Robert Adams was born in 1933 and died in the Korean War in 1950 at the age of 17. He is the uncle of Spiveyedwards.

Edwin Reid Banks (1920-1965) served in World War II. He was born March 24, 1920 in Lawrencetown, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, Canada. He moved to Massachusetts at the age of 5. He became a United States citizen while serving in the United States Army. He served from December 21, 1942 to November 14, 1945 when he was Honorably Discharged as a Sgt: 493 Fighter Bomber Squadron.

He received the following DECORATIONS: Good Conduct Medal; American Theater Campaign Ribbon; Distinguished Unit Badge; WWIIVM; EAME.

His ENGAGEMENTS were: Air Off. Europe; Rhineland; Ardennes; Central Europe. He served OVERSEAS: March 21, 1944 to November 14, 1945.

This biography provided by Rita Whitman the daughter of Edwin Banks.

Edgar Francis Blue (1893-1935) married in 1919 to Olina Hilland. He was born in Minnesota. He moved to California and was employed in the oil fields around Taft and Bakersfield. He was a veteran of World War I.

Douglas Clester was a Marine Corporal in the Vietnam War. He died 12 June 1966.

James Briggs (J. B. ) Davis was born 1936 in Ohio Territory to Sara Briggs and Edward Davis. He was named after his mother’s father as was a standard practice in those days. James grew into a tall man in height at six foot one and a half inches.

J. B.’s parents were from Ohio and Virginia. Edward and Sara were married in Wisconsin territory in 1835. For the birth of their first child they went back to Ohio and Sara’s parent’s home. The Briggs and Davis families were a very close knit, as you will see as the story continues.

Polly Wolfe was born in Ohio in 1843. At the age of fourteen in the year 1857 she moved with her family to Wisconsin. There she met and fell in love with J. B. Davis. When Polly was 19 and J. B. was 26, they were wed. The marriage took place on the fourth of July, in 1862 in Towerville, Wisconsin.

In the next year many things were to change for everyone. Polly was pregnant with their first child. James wanted to go to fight in the war yet he could not until he saw his first child born. Several of the other Davis and Briggs clan had already mustered into the war. On the 11th of May 1863, George Sylvester was born. On the 18 of November 1863, J. B. mustered in to the first Wisconsin infantry at Camp Randall, Madison Wisconsin, after signing up in Prarie du Chein. Several of the other Davis and Briggs men signed up at the same time and all kept together through the entire war. J. B. Davis was one of the 98,000 men who were under General Sherman’s rule. He was also one of the 62,000 men who went on the March Across Georgia with Sherman. They marched from Atlanta after ruining as much of the area as possible. They marched 285 miles across Gerogia to Savannah on the coast. J. B. Said that he never got to see the General up close, but thought he probably wasn’t as big as most people thought. They marched only about ten miles a day through Georgia. The front of the lines was spread out sixty miles wide most of the time. They destroyed anything that they could not use or carry with them. The soldiers, having no supply lines, made do with what they found, leaving in the process as little as possible for the Confederates. The Union Army reached Savannah in December. J.B. had been in the service for one year. Sherman took the army north. In Feb. of 1865, they reached Columbia South Carolina. They took the city and burned everything in sight. J. B. had an awful fall at this time. He was carrying a large box on his back and fell into a ditch, this caused a very serious back injury from which he never recovered from. Marching on north they entered North Carolina, through Fayetteville and on March 19, 1965 Bentonville was reached. This was the battle where a shell fragment struck J. B. in the eye and nearly blinded him. He also took a ball through the arm in this fight causing nerve damage. From Bentonville they marched on to Raleigh. On April 18, 1865 Johnston surrendered to sherman.

J.B. and the rest of the company went back to Kentucky. There on the 18 of July 1865 J. B. and his family members all mustered out of the army. He was paid a total of $123.54 for his time in the service, minus $6. For shot and gun and accoutrements. He was transferred back to the 21st. Wisconsin and sent home. Upon arriving there J. B. learned of his mother’s death. He had missed seeing his mother by a matter of weeks. He again took up farming in Towerville and there his other three sons were born. Xenia Leucern, born 24 May 1867, My g grandfather, William Orien born 22 Dec. 1868 and the youngest son Issac Warren, 25 Jan. 1872.

