1812 veterans honored in Perry

A volunteer women’s organization recognized the lives of two war veterans Saturday morning.

The Major Phillip Cook Chapter of the National Society United States Daughters of 1812 recognized the lives of fallen soldiers John Killen and Simon Bateman, both veterans of the War of 1812 and residents of Houston County. The organization placed markers on each of the soldier’s graves in honor of their service.

According to Teresa Floyd, the organization’s state curator, the nonprofit was made aware of the soldiers’ whereabouts when Perry Area Historical Society president Ellie Loudermilk reached out to them.

The two soldiers’ graves were located at the Evergreen cemetery in Perry, only a few feet away from each other in fact. The Major Phillip Cook Chapter, which oversees middle Georgia, hosted the grave marking ceremony, in which members shared the soldiers’ biographies and presented wreaths at the individual gravesites.

John Bell Killen, born in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 1788, Served as a private (June 1812-Oct. 1812) in Capt. Williamson’s Co. He was stationed at Hadrells Point in Charleston, South Carolina. He later moved to Houston County and was a large landowner, according to the biography. In 1835, Killen was a delegate to the state convention of the Union Democrat Republican party. He was Houston County’s state representative in 1841 and a Houston County Commissioner in 1844. He was also a judge and justice of the peace. Killen died in 1871 at 84 year old. He was the father of 19 children.

Simon Bateman was one of the first settlers in Houston County. According to his obituary, he came to the county in 1822. Prior to that, the North Carolina native served as a private in Freeman’s Calvary, Georgia Militia. Although it is not proven, reports show he was referred to a military colonel. The son of a Revolutionary soldier, he was described as just by his peers. In his obituary, a verified account of his bravery and selflessness was revealed. “In a skirmish with the Indians, a brother soldier was wounded and left on the field,” it read.  “The Col. generously risking his life, went back to him and dismounting took him up and carried him to a place of safety, while performing this noble act, his clothes were pierced by the enemy’s balls, who were in sight.” Bateman died Aug. 7, 1841 at 53 year old. He fathered 9 children.

According to state president Sharon Sowders, the organization was founded in 1892 and now has 6,000 members nationwide and 400 members in Georgia. “We [Daughters of 1812] are a service organization in that we support veterans and service personnel from the War of 1812,” she said. “Our job is to promote historic preservation and education about the War of 1812.” Members consist exclusively of direct descendants of 1812 soldiers and military personnel. Anyone interested in joining the group should visit the website at https://usdaughters1812.org/sites/major-philip-cook/.

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