Luke Ward Conerly, author of "Pike County Mississippi 1798-1876, Pioneer Families and Confederate Soldiers, Reconstruction and Redemption" was born February 3rd 1841 near China Grove, MS in Pike County to the parents of Owen Conerly Jr. and Ann Louisa Stephens.
At age 20 he volunteered into the 16th Mississippi Quitman Guards Company E, which later became a part of the Army of Northern Virginia and was mustered in May 27 1861 as a 5th Sgt. He was wounded two times, at the Battle of Antietam near Sharpsburg, MD September 17, 1862 and the Battle of Spotsylvania at Bloody Angle May 12, 1864.
Antietam was the Bloodiest one day battle in American history. 23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing after twelve hours of combat.
Bloody Angle at the Battle of Spotsylania was the longest sustained intense fight of the Civil War. For up to 20 hours men were engaged in a hand-to-hand and close in fight. A 22-inch oak tree was whittled in two by musket fire.
He was captured in the Shenandoah Valley June 27, 1862 and confined in a Washington, D.C. prison for forty days. He rejoined the 16th Ms after a prisoner exchange.
In 1867 Luke married Emma Eoline Quin(1852-1901) and they had 14 children. He married his second wife Ida Mae Farmer May 4th, 1909 and she died four years later on September 14, 1913. She was the daughter of Zachary T Farmer and Mary J Byars. His third wife was Georgia McNair(1872-1951). They married April 17, 1915.
He is listed in the 1870 cesus as "planter" living in Rapides Parish, Alexandria, LA with two children Courtney and Robert and wife Emma. Also living with him were his brothers Buxton, Thomas and Samuel.
He became the editor of the Amite County Democrat in Amite City, Tangipahoe Parish, La. And in 1875 was urged by his friends in Pike County to establish a partisan campaign paper at Magnolia, MS to aid in the defeat of the Republican regime. He bought an old newspaper outfit at Ponchatoula, La, and shipped it to Magnolia. September 17, 1875 the first issues of the Magnolia Herald were printed. Luke continued as the editor until 1878 when he sold it to Henry C. Capell and Charlie Lee.
In 1908 he corresponded with the War Department about an Unknown Soldier of the War of 1812 from Tennessee with General Carroll's Division that was buried about 11 miles east of Magnolia near the banks of Love's Creek on the Brumfield family property. The family there had maintained the grave about 93 years marking it with a slab of yellow pine. The US government funded the remains to be exhumed and relocated to the Chalmette Cemetery. Luke and Superintendent O'Shea of the Chalmette Cemetery were led to the grave by Henry S. Brumfield a grandson of the original owner of the Brumfield plantation. The pine slab marking the soldiers grave had rotted and the inscription of the name could not be identified. Two brass buttons were found with the remains and fragments of a blue uniform. The remains were taken by train to the Chalmette Cemetery and buried with military honors. Upon his tomb is engraved "Unknown Soldier U.S.A. War of 1812."
On May 4th 1912 Luke founded the Society of Mississippi Choctaw whose chief council was located in Gulfport MS. This was a historical society with a membership spread over Alabama, Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi. He became a claims agent for the Mississippi Choctaw Indians and in 1914 traveled to Washington DC to represent them before Congress. He appeared before the committee of Indian affairs in support of the MS Choctaw's claim on the distribution of $3,500,000 to be given to the tribe. The money was held up pending a decision by Congress as to the rights of the Mississippi Indians who claimed title to a share of the money under the treaty of 1830, awarding citizenship. The Choctaws of Oklahoma opposed having the Mississippians placed on tribal rolls and the house rejected the proposal.
June 10, 1921 he moved into Beauvoir in Gulfport when it was converted to house Confederate Veterans. He died March 9th 1922 at age 81. Luke W. Conerly is buried in Mississippi City Cemetery a few miles from Beauvoir off Pass Rd and H Ave next to his 2nd wife Ida Mae Farmer at his request. He was a member of the Masons and was buried with Masonic honor. The Sons of Confederate Veterans placed a new headstone at his grave August 2nd 2008 with a rifle and cannon salute. Many of his descendants attended the ceremony including three granddaughters.
"Pike County Mississippi 1798-1876 Pioneer Families and Confederate Soldiers-Reconstruction and Redemption" that he authored in 1909 documents many of the early families of Pike and surrounding counties. It also preserves the names of the Confederate Soldiers going out from Pike County. The Pike County Courthouse burned in the 1880's and much of its history would have been lost without this book. This was one of the first Mississippi regional history books and one of the best.
