Caswell County in the world war, 1917-1918; service records of Caswell County men

Foreword

The Board of County Commissioners of Caswell County, C. H. King, J. M. Williams, and T. H. Hatcliett, requested that I should write a character sketch of as many as possible of the Caswell soldiers who took part in the Great World War. This Board felt that it was fitting that some record should be made.

In the sketches which follow I have tried in a very humble way to carry out the wishes of these gentlemen, but I wish to express my very great regret that I have been unable to secure full information which would have enabled me to write a sketch of each boy who participated. This work has been a labor of love on my part, and has been done without compensation. I have completed as many sketches as I could, and I very much hope that some one may be able to secure a service record of the boys whose names do not appear which may be added in a future book.

May I not leave on record this statement ? I saw our boys go forth to battle. They were of the finest kind ; strong of muscle, clear of mind, and true of vision. They made for themselves a record of fidelity and courage. They did their duty like men, and, while my sketches are not ornate, and, while they show only in a very humble way the record, still I feel very grateful that I have had the honor to help preserve for future generations their names and activities.

Sincerely,

George A. Andeeson.

DEDICATION"

God in bis mercy and in His unfailing love willed it that bnt few of the sons of Caswell, should sleep their last dreamless sleep in the land where the Poppies grow. But Caswell had four sons who ''went West." Algernon Sidney Neal, Benjamin Franklin Brooks, Koy Patillo, and George Thomas Warren sleep beneath the lilies of France. To their memories I dedicate my humble work. May our County forever hold in constant recollection the memory of their Supreme Sacrifice, In the service flag of Caswell let their golden stars shine with an added lustre through the years.

In the beauty of the lilies, Christ was born across the sea, With a glory in his bosom, which transfigures you and me ; As He died to make men holy, so they died to make men free. Their souls go marching on.

CASWELL COUNTY CHAPTER, AMERICAN RED

CROSS

Immediately after war was declared, in many sections of the county, men and women became active in the Red Cross Work. There were branches at different places in the county, and these branches functioned through the Chapters at Danville, Va., Reidsville, N. C, and Greensboro, N. C.

As the needs of our soldiers became more acute, it was recognized that the wisest thing to do was to form an organization to function as the Caswell County Chapter of the American Red Cross. To bring this about a number of men and women met on May 2 in the office of the Yanceyville Telephone Company and effected a preliminary organization. Mr. B. S. Graves was called to the chair. Dr. S. A. Malloy was named secretary; and Rev. George W. Oldham, was named as treasurer. A motion was made that a petition be forwarded to the Southern Division of the American Red Cross, asking for authority to organize a chapter. This chapter to be known as the Caswell County Chapter of the American Red Cross. The petitioners were promptly given authority to form a constructive organiation. A call was sent out, and a large number of citizens met in the court room May 5, 1918.

Attorney M. C. Winstead was called to the chair; Superintendent George A. Anderson was made Secretary of the meeting. The Southern Division of the American Red Cross was represented by its Field Worker for North Carolina, Mrs. O. K. Morgan.

The following board of Trustees was elected for the management of the Chapter: Milton Branch, Miss Annie Irvin and Mr. M. C. Winstead ; Semora Branch, W. L. Taylor and Mrs. W. O. Smith ; Pelham Branch, Mrs. J. O. Fitzgerald; Leasburg Branch, Mr. George B. Connally; Locust Hill Branch, Mr. J. B. Turner; Blanche Branch, Mr. Wilbur L. Watkins ; Blackwell Branch, Miss Virginia^d^tt ; Yancewille Branch, Mr. R. L. Mitchelle and MrsT®^ Graves.

The Board of Directors immediately held a meeting and the following were elected officers of the Caswell County

Chapter. County Chairman, jST. R. Claytor, Vice Chairman, Miss Mary Pierce; Secretary, George A. Anderson, and Treasurer, E. L. Mitchelle.

The County Chapter and its branches with much earnestness began work in practically every section of the county, the people everywhere eagerly responding. Other branches were established at Hightowers, Providence, and Pine Forest. The various branches energetically pursued the work, and every where throughout the county the women of these branches were busy. Garments were collected for the unfortunate children of the war stricken countries. The willing hands of the women knitted comforts and sweaters, prepared roll after roll of surgical dressing, and in fact met every call of the parent organization with cheerfulness and promptness. When our boys were called to fill the ranks of the National Army, a delegation of Red Cross Women was always present with comfort kits to tell them good-by and bid them God-Speed.

