African Americans of Fannin County in World War I
Information of the contributions of the Black population of Honey Grove in World War I are at the Honey Grove Preservation League website.
Bonham Daily Favorite, January 2, 1918
Negro Children Join Red Cross
The Spirit of Helping Soldiers Has Permeated the Ranks of the Colored Folks
The children of the colored schools of the city have fallen into line and have organized a Red Cross chapter. They have earnestly gone to work to do their share necessary to aiding the soldiers who are on the front fighting the battles of Liberty.
The Favorite is glad to see this. It means that every race in America is interested in winning the war being waged against the Kaiserism. Do all you can to aid these negro children in their endeavor. The colored people are by nature an imitative race, and their following the good examples set them by the white people should be encouraged in every manner possible.
Bonham Daily Favorite, March 21, 1918
Negro Red Cross Rally.
The negroes of Bonham will hold a Red Cross rally Sunday afternoon at the church in East End. They will organize a Red Cross auxiliary of their own to aid in the war work so much needed. The colored people of Bonham have a number of boys in the Army and they are interested in the Army boys as much as anybody, aside from the interest they take in it as patriotic citizens of the land
Will H. Evans and Mrs. L. K. Hargrove will assist in the organization, and wil make addresses at the gathering. It is hoped that a full attendance will be had. The white people are requested to have a good representation there both to assist in the work of the organization and to encourage the colored people to take up the work in earnest. The meeting is scheduled to be held at 4 o'clock.
Bonham Daily Favorite, April 25, 1918
NEGROES BUYING LIBERTY BONDS
MANY COLORED PEOPLE SUBSCRIBING.—GREAT AT MEETING AT RAVENNA WEDNESDAY.
The colored people of Fannin County are not asleep on the Liberty Loan movement, by any means. Wednesday afternoon a party of them from Bonham went to Ravenna, where a meeting was held, which was in charge of Will Dohoney, colored, and others of his race.
The county chairman of the negroes of Fannin County, J. D. Johnson and the secretary, Pinkney Erskine together with Rev. T. E. Higgs, Mansfield DeJarnette, Rev. Lynch, Will Coleman and Turner Nelson, attended the meeting from Bonham, and the magnificent sum of $2,150.00 was subscribed to the Liberty Loan fund by the colored people of the Ravenna community.
The Favorite understands that the Loan Star church has subscribed $1, 185.00, and that the negroes of Bonham have bought $2,350.00 worth o fbonds.
This is great work for the colored people, and will serve as an example for others of their race.
Bonham Daily Favorite, April 29, 1918
NEGRO SOLDIER BOYS.
Thirtythree young negro men left here today for a training camp, where they will be prepared for the Army. This is the last of the quota that has been called for at this time.
The train was an hour late, but quite a number of people went to see them off. A colored preacher made them a splendid talk before they left. If they remember his advice to put it into practice, they will never bring disgrace or blame on their country.
Bonham Daily Favorite, April 25, 1918
EAST END WORKERS
Monday the colored auxiliary met in the East End with Lula Erskin, chairman. They raised $28.75 in cash and made one hundred bandages. There were about fifty workers present.
Bonham Daily Favorite, May 18, 1918
COLORED WORKERS
Colored Red Cross drive will begin Monday May 20, 1918, with big mass meeting at First Baptist church, Locksboro at 8 p.m. Every colored person in town is expected to be present and as many whites as wish to come.
J. D. Johnson, Chairman Curtis Popnaugh, Sec'y Red Cross committee.
Bonham Daily Favorite, May 23, 1918
WE WANT YOU TO COME.
Rev. F. H. Ford of the Union Presbyterian church will speak at the A.M. E. church, to the colored Red Cross auxiliary on Friday night, May 24. We want all the colored folks and as many of our white friends as will to come and hear him. The purpose of the address is to help us raise our apportionment for Red Cross work.
J. D. Johnson, Chairman Curtis Popnaugh, Sec'y
Bonham Daily Favorite, May 23, 1918
COLORED CITIZENS GIVE LIBERALLY
MORE THAN EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS CONTRIBUTED TO RED CROSS FUND.
