By Paula Scott

A conversation with Ada historian Lee Crouse at Memorial Day ceremonies at Woodlawn Cemetery had me asking questions about the decommisioned Civil War cannon that has served as a memorial to Ada and Liberty Township soldiers who fought in the Civil War. (Photo from https://theclio.com/entry/119722)

Searching the Icon archives, I found an article about the bricks enscribed with the names of 81 documented Civil War veterans that surround the base of the cannon--a display that was created in 2018. But the link that once provided a list of these names was for a page that no longer exists.

With the assistance of retired Ohio Northern University history professors Ray Schuck and John Lomax, the Icon can now provide the following list of those who served including name, rank and unit served.

Most of these men served as privates in the Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI) but you'll also find a musician and a hospital steward, as well as those who served in the cavalry and artillery.

If 81 individuals from the Ada area were to serve in a war today, that would seem a staggering number. Ada had only just been platted in 1853 (as Johnstown); what was the population during the Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865)?

My quick search for Ada's population hasn't yet been successful, but I did find that the population of Hardin County in the 1860 census was

White - 13,460
Free Colored - 110
Indian - 0

These numbers, like the names of the Civil War Veterans, bring the lives and sacrifices of those who lived here before us much closer. As is inscribed on the cannon base, please read these names below "Lest We Forget."

Gotleib Adam, Private, 10th OVI, Co L

George Baum, Corporal, 82nd OVI, Co G

J Baum, Corporal, 82nd OVI, Co G

Thomas Black, Private, 62nd OVI, Co C

Robert Black, Private, 67th OVI, Co F

James Bodell, Corporal, 33rd OVI, Co K

Merritt Bodge, Private, 66th ILVI, Co H

Andrew Borden, Musician, 73rd OVI, Co G

Charles Carey, Private, 31st OVI, Co A

A Carman, Private, 45th OVI, Co B

T Carnahan, Private, 34th OVI, Co D

J Carnahan, Private, 82nd OVI, Co G

M Charles, Corporal, 102nd OVI, Co D

H Clabaugh, Private, 197th OVI, Co E

R Clappin, Private, 135th OVI, Co I

James E Cox, Private, 180th OVI, Co D

David Cummans, Private, 133rd OVI, Co A

G Daugherty, Sergeant, 192nd OVI, Co F

G Daugherty Jr, Private, 82nd OVI, Co B

J Davenport, Private, 145th OVI, Co C

R Davenport, Hosp Steward, 82nd OVI, Co I

Samuel Davis, Private, 13th OVI, Co E

Thomas Davis, Private, 180th OVI, Co K

Alvein Davis, 1st Lieutenant, 66th OVI, Co K

John Dearth, Private, 34th OVI, Co D

E Dickens, Private, 135th OVI, Co I

Oliver Doling, Private, 198th OVI, Co H

Samuel Drury, Private, 31st OVI, Co C

Joseph Engle, Private, 66th OVI, Co D

Samuel Engle, Private, 66th OVI, Co H

Rinaldo Enos, Private, 82nd OVI, Co E

Edward Farrar, Private, 88th INVI, Co E

John Garwood, Private, 33rd OVI, Co K

Isaac Garwood, Sergeant, 188th OVI, Co A

Martin Gilbert, Private, 54th OVI, Co D

H Gilbert, Private, 118th OVI, Co B

R Gilbert, Private, 54th OVI, Co D

Mark Guyton, Private, 74th OVI, Co H

A Hamony, Private, 50th OVI, Co B

W Hardwick, Private, 82nd OVI, Co G

John Harp, Private, 1st O Cav Co G

A Harris, Corporal, 1st O Hvy Arty

W Heller, Corporal, 49th OVI, Co C

Robert J Hill, Private, 161st OVI, Co I

G Hubbell, Private, 1st Colo Cav

H Hubbell, Private, 45th OVI, Co B

John Hundman, Private, 34th OVI, Co G

Frank M Hunt, Sergeant, 55th OVI, Co I

C Huston, 1st Lieutenant, 41st OVI, Co C

J Hutchinson, Private, 64th ILVI Co H

S Johnson, Private, 99th OVI, Co A

Andrew Kelley, Captain, 21st OVI, Co F

Josh Kindle, Private, 135th OVI, Co I

R Klingler, Private, 118th OVI, Co A

H S Lehr, Private, 86th OVI, Co G

Jacob Leinard, Corporal, 135th OVI, Co I

William Lloyd, Private, 118th OVI, Co A

J Longworth, Private, 81st OVI, Co D

J Mcelroy  [Or James Mcelroy (?)], Private, 197th OVI, Co E

H Mcelroy  [Or H Mcelroy (?)], Private, 197th OVI, Co E

M Melhorn, Captain, 135th OVI, Co I

Joseph Miller, Private, 153th OVI, Co I

Joseph Miller, Lieutenant, 179th OVI, Co H

James Mustard, Private, 135th OVI Ng Co I

W Mustard, Hosp Steward, 33rd OVI, Co F

A Patterson, Private, 88th OVI, Co B

F Perry, Private, 45th OVI, Co D

W Pingree, 1st Lieutenant, 118th OVI, Co B

Lewis Poling, Private, 159th OVI, Co K

Squire Rice, Private, 118th OVI, Co B

Albert Rogall, Lt Colonel, 118th US C Inf

John Shanks, Sergeant, 135th OVI, Co I

Freeman Snow, Captain, 63rd OVI, Co A

Stringfellow [Or S Stringfellow (?)], Private, 48th OVI, Co K

Calvin Stumm, Private, 197th OVI, Co E

Hiram Thomas, Lieutenant, 114th OVI, Co G

N Warrell, Private, 66th OVI, Co A

James Wells, Private, 194th OVI, Co H

John Wells, Sergeant, 22nd OVI, Co C

E Wingate, Private, 135th OVI, Co I

David J Wood, Private, 21st OVI, Co K

RELATED ARTICLES ON THE ICON

Remembering Ada area's Civil War vets, May 2, 2018

Once Upon a Time in Ada, January 4, 2020