In Search of General Pershing’s Birthplace.

The article investigates the longstanding uncertainty surrounding the exact birthplace and birthdate of General John J. Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I. It presents evidence that Pershing was born on January 13, 1860—not the widely accepted September 13, 1860—and that his birthplace was likely a modest shanty on Judge Meredith Brown’s farm near Meadville, Missouri, rather than in Laclede or a railroad section house west of Laclede. This conclusion is supported by census records, family testimony, and contemporaneous accounts, including those of Louisa Brown Warren, who assisted at his birth. The article suggests Pershing may have obscured the truth about his birthdate and birthplace to meet age requirements for admission to the U.S. Military Academy and to avoid scrutiny of his early life.