Ohio’s American Civil War soldiers and civilians sought to commemorate the troopers’ devotion to and service with the United States by constructing monuments and other memorials.
During the American Civil War, Ohio provided the federal government with 260 regiments of men, including infantry, artillery, and cavalry units. Ohioans also served in several other regiments from other states, most notably from Kentucky, West Virginia, and Massachusetts, as well as in federal units. Almost 330,000 Ohio men, including 5,092 African Americans, served in the Union military during the conflict.
Ohio’s soldiers and civilians sought to commemorate the troopers’ devotion to and service with the United States by constructing monuments and other memorials. Ohioans completed the first of these commemorations during the Civil War, with hundreds more being built after the conflict. Ohioans have built at least 295 monuments to commemorate Civil War veterans, civilians, political leaders, and war-related events in the state. Eighty-six of the state’s eighty-eight counties contain Civil War monuments, with Hamilton County, Lucas County, Lorain County, Brown County, and Franklin County each boasting ten or more memorials each. Only Clinton County and Noble County do not contain Civil War monuments.
Ohio’s earliest monument commemorating the Civil War and events that led to the conflict was completed in 1860 in Oberlin. Residents constructed an obelisk to honor three African-American men who died during John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry, Virginia (present-day West Virginia) in 1859.
The earliest Ohio memorial for actual Civil War soldiers was constructed in Bristol (modern-day Bristolville), in Trumbull County. Dedicated on October 16, 1863, the monument cost five hundred dollars to build and honored the fourteen men from Bristol who lost their lives during the conflict between 1861 and 1863.
Ohio’s Civil War monuments vary in design, but some designs are more prolific than others. Many of the state’s first monuments consisted of eagles, with the wings being fully extended, partially extended, or folded. Approximately seventy percent of the memorials constructed in Ohio during the 1860s included an eagle. From 1870 to 1931, soldiers replaced the eagle as being the most popular figure on Ohio’s memorials. The soldiers came in various designs, including standing at parade rest, standing guard, holding a flag and sword, serving as a color bearer, skirmishing, or serving as a sentinel. Of the 120 monuments constructed in Ohio that feature soldiers, eighty-nine have the trooper standing at parade rest. Other designs used in Ohio’s Civil War monuments include obelisks, artillery pieces, a cross, flag poles, a horse, President Abraham Lincoln other prominent military and political leaders, and various markers and plaques, among other types. There are also gazebos, memorial halls, and chapels that honor Ohio’s contributions to the Civil War. Ohio’s more traditional monuments—statues—were usually constructed of bronze, granite, marble, or cast iron.
Two businesses primarily built memorials in Ohio, although many communities did utilize local artists instead of these companies. The W.H. Mullins Company was founded in Salem, Ohio circa 1894. Besides military monuments, the company also produced tin ceilings, lawn and garden statuary, and other items. The W.H. Mullins Company produced memorials for communities in both the North and the South. In Ohio, the company made monuments that featured a soldier at parade rest for the communities of Applecreek, Circleville, Delphos, Pickaway, Washington Court House, and Wooster. The communities of Eaton and Elyria contain Mullins monuments consisting of skirmishers, while Salem and Wadsworth have memorials produced by this company that feature standard bearers. Elyria has a second Mullins monument, consisting of an eagle, as does Ashtabula. The W.H. Mullins Company, which remains in business today at Salem, also produced statues of President Abraham Lincoln and Judge Advocate of the Lincoln conspirators John A. Bingham for the communities of Wooster and Cadiz respectively.
The Monumental Bronze Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut was established in 1874. While headquartered in Bridgeport, the company operated six foundries across the United States in the late 1800s and the early 1900s. Among the company’s monuments in Ohio are ones located in Cardington, Defiance, Grafton, Kipton, New California, Wauseon, and Windsor. The Monumental Bronze Company also manufactured the Confederate memorial, located at the site of Camp Chase in Columbus. This business’ monuments tended to last much longer than those made by other companies. The Monumental Bronze Company constructed many of its monuments, especially its earliest ones, out of “white bronze,” a type of material consisting of zinc. The material weathered well and, as the monument aged, developed a bluish-gray coloring. The material was never very popular with monument purchasers, and the Monumental Bronze Company ceased using white bronze in production by the early 1900s. The company was especially famous for its metal tombstones. On March 8, 1939, the business filed for bankruptcy and no longer operates today.
