14 April 1894 OH - Mar 1977 OH

Son of Seth Benner Morrison & Margaret Jane Gruissy

Dora 

26 Dec 1897 OH - 30 Dec 1971 FL

Creston – Mr. and Mrs. Albert R. Morrison will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary at an open house Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. at the home of their son Edward, 115 Carter St. <orison, 70, was born in Seville; his wife, the former Dora Rand, 67, in Sandusky. The couple were married Oct. 13, 1914 in Sandusky. Morrison was affiliated with Morison’s Garage in Rittman for 15 years and farmed in Creston for 30 years before retiring. The couple now live in Marathon Shores, Fla. In addition to their son the Morrisons have a daughter, Mrs. Helen Hauffman of Creston, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. The Morrisons are members of the Brethern Church. Friends and relatives are invited to attend the open house Sunday.

Source: Celebrate Anniversary (Akron, OH: The Akron Beacon Journal, 15 Oct 1964) 7; digital image, Newspapers.com: accessed April 2018.

Heinrich Ritter Found in an Old Book

 Old books are terrific for getting social and historic details of our families. I love uncovering them in small local libraries. When I cannot travel, I like to use <archive.org> that has a vast supply of images of books, each easily searchable.

This book has some references to my Ritter family. 

 

The Schoolhouse Near the Old Spring

A History of the Union School and Church Association

Dillingersville, Pennsylvania

By Andrew S. Berky

 

 

Heinrich Ritter

c 1715 Germany – 1797 PA; my 6^th great grandfather

I found these snippets concerning my grandfather. 

 

Page 16           Lutheran Church.  August 1748. Heinrich Ritter was a delegate “representing the Upper Milford Church Council.”   “Delegates from all of the parishes met at St. Michael’s church in Philadelphia…” “Much of the discussion centered upon schools and Ox and Ritter reported that the congregation had not been able to provide for one.”

 

Page 99          Baptisms.  1751. Heinrich Ritter and wife Elisabetha baptized their son, “Henrich Wilhelm born February 20 baptized Mar. 24”

 

Page 121         Admitted to Holy Communion in the congregation. April 1751. “Henirich Ritter & wife, Elisabetha” 

 

September Anniversary: Gasua & Sarah Fortenberry, 1832 MS

Gasua Chapman Fortenberry

16 July 1805 SC -  21 June 1884 MS

Son of William Jasper Fortenberry & Violette Kennington

Sarah Brown

5 February 1810 GA – 19 July 1883 MS

Daughter of Moses Brown & Sarah Robertson 

Married

29 September 1832, Marion, MS

Source: Upton, Mrs. Robert Chester. Marriage Records Marion County, Mississippi 1812 - 1860. 1958. 976.221 Marriage G. C. Fortenberry & Sarah Brown 29 Sept 1832

Parents of

Armanda Miranda (Fortenberry) Snell

Narcissa Izela (Fortenberry) Huff

Louisa Ollevia Fortenberry

Benjamin Calvin Fortenberry

William Franklin Fortenberry

Mary Elizabeth Fortenberry

Christianna Euseba (Fortenberry) Schilling

Sarah Jane (Fortenberry) Cutrer

Violette Eliza (Fortenberry) Thornhill

Chief of Police Brumfield

The Brumfield family in Pike County, MS must have been very involved in the county. Three generations of men are mentioned in this report of Dudley's aspirations for Sheriff. 

 Dudley Atkinson Brumfield

Born September 1879, Pike Co., MS

Son of Henry Sims & Martha E. (Bickham) Brumfield 

Husband of Juanita Emilie Melbourne

Dudley Atkinson Brumfield

Chief of Police of McComb for the past 11 years enters the race for sheriff of Pike county. His grandfather, Jesse Brumfield, was elected sheriff of the county in 1843, 96 years ago. His father, Henry S. Brumfield was treasurer of the county for several years, being elected in 1873. Chief Brumfield is one of the best known men in the county and has made a splendid record as head of the McComb police department. 

Brumfield in Sheriff’s Race

 

Police Chief Announces For Office Held By Grandfather

 

Dudley Atkinson Brumfield, for the past eleven years Chief of Police of McComb, today announced his candidacy for the office of Sheriff and Tax Collector of Pike county, subject to action of the voters in the Democratic Primaries next August.

