Note: I have tried to photograph the names on the monument, but due to the cannons on each side, I was unable to be at the proper distance to get the entire list of names on one photo. Therefore, the list of names on the two sides near the cannons have been split into two photos. Also, you will see that the stone has been damaged by the elements and is difficult to read in places.Side 1: (Adams - Early)
Side 2: (Elston - Hickock); Side 2: (Funk - Lueschen)
Side 3: (Lueschen - Rollins)
Side 4: (Rightmeyer - Plant); Side 4: (Steenis - Plant)
Columbus Journal, March 4, 1900In the summer of 1898, J.R. Meagher wrote to the ordnance department of the government for a cannon to be used here on public occasions, a little while afterwards getting answer that the government were not giving away cannon that were fit for use, but that they would donate condemned cannon to corporations or societies for monumental purposes, but not more than two pieces to any one corporation or society; at the same time saying that there were a number such at Fortress Monroe, Va., and at Fort Benicin, California.
Mr. Meagher happened to show the letter to H.T. Spoerry, but supposed that his work had been for naught. But something seemed to suddenly strike Mr. Spoerry, and he said "We want two cannon." "What for?" asked Meagher. "For a long time, we have been asked occasionally to send money east for the erection of soldiers' monuments, and why not erect one right here in Columbus to our own common rank and file?"
J.H. Galley was at the time commander of Baker Post No. 9, and to him the two comrades went with their happy thought, and the result was that at the next meeting of the post a monument committee was appointed consisting of J.H. Galley, H.T. Spoerry, J.R. Meagher, D.N. Miner, E.O. Rector, R.L. Rossiter and Ed. W. Clark.
Designs were advertised for, a subscription paper started, two cannon were brought from Benicia, Calif., one weighing 3575 pounds, the other 3568, and the site of the monument was located finally in the middle of Frankfort square.
A contract was made with Kimball Brothers of Lincoln for the erection of the monument, which is 30 feet high. The heaviest stone weighs about 16,000 pounds, and is 9x9 feet; the die is 4 feet square and 4 1/2 high, and on it are cut 132 names. The stone column is surmounted by bronze eagle with a spread of 6 feet; the two cannon with the muzzles pointing south, are placed on pedestals, one of the east, the other of the west of the column--these pedestals 3 feet square and 4 feet high.
There are said to be thirty tons of stone in the foundation and thirty-five tons above ground. The monument is of Barre, Vermont, granite, rough, except the die. The actual cost of the monument is reckoned in round numbers at $2,400, besides the cannon, which cost the freight, $99.75.
The contract with the Kimball Brothers was signed by Commander Galley, Quartermaster Spoerry and Adjutant Meagher, but in the absence of Mr. Meagher, the main part of the work of looking after the funds, etc., has fallen upon the other two, and the monument is a credit to all concerned in its erection. The names on the monument are:Adams H L Co. H 27 Ill Inf. Lueschen Henry J Co. E 3 Wisc Inf. Allen W T Co. C 1 U S Inf. Luschen Her'n G Co. E 3 Wisc Inf. Archer O H Co. E 41 Wisc Inf. Lockner Aug Co. H 21 N Y Cav. Arnold Ed Co. A 3 Ind Inf. Luchsinger Fred Co. K 2 Wisc Inf. Anderson A Co. K 5 Wisc Inf. Luth A Co. H 2 N J Cav. Apgar Jos Co. G 1st O V Cav. Lawson John Andrey John Co. I 2d Neb Cav. Lawerence Wm Co. D 3 Ill Cav. Butler O D 2d Lt Co. D 51 Ill Inf. Ludwick J C Co. C 106 Ind Inf. Burrell John Co. C 29 Wisc Inf. Lane Martin Co. H 12 Ill Cav. Brown J L Co. G 144 Ind Inf. McKinnie Thom Lt-Col 126 O Inf. Bisson E R Co. D 45 Ill Inf. Meagher J R Lt-Col 6 Ky Cav. Becklam Wm Co. B 105 Ill Inf. Moran Robt Lt-Col 2 W Va Inf. Burrows Jas Co. B 103 