Ohio’s Civil War monuments include the following:
Adams County
Soldier Monument, Town Square, West Union, Ohio
Allen County:
Cannon Monument, Woodlawn Cemetery, Lima
Eagle Monument, Spencerville Township Cemetery, Spencerville
Soldier Monument, Town Square, West Union
Soldier Monument, Delphos Veterans Memorial Park, Delphos
Soldier Monument, High Street, Lafayette
Ashland County:
Soldier Monument, Courthouse lawn, Ashland
Ashtabula County:
Eagle Monument, Geneva Elementary School, Geneva
Owen Brown Monument, Courthouse Lawn, Jefferson
Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument, 44th Street and Main Avenue, Ashtabula
Soldier Monument, City Park, Austinburg
Soldier Monument, City Cemetery, Conneaut
Soldier Monument, Courthouse Lawn, Jefferson
Soldier Monument, Evergreen Cemetery, Pierpont
Soldier Monument, Noble Road Cemetery, Windsor
Athens County:
Soldier Monument, Ohio University Commons, Athens
Camp Wool Marker, West Elementary School, Athens
Cannon, Greenlawn Cemetery, Doanville
Auglaize County:
Soldier Monument, Elm Grove Cemetery, St. Marys
Soldier Monument, Greenlawn Cemetery, Wapakoneta
Belmont County:
Soldier Monument, Southern Cemetery, Barnesville
Soldier Monument, Belmont Street and 34th Street, Bellaire
Cannon and Memorial, Weeks Cemetery, Bridgeport
Brown County:
Soldier Monument, Decatur Park, Decatur
Soldier Monument, Maplewood Cemetery, East Ripley
Grant’s Schoolhouse State Memorial, Georgetown
U.S, Grant’s Boyhood Home, Georgetown
U.S. Grant Statue, 2003 Veterans Boulevard, Georgetown
Plaque, Front Street and Mulberry Street, Ripley
Cannon and Memorial, Main Street and Second Street, Ripley
Reverend John Rankin’s House, Ripley
Monument, Front Street and Main Street, Ripley
John P. Parker Home, Ripley
“Freedom Landing” Tablet, Front Street, Ripley
Reverend John Mahan Gravesite, Old Sardinia Cemetery, Sardinia
Butler County:
Soldiers, Sailors and Pioneers Monument, High Street and Monument Avenue, Hamilton
Sundial Monument, Monument Avenue, Hamilton
Soldier Monument, Woodside Cemetery, Middletown
Carroll County:
McCook House, Public Square, Carrollton
Champaign County:
Soldier Monument, Maple Grove Cemetery, Mechanicsburg
Soldier Monument, Monument Square, Urbana
Clark County:
Soldier Monument, New Carlisle Cemetery, New Carlisle
Soldier Monument, Ferncliff Cemetery, Springfield
Clermont County:
Cannon Memorial, Stone Lick Township Cemetery, Stone Lick Township
U.S. Grant Memorial Stained Glass Window, Laurel Methodist Church, Laurel
U.S. Grant Memorial Bridge, Point Pleasant
U.S. Grant’s Birthplace, Point Pleasant
Soldier Monument, Township Cemetery, Williamsburg
Columbiana County:
Edwin Coppock Memorial, Hope Cemetery, Salem
Soldier Monument, Hope Cemetery, Salem
Soldier Monument, Grandview Cemetery, Salem
Soldier Monument, Hope Cemetery, Salem
Stone Monument, State Route 518, West Point
Coshocton County:
Obelisk, McElwee Park, New Castle
Crawford County:
Granite Monument to Frank the Warhorse, Bill Stanley's Farm, Marion Melmore Road, just
north of Route 30, Oceola
Cuyahoga County:
Soldier Monument, Public Square, Bedford
Soldier Monument, Public Square, Berea
Eagle Monument, Evergreen Hill Cemetery, Chagrin Falls
Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument, 3 Public Square, Cleveland
James A. Garfield Monument, Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland
