CAMPER, DAVID KURTIS, was born 25 April 1894, Allens Creek, Wayne County, Tennessee. He was inducted into the Army at Waynesboro, Tennessee on 13 December 1917, aged 23 years. He died 25 January 1918 in camp from bronchial pneumonia and measles. He is buried at Salem Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, near Topsy. Kurtis’ mother died when he and his brother, Tom, were very young. He and his brother were raised by their aunt and uncle, Dave and Rhoda BEATTY (born 6 Feb 1863). Their father, Bill CAMPER, remained in Lewis County, Tennessee where he lived on Trace Creek. He visited them often until his death before Kurtis went into the Army. Dave and Rhoda BEATTY had no children; Rhoda was a sister to Kurtis’ mother, Eliza CLAY CAMPER.

Dave and Rhoda lived near the George FRAZIER family (the Crowell SHARP farm). Cornea, one of Frazier’s daughters, married Kurtis. Dave gave Kurtis money enough to buy a little place on Dry Branch near Ashland, not far from the Beatty’s and Frazier’s.

Cornea and Kurtis lived here until he was drafted into the Army. So he sold his farm on Dry Branch and with George FRAZIER, bought the Daniel D. GOODMAN farm near Moccasin. Both families moved to this farm. Cornea lived with her parents after Kurtis went into the Army. David Kurtis CAMPER, Jr. was born there five months later. They remained here until he was three years old. When Cornea married Commodore SKELTON, they moved into the SKELTON home.

In January 1918, Cornea received a letter from Army Headquarters stating that David Kurtis CAMPER was seriously ill with bronchial pneumonia and measles. The next message Cornea received was that her husband had died. His body was shipped to Allens Creek by train. Dave BEATTY called Pop BEATTY who lived near Hohenwald near Sweetwater to meet the train. Kurtis’ body was brought by team and wagon to Pop’s house where it lay in state that night. Buffalo River had run down the next day so that the body could be buried at Salem. He was given a military funeral with WWI veterans of Topsy and surrounding communities participating.