Four years later J. B. and Polly and a large number of Davis’ and Briggs’ family members decided to move to the great Pacific North West. Tales of land that could be farmed and huge valleys with fertile land and gold for the taking had been filtering back to them. They decided to pack up and follow the Oregon trail. This new country they were planning on going to and living in was indeed new to the United States. It had only been in the last 15 years that it had started to open up to settlers.

Twenty two years after Seth Shaw and his brother started up the little creek and made a settlement at the foot of the hills to one day be called the Wildcat, the Davis and Briggs families in the spring of 1875 started across the Oregon Trail and landed in the Columbia river valley. They spent the rest of the year of 1875 in the valley. This area seemed to satisfy most of the clan but J. B. wanted someplace even better. They kept moving south, Following the trading trails through what is now Oregon. In the early spring of 1876 they took a boat out from the shore of Oregon and went south. They stopped first in Coos Bay Oregon, and then kept moving south and landed at the Humboldt Bay. At this time there was not a lot of roads in Humboldt Co. but they did manage to travel inland and up to what is now Monument Rd. and spent the rest of the year farming on the Bear River Ridge.

J. B. didn’t realize then that farming life was over for him. The strain of his wound in his arm and back had done damage that just could not ever be repaired. He could not work a farm. So he moved his little family into the new town of Ferndale, where they rented a nice house in 1877. To support himself he and his boys started to do odd jobs and some carpentry. By this time the oldest boy George, was fourteen and old enough to start helping his father.

J. B. was very involved with many of the building projects going on in the new town. Moving older buildings from one area to another to make way for the newer sections of town with only jacks and horses and mules for transportation, buildings were moved blocks at a time. Once a house was moved, J. B. and sons would start re-modeling the house, and eventually selling it. He was also a very modern thinking man for the times. He almost always had his wife Polly do the business transactions, often they were in her name alone. I am not sure if this is because he couldn’t use his hand well enough to sign documents, or if he just couldn’t see because of the eye injury, or if he just was a forward thinking person. Polly had several properties in her name alone. They would buy a piece of property and build a house on it, sell it, then buying another lot, and building another house on it.

In his spare time J. B. played the fiddle and played cards with friends. He made a table just for playing cards with his friends. He often could be found on the back porch sitting in his chair enjoying the sun when he got older. Because of the wounds from the war he had back problems all of his life. To help himself he lifted weights everyday and still could ride a horse at the age of 79. He would tell tales of the revolution to any who would listen. And when he saw a kid on the street he would give them a penny candy. He lived with his son and daughter-in-law William and Bonita until his death 22 Nov. 1924.

Andreas Geist (Christoph) was born 26 January 1755 in Frederick, Philadelphia, PA. He died 19 December 1849 in Greenbriar, Upper Mahanoy, Northumberland, PA and was buried in Himmel's Church, Rebuck (near), Northumberland, PA> Andreas served in the Revolutionary War as a Teamster, in the Philadelphia (Lancaster) County Militia. He was in the Battle of Brandywine, and escapted capture by the British by cutting his best horse loose and riding it back to the family farm. He and his brothers, Mathias and John served at Valley Forge, but were spared the harsh winter, as their farm was only 15 miles away. Andrew Geist served in the Lancaster Co. Militia, Captain Andrew Graff's Company mustered at Philadelphia 16 July 1776. His rank is listed as Sergeant.*

Capt. Conrad Geist was born 1744 in Frederick Twp., Mont., PA. He died in 1812 in Cumru Twp., Berks county, PA.

