Documenting the American South

Monument Name

Johnston County WWI Doughboy Statue, Smithfield

Type

Common Soldier Statue

Subjects

World War I

Creator

Theo Alice Ruggles Kitson, Sculptor

City

Smithfield

County

Johnston

Description

The statue is a slightly larger than life-size figure of a World War One Doughboy. He is looking straight ahead holding a rifle with bayonet attached. He is wearing a helmet, an ammunition belt with canteen and bayonet scabbard around his waist and a gas mask bag around his neck, resting on his chest. This statue, of which other examples were produced by the sculptor Theo Alice Ruggles Kitson, was titled “On Guard.” The statue is supported by a granite plinth on a double base. A large but simple bronze plaque fills the front of the plinth with a smaller one on the left side when facing the statue. The statue stands at the street corner on a brick patio.

Images: Close-up view | Rear view | Side view | Front plaque | Side plaque | Sculptor signature | View of memorials in front of the Johnston County Courthouse

Inscription

Front Inscription: IN MEMORY / OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS DEAD OF JOHNSTON COUNTY / WHO DIED IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR 1917-1918

[Left column] JESSE ALFORD / MAINE BAILEY / WILLIAM CLARENCE BARBOUR / JACKSON W. BARHAM / DAVID REXFORD BEST / HUBERT L. BRIDGERS / LESTER ALTON BUNCH / AKRIEL G. BYRD / HUGH COATS / OTHO DURHAM / GEORGE EXUM / EUGENE GALLION / GEORGE W. GALLOWAY / JAMES REXFORD GLOVER / MAUDIUS GODWIN / GRAY HAMILTON / PEARLIE H. HARRIS / HERMAN HIGGINS / BUCK HILL / JOSEPH HOLDEN / JOHN HOOD / CHARLES JOHNSON / HENRY LANGLEY / FABIAN LEE / IRA B. LEE / [Right column] JOHN R. MASSEY / LEONARD MOORE / MILLARD T. PARRISH / RAYMOND J. PARTIN / JESSE PERRY / JOHN PERRY / JOSEPH LEE PIERCE / EPHIRAM PITTMAN, JR. / EDWIN SMITH POU / GEORGE WRIGHT SMITH / NEAL HENRY SMITH / HENRY SOUTHARD / WALTER STEVENS / DAVID THOMAS STRICKLAND / MARVIN L. STUCKEY / CHARLIE WALL / JOSEPH W. WALL / WILLIAM WALLACE / WALTER E. WATSON / WILBERT F. WELLONS / LOUIS F. WISE / CROWELL WOODARD / PRESTON WOODARD / JOSEPH SHADE WOOTEN

MANKIND HAS EVER REVERED HEROIC VALOR AND PAID HIGHEST / TRIBUTE TO THOSE IN WHO IN LIFE’S TESTING TIME PROVED WELL / THEIR CLAIM TO THE NOBLEST MANHOOD COURAGEOUS SERVICE IN / LIFE AND A GLORIOUS DEATH ESTABLISHED YOUR RIGHT TO THIS / PROUD DISTINCTION AND MADE HUMANITY YOUR ETERNAL DEBTOR. / HONOR ROLL

Side: THIS MEMORIAL ERECTED BY / COUNTY COMMISSIONERS / 1925 – 1926 / REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE OF / JOHNSTON COUNTY / AT SOLICITATION OF / AMERICAN LEGION

Custodian

Johnston County

Dedication Date

November 11, 1926

Decade

1920s

Geographic Coordinates

35.511730 , -78.347330

Series

Doughboy Statue

Supporting Sources

Daniel, Bobby. "Johnston County Courthouse in Smithfield, North Carolina," bobbystuff.com, (accessed February 13, 2025) Link

Liss, Ken. “From Snow Sculptures To The Paris Salon And Beyond,” Muddy River Musings, (Accessed April 23, 2016) Link

“Beautiful Monument Dedicated at Smithfield,” News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), November 12, 1926

“On Guard,” Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museum, SIRIS, sirismm.si.edu, (accessed April 24, 2016) Link

Public Site

Yes

Materials & Techniques

Bronze, granite

Sponsors

Johnston County Commissioners

Monument Dedication and Unveiling

Rain forced the ceremony into the courthouse which only held a third of those who came to witness the activities. Professor Albert Coats, a Johnson County native and a member of the law faculty at the University of North Carolina, provided the dedication speech. The Armistice Day speech was delivered by Congressman John H. Kerr. Despite the rain the day featured a parade and fireworks during the evening. A barbecue dinner was served at the Armory.

Subject Notes

In 1895 Theo A. R. Kitson became the first woman admitted to the National Sculpture Society. She specialized in robust war memorials and became one of the leading sculptors of war memorials in the United States. She is best known for “The Hiker,” a monument commemorating turn of the 20th century American conflicts, the Spanish-American War, Philippine-American War and the Boxer Rebellion. About 50 versions of this work appear across the United States. Between 1902 and 1920 she produced more than 60 statues, busts and reliefs at the Vicksburg National Military Park in Mississippi.

Location

The statue is located at the corner of E. Market and S. 2nd Streets in Smithfield, NC. It stands on the front lawn, to the right of the main entrance to the Johnston County courthouse. The courthouse grounds also hold Veterans Memorial, a plaque commemorating General Lee's surrender at Appomattox, a memorial listing Johnston County war dead since World War Two, a memorial flagpole to World War Two and Korean War dead, and World War One Memorial Drinking Fountain.

Landscape

The statue stands on the front lawn under shady mature trees.