- Page 65 -
of these soldiers are engraved on this monument.   A company was organized at Plain City, largely recruited from Jerome Township.  The Captain of the company was Jonathan Alder who had been a captive among the Indians for many years.  The company marched by order of the Governor to a point about three miles north of Marysville, where they erected a blockhouse on the west bank of Mill Creek, which they garrisoned for a short time.  This was done for the protection of the settlers along Darby Creek and Sugar Run.
     "Captain Adler, who had lived among the Indians for many years and knew their mode of warfare, claimed that they would not attack the blockhouse but would murder the women and children in the settlements.  Therefore, on his advice the company returned to their homes.  This is the only fort erected within the territory of Union County.  No attack was made on the settlers during that war, but there were many alarms and the women and children who were left without protection were kept in constant fear of an outbreak, as visits were made to the settlements frequently by roving hands of Indians who claimed to be friendly.
     "How appropriate it is that this beautiful and substantial monument should be erected on this spot of sacred memory- erected on land given to a soldier of the Revolution for his services in fighting for liberty during that war and to perpetuate the memory of the heroic deeds of our ancestors.  Also in memory of their sons in the War of 1812, who protected the land so dearly bought, as well as the soldiers of the war with Mexico, the soldiers of the Civil War, who saved the government established by their forefathers, and teh soldiers of the war with Spain, who fought to free an oppressed people.  All worthy sons of worthy sires.  Your ancestors of the Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, and of all our wars, have left you a noble heritage of a Republic founded and perpetuated by their valor.
     "The story of the inception, the progress and the completion of this monument which you dedicate today, is one of patriotic service by the citizens not only residing in this com

- Page 66 -
munity, but of many friends and relatives of these soldiers residing in other States who have given substantial assistance.
     "To Robert L. Woodburn, whose generous bequest made it possible to erect this memorial, is due the credit in a larger degree than to any other person.  He was born and his boyhood days were passed within sight of this spot.  His early school days in the old log schoolhouse in the woods, and next in the Little Brown Schoolhouse still standing yonder, a silent witness of this scene.  Graduating at Wesleyan College, Delaware, as is well known, he became a successful lawyer and business man, and represented the county in the State Legislature with credit.  His many generous deeds are well remembered, but it was not that charity paraded before the world, but the true charity when 'the left hand knoweth not what the right hand doeth.'
     "During all of his busy life he never tired of taking of the old home, old associates, and school days.  A few years ago, in conversation with Robert McCrory and myself, he suggested that he would be pleased if I would write a brief history of the services of the soldiers who enlisted from the township, while some of the old landmarks and buildings were still standing.  It was then agreed that they would have photographs of the old church and the old schoolhouse taken, and I was assigned to the historical part of the work.  The erection of a monument was taken up for consideration after the historical work had been commenced.
     "In due time the photographs were produced and from that day, some four years ago, I have been endeavoring to fulfill my part of the contract.  Before starting on his European tour Mr. Woodburn visited me and stated that he had left a bequest in his will for this memorial.  I never saw him in life again, but he was true to his promise, and with the enthusiastic support of the citizens and zealous work of your committee, you see before you the result of their laudable efforts.
     "To secure subscriptions and to look after all the details leading up to the completion and erection of this memorial has been no easy task.  The committee has worked untiring and

- Page 67 -
the patriotic citizens have responded cheerfully and generously to every call financially and by helpful assistance in arranging for this patriotic service.
     "In the sealed receptacle inside of the monument is deposited the name and service of every soldier who enlisted from the township, the name of every subscriber to the Monument Fund, the names of the school children of the township, photographs of upward of sixty soldiers of the Civil War, a copy of the program of the day, with songs, and the names of the committees who have had charge of all matters pertaining to the erection of the monument.
     "You all have an interest in this memorial, and some day in the far future, perhaps one hundred years hence, this receptacle will be unsealed and your names will be read by your decendants.
     "Fifty-two years ago—April 24, 1861—the first war meeting was held in this church, and the older citizens, Presbyterians and Methodists, were prominent in this meeting. Rev. B, D. Evans, a Presbyterian minister, made an enthusiastic patriotic speech, and although three-score years of age, he afterward enlisted as one of the minute men and went to Cincinnati to assist in repelling the invasion of the Confederate army into Ohio.
     "The Bible and the munitions of war were side by side on the old pulpit. Much enthusiasm was manifested, and David O. Taylor, the first to enlist, was killed on the battlefield at Dallas, Ga., on the 27th of May, 1864.
     "Dr. James Cutler, a young physician of this village who had served in the Regular Army during the Mexican war, was elected Captain of the company. The company commenced at once to drill in the fields and meadows surrounding this village,
and the shrill fife and the rattling drum were heard two or three times each week.
     "The busy hands of mothers and sisters in a few days furnished the first uniforms, consisting of red jackets and black caps.  Young ladies of the neighborhood purchased silk in Columbus and made a large silk flag which was presented to

