Finding Aid to the Henry Louis Amonette Letter

JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VA 24501
(434) 846-0501
HENRY LOUIS AMONETTE (1893-1958) LETTER TO MARIE
On 27 February 1919, Henry Louis AMONETTE wrote from Darmstadt, Hesse,
Germany, describing a recent trip to Strasbourg, France. The letter also contains
reminiscences about air raids in Nancy, France, before the armistice. A typescript of the
letter is included.
HENRY LOUIS AMONETTE (1893-1958)
Henry Louis AMONETTE, son of Wilber F. AMONETTE and Fannie J. OGDEN,
was born 25 October 1893, in Amherst County, Virginia. [Obituary, Lynchburg News, 11

December 1958, Sect. B, p. 4 col. 1; Census 1900, Amherst County, VA, National Archives and Records
Service, T-623, Roll 1699, p. 81; "Marriage of Wilber F. AMONETTE and Fannie J. OGDEN, 2
November 1855," Index, Amherst Marriages, p. 9, Microfilmed record, Virginia State Library.]

AMONETTE was graduated from Lynchburg High School in 1913. While in high
school, he was business manager of the Critic (1912-1913) and was secretary of the
Webster-Calhoun Debating Society (1912). [The Crest, 1913, Vol. I (Lynchburg: Lynchburg High

School, 1913), p. 20. The name is given as Louis Henry AMONETTE. The letter to Marie is signed
"Louis" with the return address of "Henry L. AMONETTE." (The Henry Louis Amonette Letter to Marie,
MS1521, Jones Memorial Library, Lynchburg, VA.)]

During World War I, Henry L. AMONETTE served as a private, First Class, in the
Ambulance Convoy Service (Convois Autos) in the Sanitary Service Unit (Section
Sanitaire Unie), No. 649, of the First Division. On 20 January 1918, he was cited by the
Division Commander "for gallantry in action and especially meritorious service." [Arthur

Kyle Davis, ed., Virginia Military Organizations in the World War, Source Volume No. 5 (Richmond:
Virginia War History Commission, 1927), p. 431.]

AMONETTE was again cited by the Division Commander on 4 May 1918. He had
been wounded in action and still managed to take patients "in his car to a dressing
station...and then volunteered to return to his post despite his wounds." [Arthur Kyle Davis,

ed., Virginians of Distinguished Service of the World War, Source Volume No. I (Richmond: Virginia War
History Commission, 1923), p. 4.]

Henry Louis AMONETTE moved to Albany, New York, where he became
superintendent of the Private Trade School and was a member of the New York State
Education Department. [Obituary, loc.cit.]
Henry Louis AMONETTE died in Lynchburg, Virginia, on 10 December 1958. He
was survived by his wife, the former Alma HERMENSON, and several brothers and
sisters. He was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Lynchburg. [Ibid.]
MS1521