HISTORICAL RESEARCH SECTION

The following information was copied into the back of a records book from the Stoker post of the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) located at the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library. The text of these notes is provided here verbatim. This is an interesting piece of history to be sure. These notes describe the creation of the original 'Soldiers Monument' on Park Place (now Broadway), and documents its movement to the front of the courthouse, where it stood for many years before being moved to its present location at Maple Grove Cemetery. More information will be provided as it arrives.

Origin of the Memorial

EARLY 20TH CENTURY POSTCARD SHOWING THE SOLDIERS MONUMENT
IN FRONT OF THE HANCOCK COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN FINDLAY
WHERE IT STOOD FOR APPROXIMATELY 50 YEARS

IMAGE PROVIDED BY PAULETTE WEISER
FROM HANCOCK COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM ARCHIVES

SPECIAL THANKS TO ROB TONG FOR PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION
AND TO MY DAUGHTER AMY FOR SO CAREFULLY TRANSCRIBING IT!

SOLDIER'S MONUMENT The History of the Soldier's Monument though not properly a part of the History of Stoker Post, is of sufficient interest to the Veterans of the Civil War to justify its insertion. The Hancock Monumental Association had its inception on the 14" day of April 1865, the date of President Lincoln's assassination. On that day a large concourse of people were in town celebrating the fall of Richmond and the capture of Lee's Army, and a meeting was held in the Presbyterian Church for the purpose of taking steps toward the erection of a monument in Findlay, to the memory of the brave men from Hancock County who laid down their lives in defense of the Union. C. A. Croninger was called to the chair and D. R. Locke, (Petroleum B. Nasby) was appointed Secretary. After free exchange of opinion, Messrs. C. A. Croninger, W. H. Whhler, J. S. Paterson, Milton Gray, D. W. Clarke and D. R. Locke were appointed a Committee to devise a plan for raising the necessary funds for building a monument and reported a meeting on Apr. 20". The Committee submitted their report at that meeting, recommending Hancock Memorial Association as the name of the Society, and that the officers consist of an executive board, embracing a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and five Directors, also an advisory board of 18 members, one from each township of the County. They also recommended that the sum of $10,000 be raised, each township to pay in proportion to its taxable property. The report was adopted and the 'following officers elected. C. A. Croninger, President, Milton Gray, Vice president, D. R. Locke, Secretary, Hanks P. Gage, Treasurer, W. H. Wheeler, Geo. W. Galloway, J. S. Paterson, Aaron Blackford and John Ruthrauff, Directors. Also one member of the Advisory Board in each township. This mode of raising the money failed and a lottery scheme was gotten up, and an advertising sheet called the Soldiers' Memorial started to help along the enterprise. On the 4" of January 1870, after about $2000 had been raised, the Soldiers Monument Association of Hancock County was incorporated with the following Board of Directors. Steward Sprague, President, Albert Langsworty, Vice President, Chas. E. Niles, Treasurer, E. T. Dunn, Secretary, H. B. Green, Wm. L. Davis and Wm. McKinnis. It is confidentially claimed that about $6000 was raised by this lottery scheme. During this period considerable trouble came to the surface, and much wrangling was indulged in, and bad feeling engendered between some of the parties engaged in raising and handling the funds. Several sites for the Monument were advocated, but in May 1870 the members of the association decided by vote to locate it in the Park. This location is known as Park Place. It is about 120 feet wide and runs north and south between Main Cross and Front Streets. Cornering 200 feet of west of Main Street. In August of 1870 the building Committee, consisting of Geo. W. Galloway, Milton Gray and Wm. L. Davis were instructed to contract for the erection of a monument on the site selected the previous spring. They did not find sufficient funds in the treasurers' hands to carry out in full the proposed work, and therefore built a foundation, and contracted with W. D. McKeene of Cincinnati, to erect the Quincy granite bases and pedestal, which were completed in the fall of 1871 at a cost of $1900. The building Committee soon afterwards built an iron fence around the monument foundation, which was subsequently taken down and sold, and thus it remained in an unfinished state for nearly five years. Early in the fall of 1874, the subject of completing the monument began to be talked of among the people of the town, and on the 14" of November, a meeting was held in the Court House for the purpose of affecting an organization, also to make such arrangement as would be deemed necessary to finish the work commenced more than nine years before. Judge S. B. Huffman was chosen Chairman and after a few explanatory remarks and suggestions Col. James a Bope, Wm. H. Schuler, Wm. Welsh were appointed a Committee to further the objects of the meeting. On the 20" of Nov. another meeting was held and Col. James A. Bope, Gen. Moses B. Walker, Wm. Welsh, James M. Byal, and John W. Davis were appointed an executive Committee, and empowered to appoint a sub. Committee of one citizen from each township. Col. Bope was directed to ascertain the cost of a Statue and get full information on the subject for the Association. Another object of this meeting was to organize a Military Company of old soldiers to assist in the production of a Military Drama. The following permanent officers of the Association were elected Nov. 27". Capt. James Wilson, President, Judge S. B. Huffman, Vice President, John Adams, Treasurer, Willis H. Whitley, Secretary. The Military affected an organization Dec. 17" with James Wilson, Caption, James Byal, First Lieutenant, William H. Schuler, Second Lieutenant. On Monday evening Dec. 28" 1874 a Military Drama called "The Union Spy" was produced in Wheeler's Hall, before a large audience, and repeated six times during the week, realizing the handsome sum