Birthday Party Held For Ashdown's First Citizen

 September 10, 1930  ~~Little River News

The 84th birthday of Mrs. M.A. Dupree was observed with a dinner Sunday, September 7, at the home of Mr. & Mrs. A.B. Hambleton of this city.  Mrs. Dupree was the first woman settler of Ashdown, her husband, the late W.D Dupree, building the first home after the town was located by the railroad in 1882.  She has resided here continuously ever since, and has a large number of descendants, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nearly all of whom were present on this occasion....(attending) Mr. & Mrs. JH Coggins, Mr. & Mrs. JH Welch and children, Mrs. Lucy Thomas, Mrs. Charles Waddell and baby, Mr. & Mrs. A Hambleton of Ashdown, Mrs. WH Crouch, Mr. and Mrs. Eber McDowell and children, Mrs. Bryant Duncan of  Ogden.  Hyman Dupree of Texarkana, Mrs. William Lambert, Miss Allie Dale Lambert of Winthrop, Mrs. Robert Wright And grandchildren of Foreman.  Jean G Lambert of Alabama and Frazier Wright of Wilton. 

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{Martha Ann Pounds Dupree} 

Little River News- Feb 1 1932 

Link to her memorial on 

findagrave

Ashdown Arkansas Phone Book 1929

 

Charles Jackson French

 

The Future Outlook-

Greensboro, NC 

6/26/1943

Mess Attendant on U.S.S. Gregory Cited For Bravery

A commendation has been awarded Charles Jackson French, a Negro Mess Attendant, for his courage in attempting to save a group of his shipmates on the U.S. S. Gregory from shelling by Japanese naval forces following the sinking of that ship. 

French's citation, from Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr.,  U.S. A. Commander, South Pacific Area and  South Pacific Forces reads: 

"For meritous conduct in action while serving on board a destroyer transport which was badly damaged during the engagement with Japanese Forces in the British Soloman Islands on Spetember 5, 1942. After engagement, a group of about 15 men were adrift on a raft which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese Naval Forces. French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. His conduct was in keeping with the highest of the Naval Service."

French, who carried the rating of Mess Attendant, Second Class, U.S.N. is 23 years old. He makes his home in Foreman Arkansas, where his sister Mrs Viney Harris, also lives. 

Charles Jackson French was the son of Jackson & Louise Norwood, born 9/25/1919 in Foreman Arkansas, and died 11/7/1956 in San Diego, California. 

He is buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego California along side of his wife Jettie Mae. 

Findagrave Link