Chapter after chapter could be written about the work of the Red Cross in Caswell County, but no pen can fitly record the splendid spirit shown by Caswell women wearing that badge of honor, the ''Red Cross. '^

A very beautiful and touching thing was done by the Yanceyville Branch. This branch appointed a committee composed of R. L. Mitchelle, E. F. Upchurch, and George A. Anderson, and delegated to it the responsibility to arrange for the ringing of the Angelus ; and from that date until the armistice of November 11 put an end to the gruesome carnage, at seven o'clock every afternoon the old Court house bell sounded a call to prayer for our boys in khaki beyond the sea. The Red Cross spirit as shown in Caswell during the war was indeed fine, and in keeping with the splendid spirit of our boys in imiform.

THE JUNE 5th REGISTRATION 1917

The'Governor of North Carolina issued an order that R. L. Mitchelle, Clerk of Superior Court, T. N. Fitch, Sheriff, and Dr. S. A. Malloy proceed immediately to register men for military services. This order directed the enrollment of all men aged twenty-one years to thirty-one years inclusive. The Board, as above constituted, with promptness and dispatch obeyed orders. A day was set in each precinct of the county and registrars appointed for the respective precincts to enroll men between the ages stated above. We append a list of registrars :

Anderson Precinct: H. J. Hurdle, W. E. Simmons.

Dan River Precinct: J. A. White.

Locust Hill Precinct : J. F. White Jr., J. B. Watlington,

Milton Precinct: M. C. Winstead.

Semora Precinct: W. O. Smith.

Ridgeville Precinct: W. L. Compton.

Leasburg Precinct: S. P. iN'ewman.

Pelham Precinct: J. O. Fitzgerald.

Stoney Creek Precinct : J. B. Turner and L. L. Lambeth.

Yanceyville Precinct: Julius Johnson, Alvis Florance. These gentlemen discharged their duty as registrars in the most capable manner, and the registration of Caswell was so complete that the officers of this registration were highly commended. The registration cards were promptly returned to the Board, there being 1,011 cards.

It was then necessary that a duplicate copy be made of these cards. The following persons offered gratuitous services and assisted in the copying of the cards: Miss Ruby Mitchelle, J. A. White; T. H. Hatchett; W. M. Burton; George A. Anderson.

ROBERT L. MITCHELLE

We feel that it is our duty to make a matter of record the energies and activities of the men who were too old to do active Military Service and yet during the troublesome days of the war, did all in their power to "Keep The Home Fires Burning." A prominent example of this class of men in Caswell County may be cited in the personage of Robert L. Mitchelle.

Mr. Mitclielle was born on the 22nd day of July 1866, and married Miss Lillian James. Both of these people are from Old Caswell County families. Mr. Mitehelle was a son of Eldridge Mitehelle, a man who was very prominent in this County's life. The father of Mrs. Mitehelle was Mr. Wiley James. This parent did active service in the "War hetween the States, and was regarded as one of Caswell County's most useful citizens.

Mr. Mitehelle received the rudiments of his education in the public schools of Caswell County, and attended for several sesions the High School at Cedar Grove under the direction of Mr. Sam Hughes. He was for two years a student of Oak Ridge Institute, and during this period he took a course in Book-keeping and Commercial Law. He has the distinction of being the student who completed the Commercial Course in the shortest period known in the history of the school. The writer of this sketch was a student at Oak Ridge with Mr. Mitehelle, and was present when he received his diploma. He completed this course in thirty days. After his graduation at Oak Ridge, he was for many years one of the largest farmers in High Towers Town-ship, and one of the most successful. He has held many positions of honor and trust in the County, and for the past eighteen years he hfis held with signal efficiency and County-wide popularity the office of Clerk of the Superior Court. Mr. Mitehelle is deserving of much credit for his wise and efficient management of the Bank of Yanceyville, and as President of the same, he has made this institution one of the most valuable constructive agencies of the County.

