NEWS: William Pinkney Rudd Memorial, 8-10-96, Marshall Co, Ky ------------------------------------------------------------------ Contributed to the USGW Kentucky Archives by: Carl Greenfield "cgreenf@bellsouth.net", 31 Oct 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Union soldier finally getting grave marker 1A The Paducah Sun Monday, July 29,1996 William Pinkney Rudd served in the Union Army as a cavalry trooper and fought In several battles. BY MATT SANDERS THE PADUCAH SUN William Pinkney Rudd, one of the founders of the Ragland community in western McCracken County and a Civil War soldier, will finally have a marble military marker placed at the foot of his grave - more than 93 years after his death. Rudd, who enlisted in the Union Army in 1862, was buried in the New Liberty United Methodist Church Cemetery near the Ragland area in May 1903. The grave has a family headstone, but for an unknown reason, a military marker was never placed at his grave. The marker will be placed at his grave during a memorial service- complete with an honor guard of Civil War re-enactors - at 10 a.m. Aug.10 at the cemetery, located at the intersection of Ky. 338 and Ky. 723. Brother and sister Hubert Please see SOLDIER /10A 1OA The Paducah Sun Monday, July 29,1996 Confederate re-enactors will pay tribute to Union soldier Continued from 1A Franklin Rudd of Smithland and Elva Emmalene Rudd Becker of Las Vegas, great-grandchildren of William Rudd, discovered the grave during a visit to the cemetery last October. Becker, a member of the Daughters of Union Veterans or the Civil War, began trying to acquire a gravestone. "I really didn't know much about him," said Hubert Rudd, who was born 22 years after his great-grandfather's death. "Daddy sometimes mentioned that he (William Rudd) was in the Civil War, but I never knew which side he was on until we found his discharge papers." Hubert Rudd said he did not know what had caused his great-grandfather to join the Union Army instead of the Confederate Army. Becker's husband, Leonard, also a military veteran, found Rudd's discharge record in the Paducab Public Library. A copy of Rudd's military discharge was mailed to the Veterans Administration, along with a request form completed by Carolyn Shelbourne of Lindsey Funeral Home. The VA requires that applications come through funeral homes, Hubert Rudd said. Since the case involved a Civil War veteran, the VA took more than nine months. instead of the usual three months. to verify Rudd's military record and approve the grave marker. After enlisting at age 26, Rudd was assigned to Company A, 15th Kentucky Cavalry, and fought in the Battle of Owensboro in February 1863 and in the Battle of Spring Creek, Tenn., in June 1863, as well as several other conflicts. For one year, Rudd served alongside his brother, Marshall. "He owned his own horse. so when he enlisted, he was placed in the cavalry. Those who didn't have horses were placed in the infantry," Hubert Rudd said. Rudd had roots spread across western Kentucky. He was born on June 9, 1836, in Todd County, the seventh son of Bryant and Susan Cole Rudd. In 1843, his family moved to Marshall County. It was during wartime that Rudd came to Paducah, briefly moving to Livingston County before settling in Ragland. Hubert Rudd said his great-grandfather's business probably had been the hub of activity in Ragland, which is near the Ballard County line. Rudd operated the general store, which included a dry-goods business, grist mill, blacksmith shop and building supply company. Rudd fathered 17 children - 13 with his first wife, Susan Greenfield, and four with second wife Mary Ann Parks. The 5th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry, CSA, commanded by Lt. Richard A. Green of Providence, will provide graveside honors at the memorial service, along with a chaplain, firing squad and bugler. The eulogy will be delivered by Van J. Rudd, great-great-grandson of William Rudd and son of Hubert Rudd. WILLIAM PINKNEY RUDD Getting military marker (See photo from link on Marshall County, Ky. Archives TOC page) ==================================================================== 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. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Carl Greenfield ====================================================================