BEDFORD – Jeaneen Sons has a love for genealogy and during her research came across a Lawrence County family who served in the United States Colored Troops.
During her search, she discovered the family of Jesse Nelson who lived in the Judah area. Nelson married one of his father’s slaves, Lucy. The couple had three sons Fletcher, Ephraim, and Jesse Jr. who enlisted in the United States Colored Troops and served during the Civil War. The family’s homestead is just short of the Lawrence County/ Monroe County line.
“They escaped slavery and when they could not fight for the Union Army they enlisted with the colored troops,” Sons added.
She and Clarence Brown want to honor their memory along with other Lawrence County colored infantrymen who severed by placing a statue in the Lawrence County Courthouse rotunda.
“We have monuments to honor those who fought in every war but not one for the Civil War,” she added. “This has laid heavy on my heart and I knew I needed to do something.”
There were four regiments that included two regiments of black cavalry, the 9th and 10th, formed at Fort Leavenworth, and four regiments of black infantry the 28th, 39th, 40th, and 41st, formed at Jackson Barracks in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Fort Clark, Texas. Nelson’s three sons enlisted in the 28th and fought during Morgan’s Raid. The 28th was Indiana’s first and only black regiment.
By the end of the Civil War in 1865, the 175 USCT regiments constituted about one-tenth of the manpower of the Union Army. About 20% of USCT soldiers died, a rate about 35% higher than that of white Union troops. Many USCT soldiers fought with distinction, with 16 receiving the Medal of Honor and numerous others receiving other honors.
Sons enlisted the help of local residents to secure a monument after learning it would cost $65,000 to $75,000 to have a statue carved.
Tevin Norman of TexaCon Cut Stone donated the limestone and Teddy Sowders is carving a statue of a Civil War United States Colored infantry officer. Clarence Brown wearing a Civil War military outfit posed for the statue and was photographed by Kevin Hudson. The infantry officer will be holding a musket and a wreath with those who served.
Sons asked permission Tuesday morning to place the statue in the courthouse rotunda.
The commissioners were in favor but said “You are asking a monumental request,” said Commissioner Rodney Fish.
“You are looking at 145 pounds per cubic foot,” added Commissioner Wally Branham. “It will be heavy and we need to make sure the courthouse floor can support the weight.”
Attorney David Smith shared that those who made the other monuments came to the courthouse checked out the flooring and found a location to place them.
Sons agreed to contact Norman and Sowders and have them assess the courthouse floor in hopes to find an ideal location to place the statue.
She will report back to the commission with their finds during their January meeting.