We take this method to thank our people who have stood so nobly in this great effort to raise our quota of the Red Cross funds. Hoping you will continue to show your loyalty as heretofore.
The following places have paid:
Bonham, $413.90; J. D, Johnson chairman.
Friendship $28.00; H. R. Seay chairman.
Ravenna $41.26; Will DeHoney chairman.
Honey Grove $40.00; J. R. Swancy, chairman.
Dodd City $34.50; G. W. Henson, chairman.
Windom $9.76; Cattle Edna Carter, chairman.
Ladonia $68.$0; Elbert Clark, chairman.
Flat Prairie $21.00; Willis Anderson, chairman.
Gober $25.60; Wm. Becknor, chairman.
Coffee Mill $53.25; Peter Chaffin, chairman.
Bethlehem $37.00; A. M. C. Favors, chairman.
Prairie View $43.26; W. E. Johnson, chairman.
Trinity C. M. E. $6.10; J. W. Foster chairman.
Total $821.51.
Bonham Daily Favorite, June 6, 1918
REGISTRATIONS YESTERDAY
Yesterday was the day for the registration of all young men who had become of age since June 5 of last year. There were 414 registrants in this county, 347 of whom were whites and sixty-seven colored. There were four places for registration. At Bonham there were 180 whites and nineteen negroes; at Honey Grove there were eighty whites and twenty negroes; at Leonard there were sixty-five whites and no negroes; at Telephone there were forth-six whites and twenty-seven negroes.
Bonham Daily Favorite, June 7, 1918
FOR THE COLORED FOLKS.
Sunday evening next at 7 o'clock, a meeting of the Red Cross workers will be held in the Colored Methodist church in the East end.
The exercises will be opened with "America," sung by the Negro chorus. An address will be made by Mrs. Ladd, of Macon, State chairman of the extension work in the State of Georgia.
Mrs. F. C. Allen will sing.
This meeting is arouse interest among the colored women and men in the Red Cross work for their soldiers in Europe and in camps at home. The Red Cross cares for the colored soldiers just like it does for the white ones, and the colored people at home must taken the same interest in helping it that the white people do. Let them all come to the meeting Sunday evening.
Bonham Daily Favorite, June 11, 1918
A NEGRO BOY'S LETTER TO MOTHER
A BONHAM YOUNG NEGRO IN FRANCE WRITES FEELINGLY TO HIS MOTHER HERE
The Favorite has published many letters from the boys who have gone from this county to the army camps, the trenches in France or have gone out on battle ships and destroyers, but now it wants to give its readers a letter written by one of our Bonham negro boys who is in France, and who wrote home to his mother on Mother's Day. We leave the mothers, white as well as black, to say if any one of you would not have been proud to have received from your son a letter expressing such sentiments as are herein uttered.
France, May, 12, 1918
Dear Mother
On this glorious day I am listed among the fortunate ones by having in this world a loving mother. Though we are far apart, I know that mother love still exists, and is perhaps stronger than ever. There are many who are not so fortunate as I and have been robbed of their first love - mother love, the greatest of all.
This morning at reveille our company commander read a telegram from our own General Pershing requesting every soldier in France to help cheer the loved ones at home by writing a letter to mother, and on this day if he had no mother, then to think of some other son’s mother and write to her.
This day seems more sacred to me than it ever did before. Sometimes as I am in this far distant land it seems that I am not so favored as others, but such thoughts soon vanish as I know that I have a loving mother at home who cares so much for me. Do you remember the night I sang:
"You can’t buy the sunshine at twilight.
And when you lose your mother.
You can’t buy another.
If you had all the world and its gold.”
But please do not be mad. Try and be happy, for without you and your love, my life would be more than unhappy. Give my love to Mr. and Mrs. Matthew White, and tell them sometime when they are giving a program I want them to sing my song (When you kissed your dear old mother good-bye.) and then you ran think of me.
You will notice that up in the right hand corner of thia envelope is written the words “Mother’s letter." This makes this letter just the same as a special delivery letter, and it will be given the right of way over all other mail by special arrangement of our own General Pershing. In his telegram he aks us to write and tell all our mothers that their prayers are needed to help this great army on to victory. As this great army goes on fighting day by day with the sword on this side of the world, we know within our own hearts that somewhere away across the ocean there is being fought just as valiantly a battle, not with the sword, hut with the earnest prayers of our mothers at home.
