Though a farmboy, himself, he was no Arkansas version of World War I's fabled
Tennessean, Sgt. Alvin York, propelled to fame by heroics and circumstance.
Ernest, in fact, was quick to note that his arrival in the trenches had not sent
the Huns scurrying in panic from the combat fields of France and Belgium. And
when he got down to details, it was to acknowledge that his entire World War I
output consisted of four shots, all fired in the space of a few seconds at - but
not into - a primitive German biplane.
"That pilot just flew right on past us," Ernest told me one morning back in
1984. We were sitting in the living room of his Long Beach home, and we
speculated a bit on whether that pilot was still alive and, perhaps, sitting in
his living room, telling a time-enlarged story of how he had once flown through
a hailstorm of Yank bullets.
If Ernest's chronicles were less than monumental. World War I nevertheless
remained "the most exciting part of his life," says his daughter. Karen Col
tins, of Lakewood.
Moreover, his war was not without its terrifying moments. This was the dawn of
the technological revolution in warfare. Young men who had faced nothing more
complex than barbershop harmony were suddenly being thrown
against tanks and machine guns. aerial bombardments and Poison gas. And more
than 100,000 of them never came home.
Ernest did. He took the life that had been spared and used it as a good man
should. Moving to Long Beach in 1920, he made a career in engineering. And he
fathered four children. They gave him 15 grandchildren, and the latter gave him
great-grandchildren in numbers which Ernest, in his twilight, gave up trying to
calculate.
He had retired to a rocking chair, but decided he did not like that and began
showing up once a week at the Veterans Administration Hospital. The idea was not
to see what he could get from the VA, but to see what he could do for those who
had fought in his war and in the wars that followed.
Long past his 90th birthday he was still turning in a weekly seven-hour
volunteer shift when a hip injury put him in bed for the rest of his days.
When he died, we lost another link in the fragile chain that binds us to the
past, for he had a faculty for recalling events of yesteryear as if he had
emerged from them only hours ago. Take the Armistice: "I know exactly where I
was when I heard about it. We were going up to the next front, near a town that
wasn't a town any more; just a pile of rubble. Before we got in there, we heard
French soldiers, 'La guerre est finie.' Some were laughing and some were crying
and some were drinking."
Ernest Featherston deserves a better tribute than some lines in a news-paper
column. Alas, he and those brave Doughboys who fought with him are vanishing too
quickly now, like so many dry leaves tumbling out beyond
history's horizon. The day is not far off when we will awaken to find they are
all gone.
But instead of tribute, he would probably like it known that World War I did not
whet his taste for more conflict. When it ended, he took his place in the ranks
of the vast majority of soldiers who find that one war is more than
enough. cont.
He gave his testimonial on that theme to a television reporter who once asked
what Ernest thought of war.
"Everybody loses." he said. "Why have a war? We should learn to live together in
peace."
Ernest said that two years ago. Now he has shipped out again, billeted to
eternity in an olive drab uniform which was given to him by his country but
seems scant payment for what he and the others gave in return.
La guerre est finie.
This newspaper clipping was submitted by: Ellen Featherston Edwards
(JFH: No date or name of paper is shown. Can anyone identify Ernest?)
p. 83 - Greenwood Cemetery - Cedartown, Polk Co., GA - Section I
Giles Winfield Featherston - June 10, 1842 - October 20. 1905
Rosaline Richardson, wife of G.W. Featherston - March 13, 1844 - June 28, 1893
(JFH: Giles Winfield Featherston, s/o Lucius Horace Featherston/Maria Ann
Thompkins - BRANCH #3)
p. 103 - Section IV
Eugene, wife of W.S. Featherston - January 8, 1856 - August 2. 1884
(JFH: William Steagall Featherston. s/o Lucius Horace Featherston/Maria Ann
Thompkins; m.l) to Eugene Harris Mann - BRANCH *3)
ps. 159 & 164
South View Cemetery - N. Powell Drive, Cedartown, GA Section II
Nancy Featherstone - October 27, 1863 - October 14, 1926 "Magnolia Chambers
1075, Cedartown, GA"
(JFH: Can anyone identify Nancy?)
submitted by: C.R. Featherston
We have been informed that Kenneth Eugene Brees of Seymour, Iowa died 24 Oct
1996. (See BRANCH #1, FFs vol. 2, p. 15). Our deepest sympathy is extended to
Mavis, their family and friends.
