Christie Jean-Baptiste Decamps (1879 - 1951)

Born 18 Aug 1879 in Greenville, South Carolina

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 24 Aug 1951 at age 72 in Leon, Florida, United States

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Biography

Lt. Christie Jean Baptiste "Kit" DeCamps (1878 - 24 August 1951) was a college football player who was captain of the Virginia Tech Hokies football team of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, a civil engineer in South Carolina and Florida, and a war veteran, having served his country from 1898-99 in the Spanish-American War. He married twice and had two families.

Kit DeCamps was born on 18 August 1879^[1] in Greenville, South Carolina, the son of Belgian immigrant Ghislain Modeste Decamps (1834-1896) and Mary Elizabeth Hahn (1854-1947), the daughter of Prussian immigrant Christian Hahn.^{[2] [3] [4]}

In 1898 DeCamps served in the 2nd South Carolina Volunteer Infantry in the Spanish–American War.^[5] The unit was a volunteer regiment which mustered in May and June of 1898, and took part in the occupation of Cuba. The regiment was mustered out of service on April 19th, 1899 ^[6]

DeCamps served as a quartermaster sergeant, later 2nd Lieutenant of Company B, second South Carolina regiment.^[7]

DeCamps played quarterback for the Virginia Tech Hokies football team of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He also played on the VT baseball team, was a member of the German Club, and was President of the South Carolina Society. ^[8]

He also spent three years at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, and a year at Richmond College.^[9]

DeCamps was captain in 1901 of Virginia Tech Hokies football team.

On 27 November 1907 Kit DeCamps married Lois Catherine Sykes. Kit and Lois had four children:

• Christie Jean DeCamps, who died young,
• William Luke Decamps (born 1911)
• Lois (Decamps) Steuart (born 1912), and
• Charles Decamps (1914-1991). ^[10]

In 1920 the Census gives Kit DeCamps' occupation as civil engineer. The family's address is shown as being West Whitner St, Anderson, South Carolina.^[11]

DeCamps' wife Lois Catherine Sykes suffered from depression and died on 1st April 1924. ^[12]

After their mother's death, the three children: Lois, Luke and Charles, were taken to live at their Aunt's family farm at Ballahack, Dismal Swamp, Virginia, where they were raised by their Aunt, Zoe Skyes Weldon, known as "MizG". ^[13]

The children had little or no contact with their father afterwards. ^[14]

After his wife's death, Kit DeCamps moved to Talahassee, Florida and married again, and had another family. ^[13]

DeCamps worked as an engineer for the Florida State Road Department, where he "re-organised the department's statewide right-of-way division". ^[15]

Kit Decamps died in Leon, Florida, on 24 August 1951.^{[10] [1]}

Research Notes

• "From what I have read about him he was quite the athlete and ladies man. Christie's wife, Lois Sykes, was deeply unhappy and took her own life in 1924. After that the three children, Lois, Luke and Charles, were taken to the family farm at Ballahack, Virginia, where they were raised by their Aunt, Zoe Skyes Weldon, known as "MrsG". They had little or no contact with their father afterwards". ^[14]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} ancestry.com
2. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #8431182Ghislain Modeste Decamps at Findagrave Retrieved 18 July 2018
3. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #8431181Mary E. Hahn at findagrave Retrieved 18 July 2018
4. ↑ Family Search Retrieved 6 May 2015
5. ↑ https://www.fold3.com/page/631988984-christie-j-b-decamps
6. ↑ http://www.spanamwar.com/2ndsouthcarolina.htm
7. ↑ Chi Psi Fraternity, 1898
8. ↑ Kit CeCamps in the 1901 Edition of The Bugle Retrieved 3 August 2019
9. ↑ Chi Psi (1902)
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} family bible of Jeanne Decamps
11. ↑ 1920 Census
12. ↑ Death Certificate of Lois Sykes
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} Recollection of Catherine Steuart Williams
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1} Recollections of Kit DeCamps' grand-daughter, Jeanne DeCamps, 20 July 2018
15. ↑ Obituary, Tampa Tribune, 30 August 1951

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kit_DeCamps

• Source: Jeanne DeCamp family bible