Hoping these few lines will bring you the joy I sincerely desire for you, I close.
“May He who clothes the lillies,
And marks the sparrows fall,
Protect and save you, mother,
And guide you safe through all.”
Your son.
Private Bishop Dale.
Company C 507 Engineers,
American K. F. France.
Bonham Daily Favorite, June 14, 1918
NEGROES WHO GO TO CAMP TRAVIS
Number of negroes to be entrained under call 653 and sent to Camp Travis, San Antonio, Texas, beginning June 19, 1918:
Ansley Arthur Collins, Ladonia.
Alex Fields, Monkstown.
Robert Johnson, Honey Grove.
Frank Rian, Nevada, Texas.
Ham Newson, Pilot Point.
Eura Yarborough, Bonham.
Andrew Jackson, Windom.
Hugh Stewart, Bonham.
Saul Favors, Bonham.
Dennis Cullins, Ladonia.
Nat Harris, Monkstown.
Joseph Henslee, Honey Grove.
Leonard Smith, Ladonia.
Henry McFarland, Honey Grove.
Dixie Maddrey, Bonham.
Willie Kirby, Windom.
Henry Davis, Ravenna.
Percy Smith. Honey Grove.
Atchison McFarland, Bonham.
Joe Peterson, Idabel, Okla.
Hoxia Exnia, Denison.
Lee Byse, Honey Grove.
Eugene Williama, Honey Grove.
McKinley Williams, Simms, R. 2.
Sam Debrill, Trenton.
Allen Clark, Ladonia.
Mish McFarland, Honey Grove.
John Joffries, Honey Grove.
Willie Rose, Ravenna.
Johnny King, Ladonia.
Ray Harris, Windom.
Jesse Smith, Ravenna.
Henry Walker, Honey Grove.
J. W. Pendleton, Honey Grove.
Alberry McKee, Bonham.
George Capers, Honey Grove.
Will Cobbs, Monkstown,
Alternates.
Joe Bell, Ladonia.
Dave Jones, Ladonia.
Martin Balls, Ravenna.
Moscoe Anderson, Ravenna.
Cornelius Cullars, Honey Grove.
Lonnie L. Clark, Ladonia.
Eugene McKinney, I.adonia
Richard Washington, Ladonia.
Dave Johnson, Bonham.
Andrew Carter, Ladonia
Bonham Daily Favorite, June 20, 1918
NEGRO SOLDIERS
Ninety-one negroes from Red River, Lamar and Fannin counties were here yesterday on their way to Camp Travis. Thirty-seven of them were from this county. They took dinner here. Re. Swanson from Honey Grove made a short talk to them, and his talk was very good indeed.
Bonham Daily Favorite, July 13, 1918
A PATRIOTIC NEGRO.
Fannin county ought to be, and is, just as proud of her patriotic colored men and women as she is of her patriotic white citizens. She has many colored men who understand quite well what the United States is fighting for, and they are ready to help with their bodies and their money.
One day recently there came to Bonham from his little farm close to Ravenna an old-time negro named Sam Smith, who was a slave before the war, which he is old enough to remember distinctly, being about ten years old when the war began. Sam has sent his only two sons to the war, and has done so gladly. He says that he can well remember seeing his old master send his fine young son off to the war in 1860, and it has been the proudest day in his life when he was able to send two boys away to fight for their country. One of them Is now in France in a motor truck division, and the last time he heard from the other one he was in England taking training.
Sam says that it has been several years since he worked on the farm, the boys having taken the burden of hard work off his shoulders, but this year he is cultivating a hundred acres with the help of his daughter, and he is investing all his money above what is necessary for him to live on in War Stamps and Liberty Ronds. This will be the first crop he has made in ten years, but he is glad to be back to the field if it will help his country in its hour of need.
Nobody can do more than their best in any cause. and Sam Smith has done his best. His example ought to be a help to many of his own race who have not done their best, and it ought to put to shame some white men who have done little or nothing out of their abundance.