Abraham Lincoln Statue, 1380 East 6th Street, Cleveland
Mortimer D. Leggett Gravesite, Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland
7th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Woodland Cemetery, Cleveland
23rd Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Woodland Cemetery, Cleveland
Darke County:
Soldier Monument, Greenville Cemetery, Greenville
Defiance County:
Soldier Monument, Riverside Cemetery, Defiance
Soldier Monument, Forest Home Cemetery, Hicksville
Soldier Monument, Sherwood Cemetery, Sherwood
Delaware County:
Soldier Monument, Courthouse Lawn, Delaware
Stone Monument, Rosecrans Road, Sunbury
Erie County:
Eagle Monument, park square, Milan
Soldier Statue, 3416 Columbus Avenue, Sandusky
Obelisk, 3416 Columbus Avenue, Sandusky
Gazebo, 3416 Columbus Avenue, Sandusky
Fairfield County:
Granite Monument, North High Street and West Oak Street, Canal Winchester
William T. Sherman Home, 137 East Main Street, Lancaster
William Tecumseh Sherman Statue, downtown, Lancaster
;Fayette County:
Soldier Monument, Washington Cemetery, Washington Court House
Franklin County:
Lincoln Statue, Ohio Capitol Rotunda, Columbus
William McKinley Statue, Ohio Capitol Grounds, Columbus
Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery Monument, 2900 Sullivant Avenue, Columbus
Soldier Monument, Greenlawn Cemetery, Columbus
Peace Monument, Capitol Square, Columbus
Soldier Monument, Capitol Square, Columbus
James Ovid Wellford Smith Gravesite, Greenlawn Cemetery, Columbus
Grand Army of the Republic Sundial, Capitol Square, Columbus
Bronze Monument, Towers Hall, Otterbein College, Westerville
Benjamin Russell Hanby Home, 160 West Main Street, Westerville
Fulton County:
Soldier Monument, 210 South Fulton Street, Wauseon
Soldier Monument, Park Street, Wauseon
Gallia County:
Bandstand, city park, Gallipolis
Geauga County:
Granite Monument, Cemetery, Montville
Greene County:
Martin Robison Delany Gravesite, Massies Creek Cemetery, Wilberforce
Plaque, Antioch Hall, Antioch College, Yellow Springs
Guernsey County:
Soldier Monument, West 8th Street and Wheeling Avenue, Cambridge
Obelisk, Old Cambridge Cemetery, Cambridge
Confederate Soldiers Gravesite, Old Mill Road, Old Washington
Hamilton County:
Blue Ash Bicentennial Veterans Memorial, Blue Ash Towne Square, Blue Ash
Blue Ash Millennium American Heritage Bell Tower, Blue Ash Towne Square, Blue Ash
Abraham Lincoln Statue, Lytle Park, Cincinnati
James A. Garfield Monument, Platt Park, Cincinnati
Hamilton County Memorial Building, 1225 Elm Street, Cincinnati
Friedrich Hecker Monument, Washington Park, Cincinnati
Robert L. McCook Monument, Washington Park, Cincinnati
Soldier Monument, Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati
5th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry Monument, Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati
William Haines Lytle Gravesite, Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati
Fighting McCooks Gravesite, Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati
Cannon, Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati
Stephen Foster Monument, Alms Park, Cincinnati
Flagpole, Eden Park, Cincinnati
Camp Dennison Monument, State Route 126, Indian Hill
Hancock County:
Soldier Monument, Maple Grove Cemetery, Findlay
Soldier Monument, Fountain Cemetery, Fostoria
