Fire Fighters Buried at Elmwood Cemetery
by Joe Lowry
Memphis Fire Department Line of Duty Deaths and Non Line of Duty death Firemen buried at Elmwood.
Fire Chief William Kehoe, Born in 1831 and died February 1872. Fire Chief from 1866 to 1872. Died while in Command. 6th Fire Chief of the department. The best we can find was that he was a good chief. During his time as Chief the Steamboat David White exploded in our harbor 65 people were killed. Engine 4 was added at 107 Main between Jefferson Ave and Court Avenue. 1868 we had 4 Engines and 1 Ladder Company, 50 men and 30 horses. He had to deal with small water mains and 52 cisterns. Find a Grave # 101097603
Captain Victor Ether Browning, Born Feb 24, 1889, Died May 21,1960 age 71, Lived at 1207 Sledge Avenue. Brom 1915 to 1918Trolley Motorman 1918. In 1918 he was appointed to the MFD and worked as a Private on Engine 11 and 17. He retired in 1947 as a 30-year Captain from 1947 to 1954 Elevator Operator at the Shelby County Courthouse.
Driver, Martin H Collier, lived at 1301 Woodward Street, died April 14, 1934 at the age of 42. Spent 16 years on job. Drove Engine 10.
Captain Sterling Lee Eilert (pronounced “I Lert ) Sr. Born January 25, 1876, died January 9, 1939, aged 62. Lived at 1105 Beechwood Street. His peers said he was a “Cracking Good Fireman” Appointed to the department in 1901 as a Fireman, Driver and Lieutenant, in Engine 5 for 8 years then Promoted to Captain Engine 9 for 30 years. He retired in 1937. He served 38 years on the job and is the father of Sterling Lee “Buck” Eilert, a District Chief on the MFD.
District Chief Sterling Lee “Buck “Eilert Jr. Born February 16, 1907, died April 7, 1953, at age 46. Died off duty because of a heart attack at his home at 3500 Rockwood Avenue. Spent 29 years on the job. Served from 1924 to 1929 on the Fire Patrol, from 1927 to 1929 Lieutenant, 1930 Private on the MFD, 1934 Lieutenant on Truck 1. In 1937 when his dad retired, he was promoted to Captain of Engine 9. In 1943 promoted to District Chief. He was the departments best First Aid Instructor per the American Red Cross. He was credited with adding the resuscitator to the department in the 1930’s World’s Largest Fireman 6 ft 3 and 350lbs.
Driver Claud White Eilert, Born March 26, 1900, Died June 29, 1952. Died of Heart Attack. Drove Engine 1 for a short time then a Salesman for Highs Ice Cream lived at 1105 Beechwood.
District Chief Frank F Ferguson, Died of a heart attack, 34 years on the Department, 58, 794 Bowen Avenue, Died July 9, 1974. Highland Heights Baptist Church
Private James U King, Born November 1, 1881, died May 28, 1945 at 63 years of age. He served 12 years on MFD, left and became a Fire Fighter at Kennedy Veterans Hospital.
Communications Chief Dispatcher, James Gold Kitchen (read more about him here), appointed to the department 1910, 1912 promoted to Lieutenant of Engine 3, 1921 Promoted to Captain of Engine 8, 1926 Promoted to Chief Dispatcher. Former Instructor for the American Bell Telephone Company. While on duty in the Fire Alarm office suffered a burst, Appendicitis was transported to Baptist Hospital and died on the operating table. 49 years Old, lived at 1943 Snowden Avenue, attended Epworth Methodist Church. His son Augustus “Gus” Kitchen was also on the fire department.
Lieutenant Charles Felix LeClerc, Born February 18, 1871, appointed to the MFD December 1, 1917 after being a meat cutter he was a “Sub Fireman” assigned to 1919 Assigned to Truck 2, in 1922 Promoted to Lieutenant of Truck 2, 1935 Lieutenant on Truck 6 B. He lived at 32 N Belvedere Retired September 1941, Spent his entire career on Ladder Companies. Died in April 1942 70 years old. 30-year Captain
Lieutenant William H Lewis, Born June 3, 1886 and died August 13, 1946. 33 years on the MFD 10 as a Lieutenant. Retired October 1940 became a motor messenger for Western Union Telegraph Company. Died of a heart attack 60 years old. Appointed July 23, 1910. Served as a Private on Engine 10, 1910, Private on Engine 9, 1920, Lieutenant on Engine 9, 1924, Lieutenant on Truck 3, 1935.
Private Frank Blotch Pardue, Born August 29, 1886, died August 12, 1956 at 68 years old of a pulmonary embolism. Lived at 1499 McMillan.
Private Harold Calvin Parkey, Died June 8, 1972, Assigned to Engine 10 and spent 29 years on the job. Has a grandson on the job.
Private William Oscar Pinner, Born October 24, 1891, Died June 13, 1947, Appointed to the MFD 9-1-1920, Assigned to Engine 7 as a Private and retired in 1941 as a Private on Engine 7 B, He fought in the Army during WWI. Find A Grave # 139667070
Engineer Charles Edward Ringwald, Born July 3, 1856, Died January 9, 1919 age 62 Died of Chronic Nephritis. One of the most well liked members of the department. He went by Ed. He was a Railroad Engineer for 15 years prior to the Department. Engineer of Engine 2 in 1899, Engineer Engine 7 in 1902, Engineer Engine 10 in 1906, and Engineer at Engine 2 from 1910 to 1919.
Driver David Lee Scarborough, Died May 21, 1990 after a long illness at Resthaven Nursing Home. He was the 1986 Fireman of the Year.