Bonham Daily Favorite, July 17, 1918
NEGRO SOLDIERS LEFT HERE TODAY
SEVENTY LEFT BONHAM TODAY FOR TRAINING AT CAMP TRAVIS AT SAN ANTONIO
Sam Rivers, Monkstown.
Ennos Williatns, Honey Grove.
Earl Johnson, Windom.
McKinley Williams, Simms, Tex. R. 2.
Will Cobbs, Monkstown.
Oliver Carver, Bonham.
Richard Washington, Ladonia.
Andrew Carter, Ladonia.
Ollie King, Ladonia.
Robt. Johnson, Honey Grove.
John D. Leftridge, Farmersville.
Wilburn Brown, Ravenna.
Wm. Miles, Ladonia.
Lee Green, Honey Grove.
Luther Clayborn, Tallulah, La.
Son McElosin, Honey Grove, R. 8.
Ben Fuller, Honey Grove.
Menon Green, Ladonia.
Joe Dinkins, Ladonia.
Dennis Smith, Harleton, Texas.
Jimmie Herdin, Honey Grove.
Lucius Green, Honey Grove.
Raymond Lee, Honey Grove.
Wayne Walker, Ladonia.
Henry Crockett, Honey Grove.
Andrew Mahan, Windom.
Marshall Stewart, Monkstown.
Lonnie Lewis. Honey Grove.
Hewlett Phea, Bonham.
Claud Browninng, Honey Grove.
R. L. Jones, Bonham.
Robt. Fields, Bonham R. 5.
Lorenzo Moore, Honey Grove.
George Bogan, Paris.
Lewis Garey, Honey Grove.
Monroe Scott, Bonham.
Howard Thouston, Monkstown.
Henry Bittman, Bonham.
Isam L. Allen, Honey Grove.
Samuel D. Briggs, Monkstown.
Jessie King, Ladonia.
Sylvester Burk, Honey Grove.
Willie Byse, Ludonia.
Willie P. Q. Hunter, Iowa Park. Tex.
Lennie eunnett, Monkstown.
Nokus Walker, Hugo, Okla.
Clyde Tatum, Bonham.
Howard Jones, Ladonia.
Walter Jones, Honey Grove.
Columbus Sheppard, Honey Grove.
Mathew Mayo, Ladonia.
Claud Brown, Bastrop, Texas.
Joe Biggs, Monkstown.
Sam Whitesides, Bonham.
Richard Mays, Monkstown.
Seth Fuller, Ladonia.
Oscar Adams, Oberlin, Okla.
Robt. Thomas, Windom.
Modie Hatcher, Wolfe City
Jim South, Honey Grove.
Julius Brackeen, Wolfe City.
Andrew Reece, Honey Grove.
Luke Robinson, Greenville, R. 1.
Henderson Gentry, Ravenna.
Ollie McKinney, Ladonia.
Arthur Gibson, Honey Grove.
Gus Barker, Ladonia.
Ray Burns, Ladonia.
Martin Paterson, Ladonia
Tom Tarrant, Honey Grove.
Alternates.
Sampson Bagby, Windom.
Wm. M. Caruthers, Sulphur Springs.
Sam K. Leftridge, Ladonia.
Rellin Ross, Bonham.
Robt. C. Dalton, Honey Grove.
John P. Futon, Honey Grove.
Willie Lovelace, Honey Grove.
Fred Caruthers, Ladonia.
Arthur Kirby, Windom.
Tommie Myers, Monkstown.
Elbert Pyles, Bonham.
Richard Thomas, Hope, Ark.
Harry Wilson, Bonham.
Ned Brackeen, Wolfe City.
Edward Johnson, Ladonia, R. 2.
Claud Brackeen, Wolfe City.
Bonham Daily Favorite, August 14, 1918
COLORED BOY PROMOTED
Will Stone, who went from here some time ago to take a special course at the Prairie View Normal in preparation for army duty, has been made first sergeant. He is in the mechanical department.
Bonham Daily Favorite, August 22, 1918
COLORED SOLDIERS GONE.
Today thirty-five colored boys left here for Camp Travis at San Antonio, for training. There was a large number of their friends at the depot to bid them goodbye.
