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The Vinton Eagle, July 6, 1900 A Soldiers' Monument. Blairstown Press:—Some seven years ago through the agitation of J. G. Palmer, then Editor of the Blairstown Press, a movement was started for the erection of a monument in memory of the fallen heroes buried in the cemetery at this place. At that time at public meeting a committee of five were appointed for the purpose of arranging and looking after all business connected with the erection of the monument. This committee was composed of the following: P. J. Wood, Robert Ferman, J. R. Shreeves, James Halstead and J. G. Palmer. Mr Palmer having left several years ago, the work has since been conducted by the remaining four members of the committee. The G. A. R. camp of this place, the Jacob Nauman Post 341, has been the prime mover, and under its auspices has the work been mainly done. From shortly after the time when the committee was appointed the money for this purpose has been slowly accumulating from the proceeds of suppers, sociables and entertainments, and largely as the result of the circulation of a subscription paper. Last February the contract was finally let to G. W. Lutz, of Cedar Rapids for six hundred dollars: the monument to be constructed of the best blue Bedford (Ind) stone. Work on the monument was begun about the first of June and was completed one week ago. The stone came here in the rough and was shaped at the cemetery; the statute, however was chiseled out at Cedar Rapids. As one enters the cemetery at the first entrance on the north he comes face to face withe the imposing structure. Built on a base six feet square it rises to a height of nineteen feet. Beginning at the bottom we find the first base, and resting on this two others which in turn decrease in size in the proper proportion. On the bases rests the die, and then on this the spire crowned with a cap on which stands the statute of a soldier at parade rest. On the four sides of the cap, surmounting the die, the letters G. A. R. appear in relief. On the north side of the spire appear in relief the words Our Fallen Heroes, 1861-1805, and below this the first of the twenty three names which are engraved on the monument. On the north side of the die, cut in hollow relief, one finds the badge of the Grand Army of the Republic. The names of the dead as they appear on the monument are as follows: On the north side of the spire, Levi Seheneberger. On the west side, of the die, James Smith, Samuel Halstead, George Laurence, Geo. W. Hartz, William Halliday, Wm. Bishop and Tristram Starbuck. On the south side of the die, Thomas Clark, Sam’l M. Whiting, Geo. F. Morey, Jacob Nauman, Herman Hils, Ephraim Stonesifer and Hezekiah Applegate. On the east side of the die, Jacob K. Wagner, Henry Pete, Edgar O. Howard, Oliver Asch, James Brian, Lucius A. Bowers, Daniel T. Drake and Fredrick K. Weil. Of these twenty three - twenty are soldiers of the civil war; one, Tristram Starbuck, of war of 1812; one, Ephraim Stonesifer, of the Mexican war; and one, Herman Hils, of the Spanish War. The structure as completed presents a very pleasing appearance. The monument has not been unveiled and no arrangements will be made for its dedication until after the 4th. What a fitting tribute is this to those who so willingly gave their time, their efforts, and even their lives for the glory of their country. Without it, their memory would never be forgotten; but with it, how much grander do the causes for which they fought, the heroism which they displayed, and the honor in which we hold them, become. —The Press. |
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