Historical Records—1920’s

THE AMERICAN LEGION DEPARTMENT OF TEXAS

FOURTH DISTRICT

 

Anderson-Roberts Post #283 Bonham, Texas 75418

 

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CHARTER MEMBERS

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1921             Temporary Charter - Rufus K. Anderson

Edwin L. Agnew                                    -

Ural L. Darling                                       - (12/09/1895 to 02/15/1959)                WW-4

Joseph Cravens Denton, Sr.                  - (03/10/1985 to 04/02/1976)                WW-1A

Dr. E. H. H. Foster                                 - (                                             )

Gober Gibson                                          - (                                             )

H. H. Guynes                                          - (                                             )

Robert A. Johnson                                 - (                                             )

C1audis Aubrey Leatherwood             - (            1894 to 11/08/1965)             WW-1C

Roege McClure                                      - (06/27/1894 to 02/27/1952)                BC-T

Samuel Earnest Neilson                        - (02/14/1889 to 03/01/1955)                IOOF-La

Earl O. Robinson                                   - (     1890 to              /1949)                 WW-4

Fred S. Rogers"                                   - (04/19/1887 to 04/16/1968)               Sherman, Tx

Henry Frank Scarborough                     - (            1893 to          /1970)             Missouri

J. Frank Wright                                      - (10/17/1893 to 11/15/1970)                WW-7 1965) WW

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Post 283 was not the first American Legion Post in Bonham.

 

The first Post was Rufus K. Anderson Post #58, chartered 09/27/19 and cancelled 02/26/21. Post # 283 was chartered on Saturday, February 12, 1921 and was named for Rufus K. Anderson (Born - January 16, 1897, Died, - March 19, 1918 of a sudden il1ness.) On June 6, 1934 the permanent charter for Rufus K. Anderson was signed by National Commander Edward A. Hayes from Illinois.

 

On February 24, 1947, Post #283 was permanently changed to Anderson-Roberts. The second part of its name was taken from Ellis H. Roberts, Jr. (Born 1912, Died - January 14, 1943). He was an Army Air Corp S/Sgt killed in a plane crash on the coast of Dutch Guinea during WWII.

 

Roberts mother lived on West 8th street in Bonham. He had been in the service for 10 months and one (1) day. His brother, S/Sgt Charles E., was killed in action in Italy, Dec 6, 1944. His father died in 1946. Another brother, J. T. Roberts, Received a medical discharge during WWII. Both brothers are buried in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.

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The first person from Fannin County killed during WWI was J. Powell Walker from Ladonia. American Legion Post # 309 in Ladonia was named for him.

 

The first person from Honey Grove killed during WWI was Rufus S. Shelton (May 18, 1918). American Legion Post # 247 in Honey Grove was named for him.

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The First Commander of Rufus K. Anderson Post # 283, Major Fred S. Rogers, ran for the office of Governor of the State of Texas in 1922. He did not win. He was elected Fannin County Attorney in 1927

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