SHOLAR, Henry Washington Pvt. - C.S.A.

Henry Washington Sholar was born October 28, 1828 in Trigg County, Kentucky. He was the son of Penelope Sholar who is believed to be the daughter of Joshua Sholar and Elizabeth Whitacre Sholar. His occupation, prior to his enlistment in armed service, was schoolteacher in the Golden Pond area of Trigg County. According to family lore, during a time of marital difficulty, he left his wife, Mary (Polly) Vinson Sholar, daughter of James and Faithia Futrell Vinson, and four children. He left, in the company of Marshall Nay Roach, who later married the eldest of the Sholar Children.

Marshall Nay Roach enlisted in the 4th Missouri Cavalry, CSA. Henry W. Sholar enlisted in Company D., 5th Arkansas Infantry. His enlistment was on June 13, 1861 at Wittsburg, Arkansas for one year in State service. This unit was soon transferred to Confederate Service on July 27, 186l. He was also in Captain Joel Anderson's Company, which became a part of Company "E" Cockses, Arkansas Infantry Regiment. This Regiment was formed during the summer of 1862 and records show an enlistment date of June 17, 1862. His resignation, due to disabilities, was accepted October 1862. On April 18, 1863 Henry W. Sholar re-enlisted in the same unit at Little Rock, Arkansas. There is no further record of service in the Arkansas Unit, but on August 3l, 1863, the muster roll lists him as having deserted.

On May 15, 1863, Henry W. Sholar enrolled in the 2nd Missouri State Militia, the 14th Missouri Cavalry at Cape Girardeau, Missouri for a period of three years. He requested a transfer to the regular Army USA and was enrolled on October 8, 1864 for a period of three years.

Pvt. Sholar became ill and was admitted to the Post Hospital, Burton Barracks, Missouri, Hospital # 1441 Ward 2. He was returned to duty, but was readmitted to the Post Hospital on December 30, 1864 with a diagnosis of Smallpox. He was then transferred to the Smallpox Hospital, St. Louis Missouri, where he died on January 11, 1865. He and other Smallpox victims were buried on Arsenal Island, Mississippi. His remains, along with 470 other soldiers, were disinterred and re-interred, as a group burial, in Sections 63, 64 and 68 at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, 101 Memorial Drive, St. Louis, Missouri, 63125.

Mary (Polly) Vinson Sholar, Widow of Henry Washington Sholar, applied for a Widow's Pension on December 11, 1865. The pension was granted and, with the money that she received, she was able to raise her children.

The four children born to Henry W. Sholar and Mary (Polly) Vinson Sholar were as follows: (1) Louisa Abigail, born March 29, 1851, married George Green Calhoun. (2) Romanza Belvadra, born August 3l, 1852-died January 16, 1939, married Marshall Nay Roach in 1869, Trigg County, KY. (3) Washington Franklin (my grand-father), born June 23, 1855 -died November 23, 1915, married Etna Elizabeth Meredith, daughter of Calvin Rufus Meredith and Rebecca Ross Meredith (4) Sarah Jane, born October 21, 1858, married Henry Burnett Futrell.

Submitted by Katye Glasgow Shelton,
great granddaughter