African American Veterans

Plan to attend the program “The Little Town with a Big Heart” on February 21, 2026, at 1:30pm at at Sumner’s new City Hall, 224 S. Christy Ave. Free admittance and refreshment courtesy of the city of Sumner.  Presentation by George Zwilling.

The Lawrence County Illinois Historical Society proudly announces the TV premiere of its  documentary, "An Eagle on his Button." This film highlights the remarkable stories of African Americans from Lawrence County who served in the Civil War. Tune in to WVUT-22 PBS on Friday, February 21, 2026, at 6:30 pm Illinois time (7:30 pm Indiana time) to watch this important local history event.

Today’s blog post traces the remarkable legacy of African American veterans from Lawrence County, Illinois, highlighting their contributions and experiences from the American Revolution through modern military conflicts. It explores how these individuals and families shaped local history, overcame adversity, and served their nation in times of war, while also confronting the challenges of discrimination. Their stories reveal a resilient community whose impact continues to be felt across generations.

American Revolution

African Americans fought on both sides of the American Revolution, the Patriot cause for independence as well as the Loyalist cause of stable government. Approximately 5,000 to 8,000 African Americans fought for the American (Patriot) cause. A higher number, roughly 15,000 to 20,000 served with the British. They were motivated by the promises of freedom and liberty, serving as soldiers, spies, sailors, and support staff. During the first three years of the conflict 1775-1778, the largest military encounters between the Continental Army and the British Army had been in the

New England and middle Colonies around Boston, New York and Philadelphia. The south was the major theater of military operations in the Revolutionary War, 1778-1781. Itencompassed engagements primarily in Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

The actual number of Lawrence County African American ancestors who played apart in the Revolutionary War is unknown. Due to the vast migration of African Americans from these southern states into the Illinois Territory, including Lawrence County, the number of Revolutionary War descendants, is likely high. Researchers have discovered an African American Revolutionary War veteran named William Pettiford, from Virginia, who has several descendants currently living in Lawrence County. Ongoing research is uncovering records and documentations of African American Revolutionary War veterans across the country. The number of African Americans involved in DAR and SAR memberships are steadily increasing.

War of 1812

During the War of 1812, the area that is now Lawrence County, Illinois was part of the Illinois Territory. There was a significant conflict between American settlers and Native American tribes, allied with the British. Early settlers including French immigrants, established “picket” forts along the Wabash River near present-day St. Francisville and Russellville, Illinois. Ft. Allison, located in the Russellville area, was a crucial defensive site for settlers in 1812. Ft. Allison was built and named after the Samuel and Frederick Allison family, who migrated from Kentucky. The fort was inhabited by an integrated group of settlers, including a group of free African Americans. The Morris, Tann, Anderson, and Cole families were free African Americans, who were used as Native American scouts. Documentation by Lawrence County historians includes an experience of Austin Tann witnessing the famous meeting between Governor Harrison and the Shawnee Indian Chief, Tecumseh. After the War of 1812, and Illinois becomes a state, the free African Americans ventured out and purchased land in what is now Lawrence County. Many of the Morris, Tann, Cole, and Anderson ancestors are buried in African American cemeteries in Lawrence County. There are several descendants of these African Americans currently living in Lawrence County.

The African American population of Lawrence County during the Civil War Era was increasing, due to Illinois being a free state. The population was made up of Free African Americans, ex- slaves, mulattoes, and servants. The underground railroad story in Lawrence County is becoming more relevant with research. Several African Americans became landowners and farmers, bringing their skills up from the South. Some were educated and had accumulated a portion of wealth. They built their own churches and schools and were primarily located in the Bond, Russell, and Allison Townships.

The Illinois Black Codes (or “Black Laws”) were a series of discriminatory statutes passed between 1819 and 1865. These statutes restricted the rights of free and enslaved African Americans. They enforced registration, prohibited migration, and allowed forced labor, essentially creating a system of racial control that mirrored slavery in a free state.

Civil War

In 1863, over 30 local African Americans from Lawrence County, enlisted in the Union Army. None of the enlistees were credited to Lawrence County. Their patriotic service was unknown because enlistment records falsely indicated that these men were residents of Indianapolis, Indiana. They were recruited through a system located in Vincennes, Indiana. These brave, young men who enlisted were motivated to fight, help their nation end slavery and to make life better. A few familiar names of these men who made up the 28th US Colored Troops, were Tann, Anderson, Cole, Day, Pettiford, Russell, Morris, and Taylor. William Day lost his life at the Battle of Jones Bridge.Samuel Cole and James Taylor were killed at the famous Battle of the Crater. The 28th Colored Troops encountered many injuries, and sickness and disease were common.

After the war, pensions were hard to get, especially for African American veterans. Many of these Civil War veterans are buried in local Lawrence County African American Cemeteries. Edward Pettiford and Henry Goens, both veterans of the 28th US Colored Troops later became Buffalo Soldiers. They were assigned to fight Native Americans and keep the peace in the Great Plains, and the Rocky Mountain West.

The Lawrence County Historical Society video, “An Eagle On His Button,” presents this forgotten Civil War story, which includes racial tensions, battles, camaraderie, and issues when they returned home to Lawrence County.

 World War I

As the people across the United States watched World War I ignite across Europe, African American citizens saw an opportunity to win the respect of their white neighbors. America was a segregated society, and African Americans were considered, at best, second- class citizens. Despite that issue, there were many African American men willing to serve in the nation’s military. When the United States declared war against Germany in April of 1917, War Department planners quickly realized that the standing Army of 126,000 men would not be enough to ensure victory overseas. The volunteer system proved to be inadequate in raising an Army, so on May 18, 1917, Congress passed the Selective Service Act requiring all male citizens between the ages of 21 and 30 to register for the draft.