At the beginning of the "World W^ar he was appointed by the Governor of ISTorth Carolina, together with sheriff T. N". Fitch and Dr. S. A. Malloy, to hold the Registration of June 5th, 1017. As chairman of this committee he did his work well, and this registration was carried on throughout the county with an efficiency which was truly wonderful. For the first year of the war, he also served in the capacity of County Food Administrator, and, when the Red Cross Chapter for Caswell County was organized he was made one of the official members, serving as county treasurer, with

Eev. N". R. Claytor as chairman, and George A. Anderson as secretary. He was also treasurer of the Y. M. C. A., the Jewish Relief, and the Armenian and Syrian Relief; and in all these various and exacting capacities he performed his work with an unselfish and patriotic fei-vor. But his greatest work, possibly, during the war was as chairman of the Liberty Loan Committee. He was very active in securing the quotas allotted to Caswell County, and he handled the different drives with a masterly hand.

Miss Virginia Badget as chairman of the Women's Liberty Loan Committee, rendered much valuable assistance.

ROBERT THOMAS WILSON

The responsibility of conducting the War Saving Campaign for Caswell County was intrusted to Mr. Robert Wilson. A large number of our people responded to his appeal. It would be impossible to give the exact amount of War Saving Stamps purchased by our people for the reason that there were many subscribers who listed their names in Reidsville, Danville, and other places contiguous to Caswell. However, we may safely assert that but few counties of the character of ours purchased more liberally. Mr. Wilson was very aggressive in these campaigns although he had many other war duties to perform.

The Governor of North Carolina commissioned him as Captain in the Reserve Militia and he had the responsibility of training a company. He was also appointed by the Governor as a member of the Legal Advisory Board to aid registrants in the preparation of their questionnaires. He was also made Chairman of the Council of Defence. All of this work he did in a masterly way, and his very fine spirit of patriotism and Americanism proved him to be the worthy son of a gallant old Confederate soldier. Mr. Wilson was never too tired or too busy to respond to any call of the Government, and his unselfish service entitles him to the grateful recollection of our people. We append this personal sketch.

Robert Thomas Wilson was born in Caswell County in Dan River Township, April 8, 1883. His father, Robert P. Wilson, who at the age of sixteen became a soldier in the Confederate Army, married Miss Virginia Travis, native of Pittsylvania County, Virginia. His early education was received in the public schools of Caswell where he did the usual work of the seven grades. He then entered the Danville Military Institute and after spending a part of two sessions there, became a student for one year at A and M College, Raleigh, N. C. After finishing school he was engaged for a while in farming, very successfully.

In 1910 he was nominated and elected by the Democratic Party for the office of Register of Deeds, which position he has held continuously until this writing. For a number of years he studiously applied himself to the law, and in 1915 being granted a leave of absence by the Board of County Commissioners he became a student at Wake Forest. He so studiously applied himself that after sixty days tutorship under Dr. Gulley he succeeded in passing the Supreme Court examinations, and in December of this same year, he was admitted to the bar at the December term of Court at Yanceyville, K C. 1915.

Mr. Wilson has been twice married. His first wife Miss Mary Fannie Flintoff, who died on August 5, 1909, was a daughter of C. B. Flintoff. In 1911 ho was married to Miss Ella Sue White. From this latter union there are two children. His home near Purley is indeed a happy one. Mr. Wilson is a brother of the late lamented William S. Wilson.

LEGAL ADVISORY BOARD

In the execution of the Selective Service Law a large amount of work fell to the lot of the Legal Advisory Boards. These Boards were appointed for the purpose of assisting the Registrants in filing questionaires, and advising as to the rights of the Registrants under the law.

In Caswell this board was composed of the following Attorneys : Robert T. Wilson, Marcus C. Winstead, and Julius

Johnston. These gentlemen gave efficient service, serving without compensation.

E. F. UPCHURCH

In compliance with the Selective Service Law the Governor of l^orth Carolina, Hon. Thomas W. Bickett, appointed Mr. E. F. Unchurch, a member of the bar of Caswell, as tlie Government's Appeal Agent. This appointment, which carried with it very grave and serious responsibilities, was patriotically accepted. In this capacity he served during the entire period of the Great War. He discharged his duties during these days of intense activities in such a way as to merit the appreciative thanks of the Governor. In addition to this service as Government Appeal Agent, as the war progressed, bringing a large amount of work to the local board he shared for nearly a year with Superintendent Anderson the arduous task of Clerk of the Local Board. These duties however did not prevent him from taking an. active and whole-hearted interest in other war activities, such as the Y. M. C. A. war work and the Red Cross. The following is a brief character sketch.

