NEGenWeb Project

CIVIL WAR MONUMENT
COLUMBUS, PLATTE COUNTY, NEBRASKA


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, 1900

    In 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.

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