Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Forgotten Heroes (No Longer)

An ongoing project-in-progress for a few years now has been the identification of area military personnel who died in service to our country, for the purpose of recording their stories and returning their sacrifice to people's consciousness. These can be found at Fallen Heroes.

Recently I came across a 1927 list of the area dead from the Great War (World War I) and noticed that after the last name (Clinton Bowen of Vivian), a second list began with names of other fallen soldiers  - segregated even in death.


Shreveport Times 22-May-1927, Page 15

While all of the area's fallen heroes have largely been forgotten, save for this project, these names are special in that their sacrifice was for the most part ignored even in their own time. They will be added to the aforementioned greater list, but given their exclusion from past honors, will additionally be singled out for recognition here.

Note six of the seven lost their lives after the armistice was signed (11-Nov-1918). The cause of their individual deaths is not known, but could have been due to accident, disease, and even attack by fellow service members.

During WWI some black soldiers were given combat duties and frequently served gallantly, however most were relegated to supporting roles and the "dirty work" of war (as if all of it is not dirty work). At the same time, they often faced hostility from white commanding officers officers and soldiers in the field; and scorn from the citizens  they had been defending once they returned home.

Below is the information found about these heroes, now remembered and their service honored. Note all were members of the U. S. Army. At the end summary details are provided about the units in which three of the men served.


Anderson, Fred (1887-1919)

Rank: Wagoner

Home Town of Record: Gilliam, LA

Birthdate: 25-Mar-1887

Birthplace: Waskom Texas

Occupation: Farming for J. J. Lay (John J. Lay, planter and founder of Gilliam bank)

Marital Status: Single

Military Unit: 801st Pioneer Infantry Regiment

Date of Death: 15-Feb-1919

Burial: Oise-Aisne American Cemetery and Memorial

Notes: A wagoner was a non-commissioned rank and was someone who worked with wagons and teams of horses or mules to carry supplies. It would be the equivalent to a truck driver today.

References:

WWI Draft Registration, 05-Jun-1917

American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) Profile


Britton, Earl (1893-1918)

Rank: Private (Pvt)

Home Town of Record: Dixie, LA

Birthdate: 17-Dec-1893

Birthplace: Near Benton, Louisiana

Occupation: Farmer for ? North ?

Marital Status: Separated, with wife and child

Military Unit: 815th Pioneer Infantry, Company C

Date of Death: 22-Nov-1918

Burial:Originally buried in the American Cemetery - Cheppy-Sur-Meuse; transferred to U. S. and reinterred in St. Paul CME Church Cemetery



Notes: Application for military headstone notes "Died in the line of duty."

References:

WWI Draft Registration

Application for Military Headstone


Cook, Willie (1894- 1918)

Rank: Pvt

Home Town of Record: Hosston, LA

Birthdate: 15-Oct-1894

Birthplace: Belvieu (?), LA

Occupation: Farmer, for Eugene Broon

Marital Status: Single

Military Unit: Unknown

Date of Death: 19-Oct-1918

Burial: Unknown

Notes:



Dawson, Will (1892-1919)

Rank: Private First Class (PFC)

Home Town of Record: Dixie, LA

Birthdate: 12-Oct-1892

Birthplace: Foster, LA

Occupation: Farming, for S. S. Pittman (planter)

Marital Status: Married; wife and child,

Military Unit: Unknown

Date of Death: 16-Jul-1919

Burial: Unknown

Notes: None



Johnson, Spencer, Jr. (1892-1918)

Rank: PFC

Home Town of Record: Caddo Parish, LA

Birthdate: 23-Sep-1892 in

Birthplace: Belcher, LA

Occupation: Farm labor at R. L. Nance & Co. (farm manager)

Marital Status: Married

Military Unit: 803rd Pioneer Infantry Division

Date of Death: 13-Dec-1918

Burial: Saint Mihiel American Cemetery and Memorial, Lorraine, France






Notes: Living in Ward 1, Caddo Parish with parents Spencer, Sr. and Caroline Johnson in 1900 and 1910 per census.

ABMC Profile


Sasser, Hill (1892-1919)

Rank: Pvt

Home Town of Record: Gilliam, LA

Birthdate: 02-Jun-1892

Birthplace: Smithland, TX

Occupation: Farming, for R. T. Douglas (farmer)

Marital Status: Single

Military Unit: Unknown

Date of Death: 31-Jan-1919

Burial: Unknown

Notes: Hill's parents were Jake and Mary Sasser. A 07-May-1931 Shreveport Times article (Page 13) lists names of war dead from Caddo Parish that were to be included on a bronze plaque enshrined in the Louisiana State University Memorial Tower. Since no other black soldiers are listed, this may have been by "accident," in that on some records his race is ambiguous.

