Facts and Stories

Herbert Ira Reavis

Herbert was gassed in WWI and died young from a related illness. He told Ernie Abshier two stories from WWI.

1) He was a messenger during a battle and had to walk one mile to the command post.  He said he hardly ever stepped on the ground because there were so many bodies.

2) In the trenches, the gas would collect in the bottom.  It was so deep the soldiers would stick a bayonet in the side of the trench and loop their belt hoop over the handle.  That way they could sleep without falling down into the gas.  Also, they could not risk dropping their trousers to go to the toilet.  This lasted 3 days.

James Blount Reavis

 “Footsteps of Abshier Family” p 58 states that he was a school teacher and court reporter who served in the Army of the Republic of Texas as a 1st Lt in the 15th Infantry.

John Fowler

“Foot Prints of Abshier Family” states that he served with the pirate  Jean Lafitte in War of 1812.

Richard Hargrave

“Foot Prints of Abshier Family” states that he arrived in VA from London on HMS Bonaventure in 1634.

James Calvin Moor

"James, in his high spirited manner, impulsively ran away from home. The story says that he was about 17 years of age at the time <note: approx. 1814.

James and a young companion set out for the Louisiana Territory to make their fortune. They progressed very well due to the ability of James being able to make friends by his charming manner.

It was a very cold winter and before leaving Vermont the two young companions had forethought to bring ice skates. They knew they would have frozen streams and rivers to cross. After they had trudged on foot for several days, they came to a sparsely settled stretch of land. Overcome by fatigue they sat down to rest and fell asleep.

They were rudely awakened by a band of Indians who took them captive The boys could not understand the Indians but by their gestures they thought they were to be killed. James had a way about him that won people almost instantly. He began to act in such a way that must have charmed the Indians, who after holding a council made it known to the boys that they would not be killed but they would not be given their freedom either.

When the Indians became curious about the ice skates, the boys pretended they could not understand.  James and his companion pretended that they were afraid to venture out onto the frozen ground and streams.  They put on their skates but would fall and roll around in a very clumsy manner, much to the Indians delight.

When the boys decided that the Indians caution was not so keen and that they were far enough from the Indians to escape, they arose and shot off down the frozen river and escaped.”