Robert Leon Wetherington was born on November 7, 1895, in Tuscarora, North Carolina. Wetherington was a farmer in Jasper when he registered for the draft (World War I) in June 1917. He was subsequently drafted into the service and served with the 156th Depot Brigade, the 322nd Infantry, and the 162nd Infantry. Wetherington was deployed overseas from August 1918 to June 1919. Wetherington died in New Bern (Craven County) on March 25, 1926.