Born 17 July 1838 and died 25 May 1909
Notes: According to the information that has been passed down, Ezekiel and his family lived about three miles on the right side of the highway leaving Hickory Grove, South Carolina and traveling towards Gaffney, South Carolina, located between Hickory Grove and the "Old Irene Bridge". He served as a Private with Company "B", McGowan's 12th South Carolina Volunteer Infantry. His company was shown present at the "Battle of Gettysburg, July 1 through 3, 1863. Confederate States of America. A story that is passed on to you is that a friend of "Slims", (who also happened to be a relative), was shot during one of the battles of the Civil War. "Slim" picked him up on his shoulders and carried him from the battlefield and on to his safety. Ezekiel was captured in Richmond, Virginia and spent time there as a prisoner of war and was assigned a job as a nurse/orderly in a military hospital until the end of the war and his discharge. He and all other prisoners were told to walk home from there. It has to be remembered that most all of the roads and railroads had been destroyed during the war. Ezekiel and his family are listed in the 1880 York County Federal census, Broad River Township, Vol. # 23, Sheet # 29, Line # 4; Ezekiel C. Childers, age 40, Mary Childers, born in N.C., age 30, James A. Childers, age 9, Sylvanus Childers, age 6, William Childers, age 5, John T. Childers, age 3 and Catherine Childers, age 6 months old. He was listed as a farmer. He and his family are listed in the 1900 York County Federal census, Vol. 13, ED 4, Sheet 9, Line 1, Ezekiel Childers, age 65, born May 1838, Mary E. Childers, age 53, born June 1841, John Childers, age 22, born February 1878, Robert Childers, age 18, born May 1882 and Wade Childers, age 16, born 1884, all living at home with Ezekiel and Mary Childers. Ben C. Childers is buried beside of Ezekiel and Mary Childers at the Unity Baptist Church Cemetery in Hickory Grove, South Carolina. Ben Childers wife and family are also buried at Unity Baptist Church Cemetery.
May 24, 1907 -- Memorial Services at Unity - Memorial services were held at the Unity church on Saturday, May 18th. There was a large attendance, many of whom took part in putting the cemetery in first class condition. It was laid off in sections and each grave was numbered, which greatly facilitates in locating the different graves, While doing this work, the graves of thirteen old soldiers were discovered, the names of whom will be given later. The invited speakers were not present, but an able address was given by the pastor, Rev. W.T. Thompson, which was much enjoyed by the audience. An overflowing crowd was present Sunday. Collections for Saturday and Sunday for the painting of the church building amounted to over $22.00.
May 31, 1907 - The following are the soldiers in the Unity cemetery as reported the Yorkville Enquirer. Herod R. Neal, Thomas N. Spencer, John Ramsey, Thomas Harris Sr., John Childers, Evans Murphy, James Jackson, James McDaniel, James Nichols, Ales Brakefield, James Ramsey, Abraham Ramsey, Thomas Ramsey, A.T. Smith, Jonathan Sandlin, Thomas Montgomery, William Childers, John W. Childers, Eli Hoffman, Berry Blackwell, Alf Blackwell, Al Smith, John Nichols, Wyatt Neal, James Cobb Sr., Edward Sanders, Hiram Moss, Andrew Hardin, John Turner and Willis Green, who was first substitute for Ab Borders, then substitute for Jim Bell, and last served in his own place. The people of Unity Church desire any helpful information in locating the remainder. Mr. Thomas Bolin and wife, Elizabeth Bolin, have mounds in the cemetery marking the place where they want their bodies laid. They have thought of the future.
The Gaffney Ledger, May 22, 1908; UNITY MEMORIAL SERVICES - Beautiful Exercises In Honor Of The Dead - Hickory Grove, May 22 - A large concourse of people met for the memorial services at Unity Church Friday morning. We arrived on the grounds at 10 A.M. The cemetery had been put in excellent condition. The soldiers' graves were all marked and named in the most appropriate manner. A beautiful mound made of green moss had been arranged at the foot of a large oak tree at the entrance of the cemetery and a large board nailed on the tree bearing the names of twenty-four soldiers left on the battlefield and above their names arranged on cardboard the words "God Be With You Till We Meet Again". The church building was beautifully arranged. The table with white spread reaching nearly to the floor was piled high with flowers. Wreaths and bouquets encircled the pulpit. The gentlemen occupying the stand were : Rev. S.D. Bailey, R.L.A. Smith, R.M. Plaxico, Sam Plaxico, B.M. Love, T.B. Butler and W.T. Thompson. The music, which was excellent, was led by Miss Maude Smith, organist of the day. The exercise was opened by the pastor reading from the 11th chapter of Hebrews. Prayer by Rev. S.D. Bailey, who was director of the program. Speakers, R.L.A. Smith, R.M. Plaxico, T.B. Butler and Rev. S.D. Bailey. The pastor, Rev. W.T. Thompson gave the closing address. The ladies call the children and gave them flowers as they filed out into line followed by soldiers and widows. The speakers and congregation , all with flowers, marched into the cemetery and decorated the soldiers graves and the little mound at the foot of the oak tree. They then sang "God Be With You Till We Meet Again". The ladies then spread a bountiful repast of good things on the ground and all were filled and happy. God bless the ladies. What could we do with out them? The old soldiers present were: W.G. Wilkie, R.W. Westmoreland, R.M. Plaxico, Zeak Childers, W.H. Whitesides, Alfis McDaniel, Drury Wright, Sherred Childers and James M. Cobb. Soldiers graves at Unity, Abe Ramsey, James Ramsey, John Ramsey, H.R. Neal, A.J. Hardin, Hyram Moss, Grub Sanders, Didd Sanders, James Cobb, Alexander Smith, Willie Turner, John Childers, Will Childers, James Nichols, James McDaniel, James Smith, John Childers, Jon Jackson, Thomas Harris and Alfred Blackwell. Soldiers names reported to have been left on the battlefield, Wash Dover, Thomas Bolin, G.W. Cobb, Andy Wallace, John Wallace, John Childers, Ben Bolin, William Bolin, Lewis Bolin, A.T. Smith, Joe Smith, David McDaniel, Vanverine Bolin, Daniel Whitesides, Bill Whitesides, William Boyles, Joseph Childers, Will Childers, Harry Ramsey, Neal Ramsey, Alex Ramsey, Henry Ramsey, W.G. Cobb and Thomas Ramsey. We failed to get the commands to which the soldiers belonged. This association would be glad to get the full information on this line. Hickory Grove Soldiers Memorial Association.