Mr. Upchurch was born in the County of Wake at Cary on August 14, 1877, His father James B. Upchurch married Miss Janie Creel. His early educational training was received in the Public County Schools and Public High School of Wake, Completing this course he became a student at Wake Forest College, remaining there for three years. He decided to enter upon the profession of law and was tutored by Profesor Gulley and Professor Mordecai, the latter now being at Trinity College. He passed the State Board successfully in 1902 and was appointed to the bar the same year. He located at Cary, at which place he was active in his Profession until 1909. In the spring of that year he moved to Caswell County, associating himself with Hon. L. M. Carlton of Person County. In 1911 he was nominated and elected by the Democratic Party a member of the State Senate from the 18th Senatorial District. As a Senator from Caswell he was given important committee assignments, particularly as member of Judiciary Committee I^o. 1. As a Senator his name is associated with the Auto-Seizure Law, w^hich was state-wide in its application. He placed on the Statute Book the following local laws : ''Penalization of delinquent tax payers," "changing the county officers from the fee system to the salary system ;" and appended to the general State Law the present County Primary System for the nomination of candidates. For a number of years he has held the position of Attorney of the Board of County Commissioners and the County Board of Education.

Mr. Upchurch is a very loyal member of the Missionary Baptist Church and has taken much interest in the church w^ork at this place. Before coming to Caswell he married Miss Mary Stroupe of Forsyth County. Their home in the little village of Yanceyville is a happy one ; they have four children, three boys and one girl.

FILING OCCUPATIONAL CAPtDS

In the early part of 1918, General Crowder issued directions to the Local Board to compile and segregate the occupations of registered men. The order carried with it a tremendous amount of work. To comply with this order it was imperative that the questionnaire of each registrant be gone over carefully. General Crowder, to carry out this far reaching order, appealed to the teachers of America, asking that they tender their services. In Caswell County the responsibility of securing practical response to this appeal was laid on the shoulders of Superintendent Anderson.

He issued a circular letter to a number of the teachers of Caswell County and it is with the most gratifying pride that we record the fact that each teacher responded. These teachers met in the office of the Local Board and with great diligence and efficiency dispatched the task. The following teachers participated in this patriotic service: Miss Eva Walker; Miss Hallie Newman; Miss Bertha Wilson; Miss Fannie Sue Willson ; Miss Perlie Gwyn ; Miss Alma Daniel ;

Caswell County in the World War Id

Miss Yirginia Badgett; Miss Wilhelmina Thomas; Miss Ila Mitch elle; Mrs. Allen Gwynn; Miss Ida Bell Ledbetter; Miss Edna McGiiire; Miss Hattie Herndon; Mr. W. E. Simmons; Miss Bettie May White; Miss Anna White; Mr. T. H. Hatchett.

Y. M. C. A. WAE WORK

In the early fall of 1917 the State workers of the Y. M. C. A. effected in the various Counties a systematic organization. To this County it sent the Rev. Mr. Hester, a Baptist Minister from Roxboro. A meeting was held in the office of the County Superintendent. The needs of the work were presented by Mr. Hester, and as a result of this meeting a County organization was formed. Geo. L. Williamson was elected County Chairman.

Chairman Williamson proceeded with much earnestness to undertake a county-wide campaign. He made appointments in many different sections of the county and appealed to the people. In his work he was successful and turned into the treasury a neat sum. The second campaign was undertaken by Mr. Williamson under different circumstances. Since the armistice had put an end to hostilities, he went before the people and told them that our boys in the camps and on the soil of France needed, perhaps more than during the war, the comforts and thoughtfulness which only the Y. M. C. A. could give. In this campaign he was very ably assisted by Miss Elizabeth Graves, who had in charge the Woman's War Work.

Provost Marshall General Crowder has stated in public Addresses that no greater task has ever been given to any class of men than the work assigned to the Local Boards throughout the country. To these men was intrusted the fearful responsibility of raising an army, this army to be put on foot through the process of the Selective Service

Draft. He has also stated that the thanks of the nation are due the men who administered this law.