Soldier Monument McComb Union Cemetery, McComb
Hardin County:
Cannon Monument, Village Park, Ada
Jacob Wilson Parrott, Grove Cemetery, Kenton
Soldier Monument, Grove Cemetery, Kenton
Harrison County:
John A. Bingham Statue, Courthouse Lawn, Cadiz
Memorial Plaque, Courthouse Lawn, Cadiz
George A. Custer Monument, County Road 646, New Rumley
Henry County:
Cannon Monument, State Route 6, McClure
Highland County:
Soldier Monument, Greenfield Cemetery, Greenfield
Soldier Monument, Courthouse Lawn, Hillsboro
Granite Monument, Courthouse Lawn, Hillsboro
Obelisk, Masonic Cemetery, Lynchburg
Hocking County:
Soldier Monument, Town Square, Logan
Holmes County:
Soldier Monument, Town Square, Millersburg
Huron County:
Soldier Monument, 71 South Main Street, New London
Stone Monument, North Monroeville Cemetery, North Monroeville
Granite Monument, Norwalk Public Library, Norwalk
Moses Fairchild Wooster Gravesite, Woodlawn Cemetery, Norwalk
Jackson County:
Plaque, Main Street and Broadway Street, Jackson
Granite Monument, Town Square, Wellston
Cannon, Town Square, Wellston
Jefferson County:
Stone Monument, County Roads 53 and 54, Bravo
Edwin M. Stanton Monument, 3rd Street and Market Street, Steubenville
Granite Monument 1, Union Cemetery, Steubenville
Granite Monument 2, Union Cemetery, Steubenville
Eagle Monument, Union Cemetery, Steubenville
Knox County:
Soldier Monument, Mount View Cemetery, Mount Vernon
Soldier Monument, Monument Square, Mount Vernon
Lake County:
Soldier Monument, Town Square, Madison
Soldier Monument, Veterans Memorial Park, Painesville
Soldier Monument, Town Square, Willoughby
Lawrence County:
Four Parrott Guns, Woodlawn Cemetery, Ironton
Licking County:
Obelisk, 12239 Morse Road, Jersey
John Lincoln Clem Statue, Veterans Park, Newark
Logan County:
Marble Monument, Bellefontaine Cemetery, Bellfeontaine
Lorain County:
Soldier Monument, Ridgelawn Cemetery, Elyria
Eagle Monument, Ridgelawn Cemetery, Elyria
Soldier Monument, Ely Park, Elyria
Soldier Monument, Butternut Ridge Cemetery, Grafton
Eagle Monument, State Route 58 and State Route 162 intersection, Huntington
Soldier Monument, 6th Street and State Street intersection, Kipton
Soldier Monument, State Route 301 and 303 intersection, LaGrange
Brick Monument, Wright Park, Oberlin
Giles W. Shurtleff Statue, South Professor Street, Oberlin
Marble Monument, Martin Luther King, Jr., Park, Oberlin
Stone Monument, South Professor and West College Street intersection, Oberlin
Oberlin-Wellington Rescue Monument, Martin Luther King, Jr., Park, Oberlin
Soldier Monument, State Route 58 and State Route 303 intersection, Pittsfield
Lucas County:
Soldier Monument, 102 East Broadway, Maumee
Eagle Monument, Monclova-Swan Creek Cemetery, Monclova Township
Stone Monument, Willow Cemetery, Oregon
Obelisk, North Oregon Cemetery, Oregon
James B. Steedman Statue, Jamie Farr Park, Toledo
Bronze Memorial, 325 Michigan Street, Toledo
Henry G. Neubert Gravesite, Woodlawn Cemetery, Toledo
James B. Steedman Gravesite, Woodlawn Cemetery, Toledo
George Duncan Forsyth Gravesite, Forest Cemetery, Toledo
Obelisk, Woodlawn Cemetery, Toledo
Stone Urn, Civic Center Plaza, Toledo
Granite Monument, Forest Cemetery, Toledo
Mark Wood Gravesite, Forest Cemetery, Toledo
Soldier Monument, Wakeman Cemetery, Waterville
Soldier Monument, Providence Street and St. Louis Avenue intersection, Whitehouse
