Private James Ernest Whittlesey
United States Army, World War I
Student Army Training Corps
December 30, 2024 - James Ernest was born in Center, the county seat of Shelby in far east Texas, on Sunday, April 21, 1895, to Ellen Louise Henry and James E. Whittlesey. His maternal grandfather, Andrew Jackson Henry, was born in Tennessee and served in the Civil War with the Confederate States Army. James and his two brothers, Forrest Spencer (1897) and Robert Alton (1903) were raised on a farm in Shelby County their father owned, and sadly, he died in 1904 at the early age of 38. Mother Ellen later remarried John Reagan Foster in 1912.
On June 5, 1917, two months after the United States entered the World War in Europe, James registered for the military draft in Shelby County as required by the Selective Service Act of 1917. His completed registration card (Form 1, draft # 1424) noted his age as 22; natural born citizen; self-employed as a farmer; single; Caucasian; no prior military service, and no exemption to the draft was claimed. Physically described as tall and of medium build with blue eyes and dark hair that was balding slightly.
Thirteen months later, on July 3, 1918, James took the oath of enlistment in Shelby County, becoming US Army Private Whittlesey, serial # 1130904. The Champion newspaper, July 3, reported that he and Jesse Wallace were leaving that day for the State University for special mechanical training following six others who departed June 26. They were all assigned to the University of Texas, Austin Student Army Training Corps. With the signing of the armistice on November 11, 1918, the war ended, and his services were no longer needed. Private Whittlesey was honorably discharged on December 10, 1918, and for his five months of military service, he was awarded the World War I Victory Medal.
Following the war, he and Miss Jennie Clara Green were married and were later blessed with two sons, Delano Raymond (1920) and James Robert (1921). James died very young in an accident that the Champion Newspaper, August 4, 1926, reported. “Mrs. Tom Johnson received news Friday [July 31] of the tragic death of her nephew, J. E. Whittlesey of Haynesville, La., who was crushed to death by machinery. The young man was 31 years of age, son of Ellen Whittlesey Foster of old Tennessee community. He had been working in the oil fields at Haynesville for the past seven years and was an exemplary young man who had a host of friends there and in Shelby County. Two small boys survive and a number of relatives. Interment at Newburn cemetery. The funeral occurring Saturday afternoon, attended by sorrowing relatives and friends from all parts of the county. Sympathy is extended to the bereaved.” The Newburn Cemetery is located in Center, Shelby County, Texas. Day is done, God is nigh.
SOURCES:
(1): Year: 1910; Census Place: Justice Precinct 1, Shelby, Texas; Roll: T624_1588; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 0146; FHL microfilm: 1375601
(2): Registration State: Texas; Registration County: Shelby County
(3): "Texas, World War I Records, 1917-1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9MN-Z95K-C?cc=2202707&wc=334L-PTL%3A1560656702%2C1561323501 : 26 March 2015), Enlisted men > Whitman, Charles D Jr-Williams, Rufus T, 1917-1920 > image 294 of 4459; Texas Military Forces Museum, Austin
