James Bethel Gresham's burial at Locust Hill Cemetery on Kratzville Rd. James Bethel Gresham (August 23, 1893 - November 3, 1917) was one of the first three American soldiers to die in WWI. He was born in Kentucky, but moved with his family to Evansville in 1901, attended Centennial School, and worked in one of the furniture factories. He died in France and was originally buried there, but in 1921 was reinterred at Locust Hill Cemetary in Evansville.