Johnson County NC

Slave Narrative of J. H. Beckwith

Interviewer: Bernice Bowden Person Interviewed: J. H. Beckwith Age: 68 Location: 619 North Spruce Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas “No ma’m I was not born in the time of slavery. I was sixty-eight last Friday. I was born November 18, 1870 in Johnson County, North Carolina. “My mother was born in Georgia and her name was Gracie Barum. Father was born in North Carolina. His name was Rufus Beckwith. He belonged to Doctor Beckwith and mother, I think, belonged to Tom Barum. Barum was just an ordinary farmer. He was just a second or third class farmer—just poor white folks. I … Read more

Ralph P. Hilliard

1st Class H. A., 5th Naval Dis.; son of Mr. J. W. and Mrs. Rosa Hilliard; of Johnson County. Husband of Estelle Hilliard. Entered service May 1, 1918, at Clayton, N.C. Sent to Annapolis Naval Hospital Oct. 2, 1918. Mustered out at Annapolis Naval Hospital, Feb. 3, 1919.

Roney M. High

1st Lt., Inf., Co. B, 61st Regt., 5th Div.; from Johnson County, N.C. and son of J. G. and Martin High. Entered the service at Wilson, N.C., May 24, 1917. Sent to Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga. Sailed for France July 29, 1917. Date of promotion Aug. 24, 1917. Fought at St. Die Defensive, Verdun Sector, Somdieux Defensive, and Meuse-Argonne. Wounded at Meuse-Argonne Nov. 9, 1918, slightly gassed. Returned to the USA July 30, 1919, and mustered out of the service at Camp Gordon, Ga., Oct. 29, 1919.

Grover Creech

1st Class Private, Co. E, 107th Inf., 27th Div. Born in Johnson County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Creech. Husband of Mrs. Martha Ellen Creech. Entered the service at Pine Level, N.C., Aug. 5, 1918. Was sent to Camp Wadsworth, S. C., and from there to Newport News, Va. Sailed for France Sept. 15, 1918. Returned to USA March 9, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Lee, Va., April 9, 1919.

E. H. Hilliard

Seaman, 2nd Class, U. S. N.; from Johnson County, N.C.; son of William and Mary Hilliard. Entered the service at Raleigh, N.C., May 21, 1918. Sent to Hampton Roads, Va. Served on U. S. S. “Vermont,” receiving ship, Norfolk, Va., and U. S. S. “Kansied.” Mustered out of the service at Hampton Roads, Va., Aug. 28, 1919.

George Hiram Coltrain

Private, 323rd Inf., 81st Div., Co. G. Born in Johnson County. The son of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Coltrain. Husband of Mrs. Minnie Cecil Coltrain. Entered the service May 25, 1918, at Selma, N.C. Was sent to Camp Jackson, S. C., and from there to Camp Sevier, S. C. Transferred to Camp Mills. Sailed for Liverpool, Eng., Aug. 11, 1918. Fought at Manheulles, France. Arrived in the USA June 14, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Lee, Va., June 26, 1919.

Charles Fields

Private, 1st Class, Inf., Co. I, 30th Div., 119th Regt.; of Johnson County; son of J. C. and Mrs. Nicey Fields. Entered service July 17, 1916, at Fayetteville, N.C. Sent to Camp Glenn. Transferred to Camp Greene, N.C. Sailed for Calais, France, May 8, 1918. Fought at Bellicourt, Sept. 28th to Oct 11, 1918, St. Souplet Oct. 10th to 20th, 1918. Served on Mexican border. Arrived in USA April 2, 1919, at Charleston, S. C. Mustered out at Camp Jackson, S. C., April 7, 1919.

Condry Ellis

Private 1st Class, Co. B, 30th Div., 120th Reg.; of Johnson County; son of Henry and C. Ellis. Entered service Sept. 18, 1917, at Pine Level, N.C. Sent to Camp Jackson. Transferred to Camp Sevier, then to Camp Merritt. Sailed for France May 12, 1918. Was in all engagements until wounded at St. Quentin, October 11, 1918, by gas and shrapnel. Sent to British Hospital, France, transferred to British Hospital No. 17 at Rouen, France. Returned to USA April 11, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Jackson, April 18, 1919.

Thomas R. Bass

Mech. Co. H, 29th Div., 116th Inf. Reg.; of Johnson County; son of P. H. and A. G. Bass. Husband of Mrs. L. D. Bass. Entered service Feb. 3, 1915, at Covington, Va. Sent to Camp McClellan. Sailed for France July 11, 1918. Fought at Alsace-Lorraine, Verdun Front. Wounded at Verdun Oct 8, 1918. Sent to Base Hospital No. 26, Alsace, France. Returned to USA May 10, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Stuart, Va., May 24, 1919.

David H. Benson

Sergt. M. G. 15th Co., 5th Div.; of Johnson County; son of S. A. and Mrs. S. A. Benson. Husband of. Mrs. Janie Benson. Entered service Sept. 12, 1917, at Smithfield. Sent to Camp Jackson, then to Chickamauga Park, from there to Camp Merritt. Sailed for France April 24, 1918. Wounded at St. Mihiel Sept. 13 by shrapnel. Fought at St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, and Argonne Woods, Hindenburg Line. Returned to USA July 22, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Lee, Va., July 29, 1919.

Dr. Thel Hooks

Capt., Med., 30th Div., 103rd Engineers; of Johnson County; son of C. D. and Arah Hooks. Husband of Eva Hood Hooks. Entered service Sept. 3, 1917, at Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga. Sent to Camp Sevier, S. C. Sailed to Calais, France, May 22, 1918. Promoted to rank of Capt. Aug., 1918. In all actions with 30th Div. Wounded at Hindenburg Line Sept. 29, 1918. Nature of wound, concussion of both ears, rupture of left drum. Sent to Base Hospital No. 52, Lemans, France, then to Base No. 27. Returned to USA at Newport News, Va., Feb. 19, 1919. Mustered out at … Read more