More information on Luke Ward Conerly and the reprint of his book can be found at lukewardconerly.com
At age 20 he volunteered into the 16th Mississippi Quitman Guards Company E, which later became a part of the Army of Northern Virginia and was mustered in May 27 1861 as a 5th Sgt. He was wounded two times, at the Battle of Antietam near Sharpsburg, MD September 17, 1862 and the Battle of Spotsylvania at Bloody Angle May 12, 1864.
Antietam was the Bloodiest one day battle in American history. 23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing after twelve hours of combat.
Bloody Angle at the Battle of Spotsylania was the longest sustained intense fight of the Civil War. For up to 20 hours men were engaged in a hand-to-hand and close in fight. A 22-inch oak tree was whittled in two by musket fire.
He was captured in the Shenandoah Valley June 27, 1862 and confined in a Washington, D.C. prison for forty days. He rejoined the 16th Ms after a prisoner exchange.
In 1867 Luke married Emma Eoline Quin(1852-1901) and they had 14 children. He married his second wife Ida Mae Farmer May 4th, 1909 and she died four years later on September 14, 1913. She was the daughter of Zachary T Farmer and Mary J Byars. His third wife was Georgia McNair(1872-1951). They married April 17, 1915.
He is listed in the 1870 cesus as "planter" living in Rapides Parish, Alexandria, LA with two children Courtney and Robert and wife Emma. Also living with him were his brothers Buxton, Thomas and Samuel.
He became the editor of the Amite County Democrat in Amite City, Tangipahoe Parish, La. And in 1875 was urged by his friends in Pike County to establish a partisan campaign paper at Magnolia, MS to aid in the defeat of the Republican regime. He bought an old newspaper outfit at Ponchatoula, La, and shipped it to Magnolia. September 17, 1875 the first issues of the Magnolia Herald were printed. Luke continued as the editor until 1878 when he sold it to Henry C. Capell and Charlie Lee.
In 1908 he corresponded with the War Department about an Unknown Soldier of the War of 1812 from Tennessee with General Carroll's Division that was buried about 11 miles east of Magnolia near the banks of Love's Creek on the Brumfield family property. The family there had maintained the grave about 93 years marking it with a slab of yellow pine. The US government funded the remains to be exhumed and relocated to the Chalmette Cemetery. Luke and Superintendent O'Shea of the Chalmette Cemetery were led to the grave by Henry S. Brumfield a grandson of the original owner of the Brumfield plantation. The pine slab marking the soldiers grave had rotted and the inscription of the name could not be identified. Two brass buttons were found with the remains and fragments of a blue uniform. The remains were taken by train to the Chalmette Cemetery and buried with military honors. Upon his tomb is engraved "Unknown Soldier U.S.A. War of 1812."
On May 4th 1912 Luke founded the Society of Mississippi Choctaw whose chief council was located in Gulfport MS. This was a historical society with a membership spread over Alabama, Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi. He became a claims agent for the Mississippi Choctaw Indians and in 1914 traveled to Washington DC to represent them before Congress. He appeared before the committee of Indian affairs in support of the MS Choctaw's claim on the distribution of $3,500,000 to be given to the tribe. The money was held up pending a decision by Congress as to the rights of the Mississippi Indians who claimed title to a share of the money under the treaty of 1830, awarding citizenship. The Choctaws of Oklahoma opposed having the Mississippians placed on tribal rolls and the house rejected the proposal.
June 10, 1921 he moved into Beauvoir in Gulfport when it was converted to house Confederate Veterans. He died March 9th 1922 at age 81. Luke W. Conerly is buried in Mississippi City Cemetery a few miles from Beauvoir off Pass Rd and H Ave next to his 2nd wife Ida Mae Farmer at his request. He was a member of the Masons and was buried with Masonic honor. The Sons of Confederate Veterans placed a new headstone at his grave August 2nd 2008 with a rifle and cannon salute. Many of his descendants attended the ceremony including three granddaughters.
"Pike County Mississippi 1798-1876 Pioneer Families and Confederate Soldiers-Reconstruction and Redemption" that he authored in 1909 documents many of the early families of Pike and surrounding counties. It also preserves the names of the Confederate Soldiers going out from Pike County. The Pike County Courthouse burned in the 1880's and much of its history would have been lost without this book. This was one of the first Mississippi regional history books and one of the best.
