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Funeral Friday: Charles Francis Marion Underwood

Charles Francis Marion Underwood - Headstone, Glen Ellen, Missouri
Soldier’s Memorial, including Charles Francis Marion Underwood, Glenallen, Missouri (Click to enlarge.)

Whitener Family, Underwood Family (Click for Family Tree)

Private Charles Francis Marion Underwood of the United States Army- Infantry died of pneumonia technically, made worse by the Spanish influenza he contracted after entering the US Army. He died in the Fort Brady, Michigan, Post Hospital.

Death certificate of Charles F. M. Underwood, Chippewa County, Michigan
Death certificate of Charles F. M. Underwood, Chippewa County, Michigan. (Click to enlarge.)

According to the death certificate, Charley had pneumonia for 7 days, and the flu for 6, though it may have been the other way around. The doctor also notes he attended Charley for 12 days, so there are some problems with accuracy on the death certificate. With the large number of deaths and ill soldiers due to the Spanish influenza, however, some errors are understandable.

The death certificate also has his birth year and age wrong- he was actually born on 19 May 1888, not 1898, so was 30 years old at his death, not 20.

Charley’s body was removed the next day to Bollinger, Missouri, where he was buried at Old Trace Creek Cemetery, Glenallen, Bollinger County, Missouri.

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The base of the stone has such a bittersweet inscription.

Charles Francis Marion Underwood- headstone in Old Trace Creek Cemetery, Glenallen, Bollinger, Missouri- closeup of base. Family photo.
Charles Francis Marion Underwood- headstone in Old Trace Creek Cemetery, Glenallen, Bollinger, Missouri- closeup of base. Family photo.

Transcription:

“He left his home in perfect health. He looked so young and brave.

We little thought that soon he’d be laid in a soldier’s grave.”

 

Notes, Sources, and References: 

  1. Family treasure chest of photos and ephemera.

 

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We would love to read your thoughts and comments about this post (see form below), and thank you for your time! All comments are moderated, however, due to the high intelligence and persistence of spammers/hackers who really should be putting their smarts to use for the public good instead of spamming our little blog.
 

Original content copyright 2013-2016 by Heritage Ramblings Blog and pmm.

Family history is meant to be shared, but the original content of this site may NOT be used for any commercial purposes unless explicit written permission is received from both the blog owner and author. Blogs or websites with ads and/or any income-generating components are included under “commercial purposes,” as are the large genealogy database websites. Sites that republish original HeritageRamblings.net content as their own are in violation of copyright as well, and use of full content is not permitted. 
Descendants and researchers MAY download images and posts to share with their families, and use the information on their family trees or in family history books with a small number of reprints. Please make sure to credit and cite the information properly.
 Please contact us if you have any questions about copyright or use of our blog material.

Wordless Wednesday: Charles Francis Marion Underwood

Certificate from France received by Elizabeth Adeline (Rickman) Underwood honoring her son Charles F. M. Underwood for his service and death in World War I. (Click to enlarge.)
Certificate from France received by Elizabeth Adeline (Rickman) Underwood honoring her son Charles F. M. Underwood for his service and death in World War I. (Click to enlarge.)

Whitener Family, Underwood Family (Click for Family Tree)

Translation (approximate):

“Mort pour la liberte pendant la grande guerre hommage de la France” is:

"died for freedom during the Great War- tribute of France"

 

Notes, Sources, and References: 

  1. Family treasure chest of photos and ephemera.

 

Please contact us if you would like higher resolution images. Click to enlarge images.

We would love to read your thoughts and comments about this post (see form below), and thank you for your time! All comments are moderated, however, due to the high intelligence and persistence of spammers/hackers who really should be putting their smarts to use for the public good instead of spamming our little blog.
 

Original content copyright 2013-2016 by Heritage Ramblings Blog and pmm.

Family history is meant to be shared, but the original content of this site may NOT be used for any commercial purposes unless explicit written permission is received from both the blog owner and author. Blogs or websites with ads and/or any income-generating components are included under “commercial purposes,” as are the large genealogy database websites. Sites that republish original HeritageRamblings.net content as their own are in violation of copyright as well, and use of full content is not permitted. 
Descendants and researchers MAY download images and posts to share with their families, and use the information on their family trees or in family history books with a small number of reprints. Please make sure to credit and cite the information properly.
 Please contact us if you have any questions about copyright or use of our blog material.

Military Monday: Charles Francis Marion Underwood

Charles Francis Underwood in 1918.
Charles Francis Underwood in 1918.

