Biography of Colonel Alexander Osborn

Alexander Osborn was born in New Jersey in 1709, and emigrated to the western part of Rowan county (now Iredell) about 1755. He was a Colonel in the Colonial government, and as such marched with a regiment of Rowan troops to Hillsboro in 1768 to assist Governor Tryon in suppressing the “Regulation” movement. He married Agnes McWhorter, a sister of Dr. Alexander McWhorter, president of Queen’s Museum College in Charlotte. His residence (called Belmont) was one of the earliest worshiping places of the Presbyterians of Rowan county before the present “Center Church” was erected, and became by compromise the “central” … Read more

Garland E. Plott

1st Class Private, 120th Inf., 30th Div., Co. M. Born in Iredell County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Plott. Entered the service May 28, 1917, at Durham, N.C. Was sent to Camp Sevier, S. C., and from there to Camp Merritt, N. J. Sailed for France May 17, 1918. Fought at Ypres, Belgium, at Bellicourt, Vaux Andigny, Bohain. Was gassed at Battle of Bohain Oct. 17, 1918, and sent to British South African Hospital, then to American Hospital at Toton, Eng. Returned to USA April 13, 1919, and mustered out at Camp Jackson, S. C., April 17, … Read more

Joseph R. Poston

Seaman, U. S. Navy. Son of W. J. and Mrs. Hoke Poston, of Iredell County. Entered service Sept. 3, 1918, at Statesville, N.C., and ordered to Newport News. Mustered out from there on Feb. 18, 1919.

Biography of Rev. James Hall, D. D.

Rev. James Hall, a distinguished soldier of the Revolution–the Captain of a company and Chaplain of a Regiment at the same time–was born at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on the 22d of August, 1744. When he was about eight years old his parents, who were Scotch-Irish, removed to North Carolina and settled in the upper part of Rowan county, (now Iredell), in the bounds of the congregation to which he afterward gave thirty-eight years of his ministerial life. Secluded in the forests of Rowan, and removed to a great extent from the follies of the great world, James Hall grew up under … Read more

John Franklin Jackson, Jr.

Private, F. A., Batty. 306, 81st Div.; of Iredell County; son of J. T. and V. S. Jackson. Husband of Ellen Jackson. Entered service April 26, 1918, at Statesville, N.C. Sent to Camp Jackson, S. C. Transferred to Camp Mills, N. Y. Sailed for France, August 16, 1918. Mustered out at Camp Lee, Va., March 28, 1919.

Harrison G. Campbell

Private, Battr’y E, 317th F. A., 81st Div. Born in Iredell County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. R. Campbell. Entered the service May 29, 1918, at High Point, N.C. Was sent to Camp Jackson, S. C., and transferred to Camp Mills. Sailed for France Aug. 7, 1918. Returned to USA April 21, 1919, and was mustered out at Camp Jackson, S. C., May 31, 1919.

Marvin L. Bost

Corpl., 115th Machine Gun Battn. Co. B, 30th Div.; of Iredell County; son of F. K. and Mrs. M. A. Bost. Entered service June 4, 1917, at Statesvile, N.C. Sent to Camp Sevier, S. C. Sailed for France May 11, 1918. Promoted to rank of Corpl. Aug. 1918. Fought at Belgium, Voormizelle, Mt. Kemmel, Belgium, Bellicourt, Nauroy engagement, Hindenburg Line. Sailed from France March 10, 1919. Landed in USA March 23, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Jackson, S. C., April 2, 1919.

Biography of Rufus McLelland

This worthy citizen has made his home in south Missouri and this county since 1851, and by his upright, honorable career has won the respect and confidence of all. He was born May 17, 1822, in North Carolina, of which State his parents, William R. and Clarissa (Crawford) McLelland, were also natives. The father was a prominent business man and a large slave owner although he prayed for the day to come that would set the slaves free. That day he was not destined to see, for he died before the war. He passed away in North Carolina, as did … Read more

Nestor Lee Smith

Private 1st Class, Co. 4, 7th Engineers, 1st Div. Son of W. U. and S. J. Smith, of Iredell County. Entered service Sept. 5, 1918, at Salisbury, N.C. Sent to Camp Humphrey, Va.; sent to Base Hospital, Alexandria, Va. Died at Humphrey, Va., Oct. 11, 1918. Buried at Snow Creek, N.C., Iredell County.

J. P. Mills, Jr.

Sergt., H. A. School in France; of Iredell County; son of J. P., Sr., and Mrs. J. P. Mills. Entered service May 25, 1917, at Mooresville, N.C. Sent to Ft. Caswell. Sailed for France Sept. 26, 1918. Returned to USA March 30, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Lee, Va., April 1, 1919.

L. S. Kerr

Private, C. A. C., 110th Co., 81st Div. Born in Iredell County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Kerr. Entered the service at Statesville, N.C., Oct. 1, 1918. Was sent to Ft. Thomas, Ky., and from there to Ft. Totton, N. Y. Mustered out at Ft. Totton, N. Y., Jan. 19, 1919.

Biography of Captain William Sharpe

Captain William Sharpe was born on the 13th of December, 1742, and was the eldest son of Thomas Sharpe, of Cecil county, Maryland. At the age of twenty-one he came to North Carolina and settled in Mecklenburg county, where he married a daughter of David Reese, one of the signers of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. He was a lawyer by profession and had a large practice. Soon after his marriage he moved to the western part of Rowan county (now Iredell) and took an active and decided stand for liberty. The Journal of the “Committee of Safety” for Rowan … Read more

Marvin C. Brown

Private 1st Class, Inf., Co. D, 81st Div., 321st Reg.; son of W. H. and Minnie Bettie Brown of Iredell County. Husband of Bettie Robbenet Brown. Entered service May 16, 1917, at Statesville, N.C. Sent to Camp Jackson, S. C. Transferred to Camp Sevier, S. C. Sailed for France Aug. 20, 1918. Fought at St. Mihiel, and Meuse-Argonne. Returned to USA July 1, 1919, Newport News, Va. Mustered out at Camp Lee, Va., Aug. 3, 1919.

Hal K. Hayes

2nd Lt., Bat. A, 326th F. Artly., 84th Div.; from Iredell County, N.C.; son of J. Lee and Matilda Hayes. Husband of Mrs. Gayzelle Hayes. Entered the service at Mooresville, N.C., June 6, 1917, and sent to Camp Sevier, S. C. Sailed for France June 12, 1918. Promoted to 2nd Lt. Oct. 1, 1918. Fought at St. Mihiel and the 3rd Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Served in the N.C. N. G. Returned to the USA Feb. 10, 1919, and mustered out of the service at Camp Lee, Va., Feb. 25, 1919.

Oscar R. Mills

Capt., Co. D, 30th Div., 115th M. G. Btn.; of Iredell County; son of G. C. and Mrs. Laura Mills. Husband of Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Mills. Entered service June 25, 1916, at Statesville, N.C. Sent to Camp Sevier. Transferred to Camp Merritt. Sailed for France May 11, 1918. Promoted to rank of 1st Lt. before going to France. Commissioned to Capt. Oct. 25, 1918. Was in all engagements with 115th M. G. Served on Mexican border from Sept. 1, 1916, to Feb. 1, 1917. Returned to USA March 22, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Jackson, S. C., April 22, 1919.