More information on Luke Ward Conerly and the reprint of his book can be found at lukewardconerly.com
Luke Ward Conerly, author of "Pike County Mississippi 1798-1876, Pioneer Families and Confederate Soldiers, Reconstruction and Redemption" was born February 3rd 1841 near China Grove, MS in Pike County to the parents of Owen Conerly Jr. and Ann Louisa Stephens.
At age 20 he volunteered into the 16th Mississippi Quitman Guards Company E, which later became a part of the Army of Northern Virginia and was mustered in May 27 1861 as a 5th Sgt. He was wounded two times, at the Battle of Antietam near Sharpsburg, MD September 17, 1862 and the Battle of Spotsylvania at Bloody Angle May 12, 1864.
Antietam was the Bloodiest one day battle in American history. 23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing after twelve hours of combat.
Bloody Angle at the Battle of Spotsylania was the longest sustained intense fight of the Civil War. For up to 20 hours men were engaged in a hand-to-hand and close in fight. A 22-inch oak tree was whittled in two by musket fire.
He was captured in the Shenandoah Valley June 27, 1862 and confined in a Washington, D.C. prison for forty days. He rejoined the 16th Ms after a prisoner exchange.
In 1867 Luke married Emma Eoline Quin(1852-1901) and they had 14 children. He married his second wife Ida Mae Farmer May 4th, 1909 and she died four years later on September 14, 1913. She was the daughter of Zachary T Farmer and Mary J Byars. His third wife was Georgia McNair(1872-1951). They married April 17, 1915.
He is listed in the 1870 cesus as "planter" living in Rapides Parish, Alexandria, LA with two children Courtney and Robert and wife Emma. Also living with him were his brothers Buxton, Thomas and Samuel.
He became the editor of the Amite County Democrat in Amite City, Tangipahoe Parish, La. And in 1875 was urged by his friends in Pike County to establish a partisan campaign paper at Magnolia, MS to aid in the defeat of the Republican regime. He bought an old newspaper outfit at Ponchatoula, La, and shipped it to Magnolia. September 17, 1875 the first issues of the Magnolia Herald were printed. Luke continued as the editor until 1878 when he sold it to Henry C. Capell and Charlie Lee.
In 1908 he corresponded with the War Department about an Unknown Soldier of the War of 1812 from Tennessee with General Carroll's Division that was buried about 11 miles east of Magnolia near the banks of Love's Creek on the Brumfield family property. The family there had maintained the grave about 93 years marking it with a slab of yellow pine. The US government funded the remains to be exhumed and relocated to the Chalmette Cemetery. Luke and Superintendent O'Shea of the Chalmette Cemetery were led to the grave by Henry S. Brumfield a grandson of the original owner of the Brumfield plantation. The pine slab marking the soldiers grave had rotted and the inscription of the name could not be identified. Two brass buttons were found with the remains and fragments of a blue uniform. The remains were taken by train to the Chalmette Cemetery and buried with military honors. Upon his tomb is engraved "Unknown Soldier U.S.A. War of 1812."
On May 4th 1912 Luke founded the Society of Mississippi Choctaw whose chief council was located in Gulfport MS. This was a historical society with a membership spread over Alabama, Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi. He became a claims agent for the Mississippi Choctaw Indians and in 1914 traveled to Washington DC to represent them before Congress. He appeared before the committee of Indian affairs in support of the MS Choctaw's claim on the distribution of $3,500,000 to be given to the tribe. The money was held up pending a decision by Congress as to the rights of the Mississippi Indians who claimed title to a share of the money under the treaty of 1830, awarding citizenship. The Choctaws of Oklahoma opposed having the Mississippians placed on tribal rolls and the house rejected the proposal.
June 10, 1921 he moved into Beauvoir in Gulfport when it was converted to house Confederate Veterans. He died March 9th 1922 at age 81. Luke W. Conerly is buried in Mississippi City Cemetery a few miles from Beauvoir off Pass Rd and H Ave next to his 2nd wife Ida Mae Farmer at his request. He was a member of the Masons and was buried with Masonic honor. The Sons of Confederate Veterans placed a new headstone at his grave August 2nd 2008 with a rifle and cannon salute. Many of his descendants attended the ceremony including three granddaughters.
"Pike County Mississippi 1798-1876 Pioneer Families and Confederate Soldiers-Reconstruction and Redemption" that he authored in 1909 documents many of the early families of Pike and surrounding counties. It also preserves the names of the Confederate Soldiers going out from Pike County. The Pike County Courthouse burned in the 1880's and much of its history would have been lost without this book. This was one of the first Mississippi regional history books and one of the best.
