Clark County, Wisconsin WW I Veterans

Thomas F. Huckstead (1893-1918) Private

Photo submitted by Kay Scholtz

Thomas Huckstead was born Sept.24, 1893, in the Town of Grant, Clark County, WI, to Arlo and Elsie (Vine) Huckstead. He lived on his parents farm at Pleasant Ridge where he worked the farm until answering his country's call during WW I. He died of spinal meningitis while stationed in England on November 6, 1918. Thomas was buried in England but after much effort on his family's part his remains were returned to Clark County for burial in 1920 at the Neillsville City Cemetery.

Funeral of Thomas Huckstead - Neillsville Replublican & Press, June 3, 1920

The remains of Private Thomas F. Huckstead arrived here Friday from Winchester, England, where he died in his country's service on November 6, 1918. He was the first of our over seas soldiers to be brought home to be laid to rest. Funeral services were held at the Congregational church Sunday, Rev. Wilson Mallory of Granton delivering the funeral address to a great gathering of relatives, sympathetic friends and comrades of the war. The day was beautiful and from far and near people came to do honor to the memory of a young man who had all his life done well the work that came to his hand and who laid down that life for us in a foreign land. Pall bearers, a firing squad and a large detail of the American Legion excorted the remains to the cemetery, followed by an immense procession.

An interesting co-incidence was the fact that Private Leo Atkins of Christie who was a member of the firing squad when deceased was buried at Winchester, England was one of the pall bearers at the funeral Sunday. It some way seems fitting after all, that the body of this fine boy should rest at last in our own soil, where Wisconsin winds shall fan his grass-grown grave and friends and comrades may each spring-time scatter flowers to his memory.

Article submitted by Kay Scholtz

Updated May 5, 2004