To name a few Lawrence County African Americans who were involved in World War I; Anderson, Goins, Russell, Higgenbotham, Wilson and Hardiman. These local men were descendants of the previous Lawrence County veterans. George Anderson is a descendant of William Pettiford, a Revolutionary War veteran. William Russell is a descendant of Austin Tann who was at Fort Allison in 1812. Wesley Goins is a descendant of Levi Goins, a 28th Colored Troop veteran in the Civil War.

The World War I time frame spanned from 1914 to 1918. During this era the “Great Migration” brought African Americans to the North to escape Southern Jim Crow laws. Despite moving North, they faced continued discrimination, including restrictive housing, and in some cases, limited job opportunities. During this era, racial tensions were high in Southern Illinois. Many areas operated as “sundown towns” that excluded non-whites.

Just like the Civil War, life after World War I for African American Veterans had barely improved. Lynchings across the country during this time had increased, even among African American Veterans. The KKK had come on the scene nationwide and made their presence even in Lawrence County. Due to discrimination, job opportunities for African Americans in Lawrence County had caused many to migrate to larger cities like Chicago, Illinois, St. Louis, Missouri, Detroit, Michigan and Indianapolis, Indiana. The African American population in Lawrence County was starting to decrease as World War II began.

World War II

More than 1.5 million African Americans served in the U.S. military during World War II, fighting in segregated units across all branches despite facing intense racial discrimination at home and abroad. The military remained segregated; most African American troops were assigned to labor-intensive support roles, such as driving trucks, maintaining equipment, and delivering supplies. The 92nd Infantry Division “Buffalo Soldiers” were the first African American division to see combat in 1944, fighting in Italy. Over 6,500 African American women served in the military, making up the African American Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) Unit. Roughly 780 African American soldiers died in combat, though others died from illnesses and accidents.

Several Lawrence County African Americans served in World War II; a few of those were: H. Anderson, V. Anderson, C. Wimbley, R. Ritchie, M. Cole, J. Harris, R. Green, O. Goins, R. Curry, A. Russell, L. Russell, D. Johnson, Joiner, D. Mitchell, R. Vance, L. Patterson, C. Walls, W. White, G. Barnes, and several others, in all branches of service. Lemuel Russell, Arthur Russell, (28 yrs- U.S. Army), Gentry Barnes, (Tuskeegee Airman), Marion Cole, (Outstanding Lawrenceville High School Athlete) all served in Europe.  After WW II, many of these Lawrence County veterans moved away from Lawrence County to seek employment in larger urban areas. Prominent jobs, like refinery and oil field jobs were not available to African Americans during this time.

Many Lawrence County African American WW II veterans had children who served in future American conflicts.  African American veterans of the Korean War (1950-1953), played a crucial role as the U.S. military underwent its first major test of desegregation, with approximately 600,000 serving in integrated units. Some of the younger Lawrence County WW II African Americans also served in the Korean War. By now, rank and opportunities in the military were improving and many African Americans were making careers in the military.

Viet Nam Era

The Viet Nam War spanned from 1955 to 1975, primarily fought between North Viet Nam (supported by communist allies) and South Viet Nam (supported by the U.S.). Direct U.S. combat involvement escalated from 1965 to 1973. The political climate during the Viet Nam Era was the most tumultuous since the American Civil War. Political assassinations, war protests, race riots and drugs become widespread.

Over 300,000 African Americans served in the Viet Nam War. In 1967, 64% of eligible African American men were drafted, compared to 31% of eligible white men. African American service members made up roughly 12.4% of U.S. combat deaths despite being about 11% of the U.S. population, highlighting a disproportionate casualty rate. This statistic is attributed to African Americans assigned to combat battalions, due to their higher draft rate.

During the Viet Nam Era, (1960), the population of Lawrence County, Illinois, was 18,540. The African American population in Lawrence County was likely less than 200. The following is an incomplete list of African American veterans ;N. McCord, I. Lyles, N. Portee, C. Joiner, R. Goins, D. Casey, R. Wimbley, D. Wimbley, H. Wimbley, G. Lyles, P. Lyles, C. Lyles, S. Glossson, J. Woods, L. Curry, C. Curry, J. Hughes, E. Johnson, W. Joiner, G. Ritchie, R. Green, L. Taborn, J. Cole, B. Cole, R. Mahaffey (William Joiner U.S Army; Director of W. Joiner Veterans Institute Boston, Mass.)(Robert Green served in WWII, Korea, and Viet Nam, as a U.S. Navy Seabee)*(Carl Curry U.S. Marines promoted through the ranks from Private to Captain.   (James K. Hughes U.S. Army Specialist 5, killed in Viet Nam March 16, 1966.  The names with an asterisk were considered a “Mustang.”

The Modern Era Military Conflicts; Persian Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, War on Counter Terrorism.

The Lawrence County Historical Society has an incomplete list of Lawrence County African American veterans during this era; C. Lewis, G. Jefferson, T. Jefferson, S. Curry, K. Hughes, J. Duke.

The legacy of African American veterans from Lawrence County stands as a testament to courage, perseverance, and community. Their service across generations has shaped local and national history, reminding us that their sacrifices and achievements deserve recognition and remembrance. As ongoing research uncovers more stories, the impact of these veterans continues to inspire and enrich our understanding of American history.