WWI Aero Squadron Airman from Pearl River County, Mississippi

   Recently, while researching the  Journal of Mississippi History  for historical items of interest, I came across an article by William Jeanes in Volume LXV, no. 1 entitled, "Mississippi's World War I Airmen and the Naming of Keesler Air Force base. Jeanes reports that one "Shelby Batson of Poplarville flew thirteen missions as an observer with the 50th Aero Squadron. There is no complete list enumerating World War I observers by state of origin, . . . Some Mississippi airmen doubtless remain unidentified."[1]
   Searching in several of the online resources for genealogical and military information I found Shelby's draft registration form, a ship's passenger listing of his return from France and his father and mother's names, and his date of birth and death. In the early 1900s a large lumber mill was operated by a Batson family and it would add greatly to the WWI exhibit at the Historical Society museum if we could provide a connection between Shelby Batson and the Batson Lumber Company.
Comments welcomed.

[1] Jeanes, William. "Mississippi's World War I Airmen and the Naming of Keesler Air Force Base." Journal of Mississippi History. Vol. LXV, no. 1 (2003), p. 125.

Pearl River County Soldiers in World War I

   The Pearl River County Historical Society maintains a small museum on the third floor of the old City Hall building in Picayune, Mississippi. Access is limited because of the need to pass through the City Offices. However, an appointment to tour the museum can be obtained by contacting the author of this blog.
   One of the exhibits, currently on display, is a scrapbook and other materials of the local National Guard unit that was deployed during the Korean War. The unit were pontoon bridge builders and were on active duty in the early 1950s.
   Currently we are seeking information, stories, photos, etc. on soldiers from Pearl River County who served in World War I. Although the U. S. was a late entrant into this war, a number of Americans were deployed to France and helped turn the tide of the war in the Allies favor. Please contact the author through this blog if you have any information you are willing to share with the museum.

   The upper photo is of Nelson Penton of McNeill, Mississippi and the bottom photo is of Orvis Penton, also of McNeill, Mississippi. Both men served in the armed forces during WWI, but it is unclear if they actually were deployed to France and the battlefields. Any information on these and other soldiers would be greatly appreciated.

Tracing Family History

I came across an interesting little poem on the pitfalls found in searching one's family history. The poem was penned by Mrs. Charles Dean of Steven's Point, Wisconsin and quoted in Harvey: 1600 -- 1979. Compiled by Winnie Jo (Fornea) Stockstill. (Copy in the Pearl River County Historical Society Museum).

      I started out to trace my tree

To find, if I could, the makings of me

And all that I had was great great grandfather's name

Not knowing his wife or from which way he came

 

I chased him across a long line of  states

And came up with pages and pages of dates

When all was put together it made me forlorn

I'd proved poor great great grandfather had never been born

 

Then when my hopes were fast growing dim

I came across records that had to be him

The facts I collected than made me quite sad

Dear old great great grandfather was never a dad!

 

Just one of the many problems in researching history.  I wish you all good fortune in your historical research.