History of Muscatine County Iowa 1911

Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume I, 1911, pages 189-192
THE SOLDIERS' MONUMENT.

A public meeting was held in Muscatine, March 21, 1866, to consider what steps were necessary to raise a fund for the erection of a monument to the memory of the fallen heroes, who left their homes in this county and joined the Union army, and whose lives were sacrificed in the great struggle. In September, 1867, articles of incorporation were decided upon and a Soldiers' Monument Association was formed, with Thomas Hanna, president; J. E. Robb, vice president; John Mahin, secretary; and A. F. Demorest, treasurer. From that time on, various methods of raising money were resorted to until 1874, at which time W. W. Webster proposed to take the sum then in the treasury, amounting to about $700, and secure enough in addition to complete a monument, depending upon his own exertions for subscriptions and collections. W. B. Sprague designed the work and superintended its execution, performing much of the labor himself. The monument stands today an evidence of the artistic skill of the designer.

The monument consists of a massive pyramidal base of four steps, the pedestal or die, the shaft and the statue. Upon a solid foundation of masonry ten feet square by five and a half feet deep, weighing thirty-four tons, the imposing structure stands. The base is composed of three blocks of limestone and one of marble. On the front of the upper block is carved a shield, upon which is inscribed the legend, "1861----Muscatine County. To her fallen sons---1865." The die of the pedestal is a marble cube, three feet and four inches in size, with an ornate Grecian cap, showing heavy arched moldings on all sides. On the front in bold relief and very handsomely carved, is a coat of arms, with shield, draped flag, spears and guns. Surmounting this is a laurel wreath. Upon this die and upper base piece are inscribed nearly or quite five hundred names, as are shown hereafter. From the die springs a graceful fluted column. At a height of eleven feet it terminates in a coronal of stars, the emblematic thirteen, and a Grecian cap ornamented with leaves. Upon this shaft rests the grand crowning piece of the monument--the statue of the American volunteer, six feet two inches in height, representing a soldier in full uniform, with gun before him, at "parade-rest." The monument weighs thirty tons. The actual cost of the work was about $6,000, but the moment surpasses in excellence many which have cost twice or three times that amount. It was constructed upon the broad basis of patriotic pride and not from sordid desires.

Herewith is given a list of the names carved upon the die:

First Infantry

S. Norman, A. L. Mason, J. Wiley, W. G. Eckles, G. McGinnes, C. Michenor, T.J. Buchanan

Fifth Infantry

T. C. Wales

Seventh Infantry

W. W. DeHues, W. Wells, D. Welker, J. F. Hardy, C. S. Booth, C. Mahin, J. Dill, J. Tate, J. Henley, A. Truitt, H. Barker, F. Pitchforth, J. Brunting, J. Zaser. H. Borgers, J. Werst, D. B. Underwood, L. Cunningham, J. Hunt, J. K. Holmes, E. Mills, L. Pallat, J. Cochran, J. Doder, W. D. Kenedy, B. F. McGill, C. Stratton, J. Schuller, J. H. Wales, J. Shelley

Eight Infantry

P. Smith, W. R. Stotler, J. Walker, H. Barcus

Eleventh Infantry

J. W. C. Burrell, E. E. Sparks, D. H. Collins, J. A. Robinson, J. G. Fisher, W. A. Akens, P. Gissne, P. Fox, J. Geodocke, G. P. Kingsland, H. Vanhessle, J. W. Wilson, H. Benedict, F. M. Stretch, M. Feldmann, G. W. Cakendar, J. Guttka, C. Biers, M. Shellabarger, W. H. Meeks, N. Fay, M. Reyburen, T. Kerr, D. Taylor, T. W. Corwin, A. Port, S. Bailey, S. V. Krouse, D. B. Spillman, H. Liebert, T. J. Corey, P. Caven, W. Leverich, W. White, R. R. McReed, R. W. Vaun, S. Cambell, A. A. Bradford, A. Thorn, E. McDonald, W. G. Rogers, T. Hurnicutt, R. Curtin, J. H. Gregory, A. Rancipher, B. Spangler, R. Brook, S. Webb, S. A. Jackson, W. E. Mikesell, D. Coleman, G. W. Hawk, J. Insley, H. T. Prouty, H. Windrel, H. C. Ady, W. W. Evans, W. A. Gordon, H. M. White, C. G. Schenck, W. E. Budd, D. Taylor, H. Hyink, C. J. Fitchner, W. A. Hawley, F. H. Newell, J. L. Small, W. Robinson, J. F. Rubart, C. Sybrits, J. B. Sullivan, J. Williams, G. Clinton, J. Baxter, H. Vanater, C. Booten, B. S. Purinton, N. W. Wolf, E. Briggs, J. Brown, D. Grant, J. Leach, W. J. Etherton, O. McGrew, A. Williams, H. Hazelton, G. Daniels, W. Pittensbarger, M. Reyburn, Z. Beall, A. Fish, J. M. Jarrett, R. M. Curdy, J. Galvin, R. Garland, J. Kester, T. McKeough, J. W. Tice, R. B. Hare, J. Ludlow.

