Recruitment of Local Soldiers of Color-Civil War
In reviewing soldiers’ Civil War records, the researchers soon discovered that many from this county enlisted in other places. That came...

Lawrence Lore
Jun 196 min read


W. Virgil Vandament, Boy Scout Leader
Willis Virgil Vandament was born in Lukin Township on October 17, 1898, to Wiley and Matilda Vandament. As a child, he attended...

Lawrence Lore
Mar 252 min read


1918 Love Letter
The above letter was sent by Pvt George Bach, Co E 32nd Engrs, when he served overseas during WWI to his wife. The Postmark on the...

Lawrence Lore
Feb 141 min read
Amanda Baker Benefiel, WWI Nurse
Amanda Jane Baker, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D W Baker of Sumner, was a registered nurse. During WWI she was in active service at Camp...

Lawrence Lore
Feb 121 min read
Pete: First Motorcycle Cop
Stanley Berget Vandament, better known as Pete , was born January 22, 1888, in Lawrenceville, Illinois, to Burgett and Belle Vandament ....

Lawrence Lore
Sep 12, 20243 min read
Mack Vangilder WWI Vet
McKinley Roscoe “Mack” VanGilder was born August 9, 1894, in Christy Twp., Lawrence County, Illinois, to Wallace and Elmira Hughes...

Lawrence Lore
Jul 15, 20246 min read
Youngest Volunteer WWII
James Harold Bailey became one of the youngest, if not the youngest, Army volunteer inducted by the local board as reported by the...

Lawrence Lore
Apr 9, 20242 min read
Letters from the Front
Part 4 WWI Even though these letters of Miles W Adams, Amos Baird and Jess Tharp were written one hundred years ago, many of the themes...

Lawrence Lore
Dec 7, 20233 min read
Letters from the Front
Part 3 WWI Often the soldiers did not have access to a post office and letters were slow going home. The men tried to impress upon their...

Lawrence Lore
Dec 6, 20233 min read
Letters from the Front
Part 2 WWI Continued The Rainbow Division first saw action fighting alongside the French in February, 1918,(WWI) where it remained in...

Lawrence Lore
Dec 5, 20234 min read