of $600 toward the enterprise. A small paper called the Monumental Era was issued during this period to advocate the completion of the Monument. Another series of entertainments were given in January 1875 and in this manner and by such means the Association raised the money necessary to finish the work in hand. On the 22" of April 1875, the contract for the marble statue now surmounting the pedestal was let to Thomas O'Harre 'Co., of Cincinnati Ohio, for the sum of $1,200.00. The Statue to be completed and ready to unveil by the 4" of July following. The work was concluded according to contract and Tuesday July 6" 1875, more than 10 years after the project was first mooted, the monument was unveiled in the presence of one of the largest assemblies ever seen in Findlay. The day was one of rejoicing, yet mixed with a certain sadness, which the memory of the fallen called forth from the depths of every honest heart. The town was crowded, flags were in profusion on every hand, magnificent floral decorations and appropriate mottoes embellished Main Street, and a grand parade preceded the unveiling ceremonies. Addresses were delivered in the Court House yard by Ex-Governor R. B. Hayes, and Governor William Allen, followed by Hon. Samuel E. Hunt, of Cincinnati, Orator of the day, who pronounced an eloquent eulogium on the patriotism and the noble deeds of the gallant men who fell in the cause of Liberty. At the conclusion of the oration the distinguished guests and officers of the Association proceeded to the base of the Monument around which the Military had formed a hollow square. Here an appropriate song, composed for the occasion by Col. Wm. Mungen was sung, and as the last note died away the drapery was quickly removed from the Statue by Martin L. Detweiler, audience standing with heads uncovered. The bands then broke forth in patriotic strands, the benediction was pronounced, and with cheers for the sculptor Thomas O'Harre, the large assemblage dispersed. The Monument, as completed, stands on an elevated foundation, and is 17 feet 3 inches in height, consisting of three bases and a pedestal of Quincy Granite 10 Feet high, a plinth or base for the Statue of pure Italian marble, 15 inches high, surmounted by an Italian Marble Statue six feet in height. The Statue represents an Infantry soldier standing at "parade rest" and is a very handsome and life like piece of sculpture. On the pedestal, surrounded by a beautifully carved wreath the following sentiment. OUR HONORED DEAD And on the third base stone the following inscription is engraved. IN MEMORY OF THE SOLDIERS OF HANCOCK COUNTY WHO FOUGHT TO SUPPRESS THE GREAT REBELLION. 1861 - 1865 Four canon placed around the monument are condemned ordnance obtained from the United States Government through a resolution introduced in the Senate by Hon. John Sherman. They lend to the whole a Military aspect in harmony with the Statue of the soldier surmounting the pedestal. REMOVAL OF THE SOLDIERS MONUMENT The soldiers Monument, which had been erected in Park Place and was in itself a thing of beauty artistic skill and a fitting memorial of those men from Hancock County, who had fallen in the Civil War had for a long time been desecrated by being in the midst, of a dirty, wide street, made the more so by being the feeding ground for teams and the standing place for wagons of all kinds, until the old soldiers of Findlay were disgusted with the environment and the disrespect shown this monument to fallen comrades. Stoker Post by unanimous vote manifested its feeling in regard to the matter. On March 25" 1903 a committee consisting of Theo. Totten, J. J. Walters and Simpson Harris from the G.A.R. and Hon. John Poe and R. D. Cole to represent the citizens was elected by the Post to confer with the County Commissioners and if possible to have the grounds about the Monument beautified and kept clean. After investigation the Committee reported that it was impractical, and not likely to prove satisfactory, to have an attempt made to put the monument in its environment in a desirable condition and recommended that the Monument be removed and placed in the greensward, in front of the south-east face of the Court House. The matter was presented to the Commissioners by the Hon. John Poe, who stated the condition of the monument, its indecent surroundings and the unanimous desire of the old soldiers, that it be placed in a more fitting and appropriate location. All were convinced that the request of the Post was reasonable and the change desirable. The Commissioners consented to the change and appropriated sufficient funds for the purpose. The monument was removed to its present beautiful location where it has the care of the County Officials, is an ornament to the City and a pride of the veteran soldiers. The monument was dedicated and the first memorial services held at the monument in its present location on Decoration Day 1903. The address was delivered by Hon. John Poe. LOCATIONS OF HEADQUARTERS OF STOKER POST Stoker Post was organized in a room on the second floor of what is know as the Armory, In rear of the Jones Block on Apr. 7" 1881. In Dec. 1881, the Post rented the Paterson & Taylor Hall, that being the third floor of the building then and now occupied by Paterson's Dry Goods Store. The third floor was then used, as a Hall for meetings, the terms of rental was $60 per year, for a period of 3 years. On Sept. 1: 1888 the Post vacated the Paterson Hall and occupied the Clarke's Hall, which hand just been built, on East Sandusky St. at a rental of $120 per annum payable monthly, $10 per month. These Quarters were occupied until the fall of 1894. In the fall of 1894 the hall of J. T. Adams in what is now known as the "Odd Fellows Building" South Main Street was rented and occupied at a rental of $10 per month. On December 12, 1902 the Post occupied, for the first time in the Hall and Accessory rooms in the new Adams Block corner Main and East Crawford Streets, though the lease did not begin until January 1, 1903.

VETERANS MEMORIAL RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT

DESIGNER | PROJECT COORDINATOR | WEBMASTER: Thomas D. Bissell
ARCHITECT: David Roth "The Architect"

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Page Last Updated: 10 MARCH 2001