Applications for Pennsylvania veteran’s compensation benefits filed by veterans born in Wilson County:

• John Henry Latham

On 21 May 1912, John Latham of Elm City, 24, son of Isham and Winnie Latham, married Nina Gaston, 22, daughter of George A. and Pricilla Gaston in Elm City, Toisnot township.

• Kinney Marcellous Merritt

In the 1900 census of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: at 1320 Wood Street, Solomon Merritt, 39, wife Amanda, 40, and sons Robert, 20, and Kinney, 16, all born in North Carolina.

• David L. Pender

• Dave Sharpton

Dave Sharpton registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. His 1917 registration shows that he was born in 1890, but reports his birthplace as Augusta, Georgia. His occupation: “prisoner.” Sharpton signed his card with an X, but by 1934 he was confident enough to pen his signature.

• Walter Tucker

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Jacob Tucker, 39, 40, wife Mary, 39, and children Doward, 17, Daniel, 15, Thomas, 13, Henry, 12, Smoot, 9, Walter, 7, Patience, 5, Joseph, 2, and Besse, 11 months.

Pennsylvania, WWI Veterans Service and Compensation Files, 1917-1919, 1934-1948 [database on-line], http://www.ancestry.com