The local Board of Caswell County was composed of the following : C. H. King, Dr. S. A. Malloy, F. R. Warren and J. F. Walters. Mr, King was made chairman of this Board, and in such capacity he served during the entire war. He did his duty with much faithfulness, and when the Local Boards were discharged the military authorities expressed their appreciation of his work. The following is a brief personal sketch.

Cary H. King was born in the County of Caswell, February 1, 1864. His father, William D. King, was a prominent citizen whose name will be forever associated with the founders of the Old Rock Academy, a place where many men who have attained prominence received their education. This parent was married to Miss Ann Howard and the children of this union are well known to our people. Cary H. King was a pupil in the Old Rock Academy. He finished the course which was given at that place. Later he entered a commercial college in the city of Baltimore, and, as a result of the training there received, he developed into a very proficient business man. For a number of years he was engaged in the manufacture of tobacco, one of the few manufacturing enterprises that have been established in Caswell. He has also been engaged in the sale of commercial fertilizer, but these business ventures did not take his attention from his farm, and he has been reckoned as one of the county's most energetic and successful farmers- He has had a long life of official service. He served for two terms as a member of the County Board of Education ; during one of the terms he was made chairman of the board. In 1007 he was nominated and elected by the democratic party as a State Senator from the Eighteenth District. This district is composed of Caswell, Alamance, Orange and Durham Counties. As a State Senator he served his district with conspicuous ability. He has been chairman of the Board of County Commissioners for the past six years, and in this capacity his sound business qualifications have been of great usefulness. He married Miss Lily May Pinnix, daughter of Colonel Joseph Pinnix. There are six children from this union, and this home has been for many years one of the happiest of our county.

J. F. WALTEKS

J. F. Walters was born in the State of Virginia, January 4th, 1850. His parents moved to N'orth Carolina, in 1854. Mr. Walters grew up on the farm in Caswell developing into one of the most successful and prosperous farmers that this section knows. His farm today is in Dan River Township, about two miles from Blanch, and is almost a model one.

Since reaching the years of maturity, Mr. Walters has taken a very prominent part in various activities of the County. For ten years he served as justice of the peace and his court was always a place where justice was meted out with equal hand. He served the county as a member of the County Board of Commissioners for four years, and had been re-appointed for the additional term but did not serve. He then was nominated by the Democratic Party for a seat in the lower house of the General Assembly, and was elected by an overwhelming majority. He served his county and state wisely and well during the sessions of 1903 and 1904, and a record of his vote while he was a member of the General Assembly will show that he was an active supporter of all constructive measures.

All through his life Mr. Walters has been a warm friend of Public Education, and for a number of years, he has served with great acceptability as a member of the public school committee of District 9, which is his home district in Dan River Town-ship. To Mr. Walters the Governor assigned the responsible task of becoming a member of the Tocal Board of Caswell County. In the performance of his many difficult and delicate duties, he made a most conscientious effort to do without fear or favor the things required of him. His genial common sense during the days of the war added much to the satisfactory administration of tlie Selective Service Law in Caswell. Mr. Walters was married in 1877 to Miss Sallie Long, and from this nnion there are six children. Mr. Walters served his county well in peace and in war. He was patriotic to the core, and in those dark days of 1918 he showed his intense Americanism, and proved himself a worthy man hy his wise performance of difficult duties.

FRANKLIN RUDOLPH WARREN

Franklin Rudolph Warren was born at Prospect Hill in this county on the 16th day of April, 1861. His father, F. L. Warren, was also born at Prospect Hill. The maiden name of his mother was Mary F. Warren; she was also a Caswell County Woman.

Mr. Warren nuirricd on December 25th, 1884, Miss Eudora Satterfield, and from this union reared a family of ten children, eight boys and two girls. His was the distinction of sending two boys into military service during the Great War. His eldest son, Prof. W. F. Warren, has made a most enviable reputation as a teacher, serving as Principal in se\^eral of our City High Schools, and in the City Schools of South Carolina. This son enlisted in the Signal Corps of the Army. The other son, Virgil Leroy Warren, who was a student at the State College at Raleigh, N. C, enlisted in the Students Army Training Corps. These boys by their actions illustrate the patriotism of this family.

