| Name |
Okey LEESON |
| Birth |
30 Jun 1894 |
Berea, Ritchie Co, WV  [1, 2] |
| Gender |
Male |
| Census |
1900, 1910 |
Clay District, Ritchie Co, WV |
| Occupation |
1910 [3] |
| laborer at odd jobs |
| Occupation |
1917 [4] |
| telephone lineman, Jane Lew WV |
| Residence |
1917 |
Oxford, Doddridge Co, WV [4] |
| Military |
From 19 Sep 1917 to 19 Oct 1918 |
| Bugler, Btry D, 314th Fld Arty, World War I (KIA) |
| Residence |
Summers, Doddridge Co, WV [5] |
| Death |
19 Oct 1918 |
France [2] |
| Burial |
South Fork Baptist Church Cemetery, Oxford, Doddridge Co, WV [6] |
| Notes |
- A handwritten letter was found by family members in a box of personal effects belonging to Okey Leeson's aunt, Nancy "Babe" Haught Brown, who was his late mother's sister. The envelope was addressed to Mrs. Babe Brown, West Union, West Virginia, U.S.A. Written in the envelope's upper left corner was the return address: "from Bug. Okey Leeson, Battery D, 314 F.a., American E.F." In the upper right corner, rather than postage was the handwritten notation "Soldiers Mail." The complete text of the letter follows, with minor corrections to spelling, grammar and capitalization for ease of understanding:
"France, Aug. 4, 1918
Mrs. Babe Brown
Dear Aunt,
After a long time of delay, I will now answer your letter received back in the States. This leaves me feeling fine, am in good health and sincerely hope for this to find each of you well and enjoying life.
Well, this is certainly a grand country with all its beauty, and my but there are lots of pretty girls here. But I have one back in the States awaiting on me, so I don't try to get acquainted with them here.
This has been a nice bright sunshiny Sabbath, and I have written the most of the day.
Has Chauncey Riddle returned back home yet?
How is business around town?
How is Brown's health? Is he as fat as ever? Tell him I am as I ever was, that Army life hasn't learnt me any bad habits yet and I expect to be the same as long as I live. Tell him hello for me and I hope to see him in the near future.
How are the children?
Well, Babe, don't wait too long to answer. So with love, best wishes to all, I will close.
From
Bugler Okey Leeson
Battery D, 314 F a
American Expeditionary Forces
Via Port New York."
|
| Person ID |
I5561 |
Doddridge County Roots |
| Last Modified |
23 Oct 2018 |
1894 - 1918 (24 years)
