The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1916-06-28
A Mexican War Veteran

In the death of Mr.. John Wilker-
SON Abbeville loses it's last veteran OF
the Mexican War. One by one they
have been passing away and now
s. the last answers the last roll call
from this county, in the person OF
Mr.. Wilkerson.
M Mr.. Wilkerson's father was a Brit
ish soldier who settled in Mecklen'
berg County, N. c., in the year 1872
Mr.. John Wilkerson was born IN
Mecklenburg County in the year
+ 1926. He married Miss Sara Hill We
Srell in Laurens County, Dec. 29
1852. She was daughter of DR.
John. Verell. After their marriage
Mr.. and Mrs. Wilkerson moved to
Ninety Six, where six children
gwere born.
.A5$ Of these, Laura E. Wilkerson was
born Nov. 20, 1853 and died August
+ 16, 1855.
Il Augustus B. and Ella D. Wilker'
son.. twins, were born March l, 1856
Ella was married twice. The first
8 time with F. N. Blyth of New Mar
ket, the second tine with A. j. Pounds
! of Bradley. She died in 1886. Au'
gustus died in the year 1889. He
was never married.
Lod n. Wilkerson was born March
26, 1858. Forty years ago he moved
T to White Hall, from which place hi
moved to Abbeville about five year!
ago. At present he is resident o'
this community. g,
Lula Belle Wilkerson was borr
October 29, 1860 and was married
. April 20, 1884 to Mr.. W. G. Chap
man. They have lived at Abbevill'
ever since their marriage.
Mr.. John M. Wilkerson was borl
Feb. 20, 1868. He married Mis-
Lula Mann, daughter of the late W
I'd, Mann. To them were born fiv'
CONS, being the only grand children
s of Mr.. Wilkerson.
He suffered none, but passed ava!
quietly on Friday morning, at hi
home here, June 3, 1910, aged q
years. -'
While not rich in the general &C
z ceptance of the term today, still h
: had a competence Of this world
/. goods and lived the life Of an humble
honest, respected citizen.
His wife was born n the same yea
that he was born, 1875. They live
together SO years, and she is now il
fairly good health mentally and ply
sically. Their married life was mos
happy, they were lovers even unit
the da- of death.
Mr.. Wilkerson was perfe 'tly recon
ciled to his fate. He told Rev. MI
Stokes his spiritual advise that tn
Lord had been good to hi" and ha
blest him with health and freedol
from rain for many long yAass
The funeral at the house was cor
Quoted on Saturday morning by tn
Rev. Henry Stokes in the presence o
a goodly company composed largel
of the older citizens who had come t
pay honor to the oldest man in tn
community and to his bereaved fam
lily.
John Wilkerson left Abbeville i
the year 1847 in the company CON
manded by Captain J. Foster MAJ
shall, which company was a part Q
the Palmetto Regiment in the Me,
lean War. The company consisted G
100 able bodied men of whom nc
one-third returned. Some were xii
ed but many more died from disease
due to different climatic condition
and impure drinking water. At the
time we had no railroads and tn
company marched from here to Al
gusta, Ca, by way of Edgefeld. The
camped the first night at Wharton
gin house on Curltail creek. 1t rail
ed all night and next day they wade
the branches which they crossed.
The next day they stopped at Roc