‘In the blood’: Poston traces family’s military history to Revolutionary War

Tracing his family’s genealogy started as a hobby for Marine veteran Mike Poston, and as he uncovered more information, it became a passion.

“My fifth great-grandfather (Elias Poston) was in the Revolutionary War,” Mike said.

Mike said, as a child, he had always heard stories about Elias but really couldn’t fathom the concept of someone in his family playing a major role in American history until he started researching his family and discovered the book “West Virginia: A History” by Otis Rice.

“The idea of being able to open a book that you can get from the library and see your fifth great-grandfather’s name (is unbelievable),” Mike said. “You want to believe it, but until you see it in black and white, it’s really hard to say it’s true.”

A passage from another book, “History of Hampshire County, West Virginia,” showcases the reason Mike has become so fascinated by his family’s history and, specifically, the life Elias.

“No history of Hampshire County would be complete without the inclusion of Col. Elias Poston. Poston holds the all-time record for most offices in Hampshire County, which include surveyor, census taker, sheriff, attorney, justice of the peace, ferry operator, delegate to the Virginia Assembly and an officer in the Militia.”

While Elias is easily Mike’s favorite historical ancestor, the Poston lineage almost reads like that of fictional character “Lt. Dan” from the critically-acclaimed film “Forrest Gump,” and his lineage is one he is proud to be a part of. Mike himself joined the Marines in 1977.

“I’ve felt it was a part of my duty as an American,” Mike said. “I’ve wanted to join the military since I knew what the military was. My dad was in the Air Force. My great-grandfather was in the Spanish-American War.”

Mike said his father served in Germany during the Korean War, one uncle was a Marine, another uncle served in the Navy, and somehow his actual grandfather became the odd man out in the Poston military tradition.

“My grandfather — he was too young for World War I but too old for World War II. So he was right in the middle,” Mike said.

As his researching skills have improved, Mike is discovering even more about his family, including additional information about his favorite ancestor.

“I discovered that Elias’ son, Samuel, was a Lt. Colonel with 114th Militia during the War of 1812,” Mike said. “It’s almost like military is in the blood.”

With this heritage, it’s no wonder Mike ended up serving six years in the Marines before stepping away with the rank of corporal. He can still perfectly recall the moment he told his father that he intended to join the service.

“He was all for it,” Mike said. “When I told him I wanted to join the Marines, he looked at me, and he said, ‘Are you serious?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, but I need your signature.’ I was only 17 at the time, and he goes, ‘Where do I sign?’”

Mike has two daughters, but neither decided to join the military. He is hoping that someday maybe some of his future grandchildren will maintain the Poston military legacy, but he is extremely proud of his family’s accomplishments.

“Their names may not be on the Constitution itself, but to know they were a part of the structuring and development of it, it makes your pride in America even greater,” Mike said.

Staff writer Ty Rushing may be contacted at (641) 792-3121, ext. 426, or at trushing@newtondailynews.com.