The collection includes letters (July 1918-March 1919) written by family members and friends in Jamesville, Martin County, North Carolina, to Asa J. Hardison while he was in World War I service with a medical detachment at Camp Greenleaf at Fort Oglethorpe in Chickamauga Park in Georgia and then at Camp Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina. Also included are two letters (1909-1910) written by Maggie Roberson (Martha Ann Whitley Roberson) of Jamesville to her brother.
Asa Joseph Hardison (December 11, 1894 - June 15, 1987) was born in the Farm Life Community of Martin County, North Carolina, to George Riddick Hardison and Fannie Diantha Whitley. On July 6, 1918, Hardison reported for duty in the U.S. Army in World War I at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, and shortly afterward transferred to Camp Jackson in South Carolina. Fortunately, he did not have to fight overseas; he served as an orderly at the base hospital until March 18, 1919.
Hardison returned home and continued farming with his brother Ira. On April 16, 1922, Hardison married Otie Isolene Roberson (October 22, 1901 - June 21, 1986) who was the daughter of Buck and Magdalene Getsinger Roberson, and was born in the Farm Life Community. They had two daughters: Thelma Isolene Hardison (married William Earl Winborn) and Leona Brown Hardison (married Henry Wilson Corey).
Asa J. Hardison attended Smithwick Creek Primitive Baptist Church serving as clerk, Deacon, and trustee. He was also very involved with the Ruritan Club and the Farm Life School Board.
Sources: Martin County Heritage - North Carolina book published by the Martin County Historical Society in 1980; and FindAGrave for Asa Joseph Hardison https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41941802/asa-joseph-hardison.
Martha Ann "Maggie" Whitley was the sister of Asa J. Hardison's mother Fannie Diantha Whitley Hardison. She was married to Noah Thomas Roberson.
Source: FindAGrave for Martha Ann Whitley Roberson https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/65696194/martha-ann-roberson
June 22, 2023, (unprocessed), 0.25 cubic feet; The collection includes letters (July 1918-March 1919) written by family members and friends in Jamesville, Martin County, North Carolina, to Asa J. Hardison while he was in World War I service with a medical detachment at Camp Greenleaf at Fort Oglethorpe in Chickamauga Park in Georgia and then at Camp Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina. Also included are two letters (1909-1910) written by Maggie Roberson (Martha Ann Whitley Roberson) of Jamesville to her brother. Gift of Linda Shimm.
Gift of Linda Shimm
Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.