Georgia: Elbert County: News: Revolutionary War and Civil War Veterans ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store this file permanently for free access. This file was contributed by: Chandler Eavenson http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00030.html#0007294 ================================================================== History The following article, authored by Irene Wilcox, appeared in the Elberton Star newspaper, issue of 22 June 1982: "THEY GAVE THEIR ALL FOR US. "Between Memorial Day and Independence Day it seems appropriate to call to mind men of other wars who offered up their lives to serve the needs of our country. Some of these men were called to die; others lived through hardships after war ended, working diligently to preserve the freedom so dearly bought. "Elbert County was not formed until 1790, but Wilkes, from which it was formed, has records going back as far as 1733. We do know, however, that at least 141 men who served in the Revolutionary War became residents of Elbert County soon after the war ended, settled on lands here and remained here for a time. Many others may have done so. "Many of these men served in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina before coming to Georgia. Some moved on into other states very early in the 1800's. "In 1811 a part of Elbert County was included in Madison County when it was formed. Yet, in the 1840 census of Elbert, my own reading from microfilm, twelve veterans of the Revolutionary War were still living in Elbert. They were noted along with their ages in an appendix, required by law. These are the men so listed: William Trammel - 83 Amos Richardson - 76 William Gaines - 83 William Ward - 82 John Daniel - 80 John Davis - 87 Benjamin Brown - 77 James Riley - 82 Richard Gulley - 85 William Kelly - 82 David Carter - 82 John Cook - 79 "So far there is a list of 41 men in Elbert County who served in the War of 1812. This, however, may not be complete. During the early 1800's there were those who served in Indian Wars, but no list has been compiled on these. "As the daughter of a Confederate Veteran who moved to Elbert County in 1894, I am aware that many serving in that war may have been latecomers. Also, Hart County was formed in 1853 and included a portion of Elbert. Many young men who enlisted in the War Between the States very early went elsewhere to enlist. Many of these fought early in Virginia and lost their lives. "I believe the following account of Confederate Veterans still living in Elbert in 1916 will be of interest to many citizens of today. These men attended Memorial Day exercises on Wednesday, April 26, 1916, and were guests of the Jefferson Davis Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy at a dinner served in the hall of the Court House following exercises of the day. There were 46 men as follows: W. B. Henry - 91 M. D. Webb - 78 J. G. Seymour - 77 J. E. Carrouth - 70 A. W. Dixon - 86 J. L. Heard - 83 E. B. Norman - 80 W. W. Reese - 71 N. M. Mattox - 71 D. P. Oglesby - 77 T. A. Moore - 82 I. V. Moore - 85 D. Y. Pitts - 80 J. C. Thornton, Sr. - 72 S. G. Childs - 70 J. F. Thornton - 67 J. W. Gulley - 74 H. C. Stalnaker - 72 W. A. C. Hudson - 70 R. T. Dickerson - 69 D. J. Maxwell - 71 M. E. Fortson - 76 T. J. Hewell - 79 J. A. Burden - 71 W. J. Snellings - 69 J. S. Tate - 69 A. V. Caldwell - 74 Wm. Oglesby - 89 W. E. Fortson - 75 E. B. Tate - 75 F. O. Bailey - 71 T. N. Wansley - 82 J. L. Wheelis - 68 J. H. Fleming - 69 A. L. White - 76 J. H. Webb - 70 J. C. Hudgens - 72 W. A. Sanders - 82 W. H. Brough - 78 S. W. Dixon - 69 W. S. Gaines - 68 A. V. Johnson - 71 D. E. Cleveland - 71 W. G. Sanders - 70 W. E. Fortson - 83 "The Elberton Star of April 28th carried a full account of the Memorial Day exercises. Judge George C. Grogan was the speaker of the day and was introduced buy Col. W. F. Jones. The opening prayer was by Rev. S. A. Harris and the closing one by Rev. W.W. Morton. Attendance was large. The audience sang 'America' and the band of Gibson-Mercer Academy played 'Dixie'. The usual parade to the Cemetery for further ceremonies followed, the dinner for Veterans then served. During the exercises mention of those Veterans who had died during the year were noted and were as follows: S. H. Fortson, John D. Adams, John M. Craft, W. F. Hardy, A. G. Tynch and Willis Brown." [Submitted by: Chandler Eavenson]