Franklin County Veterans Hall of Honor: The Seminole War

At the request of the U.S. government, Missouri provided two mounted regiments consisting of 600 troops. Missouri troops primarily came from Boone County with volunteers from Callaway, Shariton, Ray, Howard, and Jackson counties.

Interestingly enough two companies were comprised of Native American Indians from the Delaware and Osage tribes. The regiments were under the command of Col. Gentry. They sailed from Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis to New Orleans then Tampa Bay, Fla. They participated in the battle of Okeechobee beginning Christmas Day 1837 which resulted in death or wounding of a number of Missourians including Colonel Gentry's death. The troops returned to Missouri in 1838.

I have been able to find two veterans that have connections with Franklin County:

1. John Thompson served with Company I of the Third U.S. Infantry. He was born in Albany, N.Y., and after his discharge at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., moved to Franklin County. The information was provided by his family including his discharge papers and a picture of him in uniform with his wife. This is the earliest picture of a veteran that we have.

2. Gottfried Eberius, (spelling may differ). The only information on this genteel man came from the Washington Historical Society and an article written by Gert Goebel was found on the internet. The article stated Gottfried Eberius began building a mill on Boeuf Creek and ran out of funds before he could complete it. He went to Florida to fight in the Seminole War and after the war he returned to Germany. Sixteen years later he returned to Dundee. The spelling in the internet article is listed as Johan Gottlieb (Godfrey) Eberius born in 1810 in Hale Purssia. His information has still not been confirmed.

The Veterans Hall of Honor Committee was created to honor the Veterans who were associated with Franklin County. Criteria for inclusion in the Hall of Honor include: be a veteran having an honorable discharge, born or raised in Franklin County or lived in Franklin County for at least ten years (which is difficult to define in the earlier periods) or buried in Franklin County.

Anyone willing to donate pictures, military histories, military uniforms or insignias that you would like to have included and displayed in the Hall of Honor or if any one has service information or family history on the above names or veterans that were inadvertently not on the list please contact us.

The County's internet site is Franklinmo.org. Go to Veterans Hall of Honor and complete the information sheet found there. Other contact information is towilson@franklinmo.net

Phone numbers to call are 636-583-6360 (office) or 636-239-0317 (home). The mailing address is: Terry O. Wilson, 400 East Main Street, Room 206, Union, MO 63084.