R. H. Powell

Private, 1st Regt., F. A. Born in Burke County, 1890; son of S. J. and Mrs. Mittie Powell; husband of Mrs. Cordia Powell. Entered service August, 1918, at Valdese, N.C. Sent to Camp Jackson. Mustered out at Camp Jackson, S. C., Dec. 14, 1918.

Alexander L. Shuping

Wagoner, C. A. C., Btry. C, 61st Regt.; of Burke County; son of J. A. and Mamie Lane Shuping. Entered service April 19, 1917, at Morganton, N.C. Sent to Ft. Scriven, Ga. Sailed for France July 31, 1918. Promoted to Wagoner July, 1918. Returned to USA Feb. 17, 1919, at Hoboken, N. J. Mustered out at Camp Lee, Va., March 11, 1919.

Charles Wiseman

Private, Heavy Artly., Btry. C, 1st Regt., F. A. R. D. Born in Burke County, N.C., April 22, 1897; son of C. W. and Mrs. M. L. Wiseman. Entered the service at Carthage, N.C., Aug. 22, 1918, and sent to Camp Jackson, S. C. Mustered out of the service at Camp Jackson, S. C., June 28, 1919.

Where was Hernando de Soto’s Guaxale?

Blue Ridge Mountains

Guaxale was a Native American village visited by the Hernando de Soto Expedition in late spring of 1541. De Soto and his small army of conquistadors explored what was to become the Southeastern United States between the years 1539 and 1543. Despite the fact that de Soto’s men only visited Guaxale briefly, and the village was not large, it’s location has been a major focus for scholars, studying the earliest Spanish explorers. In North Carolina one suggested location of Guaxale has even been a key element of tourism promotion.

John Alexander – Descendants

The Genealogy of the Alexander family, into which Robert Love, commonly known as “Carter Bob”(my Father-F.D. Love) married, having married Sarah Matilda Alexander, May 25th, 1848, Alexanders —- John Alexander, was born in Rowan County, North Carolina, where he married Rachel Davidson (a first cousin of General William Davidson, who in the War of the Revolution was killed at Cowan’s Ford of the Catawba River in resisting the passage of Cornwallis), daughter of John Davidson. John Alexander removed from Rowan County to Lincoln County, North Carolina; thence to Buncombe County, (the Burke County) North Carolina (one of its first settlers); … Read more

Biography of Colonel Charles McDowell

Colonel Charles McDowell and his brothers, Joseph and William, were sons of Joseph McDowell and Margaret O’Neal, who emigrated from Ireland and settled in Winchester, Va. Here, Charles and Joseph were born, the former in 1743. Soon afterward, Joseph McDowell, Sr., moved to Burke county, N.C. In June, 1780, Colonel Charles McDowell being joined by Colonels Isaac Shelby and John Sevier from Tennessee, and by Colonel Clarke, of Georgia, near the Cherokee Ford on Broad river, in South Carolina, he determined to attack a post held by the enemy on Pacolet river, in Spartanburg county. The position was strongly fortified … Read more

Albert F. Garrou

Sergt., Air Service, Co. 16th 4th Regt.; of Burke County; son of John and Marie Garrou. Husband of Louise Garrou. Entered service Dec. 10, 1917, at Valdese, N.C. Sent to Fort Thomas, Ky. Transferred to Camp Hancock, from there to Camp Greene, N.C., then to Camp Upton. Sailed for France July 15, 1918. Promoted to rank as Sergt. July, 1918. Returned to USA June 9, 1919. Mustered out at Mitchell Field, July 2, 1919.

Biography of Colonel John Sevier

Colonel John Sevier was born in Shenandoah county, Virginia, in 1734. His father descended from an ancient family in France, the name being originally spelled Xavier. About 1769 young Sevier joined an exploring and emigrating party to the Holston river, in East Tennessee, then a part of North Carolina. He assisted in erecting the first fort on the Watauga river, where he, his father, his brother Valentine, and others settled. Whilst engaged in the defence of the Watauga fort, in conjunction with Captain James Robertson, so known and distinguished in the early history of Middle Tennessee, he espied a young … Read more

Claude M. Sides

R. O. 1st Class (Navy); of Burke County; son of J. M. and Mrs. Ida Sides. Husband of Mrs. Mattie Sylva Sides. Entered service July 7, 1915, at Richmond, Va. Sent to St. Helena, Va. Transferred to U. S. S. Wyoming, then to U. S. S. Jason. Sailed for Brest, France, July, 1917. Promoted to rank of Ordinary Seaman November, 1915; to seaman, 1916; to rank of Radio Electrician 1st Class. Made eight trips across to England, France, Spain, Italy and Austria and to Brezil. Mustered out at Boston, Mass., July 5, 1919.

