ALEXANDER COUNTY, NC - OBITUARY - Henry Franklin Echerd, 1 Jul 1902 ----¤¤¤¤---- IN MEMORY OF HENRY FRANKLIN ECHERD We deem it hardly right to let a good citizen and friend pass off the state of action without a written word of comment upon his noble life and character. Henry Franklin Echerd was born May 20th 1822. He was born in Catawba Co. and when 14 years of age moved to this county with his parents. At the age of 21 he married. From that time until his death July 1st 1902 his life has been with us. He was not a public man either in Church or State, but when duty called as a helper he was ever ready and willing to do his share. He was a mechanic by trade. He delighted also in wagoning. I remember to have heard him speak frequently that he hauled the first barrel of Kerosene from Statesville that was ever brought to Taylorsville. It was bought by A. C. McIntosh Sr. Another act of his early life he delighted to speak of, was being a juror to help lay off the public road leading from Taylorsville to Lenoir, which road is a great convenience to the passing public. He never sought office, yet while he was able he was ever ready to cast his vote for the man of his choice. He enlisted in the war of 61. In April 62 he volunteered and joined Capt. James Reed's Company, Company G of the 37th regiment from North Carolina. While engaged in battle, near Hanover Court House, VA. He was wounded. He was shot through the mouth with a minny ball, knocking all his teeth out, fracturing his jawbone, and cut the end of his tongue off. He was a man of great hospitality, never a wayfaring stranger called to find shelter and refreshment that was turned off. And his relatives and friends were always welcome and their company enjoyed. We do not mean to say he was a faultlessman. Perfection is not possible here and though he doutless had his faults, (Who has none?) he had many friends and few enemies. In his domestic relation no man could have excelled him, though in his declining years advisities were against him, yet his devotion never ceased. As a christian his life and character w ere never impeached. He was a consistant member of Three Forks Baptist Church and was one of the first to constitute the church at that place. His devotion to God may be judged by his daily walk, and his attendance at church. While in active life he was never too busy to attend church. The old adage, "Action speak louder that words." The highest tribute we can pronounce upon him is to testify to his fidelity to duty. This I can safely do for my departed-I deem it unnecessary on this occasion to say more. He died as he had live, without a murmur. A Friend Source: "The Mountain Scout", a newspaper printed in Taylorsville, NC, issue date Thursday, July 31, 1902; taken from a typed extract of that article which was made by an unknown transcriber. ********************************************************************* Notes regarding Henry Franklin Echerd: He went by the name "Franklin". Born 20 May 1823; married Anna Watts daughter of James Watts, Jr and Rebeccca Jones on 20 June 1844 in what is now Alexander Co NC by John Stine, Esq.; died 01 July 1902 in Taylorsville, Alexander Co NC; buried in the Three Forks Baptist Church Cemetery in Taylorsville, NC. According to his State pension applications of Confederate veterans and widow, Department of Cultural Resources, Division of Archives and History, Raleigh, NC: 1) He said he was born in Lincoln Co NC; 2) Service: He enlisted at Kinston, NC on or about 02 April 1862 [his Company Muster Roll for Nov & Dec 1862 shows the date of enlistment as 09 April 1862] by Captain Read and joined the Volunteer Infantry under Captain R. L. Steels. He was a Private in Co "G", 37th Regiment of NC; wounded in the battle at Hanover Court House, VA on or about 27 May 1862. . He was admitted 01 Dec 1862 to the Richmond, VA hospital, Windes [Winder?] Division #1; later he was sent to the CSA General Hospital in Danville, VA on 03 Jan 1863 where he was examined and given a Certificate of Disability for Discharge from the Army of the Confederate States. He was honorably discharged from service on 06 January 1863 due to his injuries received in battle. He received a pension. Anna received a widow's pension. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Suzzette Greth Yandle yandle_s@bellsouth.net ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Submitted by Suzzette Greth Yandle