Conrad Geist was a Captain in the Berks County Militia throughout the Revolutionary War. He had various commands during the conflict, but the PA State Archives make reference to 2; On page 303 of Volume XIV is given the payroll of a detachment of the Sixth Battalion, Pennsylvania Militia, under Captain Conrad Geist detaled to guard British prisoners of war confined in the jail in Reading, that attempted to break out and afterwards transferred. This was in 1776. In 1777 he commanded the 1st Company, 4th Battalion, Berks County Militia. After the war these men were having trouble being paid for their services, and they along with Conrad signed a petition. This Company is listed below:

John Geist (Christoph) was born 8 October 1750 in Frederick Twp., Mont., PA. He died 1825. He had a farm near Bombay Hook, Pennsgrove Twp., PA. He served in the Revolutionary War in Capt. Dotterer's Co., 6th Battalion, PA Militia, Philadelphia County. He was sent to Washingtion 4 April 1784 and served at Valley Forge.*
* Information from the book: "The Geist Relation: 200 Years in America" by A. Frank Geist. Historical Society of America in Philadelphia.

Mathias Geist was born September 11, 1748 in Frederick Twp. Mont., PA. He died the 24th of January 1823. He served at Valley Forge in Captain Dotterer's Company, 6th Battalion, Philadelphia County Militia. He held various local offices, and at one time was Commissioner of Philadelphia County.

Valentine Geist (Christoph) was born 3 October 1762 in Frederick Twp., Mont., PA. He died 28 December 1849 in Long Swamp, Berks, PA and was buried in Long Swamp Church, Long Swamp, Berks, PA. Valentine served in the Revolutionary War in Captain Houpt's Company, 7th Company, 3rd Battalion, Berks County Militia.
Military: 1776-1783, Revolutionary War
Occupation: Farmer and Tanner

Joe Allen Gordon is the cousin of Spiveyedwards. He went all the way through Vietnam and came home minus some toes. He was latter killed by a hit and run driver in Chicago where he was living at the time.

Peter served in the Civil War at the Battle of Mobile Bay and died on 7 July 1865.

Linus Green Hubbard, served in the Civil War as a private in Co. "F", 16th Regiment, Vermont, Infantry, Volunteers. He enlisted for nine months, on Sept. 6, 1862. He was mustered into service on Oct. 23, 1862. His regement was sent directly to Washington D.C. and spent the winter defending it, building forts and rifle pits. In the spring of 1863, his company was transferred to the Army of the Potomac. It was in the Battle of Gettysburg and as a part of the Second Vermont Brigade under General Stanard, repulsed Pickett's last charge. They then followed Lee's Army back to Virginia with light skirmishes.

In 1867, Linus Hubbard came West. He spent the first year on a farm near Beloit, Wisconsin. He then traveled to Bureau County, Illinois, found the Stanards, met and married Helen Stanard in 1870. The young couple came to Champaign County in 1870, right after they were married. They bought the S1/2 of the NE1/4 of Sec. 6 in Tolono Township from the Illinois Central Railroad for $8.00 per acre, a total of $960.00. It is about three miles west of the now Willard Airport. Of green, rough sawn lumber they built a one room hut. His means of heating was a large fireplace of boards in the form of a four-sided pen daubed within and without with mud, all built with his own hands. The fireplace furnished heat in the winter and meals were cooked on it all year round. The furniture consisted of homemade bed with board slats with a straw tick as a mattress. Feathers from the wild ducks and geese were carefully collected to make a feather bed. Chairs were made by hand and a large pine box served as a table. They only had two wooden handled knives and forks and two plates. The windows were of solid wood to keep out the cold. Home made candles furnished light.

Their first child, George David Hubbard, was born on this farm in May, 1871. The deed from the Railroad is dated Nov. 30, and recorded Dec. 7, in 1872. However, this land was too wet and a year later he sold it to H. Elwin and E. Hylan Cushman for $2,100.00, and bought the N1/2 of the SE1/4 of Sec. 29 in Urbana Township for $2,000. It is noted by the deed records that the farm was deeded to his father George C. and his two brothers, Chester C. and Porter G. and financed at 12% interest by a Wilmington, Vt. Bank. They were paid off and the farm deeded to Linus G. in January, 1894. He named the farm the Pleasant Hill Fruit Farm, and it is so shown on the older Plat Books of Champaign County. It is now known as Yankee Ridge Subdivision and built up with streets and houses.