Madison County:
Soldier Monument, Oak Hill Cemetery, London
Mahoning County:
Soldier Monument, Riverside Cemetery, Poland
Soldier Monument, Center Square, Youngstown
Marion County:
Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Chapel, Marion City Cemetery, Marion
Medina County:
Eagle Monument, State Route 83 and State Route 162 intersection, Chatham
Soldier Monument, Spring Grove Cemetery, Medina
Soldier Monument, Woodlawn Cemetery, Wadsworth
Meigs County:
Gazebo, Stewart Bennett Memorial Park, Middleport
Soldier Monument, Courthouse Lawn, Pomeroy
Daniel McCook, Sr., Monument, State Route 124, Portland
Metal Historic Markers, Buffington Island State Park, Portland
Stone Monument, Portland Park, Portland
Mercer County:
Soldier Monument, Market Street and Main Street intersection, Mendon
Miami County:
Bronze Marker, Hardin Road, Piqua
Stone Monument, Jackson Cemetery, Piqua
Eagle Monument, Forest Hill Cemetery, Piqua
Steven C. Rowan Monument, East Main Street and 1st Street intersection, Piqua
Soldier Monument, State Route 48 and State Route 718 intersection, Pleasant Hill
Soldier Monument, Riverside Cemetery, Troy
Monroe County:
Soldier Monument, Unity Baptist Cemetery, Antioch
Montgomery County:
Soldier Monument, North Gateway, Dayton
Soldier Monument, Veterans Hospital Portico, Dayton
Soldier Monument, Dayton National Cemetery, Dayton
Obelisk, Woodland Arboretum, Dayton
Clement L. Vallandigham Gravesite, Woodland Cemetery, Dayton
Morgan County:
Granite Monument, Route 60, Eagleport
Soldier Monument, Town Square, McConnelsville
Morrow County:
Soldier Monument, Glendale Cemetery, Cardington
Muskingum County:
Soldier Monument, Hamlin Street and Greenwood Street intersection, Zanesville
Ottawa County:
Southern Soldier Statue, Cemetery, Johnson's Island
Perry County:
Company D, 30th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Veterans Monument Square, New
;;;;;;;;;;; Lexington
Philip Sheridan Monument, Village Square, Somerset
Pickaway County:
Soldier Monument, Forest Cemetery, Circleville
Pike County:
William Shrader Gravesite, Old Baptist Cemetery, Omega
Portage County:
Newton H. Hall Gravesite, Standing Rock Cemetery, Kent
Eagle Monument, Village Circle, Nelson
Slave Monument, Maple Grove Cemetery, Ravenna
Preble County:
Soldier Monument, Fort St. Clair Park, Eaton
Soldier Monument, Mound Hill Union Cemetery, Eaton
Putnam County:
Soldier Monument, Town Park, Columbus Grove
Soldier Monument, Ottawa River Cemetery, Rimer
Richland County:
Soldier Monument, Central Park, Mansfield
Soldier Monument, South Park, Mansfield
Bronze Plaque, Central Park, Mansfield
Sultana Historic Marker, South Park, Mansfield
Ross County:
Soldier Monument, Grandview Cemetery, Chillicothe
Soldier Monument, Yoctangee Park, Chillicothe
Joshua W. Sill Gravesite, Grandview Cemetery, Chillicothe
Sandusky County:
Charles B. Gambee Gravesite, Bellevue Cemetery, Bellevue
James B. McPherson Monument, McPherson Cemetery, Clyde
Soldier Monument, 423 Crogham Street, Fremont
Scioto County:
Soldier Monument, Tracy Park, Portsmouth
Soldiers Circle Chapel, Greenlawn Cemetery, Portsmouth
Soldier Monument, Greenlawn Cemetery, Portsmouth
Seneca County:
Soldier Monument and Stained Glass Windows, Amsden Methodist Church, Amsden
Granite Monument, Attica and Venice Township Cemetery, Attica
