Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church Cemetery Scotland County, Missouri

The First Run of 25 copies has arrived.
297 pages, Two parts – Part One is a list of burial markers and memorials – Part Two is a collection of family units from those buried in the cemetery – Over 220 families. The proof has arrived. The actual book order (25 for the first run) will arrive within the next two weeks. The price will be $59.00 plus shipping and handling. Orders can be made by emailing plato1973@sbcglobal.net.
A Portion of the proceeds go to support the Cemetery for maintenance and improvement.

TWO HEROES NAMED ROBERT FUGATE

Question: What do you do when you are a genealogist, reading for pleasure and discover a possible ancestor?

Answer: You treat it as a lead and follow through.

I previously discovered a relative, Corporal Robert T. Fugate, who survived as a Japanese prisoner of war through World War II. He was a U.S. Marine in the Philippines stationed on Corregidor. He suffered through four years as a Japanese prisoner of war.

I recently read a book about the Bataan Death March. I was seeking any reference or anecdote about Corporal Fugate. I did not find either, however I did find something else.

At the end of the book was an Appendix. This was a list of 1607 servicemen with whom the author had served, suffered and/or survived. One of the names – First Lieutenant Robert B. Fugate .

The first thing I did was verify that this was NOT the same person being misidentified. (The U.S. military has occasionally made errors when notifying Next Of Kin.)

Corporal Robert Tebo Fugate was born in Nebraska in 1921 to Frank and Mae (Tebo) Fugate. He was the only son, with three older sisters – Lucille, Roberta and Leota. Robert T. Fugate entered the United States Marine Corps on 16 Jan 1940 and completed his basic training at San Diego, California on 29 February 1940. Sometime prior to December of 1941 he was transferred to the 4th Marine Regiment in Shanghai, China. Subsequently, he was transferred to Corregidor, Philippines when the unit was removed from China.

We both descend from John Fugate. John Fugate was born in Russell County, Virginia in 1795. He moved to Missouri about 1844. He died in 1878 in Schuyler County, Missouri.

I started searching to determine if (or how) I have a relationship to Lt. Robert B. Fugate. Was he also a descendant of John Fugate? If not, how are we related?

Robert Benjamin Fugate was born Aug 1919 in Brazil, Clay County, Indiana to Benjamin Franklin “Ben” and Lillian B. (Walker) Fugate. He was the second child and first son. He had an elder sister, Dorothy L. Fugate and a younger brother, Norman Fugate.

Robert B. Fugate attended Purdue University and graduated in 1940 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.

On his U.S. Selective Service Registration form, dated 16 October 1940, he is noted as single, white, height 5-8, weight 167, hair black, eyes brown, complexion dark with an appendicitis scar. On 30 June 1941 he was activated into the United States Army and assigned to the 400th Field Artillery. Once he arrived in the Philippines he was assigned to the 88th Field Artillery Regiment, Philippine Scouts.

1LT Robert Benjamin Fugate, MSGT Robert Tebo Fugate and I all descend from Martin Fugate.

1LT Robert Benjamin Fugate descends from Martin’s son William.

MSGT Robert Tebo Fugate and I both descend from Martin through his son Colbert, John Fugate’s father.

1LT Robert Benjamin Fugate is my fifth cousin, once removed.

MSGT Robert Tebo Fugate is my third cousin, once removed.

Having determined my relations to each of these soldiers, I then sought information to see if they could have had any contact with or known each other during their ordeal.

The two men served in different units, in separate services and in different locations. Corporal Robert T. Fugate served with the 4th Marine Regiment. The Fourth Marine Regiment was stationed and defended the island of Corregidor, Philippines.

First Lieutenant Robert B. Fugate served in the 88th Field Artillery, Philippine Scouts. The 88th Field Artillery was stationed and defended the Bataan, Philippines peninsula.

1LT Robert B. Fugate, as part of the 88th Field Artillery soldiers, endured The Bataan Death March. (A detachment of the 4th Marine Regiment was also stationed on Bataan and endured the Death March.) The Bataan Death March occurred 9-12 April 1942. The march ended when the prisoners arrived and were incarcerated at Camp O’Donnell .

CPL Robert T. Fugate most likely did not participate in the Death March. All accounts I found indicate CPL Fugate was stationed on Corregidor. The forces on Corregidor fought through April and surrendered on 6 May 1942. After the surrender, the forces on Corregidor were shipped across Manila bay to Bilibid prison .

Prisoners at each location were grouped by rank: commissioned officers separated from non-commissioned and enlisted soldiers. 1Lt. Robert B. Fugate was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army. Cpl. Robert T. Fugate was a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Marines.

So far I have not found any information indicate they could have met or known each other while prisoners of war.

Corporal Robert T. Fugate, USMC, survived the war and continued active military service. He retired a Master Sergeant, USMC. He died in 1993 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia .

First Lieutenant Robert B. Fugate did not survive the war. He was wounded on board a ship while being moved from the Philippines to Japan. He died of his wounds and was buried at sea. 1LT Robert B. Fugate’s name is listed on the Wall of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Reading and the studying the experiences of these relatives, what they endured during their combat and captivity, has increased my gratitude for their sacrifice. I feel extremely privileged to have discovered evidence of their service.

May their service and sacrifice is always remembered.

For More Information See:

Some Survived: An Eyewitness Account of the Bataan Death March and the Men Who Lived Through It by Manny Lawton

The United States Marine Corps in World War II compiled and edited by S.E. Smith

The Fugate Family of Russell County Virginia by David Faris

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56760399/robert-b-fugate

“7 Lieutenants Ordered to Duty,” The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis, Indiana, 30 June 1941, Lt. Robert B. Fugate ordered to duty with 400th Field Artillery; Newspapers.com

“Prisoner of Japanese,” The Indianapolis News Indianapolis, Indiana, 19 December 1942, 1LT. Robert B. Fugate held as prisoner of war; online image, Newspapers.com

Death March – The Survivors of Bataan by Donald Knox

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/130746008/robert-tebo-fugate

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56760399/robert-b-fugate

William Jones Cowan – My Texas Hero

My 2nd great-grandmother, Martha Cowan Christy Robbins (1836-1926) was named after her maternal grandmother, my 4th great-grandmother, Martha Cowan(1778-1857).

In researching my Cowan ancestry I came across two family histories – The Cowans of County Down by John Kerr Fleming and A Cowan Lineage of 400 Years by John Kerr Fleming. I requested both books through my local library.

In these family histories, I found Martha Cowan (1778-1857) was the daughter of Matthias “Matthew” Cowan (1734-1819) and the granddaughter of Hugh Cowan . Hugh Cowan (1700?-1782) was one of four brothers (John, David, Hugh and William) that sailed from County Down, Ireland to the American Colonies in 1720.

William Cowan, married Susannah Fleming in 1732 . Susannah died about 1755 . William moved to North Carolina. He purchased property in Rowan County, North Carolina in February 1759 . William married Sarah Stewart in December 1759 .

As I read of William and his descendants, I came across William Jones Cowan.

In reading each book, they both refer to William Jones Cowan. However, A Cowan Lineage of 400 Years, lists him as a descendant and refers the reader to The Cowans of County Down for a more information.

William Jones Cowan, the son of Benjamin Cowan (1773-1828) and Jane Locke (1775-1816), was born 25 March 1808 . In 1835, William left North Carolina to visit cousins in Jackson County, Georgia. On 17 November 1835 he signed on with W.A.O. Wadsworth and joined the Columbus Company . From there he sailed to New Orleans. On December 9, 1835, William J. Cowan signed a declaration stating he was bound to Texas to “relieve our oppressed brethren who have emigrated thither…”

William Jones Cowan was a private in Captain Wadsworth’s First Company, Georgia Battalion, First Regiment, Texas Volunteers. He was stationed at Fort Defiance under Col. James W. Fannin, Jr. He participated in The Battle of Coleto Plains . William Jones Cowan is not listed in any surviving documentation indicating he was wounded or killed prior to the surrender of troops by Col. Fannin .

25 March 1835 William Jones Cowan celebrated his 28th birthday as a prisoner of war inside Fort Defiance. Along with his other captives, he was anticipating being taken to port and shipped back to the United States . Unknown to the prisoners, General Santa Anna had ignored the conditions of surrender and ordered all prisoners to be shot as pirates .

William Jones Cowan was murdered along with his fellow soldiers on Palm Sunday, 27 March 1836 . Their bodies are buried under the Goliad Massacre Memorial.

They Are the Reason

Four people are Primarily responsible for my introduction and subsequent enthusiasm for family history.

Grace Smiley Coleman (1904-1997)

My grandmother Coleman rocked me to sleep as a small boy telling tales of my Coleman / Smiley / Robbins ancestry. As I grew, she would show me landmarks, cemeteries and take me to meet my living relatives who were part of her youth and early marriage.

John (Jack) Huggans

Cousin Jack started family history research well before I became interested in recording my family tree. His research was instrumental in providing the enthusiasm I now enjoy.

Vesta Louise Huggans Fugate (1906-1991)

I wrote to my grandmothers in the spring of 1976 for my family tree information. I had every confidence that my grandmother Coleman would provide generations to start my Coleman branch. My grandmother Fugate had always replied to my inquiries, “What do you want to know about them for? They are dead.” So with a strong hope and lots of prayers, I sought any information she might provide. I hoped I could receive her parents’ information at least.

My letter to Gram Fugate arrived just before she was to leave to visit Aunt Martha.

Mary Margaret Young Huggans (1910-1984)

She took the letter with her and showed it to Aunt Martha.

Jack Huggans was moving and had asked his mother to care for his family history. Aunt Martha drew out the two family pedigrees – Fugate and Huggans. I cried tears of joy as I opened the letter from Gram Fugate. I now had a wonderful guide to begin my own research.

From these individuals I owe my enthusiasm and desire to seek out my kindred dead.

May you have success in your search and research.

Good Hunting!