More information on Luke Ward Conerly and the reprint of his book can be found at lukewardconerly.com
At age 20 he volunteered into the 16th Mississippi Quitman Guards Company E, which later became a part of the Army of Northern Virginia and was mustered in May 27 1861 as a 5th Sgt. He was wounded two times, at the Battle of Antietam near Sharpsburg, MD September 17, 1862 and the Battle of Spotsylvania at Bloody Angle May 12, 1864.
Antietam was the Bloodiest one day battle in American history. 23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing after twelve hours of combat.
Bloody Angle at the Battle of Spotsylania was the longest sustained intense fight of the Civil War. For up to 20 hours men were engaged in a hand-to-hand and close in fight. A 22-inch oak tree was whittled in two by musket fire.
He was captured in the Shenandoah Valley June 27, 1862 and confined in a Washington, D.C. prison for forty days. He rejoined the 16th Ms after a prisoner exchange.
In 1867 Luke married Emma Eoline Quin(1852-1901) and they had 14 children. He married his second wife Ida Mae Farmer May 4th, 1909 and she died four years later on September 14, 1913. She was the daughter of Zachary T Farmer and Mary J Byars. His third wife was Georgia McNair(1872-1951). They married April 17, 1915.
He is listed in the 1870 cesus as "planter" living in Rapides Parish, Alexandria, LA with two children Courtney and Robert and wife Emma. Also living with him were his brothers Buxton, Thomas and Samuel.
He became the editor of the Amite County Democrat in Amite City, Tangipahoe Parish, La. And in 1875 was urged by his friends in Pike County to establish a partisan campaign paper at Magnolia, MS to aid in the defeat of the Republican regime. He bought an old newspaper outfit at Ponchatoula, La, and shipped it to Magnolia. September 17, 1875 the first issues of the Magnolia Herald were printed. Luke continued as the editor until 1878 when he sold it to Henry C. Capell and Charlie Lee.
In 1908 he corresponded with the War Department about an Unknown Soldier of the War of 1812 from Tennessee with General Carroll's Division that was buried about 11 miles east of Magnolia near the banks of Love's Creek on the Brumfield family property. The family there had maintained the grave about 93 years marking it with a slab of yellow pine. The US government funded the remains to be exhumed and relocated to the Chalmette Cemetery. Luke and Superintendent O'Shea of the Chalmette Cemetery were led to the grave by Henry S. Brumfield a grandson of the original owner of the Brumfield plantation. The pine slab marking the soldiers grave had rotted and the inscription of the name could not be identified. Two brass buttons were found with the remains and fragments of a blue uniform. The remains were taken by train to the Chalmette Cemetery and buried with military honors. Upon his tomb is engraved "Unknown Soldier U.S.A. War of 1812."
On May 4th 1912 Luke founded the Society of Mississippi Choctaw whose chief council was located in Gulfport MS. This was a historical society with a membership spread over Alabama, Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi. He became a claims agent for the Mississippi Choctaw Indians and in 1914 traveled to Washington DC to represent them before Congress. He appeared before the committee of Indian affairs in support of the MS Choctaw's claim on the distribution of $3,500,000 to be given to the tribe. The money was held up pending a decision by Congress as to the rights of the Mississippi Indians who claimed title to a share of the money under the treaty of 1830, awarding citizenship. The Choctaws of Oklahoma opposed having the Mississippians placed on tribal rolls and the house rejected the proposal.
June 10, 1921 he moved into Beauvoir in Gulfport when it was converted to house Confederate Veterans. He died March 9th 1922 at age 81. Luke W. Conerly is buried in Mississippi City Cemetery a few miles from Beauvoir off Pass Rd and H Ave next to his 2nd wife Ida Mae Farmer at his request. He was a member of the Masons and was buried with Masonic honor. The Sons of Confederate Veterans placed a new headstone at his grave August 2nd 2008 with a rifle and cannon salute. Many of his descendants attended the ceremony including three granddaughters.
"Pike County Mississippi 1798-1876 Pioneer Families and Confederate Soldiers-Reconstruction and Redemption" that he authored in 1909 documents many of the early families of Pike and surrounding counties. It also preserves the names of the Confederate Soldiers going out from Pike County. The Pike County Courthouse burned in the 1880's and much of its history would have been lost without this book. This was one of the first Mississippi regional history books and one of the best.
More information on Luke Ward Conerly and the reprint of his book can be found at lukewardconerly.com
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