Granite Monument, Kansas Cemetery, Liberty Township
Soldier Monument, Pleasant Union Cemetery, Old Fort
Granite Monument, Omar Cemetery, Omar
Soldier Monument, Village Park, Republic
Soldier Monument, Frost Parkway, Tiffin
William Harvey Gibson Monument, Courthouse Lawn, Tiffin
Shelby County:
Monumental Building, Court Street and Ohio Street intersection, Sidney
Schultz's Battery Monument, Ohio Avenue and Main Avenue intersection, Sidney
Stark County:
Abraham Lincoln Monument, Alliance Public Square, Alliance
McKinley Monument, 800 McKinley Monument Drive Northwest, Canton
Soldier Monument, Westlawn Cemetery, Canton
Soldier Monument, East Sparta Cemetery, East Sparta
Theodore Swan Gravesite, East Sparta Cemetery, East Sparta
Cannon Monument, Town Center, Massillon
Granite Monument, Union Lawn Cemetery, Navarre
Soldier Monument, Zion Cemetery, North Canton
Soldier Monument, Greenlawn Cemetery, Wilmot
Summit County:
John Brown Monument, Perkins Park, Akron
Memorial Chapel, Akron Rural Cemetery-Glendale, Akron
Soldier Monument, Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peninsula
Eagle Monument, Town Square, Twinsburg
Trumbull County:
Stone Monument, Town Square, Bristolville
Eagle Monument, State Route 534 and 87 State Route intersection, Mesopotamia
National William McKinley Birthplace Memorial, 46 North Main Street, Niles
Soldier Monument, State Route 305, Southington
Eagle Monument, State Route 193 and Warren Sharon Road, Vienna
Granite Memorial, Oakwood Cemetery, Warren
Soldier Monument, Monumental Park, Warren
Tuscarawas County:
William C. Quantrill Grave Marker, 4th Street Cemetery, Dover
Soldier Monument, Maple Grove Cemetery, Dover
Soldier Monument, Courthouse Lawn, New Philadelphia
Eagle Monument, Ragersville Cemetery, Ragersville
Soldier Monument, Union Cemetery, Uhrichsville
Union County:
Eagle Monument, Milford Center Cemetery, Milford Center
Soldier Monument, US 42 and Industrial Parkway intersection, New California
Van Wert County:
Soldier Monument, Woodlawn Cemetery, Ohio City
Soldier Monument, Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert
Cannon Monument, Courthouse Lawn, Van Wert
Vinton County:
Soldier Monument, Courthouse, McArthur
Warren County:
Flagpole and Cannon Monument, Hamilton-Middletown Road Cemetery, Franklin
Robert E. Lee Monument,; Hamilton-Middletown Road and Cincinnati-Dayton Road
;;;;;;;;;;; intersection, Franklin
Washington County:
Soldier Monument, Muskingum Park, Marietta
Reverend Gordon Battelle Monument, Newport Cemetery, Newport
Wayne County:
Soldier Monument, Railroad Park, Applecreek
Obelisk, Reedsburg Cemetery, Reedsburg
Soldier Monument, Public Square, Wooster
Abraham Lincoln Statue, Andrews L:ibrary at College of Wooster, Wooster
Soldier Monument, Wooster Cemetery, Wooster
Williams County:
Soldier Monument, Village Park, Edgerton
Wood County:
John Alfred Wilson Gravesite, Union Hill Cemetery, Bowling Green
Soldier Monument, Hood Park, Perrysburg
Soldier Monument, Church Street and Main Street intersection, Wayne
Stained Glass Windows, Wayne Methodist Church, Wayne
Siege Cannons, Wayne Garden Club Park, Wayne
Soldier Monument, Weston Cemetery, Weston
Wyandot County:
Cannon, Chandler Cemetery, Marseilles
Granite Monument, Nevada Cemetery, Nevada
Granite Monument, Old Sycamore Cemetery, Sycamore
Bronze Marker, County Courthouse, Upper Sandusky