Fourteenth Infantry

T. B. Nicholas

Sixteenth Infantry

H. H. Washburn, N. Reed, T. Purcell, J. Dill, F. Dow, J. H. Howell, P. Hettinger, G. Bradford, M. O. Hallock, O. Mattison, A. Drake, J. Davis, J. Esterline, J. Freybarger, J. Embree, N. D. Younkin, A. H. C. Gottbrecht, W. Weaver, N. Reed

Seventeenth Infant

A. G. Fisher

Eighteenth Infantry

O. T. Stewart, J. G. Pratt, E. Hargraves, A. Heaton, W. Eberling, J. Stanley

Twentieth Infantry

A. Lindsley, B. Mills, T. Clemmons

Twenty Seventh Infantry

A. Edwards, C. Lindsley, B. Miller, J. Sissell

Thirty Fifth Infantry

Col. S. G. Hill, Maj. A. John, W. A. Clepper, C. Leary, E. Henet, F. Reed, J. Grossman, J. Temple, F. Harker, C. Hirschmann, J. A. Kyrk, H. Blanck, W. S. Chambers, D. Tice, J. Tice, L. Dawson, I. Criner, J. Dill, J. Cargill, P. Harrison, T. Holliday, W. Everett, W. White, J. Strahorn, J. Longthern, T. Jester, E. jester, J. Reeves, M. Etherton, J. Ramsey, L. Chappell, J. Carter, A. Davis, D. Block, F. Bowers, C. Mockmore, J. Chauidoin, W. Christ, F. Cork, J. Foster, W. Holmes, J. Joice, G. Kruaff, W. McCurdy, S. Davis, W. Brown, W. Brady, N. Blackstone, A. Wohlgevant, G. Brownawell, S. Holmes, J. Springer, C. N. Burr, J. W. Beard, L. Hurst, W. Pickering, G. Moore, C. Narbaugh, A. Stoddard, N. Thomas, G. Pickering, B. Stamford, F. Wooden, H. Phelps, G. P. Ruger, C. Thomas, G. Burmeister, G. Wonderlich, G. Leutzbauch, J. Schlegelmilch, H. Richenberg, C. Knoblauch, C. Doefler, C. Barr, H. Irwin, F. Peterkin, C. Berg, L. Sanelsberg, J. Kurtz, J. Hessler, J. Hanley, S. Knouse, W. Herwig, F. Schmoker, W. Dimick, C. Wright, C. Poole, C. Tyler, P. Nichols, J. Prouty, D. Hammer, A. Walder, H. Winning, S. Tschillard, N. Schaffetzel, M. Smith, P. Parsons, M. Maher, J. Greenwood, F. Hill, J. Johnson, C. Hawkins, W. Guild, G. Groters, G. Bischer, W. Biebush, J. Q. Adams, W. White, G. Redman, R. Manmvel, J. Dobsen, P. Courtney, T. Cook, J. Connerford, R. Carpenter, S. Kennan, J. Welch, G. Dickson, E. Doran, P. Slattery, W. Fanning., G. B. Hjill, J. H. Graham, J. Regenbogen, ,J. Ernst, F. Holtz, H. Schmidt, G. Hill, S. Robshaw, J. C. Edgerton, T. A. Clark, C. C. Clark,, E. J. Douglass, M. Cooper, M. T. Neff, W. L. Overman, G. A. Palmer, T. B. Worral, L. Nitzell, J. Huler, P. Boston, P. D. Patterson, J. B. Welch, O. G. Mathews, F. Peterke, C. Berg, L. Savelsberg, J. McElroy, J. Mcdonald, J. alexander, P. Mylot, G. Robshaw, G. Lang, J. Dunn, J. Walton, M. J. Chown, W. townsley, C. Gore, J. McCoy, W. Bonham, I. Edgington, D. Edgington, F. Epperly, T. Epperly, W. Fitzsimmons, H. Hitchcock, J. Bumgardner, F. McDaniels, T. Brown, A. S. Lord, L. Wallingsford, A. Long, H. Sweeney, L. Ware, R. W. Escha, L. Wagner, I. McCartney, C. Parish, W. Ponbeck, E. Stearns, S. Parkhurst, G. Hunt, D. Wilgus, T. Williams, D. Currie, J. Norton, W. D. Conn, J. Evans, J. Lee, A. Lee, P. Reed, H. Devore, B. F. Linnville, R. Miller, J. Crawford, W. H. Hackett, T. Hempfill

Thirty Seventh Infantry

H. Mockmore, J. Tannehill, W. K. Tyler, D. Lefever, T. Craig, H. B. Brannan, A. Edwards, V. Darland

Second Cavalry

W. Wiggins, J. Toren, J. Schmeltzer, J. Schiller, J. Hodges, L. C. Loomis, L. H. Waterman, N. F. Avery, L. Avery, G. Brown, J. M. Terry, R. Hutcheson, G. D. Graves, I. R. Dunn, J. Wallingsford, E. Brown, J. Hancok, M. Lee, A. Opel, J. Simpson, P. Smith, G. Ridgeway, A. Cradock, C. Neuberner, G. W. Heinly, J. Coble, I. I. Berner, I. Norris, I. M. Smith, J. Thompson, J. W. Vanderwort, H. Wigham, J. P. Dunn, G. Darland

Third Calvary

F. G. Whittaker

Eighth Calvary

L. Loomis, J. Horton, R. Cunningham, W. C. Vail

Ninth Cavalry

D. T. Watkins, L. Nietzel, J. Rigenbogen, J. Huler, P. Poston, P. D. Patterson, N. Cooper

Regiments Unknown

J. Jacks, S. Jackson, W. H. Champman, B. Lyons, C. Nichols, N. Rhienhart, F. Finn, T. W. Adams, G. W. Sissel, W. R. Aikens, J. Clark

2nd Ohio Infantry

H. M. Pigman

Fourth Ohio Infantry

J. Brookes

The monument was formally unveiled and impressively dedicated July 4, 1875. The war governor, Samuel J. Kirkwood, delivered a fitting oration. Civic and military displays were made in honor of the occasion, and the observances were commensurate with the importance of the hour and the event.