Captain John J Staples, Engine 6 Died July 30, 1905 Entered MFD 1888, Died of Brights Disease. He was 37. He entered the MFD in 1888. He served as Pipeman on Engine 1, Engineer on Engine 2, 1890, Driver of Engine 1, 1895, Engineer of Engine 7, 1901, Lieutenant of Engine 1 in 1902, and Captain of Engine 6, in 1905.
Lieutenant Charles J Townsley, Born November 14, 1887, Died August 3, 1945, Hired April 1906 and assigned to Engine 1, then in 1907 he was assigned to Chemical Engine 1, Our most aggressive fire fighters were assigned to the Chemical Engine. Primary attack piece on the department. 1909 promoted to Lieutenant of Chemical Engine 1, In 1918 when Engine 14 went motorized he was LT there. He remained as the Lieutenant of Engine 14 until retirement in 1941. He served 35 years on the department and was a 30-year Captain.
Private Clyde G Warren Sr, Born May 2, 1885, died March 22, 1952 at 69 years of age. He left the MFD when the horses were discontinued in 1919 and went to work for George H. McFadden Cotton Company.
Deputy Chief Carl Stotts, Born May 5, 1932, died April 23, 1997. Carl Stotts entered the MFD in 1955 as one of our first black firefighters. He was assigned to Engine 8. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1972 and as our first black Captain in 1976. He was promoted to District Chief in 1985. He retired in 1995 from the long term effects of his 2nd degree burns suffered in a dust explosion at the Memphis Moldings company at 806 Walnut Street. During his career he fought fires and injustice during his 40-year career. He was 64 years old at the time of his death. Find A Grave # 35073735
LODD Not Recognized
Captain Ernest F Williams, born March 13, 1880, died August 14, 1936 at the age 50. He lived at 169 W Colorado Ave. On February 17, 1934, Captain Williams of Engine 2 was struck by District Chief Henry Brenner’s car when both were in route to a structure fire. They collided at Third and Linden. Captain Williams sustained a severely fractured hip, 6 broken ribs, a broken shoulder and other scrapes and bruises. He was not able to return to work and died as a result of his injuries.
Line of Duty Deaths at Elmwood
Fire Patrolman Lieutenant, Robert H. Alexander, 50, of 854 Estival Place, born October 11, 1884, died December 2, 1934. a 15-year veteran firefighter, he was killed along with Patrolmen Benton Faulkenberry and Wix . J. Fowler. They were on a hose line in the rear of the Johnson Motor Company at 333-227 Monroe on December 2, 1934 when a 50 foot section of a wall fell crushing all three men.
Private Joseph Anthony Boswell, born October 1, 1960, died January 11, 1993. He was assigned to Engine 26 and was the first African American Fire Fighter to die in the line of duty. He was appointed on May 2, 1984. At 13:58 on December 26, 1993, a fire was reported at the Pilgrims Hope Baptist Church located at 3084 Woodrow Avenue. He was trapped in a roof collapse. He was 32 years old, an 8-year member of the department and the father of 5. Boz was known as a tough firefighter. Firefighter J. D. Hill also died on January 4th from his burns at the same fire, later designated as an arson fire. Find a Grave # 35082392.
Captain Charles B. Davis, died April 22, 1883. Captain Davis of Engine 1 was injured in a wall collapse at P. J. Kelly’s Saloon located at Main and Adams. He was 44 years old and was engaged to be married, the wedding set for 4 days after his untimely death. 1st Pipeman Peter McManus (listed below) was also injured in the same wall collapse. The fire call was discovered a little after 3 AM by Patrolman Doherty after seeing flames coming from the saloon. Captain Davis was held in high regard by his chief and the entire department. He had been a member of the Bluff City Grays and served in the 154 Tennessee Regiment in the Civil War.
Private William Morris “Track “Blakemore, born December 26, 1951, died March 8, 2000. William Blakemore spent 21 years on the MFD assigned to Engine 39 but on March 8, 2000 he was detailed to Engine 55. He came on the job in 1979 and was a graduate of Tech High School. He taught Sunday School at Grace United Methodist Church. He was considered a very good firefighter, and his tomato sauce was legendary. He was shot as he arrived on the scene of a set fire at 4217 S Germantown Rd. MFD Javier Lerma and Sheriff’s Deputy Rupert Pete were also shot at the same time. He was 48 years old. Find A Grave # 35082648.
1st Pipeman (Senior Man) Peter McManus of Steam Engine 1, The Danbury. Born December 18, 1860. He was injured on April 22, 1883, when a wall collapsed and crushed him at Kelly’s Saloon at Main and Adams. He was able to come back to work in June and was promoted to Captain of Engine 3. He was one of the oldest and most experienced firefighters on the job. After working for several months, he found it hard to work and died from his injuries on November 14, 1884.
Captain, Oscar F Stell, born November 8, 1889, died November 23, 1929 while fighting a fire at the Chamber of Commerce building located at 79-81 Monroe. As Engine 9’s captain went to tighten a standpipe connection, he accidently stepped out of a 6th floor window and fell 6 stories to the ground. For the previous seven years he was groomed to higher ranks on the department. Captain Stell was a very good firefighter and an exceptional officer. Commissioner Clifford Davis said “He was the stuff from what a chief is made” In 1922 he was a Private on Engine 15, May 1, 1927, Lieutenant on Engine 15 and February 10, 1928 was promoted to Captain of Engine 9. Captain Stell was a decorated WWI officer serving in Battery B 115 Field Artillery. His pallbearers were the members of his company: Lt. W H Lewis, Driver John Miskel, Private J. D. Pera, V.D. Ladd and M.C. Doran. Find a Grave #14330378.