Next page
The BRANCHES section of FEATHERSTON FINDINGS presents an opportunity for all of
those interested in our heritage to record our direct descent. These BRANCHES
are not confined to the spelling of Featherston, but may also include
Featherstone, Featherstun, etc. If you have not yet sent in your BRANCH, please
do so as soon as possible. I encourage you to take advantage of this FREE
SERVICE.
These BRANCHES will be published in the order in which they are received or at
my discretion. Every effort will be made to transcribe material exactly as it is
submitted. However, if errors occur in this transcription process.
please let me know, so I can make corrections in a future volume. If, while
typing your lineage for publication, there is a doubt as to the spelling of your
surname, the spelling of Featherston will be used. These BRANCHES may be added
to or corrected in future volumes. Therefore, it is not necessary to wait until
you have completed your research before submitting your lineage for publication.
Although we all may have best intentions of permanently recording our
findings, too often the family historian passes away or becomes too ill to
continue research work and those years of research are lost forever.
By publishing your BRANCH and research material in FEATHERSTON FINDINGS you not
only protect your family information, but help future researchers find their
elusive family heritage.
You may submit your lineage in the form found in this section or you may submit
the information on Family Group Sheets. It is not so important how you submit
your lineage, but that you do submit it. Please cite your sources
whenever possible.
If you find you are fortunate enough to connect with an established branch
already in print, please let me know. The branches will be merged in a future
volume, the earlier branch number will be maintained, and later
number be eliminated. Perhaps we may eventually find a common ancestor and
become one large family!
Joyce Featherston Hawkins
Shown as Generation V (should read VI)
Amanda Anne Featherston - b. 21 Oct 1849 Lincoln Co.. NC, d. 10 Jan 1925
Columbus, Lowndes Co., MS; m. 20 Sep 1866 Noxubee Co., MS to William James
Morton - b. 7 May 1847 Noxubee Co., MS (s/o Josiah Morton/Martha Young), d. 21
Jul 1931 Columbus, Lowndes Co., MS.
Issue:
