Reflections

Veterans Recognized For Their Contributions

By Charles Cooper

Hello everyone.  Hope you’re having a good week.  Since I write this column a week in advance, you’re reading it after Memorial Day has come and gone.  

When I look at the monument in the park it still fills me with pride at the contribution that my home town has made from the War Between The States to the present conflict.  However it doesn’t tell of the ones who were fortunate enough to make it back.  

My great grandfather, Elijah Badley, Jr,. who came to this area in 1847 from England, was already married and had a son when he went to war in 1861. He came back to ultimately father seven more children, one of whom was my grandfather, Elijah Baddley III. Another was Guy Baddley, Aaron Baddley, Jr.’s grandfather.  

Another Valley veteran was Baron Leland, Baron Caulfield’s grandfather who was a respected merchant until his death in the early thirties.  Captain Price who was a Sheriff in the early part of the twentieth century.

Other veterans include C.C. Boyd, who was a wealthy land owner for whom Boyd street was named; Jim Spears, who came home wounded to Concord, N.C., migrated to the Orwood community and lived there until 1931 and was the father of my grandmother, Mary Jane Spears-Cooper.  

Anther veteran was Larry Carr’s great grandfather – I’m sorry I never knew his first name but I remember seeing the old man when I was riding the school bus to Camp Ground.  

Another veterans was Captain Duncan for whom Duncan Street was named. W.G. Jumper who founded Jumper’s Chapel Church, and was my great-grandfather. These are merely the ones I know about and I’m sure that there were many more and if any of you care to send me their names, I’ll be glad to list them.  

In the Spanish-American War there are three names on the monument, but there were many more that came back and lived long lives. Among them was W.T. Badley, Papa Badley’s younger brother. Charlie Hague, a long time employee of the Illinois Central shops was another. His daughter, Kathleen Hague, was a Watermelon Queen in the thirties. Another vet was  Everett Cock who was part of the Merchant’s Grocery and later operated an Insurance Agency until the 1950s.

These three gentlemen I was honored to know personally.  The constraints of space won’t let me write about World War II, so I’ll include them in a future column.  

I’m only sorry that these people didn’t receive the recognition they deserved during their lifetime, but as I promised when I started this column,  I will feature people who never received much attention during their lives.

I plan to feature in future columns the names of the small country stores that once were a vital part of rural areas from the end of the War Between The States until the end of World War II.  I would welcome any input from you as I may overlook some of them. My email address is charlescooper3616@sbcglolbal.net or write me at P.O. Box 613189 Memphis, Tn 38101 and have a great week.