Mt. Vernon, IL Register-News - Friday, May 29, 1931
Submitted By: Mary Zinzilieta

JEFFERSON COUNTY HAS HONORABLE RECORD IN EVERY WAR FROM THE BLACK HAWK WAR, 1831 TO WORLD WAR, 1917-1918.

A Patriotic People and Many Have Served Nation With Honor and Glory, Many Dying For Their Country. Soldiers of All Wars Are Buried in This County.

Jefferson County has been directly connected with all wars in which the nation has engaged, beginning with the Black Hawk War of 1831 and down to and including the World War of 1917-1918. The county may justly claim indirect connection with the Revolutionary War or War of Independence, beginning in 1776, and continuing practically eight years, and with the War of 1812 because of the fact that soldiers of both wars are buried in Jefferson County.

Data compiled by authority of the State of Illinois, and from other sources, show that seven soldiers of the Revolutionary War are buried in Pleasant Grove, one at Old Union, and one at Pace Cemetery, in this county as follows:

Pleasant Grove: Thomas BADGETT, Asa BATEMAN, B. N. MAXEY, Joseph McMEEN, Nathaniel PARKER, Lloyd WARD, and Peter OWEN.

Some of these men served in other wars also:

Old Union: William TONG
Pace: Joel PACE (Joel Pace D.A.R. was named in honor of him)

Many sleep in South Hickory Hill.

A large number who served in the War of 1812 are buried in Jefferson County Cemeteries.

It is believed almost every cemetery in the county has the honor of shielding the remains of a soldier or soldiers from one or more wars. Soldiers of five wars are buried at Hickory Hill in McClellan Township.

So far as known no complete list has been compiled of the burial places of all dead soldiers of the Jefferson County, but the incomplete list embraces hundreds of names.

Civil War Veterans Fast Passing - The veterans of the Civil War, all of whom have attained a ripe old age far exceeding the Psalmists three score and ten are rapidly passing from the scenes of earth, and in a few years taps will sound for the last veteran of that great conflict. Seven of the veterans credited to Mt. Vernon died within the year covered by May 30, 1930 to May 30, 1931, and others died in various parts of the county within the same period.

When the Mt. Vernon Rotary Club entertained the old veterans in May of last year, twelve were present; seven responded to the invitation Tuesday, and were guests of the club at a special program in their honor.

The following is thought to be a complete list of surviving Civil War soldiers in Jefferson County, although it is possible the list may not be quite complete:

Mt. Vernon: Captain F. L. FERGUSON, Sylvanus FOSTER, E. M. WALKER, James M. MILES, George LIBBY, R. R. #2; Robert FULLER, David H. OWEN, Abram T. SCOTT. W. H. BEAL of this city is at one of the soldier's homes, and Josiah B. CROWDER, a former resident, left here some time ago to make his home in St. Louis.

Belle Rive:Thomas WILLIAMSON
Marlow: Lewis JARROD
Bluford: John NORMAN and Thomas REDBURN
Dix: Lanson K. LAIRD
Ina: George W. DARNELL

Thomas DODSON, a former resident of the vicinity of Woodlawn, now lives with a son at Irvington.

If the count is correct, and great pains have been taken to verify it, there are still 15 veterans living in Mt. Vernon and Jefferson County in addition to those mentioned as formerly living in Mt. Vernon or elsewhere in the county.

If the names of all Jefferson County soldiers could be printed, the list would be a long and honorable one.

Jefferson County furnished a company for the Black Hawk War, 1831; two companies for the Mexican War, 1846; three for the Civil War, 1861-1865; and a large number who served in the Phillipine insurrection and some in the Boxer Rebellion in China, which followed. The county maintained its record in the World War, furnishing for the various branches of the military service, men estimated at a total of 1,000. The county was also represented by women as nurses in the World War.

A grateful country honors itself when one day is set apart in the year to pay tribute to its defenders, and to lay flowers on their lowly graves.

Nothing we may say can add to the glory of the heroes who proved their valor on a thousand blood stained battle fields, as we join the nation in grateful acknowledgement of the priceless service they rendered. Their valor will be a never ending inspiration, and, while their names may be known to but few, the story of their deeds is emblazoned on history's deathless page and will live forever.