Ernest registered for the World War I draft at Barry County, Missouri on September 2, 1918. He stated his date of birth and named his nearest kin as Lavena Ruth Mattingly, his wife. He said he was residing in Cassville, Barry County, Missouri and that he was of short height and stout built with blue eyes and brown hair.

Headstone photo by Fred and Neoma Sherman.

Information below by Janet Sitts McDonald:

Ernest was the second child of Lewis and Mahala Mattingly (nee Medlin). He was born at a little settlement called Kings Prairie near Monett.

Ernest was one of eleven children and was hired out for 10 cents a day to help with thrashing wheat in the area he lived. This money helped feed and clothe his brothers and sisters. He never went to school and never learned to read and he could only write his name. He was good at doing figures in his head and loved to have the Bible read to him.

In 1884 or 1885 the family moved to a small log house north of Exeter.

On September 29, 1901 Ernest married Lavenna Ruth McNabb. They had fours sons; Walter Lewis, Andy, Charley and Roy Everett. Walter and Andy were born on a farm north of Exeter. Andy died when he was 18 months old and is buried in the Antioch Cemetery near Exeter. Charley was born on a farm in Barton County. Roy was born in Monett.

For awhile after Andy died Ernest worked in the strip pits (coal mines) with a team of horses pulling dirt off the coal. In 1920 he started working for the Frisco Railroad. When his son Roy was vey small they moved back to Exeter where Ernest lived the rest of his life. They bought a small farm and always had a cellar full of good things to eat. He loved his horses and his favorite was one named Major that he would take to the horse shows in Exeter.

After Vennie passed away in 1955, Ernest married Lucy Cable Morgan in 1958. They lived together until he passed away on January 21, 1962. He is buried next to Vennie.