Ill Inf. McAllister W A Co. B 2 Neb Cav. Baird Frank Co. C 13 U S Inf. Martyn D T Co. D 37 Ill Inf. Breed A Co. A 20 Ia Inf. Merrill O F Co. I 1 R I Cav. Borders E W Co. A 26 Ind Inf. Mannington W W Co. I 71 Pa Inf. Bean Henry Co. K 9 U S Inf. Morrow E C Co. C 155 Ind Inf. Brock John R Co. E 10 Pa Inf. Miner D N Co. H 15 O Inf. Blodgett Jared O Co. G 96 Ill Inf. Maloy David Co. A 75 Ill Inf. Couch Ed J Co. B 10 Ia Inf. McFarland Jos'h Co. C 57 Pa Inf. Cady Anthony Co. K 64 Ill Inf. McQuown W L Co. A 61 Pa Inf. Clark A W Co. B 93 Ill Inf. McDuffee D Co. G 2 Mich Cav. Clark Ed Co. C 8 Pa Reserves. Mielenz Franz Co. C 16 Wisc Inf. Clark D J 6 Ill Lt Arty. North Frank Major 1st Batt Pawnee Scouts Caffrey Bernard Co. C 9 Conn Inf. Noval Wm Co. H 10 N Y Heavy Art. Cline Henry Co. I 116 N Y Inf. Nolan John U S Navy Cleveland S J Co. I 153 Ill Inf. Nolan Jas Co. C 118 Ill Inf. Deneen John Co. E 15 U S Inf. North L H Co. K 2 Neb Cav. Dodds W F Co. D Pa R V Cav. Nyhoff C W Co. I 5 Mich Cav. Devany Lackney Co. F 9 Mo M. Inf. O'Conner Thos Co. D 2 O Inf. Dussell A Co. C 9 Ia Cav. Owen D C Co. F 10 Kas Inf. Early John W Co. B 19 O Inf. Plant Peter Co. G 11 Ver Inf. Ellis Jacob Co. E 132 Ill Inf. Pruitt W H H Co. 20 Ind Inf. Elston Geo W Co. G 38 Wisc Inf. Rector E O Co. H 33 Wisc Inf. Fitzpatrick E D Co. E 41 O Inf. Rossiter R L Co. E 41 O Inf. Funk E H Co. I 200 Pa Inf. Rollins Geo Co. A 33 Wisc Inf. Frazier Jas Co. G 4 Ia Inf. Rice W W Co. B 10 Mass Inf. Farley Patrick Co. C 2 U S Inf. Rightmire W H Co. K 28 N J Inf. Fleming Frank Co. I 31 Wisc Inf. Spoerry H T Lt Co. K 2 Wisc Inf. Galley James H Co. K 2 Neb Cav. Stevenson J V Co. E 96 O Inf. Graham E T Co. I 42 Wisc Inf. Steenis John Co. E 6 Wisc Inf. Gerber Fred Co. H 52 Ill Inf. Strother W T Co. D 21 O Inf. Griffey John A Co. C 118 Ill Inf. Sacrider John A Co. D 65 Ill Inf. Graves J J Co. H 8 Ill Inf. Smith August Co. K 28 Pa Inf. Gleason C F Co. F 10 Mass Inf. Sheehan Edward U S Navy Hammond John Capt Co. H 1 Minn Hv Arty. Sturgeon J L Co. A 18 Wisc Inf. Henderson John First Lt Co. I 33 Ia Inf. Schad Peter Co. B 9 Wisc Inf. Henry R H Co. B 11 Wisc Inf. Tannahill John Co. C 156 Ill Inf. Hensley W N Co. B 9 Ky Cav. Tschudy J B Co. G 2 Minn Inf. Hilliard J R Co. I 13 Tenn Cav. Thompson W H Co. B 26 N J Inf. Hart R C Co. B 105 N Y Inf. Talbitzer C W Co. C 9 O Inf. Hollingshead Wm Co. I 3 Wis Inf. Turner M K Co. K 170 O Inf. Hopkins Geo N Co. H 1 Minn Hv Arty. Whitmoyer M Capt Co. E 132 Pa Inf. Heitman C Co. E 42 Ill Inf. Wagner John Co. K 47 Wisc Inf. Hickok C G Co. C 176 O Inf. Wenck Theo Co. H 45 Wisc Inf. Howard Thomas Co. F 63 O Inf. Wurdeman J H Co. D 39 Ill Inf. Jenkins Levi Co. G 13 Mich Inf. Welch Michael Co. D 37 Ill Inf. Jones Lewis Co. A 30 Ind Inf. Wise John Co. F 103 Ill Inf. Johnson F P Co. D N C M Inf. Wilson THomas Co. C 102 Ill Inf. Ives A H Co. L 4 Ill Cav. Whitaker A J Co. C 5 Mich Inf. Irwin Wm Co. F 96 Ill Inf. Wheeler S J Co. C 154 N Y Inf. Krueger Julius Co. K 2 Wisc Inf. Wilken Herman Co. G 105 Ill Inf. Keeler John Co. D 28 N Y Inf. Williams Wm E Co. I 1 Wisc H. Art. Kelley P H Co. K 2 Cal Cav. Woods Henry Co. C 15 Ind Inf. Kavanaugh Edw Watts Jos H Co. D 105 Ill Inf. Lehman Geo W Co. D 129 O Inf. Young R W Co. A 10 N Y Lt. Art.
The monument is dedictated, "In memory of the Union Volunteers of the Civil War, 1861, 1865.
CHIPS.
The ordinary price of such a monument is reckoned at $3,000.
Gibbon has a memorial stone twelve feet high, and coasting $1200, with a figure of a soldier on top.
This is the first monument of the kind in the state, and without question the best soldiers' monument in Nebraska.
F.L. Kimball is the sculptor. Those who worked on the monument here, in one way or other were: W.R. and John W. Kimball and Frank Holland of Lincoln; George Bradshaw, A. Breed, D.N. and Charles Miner, and C.F. Gleason, the local agent of the firm who had the contract.