Garth L. Hurrell born Winnipeg, 1941. Served in Canadian Navy 1960-1985 on the West Coast in Victoria. Trade was Radar and Seamanship. Presently works for Queen's Harbour Master in Victoria.

The son-in-law of Frank Hubbard(HubCal). Charles served in the Marine Corps for 12 years. He was a Staff Sergeant(E-6). He served in Vietnam in 1965 and 1966 with Charlie Company, First Battalion, 5th, Marines and Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Division. Corporal Kyle was wounded and received the Purple Heart during his tour of duty. Staff Sargent Kyle returned to Vietnam in 1968 for a second tour of duty and was honorably discharged from the Marine Corp in 1969.

Charles now works for Sprint.

Naval Air Force Pilot. Killed in Action (KIA). Awarded the Purple Heart.

Norman Oscar Moe (1909-1978) served in World War II. Born May 29, 1909 in Prairie Farm, Wisconsin and died April 3, 1978 St. Paul, Minnesota. He is buried at St. Annes Cemetery, Turtle Lake, Wisconsin.

Bob retired as Lt. Cmdr. with the U.S. Navy. During his Naval Service his military decorations included two individual Air Medals, two Strike Flight Air Medals, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with gold star, and 12 Unit/Service Awards. He served from 1957 to 1978 and is now retired and resides in California.

Sam R. Rowland set down on the deck of USS America on 16 Sep1972. Having finished flight training and assignment to VA196. He was overjoyed that he would not be going to Vietnam since the USS America is an Atlantic Fleet ship. So he was taken completely off guard when the USS America received orders to report to Dixie Station located off the coast of South Vietnam. The carrier crossed the Mediterranean Sea and went through the Suez Canal, then crossed the Indian Ocean and entered the South China Sea. The carrier arrived at Dixie Station on 10 Nov1972 where Sam flew missions over South Vietnam in support of US and South Vietnamese forces there. A month and a half later the USS America sailed north and joined Task Force 77 at Yankee Station. The first mission Sam flew over North Vietnam was to bomb rail yards near Haiphong. It was still believed that if we cut off the supply lines we could relieve the pressure in the South. It was on this mission that Sam received his baptism by fire when his aircraft was hit by anti aircraft fire. He returned safely to the ship and found that he had a hole the size of a basketball in the vertical stabilizer/rudder assembly.

The next few missions were a completely new experience for Sam, his squadron was sent to mine Haiphong Harbor, in order to keep supply ships from entering the harbor. It was during these missions that Sam saw his first SA-2 missile (the dreaded Sam Missile). The rest of this first rotation went by uneventfully. The USS America then headed south again to the Philippines for much needed supplies and ever more important "shore leave".

On 13 Feb 1973 the USS America again arrived at Yankee Station and flight operation commenced immediately. Once again Sam was flying his A-6 Intruder over Haiphong rail yards. It was on 24 Feb 1973 that Sam's life was forever changed. The mission was to bomb a Power Plant southwest of Hanoi, the night was cloudless and the moon was bright (a gunners moon we called it). On the first pass at the target Sam's BN (bombadier/navagator) was unable to pick the target out of the ground clutter that radar picks up. So against all common sense Sam circled around to make another pass, it was then that the sky lit up like the Las Vegas Strip. There was so much anti aircraft fire that you could walk across the sky without falling. Then the threat monitor started squealing meaning that anti aircraft missile radar had found them. Sam saw the SA-2s launch, a total of 5 missiles were targeted at his aircraft. He escaped from 2 missiles by diving very low to the ground. But he was unable to escape the 3rd missile, which detonated directly over his aircraft. Both engines were destroyed by the shrapnel from the missile. His plane started losing altitude quickly now; he and his BN had no choice but to eject.

