Ninth Generation

632. Columbus D. CASEY Jr. was born on 4 February 1894.²²⁸ He died on 8 August 1970 at the age of 76 in Bonham, Fannin County, Texas.

Article being prepared for publication in the Frey Journal by Ronald L. Ellis
Columbus was inducted in Bonham, TX on September 19, 1917 and was assigned to Battery F of the 344th Field Artillery Regiment. His mother’s first cousin, Alphonzo “Fonnie” Fry was a member of the 343rd FA, both part of the 165th Field Artillery Brigade and the 90th Division, so their experiences would have been similar.
Columbus left for Europe on June 30, 1918 on the USS Runic, sailing out of Boston Harbor and arriving in Liverpool, England on July 14. After a very short stay, they trained to Southampton where they were put on boats to cross the English Channel, arriving in Cherbourg, France on July 18. Prior to leaving for Europe, Columbus had been promoted to Private First Class. About the time they arrived, he had been assigned as a Mechanic, to maintain and repair the artillery, rather than just fire them.
From there, the 344th was moved to Camp Hunt, south of Bordeaux, France for artillery training. On October 11th they had been moved to Andelot, France in preparation for advancing to the front. But that was not to be. They were waiting for additional horses to move their guns when November 11 brought a cessation of hostilities.
As the 90th Division was selected to remain as part of the Army of Occupation, the troops were then moved on up and into German territory, on the Moselle River in Rheinsh Prussia.
Between May 17th and 24th, 1919, the entire 90th Division was moved by train to St. Naziare, France for embarkation to return home. One June 2, 1919 Columbus and the rest of the 344th FA boarded the USS Suwanee for their trip home, with a recorded destination of Camp Jackson, outside Columbia, SC. They arrived on June 15th.
Columbus was discharged on June 27, 1919 when the 344th Field Artillery Regiment was demobilized.

Texas Death Certificate #56310 Columbus D. Casey died at the VA Hospital in Bonham. His residence was 404 Commerce St, in Ladonia, Fannin Co, TX. He was born 4 Feb 1894 in New Mexico [wrong] He was married and worked as a cotton ginner. He had served in WW I. Father was Columbus D. Casey; mother was Sidney Fry. The information came from VA records. He died 8 Aug 1970 of cancer of the bladder with metastases and had been ill since April of 1869. He was buried Presbyterian Cemetery, Ladonia.

Columbus D. CASEY Jr. and Vada MELVILLE were married. Vada MELVILLE, daughter of James Andrew MELVILLE and Annie S. [MELVILLE], was born in 1905 in Texas.

I believe that Clara Melville that married John Gilbert Casey and Vada Melville that married his brother Columbus were sisters.
1920 Census. Justice Prec. 4, Fannin Co, TX, Hh 94
Jim A. Melville, age 49, b. Arkansas, father b. Ireland, mother b. SC, farmer
Annie S., wife, age 45, b. AR, father b. AR, mother b. TN
Vada M., dau, age 15, b. TX
Emma M., dau, age 10, b. TX
Clara B., dau, age 7, b. TX

Their father took his own life.
Found on FindAGrave.com
James Andrew Melville
Birth: Feb. 23, 1869
Arkansas, USA
Death: Feb. 22, 1941
Greenville, Hunt County, Texas
Newspaper Article image posted:
James A. Melville Found Dead Here, With Gun Nearby
James Andrew Melville, who was to have celebrated his 72nd birthday Sunday, was found dead about 7:30 o'clock this morning by D. P. Tabor, 1518 Walworth Street, in whose home he boarded. A bulled had pierced Mr. Melville's chest and a .22 pistol lay on the floor nearby. Justice of the Peace, E. W. Hagan, rendered a verdict of suicide.
Mr. Tabor, unable to awaken Mr. Melville for breakfast, stated that he broke into the locked room of his boarder to find Mr. Melville dead. The elderly man had been boarding at the Tabors since October.
Funeral arrangements had not been completed today but probably will be held in Ladonia Sunday. A daughter, Mrs. John Casey of Ladonia, was preparing a birthday dinner in Mr. Melville's honor.
Born February 23, 1869 in Arkansas, Mr. Melville came to Texas about 30 years ago, and had made his home in Greenville for more than 10 years. He was a retired carpenter and farmer. His wife preceded him in death a number of years ago.
Mr. Melville regularly attended the Henry St. Church of Christ in this city.
Surviving are six children: Clyde & Audie Melville of Greenville.; Ernest Melville, Enid, Okla.; Mrs. C. D. Casey and Mrs. John Casey of Ladonia, and Mrs. E. D. Holly of Emory.

Texas Death Certificate #8716
James A. Melville died Greenville, Hunt Co, TX, at 1518 Walworth St. He was born 25 Feb 1870 and was a retired farmer, widowed. Father was Elxander [sic] Melville, b. Arkansas; mother's name unknown. He died 22 Feb 1941 of suicided by a .22 target rifle. Informant was Clyde Melville of Greenville. The body was removed to Ladonia for burial.

Columbus D. CASEY Jr. and Vada MELVILLE had the following children: