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Millersburg Civil War Soldier Monument
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on December 3, 2010
Standing proudly, polished and clean, in West Park of Market Square in Millersburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, is the Civil War Soldier Monument. West Park is dedicated to the veterans from the Millersburg and Upper Paxton Township area, but the Civil War monument is the only one that recognizes the veterans of a single war – and honors them all by naming them on a bronze plaque.
On a tablet marker which was contributed by Leona Feidt Lemmons, there is an explanation of the origin of the monument. It reads as follows:
The G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) Post 212 and the Millersburg Sentinel together have raised the money to have a Civil War monument erected. The soldier and the base were quarried and cut in Italy. The soldier stands 6 feet and weighs 900 pounds. The overall height with base is 14 feet, 6 inches. The bronze plate bears the names of the 126 men who served in the Civil War. The total cost of the monument was $740.00 and the cost to ship it from Italy was $55.00. The soldier arrived in Millersburg in August 1913 and was erected in October 1913 in West park by J. S. Heckert, a local marble dealer. The dedication was to be held on Thanksgiving, but was postponed until May 30, 1914. The unveiling was done by florence Cordes Jusy, daughter of HenryCordes, veteran and active member of the G.A.R. post. The speaker for the occasion was Pennsylvania Adjutant General Thos. J. Stewart.
A photograph of the members of the G.A.R. Post 2212 who were present at the unveiling is also included on the marker as is an old picture post card view of West Park in 1900 showing the Governors Island Cannon.
The bronze tablet reads:
Erected to the memory of the Millersburg soldiers of 1861 to 1865 under the auspices of the Kilpatrick Post, No. 212, G.A.R.
Joseph Alleman * S. P. Auchmuty * A. M. Bassler * J. F. Bassler * Jacob Beller * W. H. Bender * David Beistle * E. Bettleyon * Henry Billman * Michael Bobb * M. W. Bowers * J. H. Bowers * Chas. S. Bowman * S. S. Bowman * J. F. Bowman * Byron Brock * G. W. Brown * P. A. Campbell * Simon Cluck * J. W. Collier * Henry Cordes * W. H. DeHaven * T. E. Detrich * D. D. Ditty * J. B. Ditty * W. H. Enders * A. Etsweiler * George Feidt * D. S. Feidt * B. M. Frank * David Fox * Christian Fox * J. L. Freck * G. W. Freeland * T. S. Freeland * Wm. Furman * George Geesey * Mahlon Giffen * Archibald Griffin * J. S. Hain * H. H. Harman * W. H. Hartman * Michael Haverstick * Jeremiah Hawk * M. P. Hawley * J. H. Heckert * Josiah Henninger * John Hess * Wm. Hetrick * J. T. Hoffman * Benjamin Huff * J. M. Johnson * Theodore Jury * J. H. Jury * Joseph Kawel * Joseph Keen * Jacob Keener * Jacob Kline * Henry Knouff * L. Koppenhaver * J. P. Koppenhaver * I. Koppenhaver * J. E. Lambert * William Lehman * E. H. Leib * D. Y. Lenker * J. Y. Lenker * S. E. Light * Henry Martin * C. C. Martz * W. H. McDonald * N. C. Meck * Morris Meck * W. B. Meetch * Isaac Miller * Joseph Miller * W. C. Mills * D. C. Neagley * Isaac Neagley * Thomas Norton * M. Novinger * Daniel Oberholtzer * Theodore O’Neill * A. J. Pontius * John Rathvon * S. W. Reinhart * Jacob Ritzman * Anthony Rutter * Lewis Rutter * J. H. Rowe * W. P. Seal * J. L. Seebold * Abraham Seiler * W. H. Sites * P. H. Shaffner * John Shaffer * George Sheesley * W. H. Sheesley * S. I. Shortess * B. F. Smith * J. W. Sneeder * C. H. Snively * Aaron Snyder * Joseph Snyder * J. S. Snyder * John Speece * Jeremiah Starr * J. J. Steever * W. L. Steever * Wesley Steever * W. D. Stites * Daniel Toy * Michael Ward * Jacob Weaver * Henry Weaver * A. J. Williams * I. M. Williamson * George Wilver * G. F. Wingard * W. C. Wingard * James Wise * J. M. Witman * J. B. Witman * Wm. Woodside * Benjamin Zeigler * David Zeigler
A big challenge to anyone is to locate information on each of the above-named veterans. About two-thirds are easy, as the names appear in published articles or genealogies, or they are buried in area cemeteries in G.A.R.-marked graves. Others will be quite difficult, especially if they moved out of the area. Also, unless someone has previously identified all the G.A.R. members in the 1914 photo, it may be very difficult to identify them now. Perhaps articles appeared in local newpapers, particularly in the Millersburg Sentinel which helped raise funds for the monument. Any responses with further information are very welcome!
I am doing an ancestry search. Do you have any information on James Wise who’s name is on the Civil War plaque (Millersburg Civil War Monument)?
Thank you any information will be greatly appreciated.
James Snyder
My ancestor William H Dehaven is on the plaque. If you do get the names associated with the picture please let me know.
Thanks
Lee Conrad