Sam was unable to see the ground and as he plummeted through the jungle canopy he lost his helmet when his head smashed against a branch of a large tree. He hit the ground hard and fell against a large rock injuring his back. Sam's first thoughts were to get to cover and hide. Imagine his horror when he entered the brush to find an automatic weapon aimed right at his head. But upon further examination he saw "round" eyes at the other end of that gun. Sam had fallen right on top of a Navy Seal covert operation in the area. They informed Sam that his BN had broken his neck and lay in the middle of a streambed nearby. Sam was told that they needed to leave the area immediately or risk getting caught. It was during the egress from the area that the group was indeed attacked by North Vietnamese forces. Sam was told to hug the ground while the Seals took care of things. It was about 5 minutes later when Sam raised up to see a North Vietnamese soldier aiming right for him. In the instant that followed Petty Officer Robert Fulton dove in front of Sam and gave his life to save him. The rest of the escape was fast and frenzied. A call was made and a pickup arranged, soon Sam was on his way back to the ship. The commanding officer of the Seal Team, told him on the flight back that he hoped his (Sam's) life would be worth the price paid.

Sam never flew again; he was put on no fly status for medical reasons. Sam suffered from posttraumatic distress syndrome for years and the dreams of that night haunt him still. He now lives in Missouri.

Earl LaVerne Wirth (1928-1975) served in the Korean War (1952-1954). Born July 3, 1928 Prairie Farm, Wisconsin. He died December 14, 1975 Vance Creek Twp.

Lewis Wert (Wirth) served in the Civil War. He joined the Wisconsin Regiment of Volunteer Infantry as a private on January 4, 1862. On July 3, 1864 he was discharged at Redbone, Mississippi. On July 4, 1864 he reenlisted and served till July 12, 1865 where he was discharged from Louisville, Kentucky. He served in the 12th and 16th Regiments of Wisconsin.

Abraham Zimmerman served in the Revolutionar War. He was the son of Abraham Zimmerman and Maria Eva Gehr. Abraham was born 1760 in Maxatawny, Berks, PA.

Abraham Zimmerman immigrated to PA i the colonial days and settled in Maxatawny Twsp., Berks County and when the patriots engaged the mother country in a war for independence, Mr. Zimmerman was one of the first to enroll himself under the banners of the struggling republic as a soldier in Washington's army. Gen. Washington was a frequent visitor at the Maxatawny homestead and on two or three occasions established his headquarters there.

War of 1812. Muster-roll of Capt. John Christian's company, in Second Regiment, Second Brigade Pennsylvania militia, under command of Lieut. Col. John Lotz,at York, PA. (In service from September 1, 1814 to December 4, 1815, from Berks County.) Zimmerman, Abraham-Ensign

Daniel F. Zimmerman, son of Daniel, lived and died on the old homestead. He passed away on November 29, 1905, aged seventy years, eight months, eight days. He too served for nine months during the Civil War in the same company as his two brothers.

Henry Zimmerman, son of Daniel, was born April 17, 1830 and died March 23, 1863, while serving in the Civil War at Yorktown, VA. of Typhus Fever. He is buried at the Stone Church, near his old home. He was in the same company as his brothers.

John F. Zimmerman was a Union soldier during the Civil War, serving in Company H, 177th Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia. He was mustered in at Sunbury, in November 1862, and served nine months.

Sebastian Zimmerman was born 7 May 1796 in Maxatawny Twp. Berks, PA and served in the War of 1812. Muster-roll of Capt. John Christian's company, in the Second Regiment, Second Brigade Pennsylvania Militia, under command of Lieut. Col. John Lotz, at York, PA. (In service from September 1, 1814 to December 4, 1815, from Berks County. Zimmerman, Sebastian-Priviate

Sebastian Zimmerman, son of Sebastian and Elizabeth B. (Klock) Zimmerman, was born June 2, 1830, in Cameron Twp., Northumberland County, PA. On October 28, 1862, Mr. Zimmerman enlisted from Schuylkill County in Company K, 172d Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. F. A. Hoffman, was promoted to second sergeant of that company, and served with the Army of the Potomac. He was discharged August 1, 1863, with his regiment, at Harrisburg. Mr. Zimmerman had long been an active member of William Bruner Post, No. 335, G.A.R., in which he has held various offices.

Solomon Zimmerman was born in 1797 in Maxatawny Twp. Berks, PA. He served in the War of 1812.