Last Union Soldier Dies in Hancock County

John D. Drinnon, age 86, died at his home on War Creek, in Hancock county at 10:00 p.m., Sunday, August 21st(1932). Mr. Drinnon, was the last Federal soldier of the Civil war in Hancock county. He enlisted in Company L, 8th Regiment Tennessee Calvary in September, 1863, and served until the close of the war, under command of Capt. McDermot, being discharged at Knoxville on Sept. 11, 1865.

He is survived by one son, John Drinnon, Jr., and one daughter, Mrs. Tom Lamb, and one grandchild. Funeral services were conducted from the home at 10 o'clock Tuesday, by Rev. Robert Seal with interment in the family cemetery.

John D. Drinnon

8th TN Calvary, L Company USA

1846 - 1932

A. D. Huffmaster, 92, last Civil War veteran residing in Hawkins County, a retired lawyer and former mayor of Rogersville, died Saturday at his home here where he had lived nearly all his life.

Mr. Huffmaster joined the Confederate forces when a boy of 13, first serving as messenger boy under his brother,Capt. Joe Huffmaster whose company was stationed near Kingsport.

After coming of age he fought in one battle, the Horse Shoe Bend engagement, four miles west of Rogersville.

Mr. Huffmaster, son of a Methodist minister, was born in Newport, Ky., in 1848 and came to Rogersville when 11 years old to live with an aunt. He was admitted to the bar in 1873 and was a leader of the Hawkins County Bar Association for more than 60 years. He was also one of East Tennessee's leading Democrats. He retired in 1928 from his law firm because of declining health.

Mrs. Huffmaster died 18 months ago. A constant companion of the Huffmasters, Miss Florence Jones, was at his bedside at death.

Only survivors are an adopted daughter, Mrs. Roy Cloud, with whom he lived, and several nephews and nieces.

Funeral was at the home at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, with Rev. T. M. Johnston officiating. Burial was in the old Presbyterian cemetery.

Active pallbearers were, Albert Weaver, Louis Poates, William (Bill) Armstrong, Sam Livesay, Ted Lyons, Reed Altom and Kyle Watterson. Honorary pallbearers were members of the bars association, J. O. Phillips, J. O. Phillips, Jr., Winfield Hale, John Thompson, Tommy Rogan, John T. Fort, Frank Powell, C. F. Lauderback, Eastman Portrum, Hal E. Portrum and C. W. Margraves.

Al S. Nolen representing the Tom Bateman club of Pressmen's Home attended the funeral services.

Alvin Devall Huffmaster

43rd TN Infantry, I Company CSA

1848 - 1940

Samuel (Dick) Morelock Jr. Age 17; enlisted August 1864 in the 38th TN Mounted Infantry, G Company, CSA. Son of Emeline (Light) and Wright Ratliff Morelock. Born February 7, 1847; married February 21, 1866, Sarah Light. Died January 15, 1938. Dick states in his application for pension that he was in the battles of Morristown, TN, Bulls Gap, TN, Strawberry Plains, TN, and Marion, Virginia. It was at Marion, Virginia, in March 1865 whre he and part of his company were cut off from the command. He said he was on the right at Marion, and was cut off from the command by the yankees.

Samuel (Dick) Morelock, Jr.

39th TN Mounted Infantry, G Company CSA

February 7, 1847 - January 15, 1938

Sam Grubb was living in Surgoinsville, TN in February 1935 when Dan G. Hamilton, 92-year-old Confederate veteran, died at Church Hill. The ROGERSVILLE REVIEW printed Hamilton's obituary in the newspaper stating tht he was the last Confederate veteran.

A short time later, the ROGERSVILLE REVIEW printed a picture of Confederate veteran, Sam Grubb, in full uniform with a long white beard, his gun beside him, and a stern look on his face. He had evidently gone down to the Review office in Rogersville, in full dress, and told them, "I'm not dead yet,"and they probably made the picture that appeared in the newspaper when he died one year later at age 98. The old soldier had stated in the Roster of Confederate Veterans, "I think I did good service as a soldier and do not regret my course."