References:

1900 U. S. Census, Marion County, Texas

WWI Draft Registration


Williams, Ernest (~1889-1919)

Rank: Pvt

Home Town of Record: Oil City, LA

Birthdate: ~1889

Birthplace: Unknown

Occupation: Laborer in oil section

Marital Status: Unknown, single as of 1910

Military Unit: Unknown

Date of Death: 25-Jan-1919

Burial: Unknown

Notes: Was a resident of Ward 2, Caddo Parish (southwest half) in 1910; listed in the census as a boarder with John and Docie Wright.



Pioneer Infantry

Pioneer Infantry refers to soldiers involved with engineering and construction activities. Black soldiers assigned to the Pioneer units during WWI typically provided manual labor for supporting services to the front lines, such as road and railroad work; laying barbed wire, and digging trenches. Many also stayed in Europe for months after the war ended, as they participated in the unenviable task of recovery and burial of the dead, with the bodies found often in a state of severe decomposition.   

Summary information about the units in which  Wag. Anderson (801st), Pvt Britton (815th), and PFC Johnson (803rd) served is disclosed below, with references provided for those interested in further study.


801st Pioneer Infantry (P. I.) - was organized in Jun-1918 at Camp Zachary Taylor, KY and went overseas in September to serve the First Army through the end of hostilities. The troops had been trained to use rifles, though never actually used them; but had not received any training for defense in case of a gas attack, an ever present danger.  The 801st returned to the U. S. in Jun-1919.

References:

The U. S. Army In World War I: Orders of Battle, Ground Units 1917-1919, Richard A. Rinaldi, (2005), P. 103

The Unknown Soldiers: African-American Troops in World War I, Arthur E. Barbeau, Florette Henri (1996), P. 100

Torchbearers of Democracy: African American Soldiers in the World War I Era, Chad L. Williams (2010), Page 102


803rd P. I.  - was organized in Jul-1918 at Camp Grant, IL and was sent overseas in September. They served the U. S. Second Army through the end of he conflict. It is reported that the 803rd endured 22 consecutive days of artillery fire during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive (Battle of the Argonne Forest). They returned to the U. S. in Jul-1919.



Members of the 803rd Pioneer Infantry aboard the U.S.S. Philippines, 18-Jul-1919

References:

Rinaldi, P. 103

Williams, Page 102


815th P. I. was organized Sep-1918 and deployed overseas the following month. in support of the First Army. Members of the 815th, along with those of the 813th, and 816th were sent to Romagne France where they were responsible for collecting  bodies within a 50 kilometer radius and interring them in what would become Meuse-Argonne National Cemetery. The work was described as "gruesome, repulsive, and unhealthful." The 815th returned stateside in Jul-1919.

References:

Rinaldi. P. 105

Barbeau and Henri, P. 165

Williams, P. 189

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Hyder Edward "Scotty" Barr (1884-1934)

Oil City once had a semipro baseball team that played from the early 1910s until sometime in the 1920s, or possibly even 1930s. It is a subject of much interest to me, spawned by a picture, once posted on Facebook by Ron Newton, of the 1913 Oil City Base Ball Club. I've done work on the subject previously, and there's still more to do. Recently a search turned up details of a 13-Apr-1922 game between a Shreveport American Legion team and the Oil City nine. My initial interest was piqued by the appearance of a left fielder named Newton (no first name given) in the box score. Ron once advised that his grandfather, the late Dr. Eugene Newton, originally came to Oil City to play baseball. Later he studied to  become a dentist and served the community for many years. I thought this might be him. (Note: Per Ron it is unlikely that the Newton mentioned is Eugene, due to other life events occurring around this time.)

However, found in an article previewing that game from the prior day's newspaper was this statement:

"Among Oil City's players is the veteran Hyder Barr, former member of Connie Mack's famous Athletics, when that club was at the zenith of its glory."

Shreveport Times 13-Apr-1913, Page 9

Naturally I had to follow up on this and what was found is detailed below.

Hyder Edward Barr (1884-1934) was a professional baseball player for nine years, including two in the major leagues with the Philadelphia Athletics. A talented multi-sport athlete in college, his initial position professionally was pitching, however he later played various positions over his career.

Hyder Barr as a Philadelphia Athletic

After baseball, he worked in the oil field as a drilling foreman, and lived for a few years in Mooringsport, Louisiana. While there, he played semi-pro ball for both the Mooringsport and Oil City teams. Later moving to Fort Worth, Texas; he died in 1934.

