Col. Henry Holcolm RUTHERFORD

Col. Henry Holcolm RUTHERFORD

Male 1873 - 1951  (77 years)

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  • Name Henry Holcolm RUTHERFORD  [2
    • Henry Holcomb Rutherford was born in the Marion community of Sebastian County, Arkansas to Louisa E. McAlester (McAllister) and James William Rutherford.

      Henry attended the University of Missouri in Columbia, along with several of his McAlester cousins, including the sons of his uncle, James Jackson McAlester. He received his undergraduate degree at the University and then entered the medical school.

      After graduating medical school in 1898, Henry Holcomb Rutherford was called to duty with the 2nd Missouri Volunteer Infantry for service during the Spanish American War. While serving with his unit in Georgia, he returned to Columbia and was married on January 10, 1899 to Ruby Lee Bowling, granddaughter of Brightberry McAlester, a distant cousin. They had one child, Dorothy.

      Henry served in both the War with Spain and the Phillippines Insurrection. He began his regular army service in 1901. By 1904 he was stationed at Fort MacKenzie, Wyoming. By 1906, he was stationed at the Presidio where on April 18, he was awakened by The Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire. He was involved in organizing medical relief efforts and personally attended the wounded. In 1936, he wrote about his experience in a published book, The Military Surgeon."

      Henry and Dorothy eventually divorced. August 4, 1913, Henry married Grace Tuttle Rutherford in Brooklyn, New York.

      Henry had the distinction of serving under two General McArthurs, 1899 to General Arthur McArthur in Manila, and 30 years later to his general's son, General Douglas McArthur.

      In 1920, Henry was listed in the Military Census at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. His last tour of duty was at the War Department in Washington DC where he retired as a colonel in 1938. After retirement, he continued to live in Washington, DC working for the firm of Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Beane. Henry is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia. He wife, Grace, is buried next to him.

      Source: "History and Genealogy of Hendrick, Buckner, and Related Families," 2004 by Jerry Hendricks, great-nephew of Henry Holcomb McAlester, and his wife Wincie.



      Gravesite Details
      COL USA MED CORPS

      [1]
    Prefix Col. 
    Birth 17 Feb 1873  Fort Smith, Arkansas Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Gender Male 
    Census 1920  Living in Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., Minnesota Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Census 1940  Living in Washington D.C. Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Death 17 Jan 1951  District of Columbia Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Burial Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington Co., Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Person ID I104982  Main Tree
    Last Modified 11 Nov 2022 

    Family Grace LITTLE,   b. Aug 1877, New York Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 14 Mar 1959 (Age 81 years) 
    Marriage 5 Aug 1912  Manhattan, New York Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Family ID F44157  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 11 Nov 2022 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1920 - Living in Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., Minnesota Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 17 Jan 1951 - District of Columbia Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington Co., Virginia Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Headstones
    Col. Henry Holcomb Rutherford and Grace Little Headstone
    Col. Henry Holcomb Rutherford and Grace Little Headstone
    Col. Henry H. Rutherford and his wife Grace, daughter of Elisha W. Little and Isabella Smith, are buried in the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington,Arlington Co., Virginia.

    Maintained by: Gina Caperton Ervin
    Originally created by: John C. Anderson
    Photo added by: Anne Cady

  • Sources 
    1. [S02329] Find A Grave Website.

    2. [S9386] Ancestry.com: New York, New York, U.S., Marriage License Indexes, 1907-1995.

    3. [S7570] Ancestry.com: U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007.

    4. [S01315] 1920 Census Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota.

    5. [S6050] 1940 Census Washington, District of Columbia.