Although he was not the last, (there were two younger men who died after him) he still continued to stand for what he believed in.

Sam Grubb

63rd TN Infantry, C Company CSA

March 26, 1838 - February 27, 1936

One of the Last Confederate Soldiers From Hawkins County To Die Lived In Another Coutny At His Death

James Carmichael McCarty (called Mike) was born 30 April 1844 in Hawkins County. His mother was Nancy Fain. Her father was Nicholas Fain who was the first Mayor of Rogersville. J. C's grandfather was William McCarty, whose parents had come over from Ireland.

Also living in the James P. McCarty's family, and son-in-law of Absalom Kyle, was John L. Blevins who later had son Absalom Kyle Blevins known as Kyle Blevins. Kyle Blevins, who was three years older than McCarty, later became Captain of E Company 29th Infantry. McCarty joined E Company in June 1861 at Rogersville, Tennessee when he was only seventeen years old. He becaem seventeen on April 30, 1861. He went with the company to the Shiloh fight and then on to Corinth, Mississippi. It was at Cornith that it was discovered he was only seventeen and he was discharged for being under age at which time he returned to Hawkins County.

Just two weeks after coming of age, on the 17th day of May 1863, McCarty was captured on Big Black River, near Vicksburg, MS. He had joined B Company 60th Infantry and was captured at Big Black River and was taken to Indianapolis, Indiana, then to Camp Morton Philadelphia, then to Point Lookout, MD. He suffered from the cold and his feet were frozen which would give him problems the rest of his life. He served with the 60th until the end of the war at which time they were disbanded at Christianburg, Virginia

After the war McCarty went to Texas for a few years, then returned to Rogersville whre he was City Marshall and also was a guard for a long time at the Brushy Mountain state prison.

He married on December 27, 1888 Eliza Price, daughter of Elijah Price and Mary Hamblen. They are both buried in the Presbyterian Church Cemetery on Kyle Street.

Cpl James C.(Mike) McCarty

60th TN Mounted Infantry, B Company CSA

April 30, 1844 - February 16, 1936

Last Rites Said Civil War Vet - RR, Thursday, February 28, 1935

Last rites for Dan Hamilton, 92-year-old Confederate veteran, were held Monday at 2 p.m., at Mt. Carmel Church. Mr. Hamilton died Sunday morning at the home of his sister, Mrs. Fannie Ratcliff, at Church Hill, after a month's illness. He is said to have been the last confederate veteran in Hawkins County.

The rites were in charge of Rev. Charles Williams, Church Hill, assisted by Rev. C. H. Wright of Blountville. Pallbearers were from the Masonic order, and flower bearers were members of the Daughters of the Confederacy and the Eastern Star

Mr. Hamilton was born and reared in Hawkins county, but when a young man he moved to Sullivan county and had spent his entire life in the Church Hill community.

He was a Civil war veteran, a member of the Cassidy M. E. Church, South, of Indian Springs, and for 65 years had been a member of the Clay Masonic lodge at Church Hill. Mr. Hamilton was a staunch Democrat and a great admirer of the late Wm. Jennings Bryan.(He once remarked that if nothing else could be placed on his tombstone when he is dead and buried, he would prefer this sentence: "Here lies a dead democrat."-SJ)

Mr. Hamilton was twice married. Is first wife was Mrs. Kate O'Dell Kincheloe. After her death he married Miss Nannie Graham, who died two and one-half years ago. Surviving are one sister, Mrs. Fannie Ratcliff, of Church Hill; two brothers, the Rev. H. S. Hamilton of Jonesboro and E. B. Hamilton of Church Hill, and a number of other close relatives.(This article was not correct in stating that Mr. Hamilton was the last to die - SJ)

Dan Hamilton

12th TN Calvary BN, A Company CSA

1843 - Feb 24, 1935

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