Headstones for Soldiers Graves - 1883

WILLIAMS, LEHEW, WILLEFORD, ARROWSMITH, STEELE, GASS, SIBERTS, BROWNING, WEEKS, SMITH, VAN BEEK, DOUTHART, GARRISON, GALER, PAYNE, LIGHT, JONES, FISHER, SHOPBELL, HOWE

Posted By: Pat Ryan White (email)
Date: 3/16/2012 at 08:44:48

HEADSTONES FOR SOLDIERS GRAVES.

As the War Department has agreed to furnish gravestones for all the unmarked graves of dead union soldiers, free of cost, it is desirable to obtain a list of these at once, and procure these monuments. At the last meeting of the Grand Army of the Republic, held Oct . 19th [1883], the following township committees were appointed to secure the names of all soldiers buried in unmarked graves in their respective localities, and forward the same as soon as practicable to Capt. H. K. Williams of this city. Rank, Company, Regiment and date of death must accompany each name:

Center Township - R.M. Lehew, Wm. H. Willeford, Miss Lizzie Arrowsmith;
Marion - S.L. Steele, Geo Gass;
Scott - Ed. Siberts, W.S. Browning;
Salem - Thos. Weeks;
Wayne - C.A. Smith;
New London - Geo. Van Beek;
Trenton - Dr. Douthart;
Rome precinct - F.T. Garrison’
Hillsboro precinct - Wm. Galer;
Jefferson Township - C.W. Payne;
Baltimore - B.F. Light;
Jackson - W.F. Jones;
Tippecanoe - R.R. Fisher;
Canaan - Henry Shopbell.

We greatly desire to secure all the gravestones needed in Henry county, at one shipment, and in order to have them all in place before the next anniversary of Memorial Day, it is desirable to obtain the names of all dead soldiers buried in unmarked graves as soon as possible, as it will take some time for the authorities at Washington to engrave the headstones, and attend to other details in connection with the same.

We trust that prompt action will at once be taken in each township, and that the people will lose not time in handing in the names of all soldiers buried in unmarked graves, to their respective township committees, who will forward the same to Capt. Williams of this city. Remember that the rank, company, regiment and date of death must accompany each name.

In view of the fact that the government agrees to furnish these headstones, and engrave the same, free of all expense, advantage ought to be taken of this generous offer, not only with promptness, but also with hearts full of fervent gratitude.
W.P. HOWE, Chairman of Committee.

[‘Free Press’, Thursday, November 1, 1883, page 3]