Mr. Warren received the rudiments of his education in the Public Schools of his community, and afterwards did high school work at Wilson, 'N. C. Mr. Warren has for many years ranked among the most valuable citizens of Caswell County, and he has always fearlessly espoused all causes tending to uplift and prosper Caswell. For many years he has served with great efficiency the people of his community as Post master at Prospect Hill. He has been engaged in a number of business ventures, and his management of them has demonstrated his practical efficiency.

Caswell County in the Would War 17

At the time of this writing Mr. Warren is a member of the County Board of Education, and is aiding materially in the development of our public school system. When the war was declared by our country against Germany and the Selective Service Law was created, Mr. Warren, together with Dr. S. A. Malloy, and C. H. King was named by the Governor of IvTorth Carolina a member of the Local Board for Caswell County. Mr. Warren served as a member of the Local Board, and ho demonstrated fully efficient ability to assist in bringing about fair and just solutions of the many problems with which the Local Board was confronted. lie was relieved from the Board in the fall of 1918, and was succeeded by Mr. J. F. Walters. Ho was intensely patriotic, and in all of the many calls which the Government made upon us he was ready and willing to perforai his part. I had the honor to serve as a clerk of the Local Board of which Mr. Warren was a member; I know of its many exacting problems, problems which require the use of sound, sober, serious, judgment. It is indeed proper to record that during those fearful years of 1917 and 1918 days wherein the souls of men were tried, Mr. Warren stood four-square, a true American patriot.

DR. STEPHEN ARNOLD MALLOY

Stephen Arnold Malloy was born near Reidsville, in the County of Rockingham, October 26, 1872. His father, David Morton Malloy, was a native of Virginia and was reared in Buckingham County of that state. His mother was Miss Frances Elizabeth Masse}^, a native of Rockingham County. His boyhood was spent on his father's farm.

He acquired the rudiments of his education in the rural schools of Rockingham, and was very fortunate in having some of the very best teachers of that day to instruct him. Upon the completion of the public school course, he became a student at Union High School at East Bend in Yadkin County. After completing the high school course at that place, he entered Guilford College, taking in addition to

18 Ca.sweli< County in the World War

Ilia literary course, preliiniiiary study to fit him for the work of his chosen profession, medicine. After the completion of his studies at Guilford he became a matriculate at the Baltimore Medical College, where he spent two years in the study of medicine. From Baltimore he went to the School of Medicine at Louisville, Kentucky, from which institution he graduated with high honors, June 30, 1897.

In April of the following year he succeeded in passing the examination prescribed by the State Board of North Carolina, and entered upon the practice of his profession. He had already made some warm friends in Caswell. These friends induced him to come to our coimty and look over the field. As a result of this survey, in June 1898, he locaed at Yanceyville, He was married May 14, 1914, to Miss I^annie Kerr, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John H. ivorr, and from this union there is one child, little Katherine Elizabeth Malloy.

J^r. Malloy with his gonial sympathetic manner, ready service, and his devotion to his patients, soon endeared himself to the })eople, and from the Ijeginning his services have been in demand by day and night. Ho has been exceedingly sucessful in his practice, and there are features of it that deserve to 1)0 permanently recorded. In the practice of mid-wifery, out of 1424 cases he has lost only 3 patients. This is a record that any Doctor would be ]:)roud of. Ho has been associated with all the public Health activities of the county, and on June 7, 1898, was made County Physician, which place he has hold with great acceptability since that date. He was instrumental through the assistance of Supt. Anderson, T. P. Womack, P. M. Sommers, and S. G. Covington in securing a hook-worm dispensary for this county. It will be perhaps interesting to note in passing the following incident : After all matters had been arranged to secure the appropriation for this work, which was three hundred dollars, a friend on the Court House green jocularly remarked to the Doctor, ''You are about to s]>ond three hundred dollars of the people's good money on a fad." Dr. Malloy at once caught the spirit of the remark aud answered, ''Do you see that bo}^ yonder, how strong and robust he is ? He was once a pale, sickly, anaemic boy. I gave him treatment for hook-worm, the treatment which I propose to offer to the people of the county, you see the result of it in that case. I want to say that if only one little child is made strong and healthy by this treatment, then the County Commissioners have spent $300 of the people's good money, wisely and well." He has always sought with earnestness, to impress upon the people's mind, the importance of the typhoid vaccination.