 

Chief Brumfield was born in the Leggett community of Pike county and has resided in this county all his life except for the period he spent with the United States army during the Spanish – American war. He moved to McComb in 1905 and has been a valued citizen of this city for 34 years.

 

The son of Henry S. Brumfield, who served as Pike county’s treasurer for a number of years, being elected in 1873. Dudley A. Brumfield is the grandson of a former Sheriff of Pike county. His grandfather, Jesse Brumfield, was elected sheriff in 1843 and served the people of Pike county well for a four year term.

 

Mr. Brumfield is a member of the Methodist church and the Woodmen of the World, and is active in affairs of the George M. Govan post Spanish – American war veterans.

 

Mr. Brumfield is married and has three children.

 

In offering his candidacy for the office of Sheriff and Tax Collector of Pike county, Chief Brumfield states that he is basing his campaign upon his own personal qualifications and his record as a peace officer and citizen. Having served as chief law enforcement officer of Pike county’s largest municipality for eleven years, he feels that it is not unbecoming for him to request a promotion at the hands of the people of Pike county.

 

As a candidate for Sheriff and Tax Collector, Mr. Brumfield makes no extravagant promises, but pledges his every effort toward the proper execution of the duties of the office to which he aspires. Efficiency and convenience to the public will be his aim in the conduct of the Sheriff and Tax Collector’s office.

 

Newspapers.com

15 May 1939, pages 1 & 7

McComb Daily Journal, McComb, MS

Forget Me Not: Clifton G. Brumfield

 This funeral announcement gives us some basic information about Clifton. I always wish for a more personal history. 

Clifton Grady Brumfield

16 May 1896 MS - 27 May 1967 MS

Son of Clifton Barksdale & Ada Salena (Rollins) Brumfield

Husband of Susie Brown

Clifton G. Brumfield

Rites Today

Funeral Services for Clifton Grady Brumfield, 71, were held at 10 a. m. today in Montgomery Baptist Church.

Mr. Brumfield, a farmer, died at 3:30 p. m. Saturday in a local hospital.

Survivors include his widow, Susie Brown Brumfield; two sons, Hyland W. and Gordon Brumfield, both of Rt. 3, Bogue Chitto; one daughter, Mrs. Helen Hartfield, Natchez; one brother, S. F. Brumfield, Bogue Chitto; two sisters, Mrs. Velma B. Wallace, Bogue Chitto, Mrs. Audrey Lofton, Summit; five granddaughters; and one great granddaughter.

Rev. Gene Ennis officiated. Burial was in Montgomery Cemetery with Hartman Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Newspapers.com

29 May 1967

Enterprise - Journal, McComb, MS, page 7

Phillip Heffelfinger of PA & OH

My paternal grandmother. Ivy R. (Mark) Brown has ancestors from Pennsylvania and Ohio. Her 2nd great grandparents were Phillip Heffelfinger & Elizabeth Mowrey. I am attempting to discover more about this family branch.

 

 

Phillip Heffelfnger

28 September 1787 Cumberland Co., PA - 6 July 1877 Wayne Co., OH

Husband of (1) Isabell McCormick & (2) Elizabeth Mowrey

My 4^th great grandfather

 

“Phillip Heffelfinger was born in Cumberland county, Pa., September 28, 1787. He was first married to Isabella McCormick of the same county, who lived less than a year, having one child that died in 1871. He was remarried January 12, 1818, to Elizabeth Mowrey, and by this union had eight children. In the spring of 1818he came West, arriving in Wayne county June 5, and for a while lived in a school house near the residence of the late Daniel Silvers. Two years prior to this he had been out and bought the farm for $700, on which he lived and died. His second wife died March 7, 1871, aged 70 years. She was a member of the Presbyterian church, he having, for 25 years before his death, in 1877, been united with the Methodists. He was an honest, pure – minded, sincerely pious man, living to a ripe old age. In his later years he was under the kind care of his daughter, Elizabeth and her husband, Captain Reed. (page 838)

 

Source:

History of Wayne County, Ohio: 

From the Days of the Pioneers and First Settlers to the Present Time

By Benjamin Douglass 

1878

Indianapolis Ind., Robert Douglass Publisher

Viewed on Internet Archive <archive.org>