HICKORY GROVE NOTES. Memorial Day at Unity Baptist Church - Personal and Other Notes of Community Interest. Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer:
Hickory Grove, May 27 1909 - According to a previous announcement: Memorial exercises were held at the Unity Baptist Church last Saturday, May 22, 1909. Owing to the rain in the morning, the crowd was late gathering, but despite the unfavorable weather, quite a large number were present. R.L.A. Smith, Esq., acted as chairman. The old soldiers present, their wives and the widows of old soldiers were seated on the front pews. After the opening song, the roll of the soldiers, (30 in number) buried in the cemetery was called by Mr. W.S. Wilkerson. Mr. W.G. Wilkie then called the roll of the veterans present, who were as follows: Ezekiel Childers, Robert W. Westmoreland, Ben C. Childers, James. M. Cobb, Robert Lanier, Moses White, W.0. Wilkie, W.S. Wilkerson, G.S. Cobb, John H. Green and Alfus McDaniel. Rev. S.D. Bailey was then introduced, who made a most feeling address on the "Lost Cause", speaking in terms of highest praise of the veterans, who strove so faithfully for a cause which they gave up, only because of being overpowered by superior numbers. The next speaker was Rev. J.L. Oates, who made a very interesting historical address, giving the causes of the war, interspersing his remarks with some funny jokes and laughable anecdotes in connection with the terrific struggle. Dinner was then served on the grounds and after an hour or so of social mingling and handshaking, the crowd reassembled in the church to hear the other speakers present. Rev. E.D. Thomson, pastor of Unity church, was then introduced, who made an excellent talk along the lines made by the other speakers. R.L.A. Smith, Esq., was the next speaker, who entertained the crowd for some minutes. Mr. W.S. Wilkerson then gave an interesting historical sketch of the church, with reminiscences of his own boyhood days. Next, Mr. R.W. Westmoreland and Mr. W.S. Wilkie gave some of their experiences as boys in the war, after which the crowd preceded by the veterans present, marched in line to the cemetery, where beautiful floral tributes were placed on the graves of the soldiers, which had been previously marked with iron crosses to mark permanently their last resting places. This closed the exercises for the day. The crowd then dispersed feeling that their time had been well and profitably spent. Hon. T.B. Butler of Gaffney and J.L. Strain, Esq., failed to reach there, owing to rain and high water in Broad river, which was out of its banks. Mr. Ezekiel C. Childers was stricken with apoplexy at the home of his son-in-law, Mr. J.J. Gilfillan, three miles from here, last Monday morning at about 8 o'clock and lingered until the next morning about 9 o'clock. He never regained consciousness. He seemed to be in usual health that morning; ate a hearty breakfast, and went to the field to hoe cotton, where he suffered the stroke. He was a veteran of the civil war and was a man whose character was above reproach.
Hickory Grove, May 31, 1909, The Yorkville Enquirer: SOLDIERS DEAD AT UNITY: A week or two previous to the Memorial exercises at Hickory Grove. The Enquirer sent Mr. R.L.A. Smith its previously published list of Confederate soldiers buried in the Unity Baptist Church Cemetery and requested him to revise the same up to date. In compliance with this request, Mr. Smith has sent the following. "Below you will find a corrected list of the dead buried in Unity Cemetery as well as I have been able to get the facts. I find there are some names on the list you sent me that were not in the Confederate Army; that is they were not in the war at all, some being to young and some too old. These are Thomas Montgomery, Eli Hoffman, John Nichols and Wyatt Neal. I find some of these names, while they were soldiers, are not buried in the Unity Cemetery. These are Alex Brakefield and A.T. Smith. I have succeeded in getting a number of names of Confederate soldiers buried in Unity Cemetery in addition to the names on your list. This is the list of names: Herod R. Neal, Thomas N. Spencer, John Ramsey, Thomas Harris Sr., John Childers, Evans Murphey, Jos Jackson, James McDaniel, Jas Nichols, Abraham Ramsey, James Ramsey, Thomas Ramsey, Jonathan Sandlin, William Childers, John W. Childers, Berry Blackwell, Alf Blackwell, Alex Smith, James Cobb Sr., Edward Sanders, Jonathan Sandlin Jr., James Turner, John Turner, A.J. Hardin, John McDaniel, George Harris, Harve Ramsey, James Smith, Hiram Moss, William Thomas and Ezekiel Childers.
Note: Ezekiel was living in Hickory Grove, South Carolina when he passed. Visited his and the other grave sites at Unity Cemetery

. from===== Jerry Childers------- jchild3400@aol.com