1. Carrie B. Morton - b. 8 Aug 1867 Noxubee Co., MS, d. 4 Aug 1898
Columbus, Lowndes Co., MS; m. 2 Nov 1889 Columbus, Lowndes Co., MS to Martin
Tompkins
2. Lillian L. Morton - b. 27 Feb 1870 Fayette Co., TN, d. 15 Aug 1953
Columbus, Lowndes Co., MS; m. ca. 1893 Lowndes Co., MS to Arthur J. Lussey
3. James M. Morton - b. ca. 1874 TN; m. ca. 1895 prob. MS to Mary E. "Dinkie"
Burrage
*4. John Asbury Morton - b. 17 Feb 1876 Noxubee Co., MS, d. 18 May 1954
Columbus, Lowndes Co.. MS; m1) ca. 1905 Columbus, Lowndes Co., MS to Alice
Bradly; m.2) 10 Aug 1910 Columbus, Lowndes Co., MS to
Elizabeth Jane Richardson
5. Mollie Elizabeth Morton - b. 17 Feb 1876 Noxubee Co., MS, d. 4 Nov
1930 Columbus, Lowndes Co., MS; m. ca. 1895 Noxubee Co., MS to Percy E. Hines
6. Emma Morton - b. 12 Dec 1878 Noxubee Co., MS, d. 9 Nov 1969 Columbus.
Lowndes Co.. MS; m. 30 Dec 1896 to Jester Merriwether Laws
7. Walter Morton - b. May 1882 Noxubee Co., MS; m. ca. 1899 prob. NC to
Bonnie Smith
8. OHie Morton - b. Nov 1887 Noxubee Co., MS
submitted Oct. 1995 by: James W. Callahan
VI Wesley William Wells - b. 14 Dec 1829 Lincoln Co., NC, d. 27 Mar 1916
East Point, Fulton Co., GA; m. 8 Sep 1854 to Sabre (Celia or Cecelia) Irby -b. 3
Apr 1835 Lincoln Co., NC, d. 27 Sep 1921 East Point, Fulton Co., GA.
Issue (only one):
*1. James Thomas Wells - b. 17 Jul 1857 Lincolnton, Lincoln Co.. NC
VII James Thomas Wells - b. 17 Jul 1857 Lincolnton, Lincoln Co., NC;
m. 25 Dec 1878 Lincoln Co., NC to Mary Jane Lutz - b. 3 Nov 1855/56 Northbrook
Twn. Lincoln/Cleveland Co.. NC. d. 1924 Lincolnton. Lincoln Co., NC.
Issue:
*1. Grace Lee Wells - b. 21 Jan 1880 Cherryville, Gaston Co., NC
(previously shown as Grace Cecelia Wells) cont.
VIII Grace Lee Wells - b. 21 Jan 1880 Cherryville, Gaston Co., NC, d. 16
Apr 1923 Lowell Gaston Co., NC; m. 13 Jan 1898 Gaston Co., NC to Charles Wallas
Elmore - b. 3 Dec 1866 Gaston Co., NC, d. 14 Apr 1938 Charlotte, Mecklenburg
Co., NC.
Issue:
*1. Kelly Lee Elmore - b. 23 Feb 1899 Lowell, Gaston Co., NC
2 Edna Earl Elmore - b. 14 Aug 1900 South Point Twn, Gaston Co., NC
(Lowell). d. 7 Mar 1995 Gastonia, Gaston Co., NC; m. 1 Mar 1948 Washington, DC
at res. of Gen. George Marshall to Frank Huyler
3. George Roy Elmore - b. 3 Sep 1902 South Point Twn., Gaston Co.. NC
(Lowell), d. 30 Jan 1991 Jacksonville, Duval Co., FL; m. 11 Jun 1932 Durham.
Durham Co., NC to May Alice Smith
4. Lena Jane Elmore - b. 4 Sep 1904 South Point Twn.. Gaston Co.. NC
(Lowell), d. May 1983 Gastonia, Gaston Co., NC; m. to Eugene "Gene" Summers
5 Charles Everette Elmore - b. 16 Nov 1906 South Point Twn., Gaston Co.,
NC (Lowell), d. 29 Jan 1989 Washington. DC; m. 28 Feb 1942 Fort Mills, York Co.,
SC to Corrie Patterson - d. 17 Mar 1996 MD
Issue:
1. Sarah Lee "Sally" Elmore -
6 Irvin Hall Elmore - b. 16 May 1908 South Point Twn., Gaston Co.. NC
(Lowell); m. 29 Nov 1932 Kent, Summit Co., OH to Gladys McPeak - b. 9 Jun 1910
Stowe/Akron. Summit Co., OH
7. Geneva Dare Elmore - b. 12 Jun 1911 South Point Twn., Gaston Co., NC
(Lowell); m.l) 26 Sep 1935 Gastonia, Gaston Co., NC to Morris Herbert Clarke -
b. 10 Jul 1903 Washington, DC, d. 3 Jul 1978 South Charles Co., MD; m.2) 22 Jun
1985 MD to William Thornton - b. 2 Jul 1905 Hillsborough, TN, d. May 1995 MD
8. Mildred Elizabeth Elmore - b. 12 Apr 1913 South Point Twn., Gaston
Co., NC (Lowell)
9. Willis Clarence Elmore - b. 6 Jul 1915 South Point Twn., Gaston Co..
NC (Lowell). d. Washington. DC (Veterans Hosp.)
