The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-10-03
PLANT CITY SOLDIER WHO
DIED AT CAMP WHEELER HAD
RELATIVES NEAR LAKELAND
(Plant City Courier.)

Jesse u. w. Kirkland dled at camp
Wheeler at 2:20 o'clock Sunday morn
ing, following an attack Of pneu-
monia of one weeks duration. He
was the first Plant City white man to
die in an army camp since the dec
laration Of war against Germany.
Jesse was twice called to the train
ing camps-the first time a little
more than year ago, when he went
to Camp Jackson with the first large
contingent from Hillsborough county.
A few weeks later he was discharged
because of overweight. Anxious to
serve, he expressed the hope that he
could train down." Subsequently he
was classified for limited service, and
in the early part of last month he
was again called, this time to Camp
Wheeler. No young man ever lai0
aside his everyday routine mors
cheerfully, for he had hopes that he
would soon "go across" to where our
boys are fighting in the greatest bat
ties in the worlds history. All went
we'll until Sunday of last week. when
he was stricken with pneumonia, He
had not been very we'll since the Sec
end vaccination prescribed for the new
men, and this, possibly, had some
thing to do with the seriousness Of
the case. On Wednesday the hospi-
! tai officials sent telegram to his
mother, but as she lives on a rural
route from Lakeland, she did not re.
ceive the message until twenty-four
hours later. Friday his brother, } i.
D. Kirkland, of Kirkland Bros, this
city, left for Macon, after inquirins
by wire of the boys condition and re.
ceiving the reply that he was seri-
ously i'll. Upon arrival of the broth
err Jesse expressed the belief that he
was better, and was optimistic until
about three hours before the end.
Late Saturday night he realized thH,
he could not live, and conversed with
his brother relative to disposition Of
his property. He said he was ready
to go, if that must be--that he had
suffered much in the early stage Of
the illness, but was now out Of pain.
He was conscious to within ten min
utes of his death and passed out with
a smile on his lips
| Jesse kirkland died in service--in
defense of America. He answered
every call--was always ready, willing,
anxious to go. No man has or can
do more. He was typical Southern
man-jovial with his friends, liberal
in his views, considerable with all
Everybody liked. him. That makes
all who knew him sorrow that he was
called SO soon in his young manhood.
He was born about eight miles SOUTH
east of Plant City and his whole life
was spent In this community. He
| leaves to mourn their loss his par
ents, Mr.. and Mrs. Jesse G.. w. Kirk
land, Sr., of Medulla, and seven
brothers and three sisters. The
brothers are j. D., J. W., S. E., H.
X, P. E., Ashley and Luke. All n
side in this section, but j. W. and
H. X. are temporarily located In 9TH
er States. j. W. came in last night,
but H. K, who is at Dennison. o..
could not come in time for the funer-
al The sisters are Mrs. w. II. An
Kirkland, the first named of this city,
derson and Misses Effie and 'Rilla
the latter two of Medulla.
The remains reached Plant City
last night at 9:45 o'clock, via the At
lantic Coast Line. Many sorrowing
friends of the family were at the sta
ton, also Company C, Hillsborough
County Guards. The funeral, which
is being conducted this afternoon at
Mt. Enon cemetery by Elder e. J.
County Guards are taking part in the
DeVane, is largely attended. The
service.