Biography of Colonel Benjamin Cleveland

Colonel Benjamin Cleaveland, one of the distinguished heroes of King’s Mountain, and in honor of whom Cleaveland county is named, lived and died in Wilkes county at a good old age. In 1775 he first entered the service as Ensign in the second regiment of troops, and acted a brave and conspicuous part in the battle’s of King’s Mountain and Guilford court house. A serious impediment in his speech prevented him from entering public life. He is frequently spoken of in the mountain country as the “hero of a hundred fights with the Tories.” He was for many years the … Read more

Burke County, North Carolina Cemetery Transcriptions

North Carolina Cemetery records are listed by county then name of cemetery within the North Carolina county. Most of these are complete indices at the time of transcription, however, in some cases we list the listing when it is only a partial listing. Following Cemeteries (hosted at Burke County, North Carolina Tombstone Transcription Project) Bethel United Methodist Cemetery Buff Cemetery Chapman Cemetery Dentons Chapel Methodist Cemetery Gibbs Chapel Wesleyan Church Cemetery Gilboa Methodist Cemetery Glen Alpine United Methodist Church Cemetery Hildebrand Cemetery Jehovah’s Witness Cemetery Mission AME Church Cemetery Missionary Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery Mt. Gilead Baptist Cemetery Oak Hill … Read more

Herman John Crouch

1st Class Seaman, Navy; of Burke County; son of W. P. and Mary Crouch. Entered service June 2, 1918, at Morganton, N.C. Sent to St. Helena, Va. Sent to U. S. S. “Naiwa;” transferred U. S. S. “Powhatan,” made two trips overseas. Mustered out at Naval Base, Hampton Roads, Sept. 15, 1919.

William R. Lowman

Private, 321st Inf., Co. B, 81st Div. Born in Burke County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Lowman. Husband of Mrs. Ivey Lowman. Entered the service May 25, 1918, at Morganton, N.C. Was sent to Camp Jackson, S. C., and from there to Camp Sevier, S. C. Was sent to Base Hospital at Camp Sevier, S. C. Mustered out at Camp Sevier, S. C., Dec. 7, 1918.

Frank Cline

Private, F. A. Son of W. P. and H. R. Cline, of Burke County. Husband of Mrs. Ester Cline. Entered service Aug. 26, 1918, at Valdese. Sent to Camp Jackson. Transferred to Newport News to go across. Mustered out at Camp Jackson, Dec. 15, 1919.

Biography of General William Lenoir

General William Lenoir was born in Brunswick county, Virginia, on the 20th of May, 1751. He was of French (Huguenot) descent, and the youngest of a family of ten children. When he was about eight years old his father removed to a place near Tarboro, N.C., where he resided until his death, a short time afterward. He received no other education than his own limited means and personal exertions enabled him to procure. When about twenty years of age he married Ann Ballard, of Halifax, N.C.–a lady possessing, in an eminent degree, those domestic and heroic virtues which qualified her … Read more

Biography of General Daniel Morgan

General Daniel Morgan was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, in 1737, and moved to Virginia in 1755. He was a private soldier under General Braddock, and after the defeat of that officer returned to his occupation of a farmer and a wagoner. When the war of the Revolution broke out, he joined the army under General Washington, at Cambridge, and commanded a corps of riflemen. He was with General Montgomery at Quebec, and with General Gates at Saratoga, in both of which battles he greatly distinguished himself. For his bravery he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General, and … Read more

Harold W. Davis

Corpl., Med. I. M. S. No. 2 Co.; son of Mr. B. F. and Mrs. M. L. Davis; of Burke County. Entered service July 21, 1917, at Morganton, N.C. Sent to Ft. Thomas, Ky. Transferred to Ft. Ben Harrison, Ind., then to Ft. Jay, N. Y. Sailed for France Sept. 20, 1917. Was six months in Army of Occupation in Germany. Returned to USA Aug. 8, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Mills, N. Y., Aug. 15, 1919.

Ferdinand Parise

Private, 1st Class, A. E. F., Hdqrs. Co., A. E. F. in Siberia, Russia; from Burke County; son of F. and Mrs. K. Parise. Husband of Mrs. Deled Parise. Entered the service at Valdese, N.C., 1914, and sent to Texas City, Texas. Transferred to Philippine Islands, from there to Japan, and then to Russia. Served on the Mexican border and was in Douglas, Ariz., when three men of his company were killed by Mexicans. Sailed for Russia, Feb. 5, 1916, and returned to the USA Feb. 16, 1919. Mustered out of service March, 25, 1919, at General Hospital, San Francisco, … Read more