Whitener Family, Underwood Family (Click for Family Tree)

On this Labor Day, it is fitting to mention one of the most important labors in our country- that of protecting our country via service in the military. Whether it was in the local militia to protect a town, the National Guard protecting our cities and states, or our national Army/Navy/Air Force/Marines, the men and women who serve protect our valuable freedoms 24/7/365. We do not have the words in our language- or any language!- to thank them enough for their sacrifice.

Charles Francis Underwood was one of those who left home to fight in World War I. He was the son of Joseph Abner Underwood (1847-1930) and Elizabeth Adeline (Rickman) Underwood (1855-1936), and probably born in Crooked Creek, Bollinger, Missouri. We told a bit about the Charles and the family in an earlier post, “Sibling Saturday: The Underwood Family in 1904.”

Charles registered for the draft, as required, at age 29 on 5 June 1917.

5 June 1917 draft registration of Charles F.M. Underwood, front of card.
5 June 1917 draft registration of Charles F.M. Underwood, front of card. (Click to enlarge.)

(Love that he used “Charley” instead of “Charles” as part of his very long name.)

5 June 1917 draft registration of Charles F.M. Underwood, reverse of card.
5 June 1917 draft registration of Charles F.M. Underwood, reverse of card. (Click to enlarge.)

Charley was 6’1″ tall, medium build, and had gray eyes and dark hair. Despite him working as a farmer, which he probably also did as a child, and a “gigman” in a lead mine- both dangerous occupations- he listed no disabilities. He was unmarried.

Charley went back to work on his farm after registering for the draft, but he and his family likely paid close attention to the news of how World War I was proceeding. Just a week or so after Charley’s 30th birthday, his life changed forever.

Charley was not in the first groups of men drafted, as he was a bit older, but he did receive the following notice dated 20 May 1918.

1918- Order of Induction - Charles Francis Underwood
1918- Order of Induction – Charles Francis Underwood. (Click to enlarge.)

Charley was to report just one week later, at 3pm on 27 May 1918, to the Marble Hill Missouri Draft Board for induction into the United States Army. He was going off to fight in “the present emergency,” or World War I.

We have been unable to determine if Charley ever made it overseas. He may not have, as he contracted the terrible Spanish influenza which killed more of our soldiers and young people around the world than the war itself. Boot camps and training areas would allow fast spread of the very contagious disease. If Charley had contracted it overseas, he would likely have died there, it seems, rather than be transported to Sault Sainte Marie, Chippewa, Michigan, where he died of the flu on 22 October 1918. (More research needed here.)

So thank you, Charley, and all the other family members who have served our country and protected our freedoms, and especially those who lost their lives in its defense. (Thank you to those who are not family members, too!) On this Labor Day we honor your work and your sacrifice, as we should every other day that we are privileged to live in this great country.

 

Notes, Sources, and References: 

  1. Family treasure chest of photos and memorabilia.
  2. “Sibling Saturday: The Underwood Family in 1904”– http://heritageramblings.net/2015/05/30/sibling-saturday-the-underwood-family-in-1904/
    In this older article, we stated that Charley had enlisted, but as new documents have come to light, we now know he was actually drafted.
  3. “Armistice Day- Ethel Underwood Whitener Remembers”–http://heritageramblings.net/2013/11/12/whitener_armisticeday/
  4. “Friday’s Faces of the Past: Elizabeth Adline Rickman Underwood”–http://heritageramblings.net/2015/05/29/fridays-faces-of-the-past-elizabeth-adline-rickman-underwood/
  5. A true description of a “gigman” in a mine has been challenging to find, but they often were at the ‘pithead’ or near the main mining section, and apparently had some authority and responsibility for safety as well as probably making sure the work was proceeding properly.

 

Please contact us if you would like higher resolution images. Click to enlarge images.

We would love to read your thoughts and comments about this post (see form below), and thank you for your time! All comments are moderated, however, due to the high intelligence and persistence of spammers/hackers who really should be putting their smarts to use for the public good instead of spamming our little blog.
 

Original content copyright 2013-2016 by Heritage Ramblings Blog and pmm.

Family history is meant to be shared, but the original content of this site may NOT be used for any commercial purposes unless explicit written permission is received from both the blog owner and author. Blogs or websites with ads and/or any income-generating components are included under “commercial purposes,” as are the large genealogy database websites. Sites that republish original HeritageRamblings.net content as their own are in violation of copyright as well, and use of full content is not permitted. 
Descendants and researchers MAY download images and posts to share with their families, and use the information on their family trees or in family history books with a small number of reprints. Please make sure to credit and cite the information properly.
 Please contact us if you have any questions about copyright or use of our blog material.