10. Mary Elsie Elmore - b. 3 Jun 1917 South Point Twn., Gaston Co., NC
(Lowell). d. 15 Apr 1996 North Charleston, Charleston Co., SC; m. 29 Jun 1934
Cherokee Falls, Cherokee Co., SC to Benjamin "Ben" Everette
Baber - b. 1 Feb 1915 Cherokee Falls, Cherokee Co., SC
11 Vera Myrtle Elmore - b. 4 Sep 1918 South Point Twn., Gaston Co., NC
(Lowell); m. 15 Mar 1936 York. York Co., SC to Ernest McLean Campbell - b. 24
Dec 1914 Laurinburg, Scotland Co., SC, d. 27 Jun 1984 Gastonia, Gaston Co., NC
12. Cecil Franklin Elmore - b. 16 Aug 1921 South Point Twn., Gaston Co.,
NC (Lowell); m. 17 Mar 1956 Washington, DC to Emily Runnel Hearon - b. 11 Jan
1921 Rock Hill, York Co., SC
13. Infant Elmore - b. & d. 16 Apr 1923 South Point Twn., Gaston Co.. NC
(Lowell)
cont.
XI Kelly Lee Elmore - b. 23 Feb 1899 Lowell, Gaston Co., NC.
d. 25 Jul 1981Sheffield, Colbert Co., AL; m. 19 Aug 1925 Waynesville, Haywood
Co., NC to Isabella Wood McDowell - b. 21 Dec 1899 Waynesville, Haywood Co., NC,
d. 1 May 1980 Sheffield, Colbert Co., AL.
Issue:
*1. Kelly Lee Elmore, Jr. - b. 10 Jun 1926 Durham, Durham Co., NC 2. Isabella
Josselyn Elmore - b. 3 Oct 1928 Waynesville, Haywood Co., NC; m. 14 Feb 1953
Sheffield Colbert Co., AL to John Miller Bradley, Jr.
Issue:
1. John Miller Bradley III - b. 29 May 1955 Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL, d. 18
Oct 1992 (suicide) Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL
2. Ann Elmore Bradley - b. & d. 13 Nov 1957 Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL
3. Isabella Jocelyn Bradley - b. 5 May 1959 Birmingham. Jefferson Co.. AL
3. Stanley McDowell Elmore MD - b. 17 Dec 1933 Raleigh, Wake Co., NC; m. 20 Jun
1958 Nashville, TN to Emily Ruth Rustin - b. 14 Sep 1936 Norfork, VA
Issue:
1. Kelly Rustin Elmore- b. 19 Mar 1959 Nashville. Davidson Co., TN
2. Stephen Mark Elmore- b. 15 Mar 1960 Nashville, Davidson Co., TN
3. Andrew Glenn Elmore- b. 16 Nov 1962 Nashville, Davidson Co., TN
4. Peter Sean Elmore - b. 20 Jan 1964 Nashville, Davidson Co., TN
X Kelly Lee Elmore, Jr. - b. 10 Jun 1926 Durham. Durham Co., NC; m. 6 Oct 1951
Tuscumbia. Colbert Co.. AL to Meda Nell Sanders - b. 30 Oct 1926 Sheffield,
Colbert Co.. AL.
Issue:
1. Kelly Lee Elmore III - b. 24 Sep 1953 Marietta, Washington Co., OH
2. Phil lip Sanders Elmore - b. 5 Dec 1955 Sheffield, Colbert Co., AL
3. Charles McDowell Elmore - b. 2 Jun 1958 Marietta, Washington Co., OH
submitted Oct. 1996 by: Kelly Lee Elmore, Jr.
FEATHERSTON
19-01. Would be interested in contact with other Featherston researchers in the
Central & Tidewater areas of Virginia.
submitted by: Charles A. Featherston