Jesse Elmer Shelton – WW1 Servicemen Sponsorship 2018 Sponsored by Wanda Barber Life Before the War When Jesse Elmer Shelton was born on February 24, 1896, in Richland, Navarro County, Texas, his father, Joshua F Shelton, was 35 and his mother, Laura Elizabeth (Dunn), was 20. He had one brother and three sisters. At the time of Elmer’s enlistment in Army in 1916, the family is living in Troup. Wor ...[Read More]
Jesse Elmer Shelton – WW1 Servicemen Sponsorship 2018
Roseland Plantation
Did you know that an antebellum plantation is located just two miles from the Smith County line in Van Zandt County on Highway 64? The Roseland Plantation was built by B. H. Hambrick in 1854 on a thousand acres of land purchased in 1852. Be sure to visit the Roseland Plantation website here. Burwell Hampton Hambrick (1811 – 1868) B. H. Hambrick along with business partners George W Humphrey and J ...[Read More]
Is in the Army Nurse Corps – Gertrude Brogan – WW1
Le Mans, France, Dec. 1, 1918 Dear Sister: As you see Uncle Sam is letting me tour France at his expense, that is, I am about ten hours ride from Brest, where I was first located. I like here much better as we are located right in the city where there are paved streets and sidewalks, so of course I do not have the mud to contend with. The nurses’ quarters is a chateau, the furniture havin ...[Read More]
Spending Leave – Gertrude Brogan – WW1
Nice, France, March 10, 1919 Dear Sister, I am sure you will be surprised to get a letter from this place. I am spending a seven day leave of absence at this place, a pleasure resort, on the southern coast of France on the Mediterranean Sea. This part of the coast of France is called the Rivera Country. I know you have read of it in books. It includes this place, Cannes, Monte Carlo and several ...[Read More]
Wounded Men Are Jolly – WW1 Letter from Gertrude Brogan To Her Sister
France, Nov. 7, 1918 Dear Sister, Here I come again to let you know that I am still “over here” doing my bit. I am still at the same place I was when I wrote you last and suppose I will be here some time, so am sending the address of this hospital for the next letter that you write me. It still rains quite a bit here but I am getting used to it, so do not mind it so much but do not th ...[Read More]
Tidbits 2017-12-14 Roberta Frances Lavender
From the HISTORICAL CATALOGUE OF THE ALUMNI OF UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS 1884-1901. THE UNIVERSITY RECORD VOL. IV.–MAY, 1902.–NOS. 1-2 from page 28 LAVENDER, ROBERTA FRANCES, B.Lit., Tutor of Latin, University of Texas: Austin. Born January 12, 1871, at Tyler, daughter of David Smith and Frances Ann (née Swann) Lavender. Attended Sam Houston Normal Institute, 1887-1888. Entered Univer ...[Read More]
Tidbits 2017-10-31 Henry Elbert Lasseter
From the HISTORICAL CATALOGUE OF THE ALUMNI OF UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS 1884-1901. THE UNIVERSITY RECORD VOL. IV.–MAY, 1902.–NOS. 1-2 LASSETER, HENRY ELBERT, Lawyer: Tyler. Born March 8, 1874, in Navarro county; son of Solomon and Nettie (née Glaze) Lasseter. Prepared for University at Summer Hill Select School, Omen. Entered from Tyler. Student 1897-1898. Married Mabel Teagarden, July 27, ...[Read More]
Tidbits 2017-10-30 John Henry Herndon
From the HISTORICAL CATALOGUE OF THE ALUMNI OF UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS 1884-1901. THE UNIVERSITY RECORD VOL. IV.–MAY, 1902.–NOS. 1-2 HERNDON, JOHN HENRY, B.Lit., Lawyer: Tyler. Born July 12, 1867, at Tyler; son of William Smith and Mary Louise (née McKellar) Herndon. Prepared for University at Tyler High School. Entered from Tyler. Student 1883-1888; Business Manager Magazine, 1887; Ass ...[Read More]
Letters Home From Soldiers During World War I-19171102
Letters Home From Soldiers During World War I is going to be a regular weekly feature in celebration of the centennial of the United States entering World War I. From Tyler Daily Courier-Times, November 2, 1917: Interesting Letter From Tyler Soldier At Camp Travis Company L, 359th Infantry, Camp Travis, Texas, Oct. 13. Mr. F. W. Bowron, Tyler, Texas, Dear Sir: – I have been so busy si ...[Read More]
Letters Home From Soldiers During World War I-19171009
Letters Home From Soldiers During World War I is going to be a regular weekly feature in celebration of the centennial of the United States entering World War I. From Tyler Daily Courier-Times, October 9, 1917: Letter From Tyler Boy Gives Experience of U.S. Naval Travels Mr. W.H. Parker, a well known employee in the Cotton Belt General offices, has received an interesting letter from ...[Read More]