Early Life

Born in 1884* to Charles and Sarah (King) Barr in Sullivan, Tennessee; Hyder Edward Barr was a three sport star at Davidson College.


(a) See reference at end.

Hyder Barr at Davidson
Davidson (NC) Davidsonian 01-Apr-1926, Page 14


1908-1909

Hyder's first professional gig was playing for the Greenville Spinners of the Class D Carolina League in 1908. One of his teammates was (Shoeless) Joe Jackson, who later gained notoriety during the 1919 Chicago "Black Sox" scandal. The two were later paired on the 1908 and 1909 Philadelphia Athletics; and 1910 New Orleans Pelicans.

While at Greenville, it's reported he once scored an "assisted" home run, when his pop fly ball rolled under a horse, that kicked at the fielder when he tried to retrieve it. That allowed Barr to circle the bases, and the steed ultimately had to be led off to get the ball back and resume the game..

(a)

Barr and Jackson were dealt to the Philadelphia Athletics. for $1,500 (approximately $30,000 today). Hyder played partial seasons in 1909 and 1910 (41 games total) for the As. During his tenure, he was loaned by As manager, the famed Connie Mack, to Atlanta to help that club win Southern Association.

Charlotte Observer  1909, Page 3


1910

Hyder (4) pictured below as a member of the 1910 Southern Association Champion New Orleans Pelicans. Number 12 is Joe Jackson

The Book of Baseball - The national game from the earliest days to the present season, Patten & McSpadden (1911), Page 120


It was reported that he (referred by nickname "Scotty") suffered a head injury in May of that year.


Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle 23-Aug-1911, Page 6


But it apparently wasn't as serious as initially reported, as he continued playing for the Pelicans that season.


New Orleans Times-Democrat 16-Jul-1911, Page 15


After the Pelicans, Hyder "toured" the country, landing on rosters in Birmingham, Chattanooga, New Orleans (again), New Haven (CT), and San Antonio over the next few years. (b)


1915-1916

He joined the Shreveport Gassers in 1915, and played for two seasons.


Shreveport Times 06-May-1915, Page 11


As a Shreveport Gasser
Shreveport Times 01-Feb-1917, Page 9


He remained in Shreveport during the off season, where he worked for Gulf Refining Company.


Fuel Oil Journal, Vol. 6 (Oct 1915), Page 45

It may be hard to imagine professional players having offseason jobs, or working after their playing days, but before television/cable contracts and free agency only the true stars earned a comfortable living. Consider the case of another local professional, Arvel Odell Hale of Hosston. Despite being a solid player in the majors for 10 seasons (mostly with the Cleveland Indians), after retirement he worked for several years at a refinery in El Dorado, Arkansas.

1917- 1920

In Feb-1917, Gasser management granted Barr his release so he could take the reins of the Fort Smith baseball club.


Shreveport Times 01-Feb-1917, Page 9


By 1918, he had returned to Louisiana and settled in the town of Mooringsport; apparently getting his job with Gulf back, as evidenced by his World War I draft registration below.


WWI Draft Registration, Dated 12-Sep-1918


Hyder and family were still M'sport residents at the time of the 1920 U.S. Census. (click image to view details)


U. S. Census, recorded 12-Feb-1920,


1921

A newspaper recap disclosed that he pitched in relief for the local semi-pro team in 1921.


Shreveport Times 17-Apr-1921, Page 13


1922

Early in 1922 it was announced Hyder would become manager at Haynesville.


Shreveport Times 23-Apr-1922, Page 9


That gig apparently did not work out, as by August he was playing for the Oil City team, as mentioned in this article previewing an upcoming game against an American Legion club from Shreveport.



Shreveport Times 13-Aug-1922, Page 9


In that game, the OC team prevailed 4-3 over the Legionnaires. Hyder, playing second base, went one for four from the plate.


Shreveport Times 14-Aug-1922, Page 6


1927

Hyder was the subject of a newspaper "Whatever Happened To...?" trivia question in 1927.


The sportswriter reported Hyder to be in Arkansas at the time, working as a salesman. (c)


1930s

By the 1930 U. S. Census, Barr and family lived in Forth Worth, where he worked as a drilling foreman. (Click the image for a larger view)



U. S. Census, recorded 17-Apr-1930


Hyder passed away in 1934 and is buried in Shannon Rose Memorial Park, Fort Worth, TX. Interestingly, and with no connection other than coincidence, that cemetery is also the final resting place of Lee Harvey Oswald.


* His birthdate is reported as 1885 on his headstone, and 1886 on the Baseball Reference website. However he signed off on 06-Oct-1884 on his World War I draft registration form in 1918, so that date is what we will recognize.