Wedding Wednesday: William F. Underwood and Nellie B. Goodson, 1903

William F. Underwood and Nellie Bethel Goodson - 1 March 1903, their wedding day. From he family treasure chest.
William F. Underwood and Nellie Bethel Goodson – 1 March 1903, their wedding day. From the family treasure chest. (Click to enlarge.)

Whitener Family (Click for Family Tree)

William Francis Underwood (1879-1962) and Nellie Bethel Goodson (1883-1978) applied for a marriage license on 27 February 1908 in Bollinger County, Missouri.

Marriage License for William F. Underwood and Nellie Goodson, Bollinger, MO. Missouri Marriage Records 1805-2002, page 305.
Marriage License for William F. Underwood and Nellie Goodson, Bollinger, MO. Missouri Marriage Records 1805-2002, page 305. (Click to enlarge.)

William was a resident of Bessville and over the legal age of 21 for males to marry. Nellie lived in Lodge, Bollinger, Missouri, and was over the legal age of 18.

Marriage Record for William F. Underwood and Nellie Goodson, Bollinger, MO. Missouri Marriage Records 1805-2002, page 305.
Marriage Record for William F. Underwood and Nellie Goodson, Bollinger, MO. Missouri Marriage Records 1805-2002, page 305. (Click to enlarge.)

F. F. Yount, a Minister of the Gospel, married them 1 March 1903 at the bride’s home, thus in Lodge, Bollinger, Missouri.

 

Notes, Sources, and References: 

  1. This is a low resolution image, so when enlarged the quality will not be very good- sorry.
  2. See also Sibling Saturday: The Underwood Family in 1904 at http://heritageramblings.net/2015/05/30/sibling-saturday-the-underwood-family-in-1904/ for the family about a year later, and with their first daughter.

 

Please contact us if you would like higher resolution images. Click to enlarge images.

We would love to read your thoughts and comments about this post (see form below), and thank you for your time! All comments are moderated, however, due to the high intelligence and persistence of spammers/hackers who really should be putting their smarts to use for the public good instead of spamming our little blog.
 

Original content copyright 2013-2016 by Heritage Ramblings Blog and pmm.

Family history is meant to be shared, but the original content of this site may NOT be used for any commercial purposes unless explicit written permission is received from both the blog owner and author. Blogs or websites with ads and/or any income-generating components are included under “commercial purposes,” as are the large genealogy database websites. Sites that republish original HeritageRamblings.net content as their own are in violation of copyright as well, and use of full content is not permitted. 
Descendants and researchers MAY download images and posts to share with their families, and use the information on their family trees or in family history books with a small number of reprints. Please make sure to credit and cite the information properly.
 Please contact us if you have any questions about copyright or use of our blog material.

Mystery Monday: Caroline Rhodes Whitener Sitzes or Nancy Haynes Whitener?

Caroline Rhodes Whitener Sitzes or Nancy Haynes Whitener?
Caroline Rhodes Whitener Sitzes or Nancy Haynes Whitener?

Whitener Family (Click for Family Tree)

Likely the same person just at different ages and weights (?), we do not know if this is Caroline Rhodes Whitener Sitzes or Nancy Haynes Whitener. If you can verify who this woman is, please leave a comment or use our “Contact Us” form.

Caroline Rhodes Whitener Sitzes or Nancy Haynes Whitener?
Caroline Rhodes Whitener Sitzes or Nancy Haynes Whitener?

 

Notes, Sources, and References: 

1) Whitener Family Treasure Chest of Family Photos

 

Please contact us if you would like higher resolution images. Click to enlarge images.

We would love to read your thoughts and comments about this post (see form below), and thank you for your time! All comments are moderated, however, due to the high intelligence and persistence of spammers/hackers who really should be putting their smarts to use for the public good instead of spamming our little blog.
 

Original content copyright 2013-2015 by Heritage Ramblings Blog and pmm.

Family history is meant to be shared, but the original content of this site may NOT be used for any commercial purposes unless explicit written permission is received from both the blog owner and author. Blogs or websites with ads and/or any income-generating components are included under “commercial purposes,” as are the large genealogy database websites. Sites that republish original HeritageRamblings.net content as their own are in violation of copyright as well, and use of full content is not permitted.
 
Descendants and researchers MAY download images and posts to share with their families, and use the information on their family trees or in family history books with a small number of reprints. Please make sure to credit and cite the information properly.
 
Please contact us if you have any questions about copyright of our blog material.