- Page 68 -
the company down on the square July 4, 1861.  Before the company was recruited to the required number a call was made for three years' service and this company did not enter the field as an organization, yet every one of them enlisted in the three years' service in many different regiments.
     "These boys marched gayly away to the wild music of war-drums, the blare of trumpets, with bright banners and uniforms, fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers cheering them on; but they did not all return. Three-score and ten of your boys sleep on the battlefields of the South.  Those who did return, came with banners blackened with the smoke of battle, faded uniforms, and sun-bronzed heroes of many battles.  They served in forty-two different regiments, batteries, and other organizations.
     "Some of your boys, my fellow citizens, fought on almost every great battlefield of the war.  They were at Gettysburg, where 41,000 boys of the North and South fell in two days; they were at Chickamauga, where 35,000 boys fell in two days ; they were at Shiloh, Stone River, Cheat Mountain, Port Republic, Antietam, Vicksburg, and many of the battlefields of Virginia; they were in the 'One Hundred Days under fire from Chattanooga to Atlanta; some of them marched with Sherman to the sea, and others were at Appomattox at the surrender of Lee's army.  This is the true story of the services
of the soldiers of this township to whom you pay tribute today by this ceremony of dedicating this monument and the strewing of flowers.
     "Three score and ten died for you and me that we might live and enjoy the many blessings of a free and united nation.
     "Upward of 2,600,000 soldiers served in the Union Army during the Civil War.  Of that number Ohio furnished 313,180, and the losses, killed and those who died of wounds, were 35,4T5. Union County sent to the battlefield 3,000 soldiers, one-tenth of whom enlisted in this township.  Upward of 500 who enlisted from the county were killed or died of wounds and disease in the service, and the total casualties were 1,035.

- Page 69 -
About one-eighth of that number were from Jerome Township.
     "We had no officers of high rank in the Civil War.  One reached the rank of Colonel, one Major, five of Captain, but the rank and file who carried the musket, the carbine and knapsack did the fighting and won the battles that saved the nation.
     "The erection of monuments and memorials to commemorate the sacrifices, sufferings and deeds of the fallen heroes of all our wars is very commendable.  How appropriate the inscription on your monument, which reads as follows
:
" 'In honor of the men who served in the Army of
the Union.  Those who fought and lived and those
who fought and died.  May this shaft ever call to
memory the story of the glory of the men who wore
the blue.'

     "This inscription should be memorized by every pupil in your schools, for the erection of memorials arouses the patriotic enthusiasm of the youth of our land and instills in their minds loyalty to our flag and all that it implies.
     "The public school is the nursery of patriotism.  Its best fruits are true Americans and the making of loyal and intelligent citizens.  Then how appropriate it is that they should take part in these patriotic ceremonies.  It will be an ominous day in the history of any family when it no longer remembers with gratitude the worthy deeds of its ancestors, and there is no cause, except religion, holier than the service to country or state.
     "First comes the cross, then the flag, for Christianity and patriotism go hand in hand.
     "One word more, my old neighbors and friends; always keep in mind and teach your children that this is the most sacred and pathetic of all American holidays; let it not become a day of noise and a gala day.  Remember the religious sentiment of honoring the dead and perpetuating their deeds of valor in the beautiful ceremonies which make the day more sacred and nobler than any other holiday.
     "In the 'brave days of old' each year on the anniversary

- Page 70 -
of the battle of Marathon, the Greek sires would take their boys to the battlefield of Marathon, show them the monument erected to the heroes who there fell in defense of their land, and exalt the example of those who sacrificed life and limb for their country.
     "So should we the friends and descendants of these brave men and heroes of all our wars, from Lexington in the War of the Revolution to Appomattox, kindle the fires of patriotism in our boys by holding up to them the imperishable deeds of our soldiers on all of our battlefields.
     "My fellow citizens, when the lsat survivor who enlisted here has answered his last roll call on earth, we can see with prophetic eye the descendants of these heroes gathered about this monument, reciting to their children and children's children the heroic deeds of their ancestors on the battlefield.
     "The victories were not all won by the soldiers at the front, for there was a loyal battle line in our homes in the North.  There were heroes and heroines in the old homesteads who were not permitted to go to the front during the dark days of the war.  Some citizens with families, others physically disabled, but all through those long and weary years their patriotism never faltered and they were ever ready to open their purses for payment of bounties and to care for families of the soldiers on the battle lines.
     "Then there were the mothers, the wives, the sisters, and the sweethearts - it has been truly said that there was one line that was never broken during the war; that was the line of the loyal women.  Some of them are here today who cheered father, brother or sweetheart as he marched away to the music of the war-drums in 1861 - 1865.  You waited anxiously for many of them who did not return.
     "You loved them better than life, but you could only hope and pray.  Your hearts were on the battle line at the front for your dear one was there and you would have scorned him had he failed in his duty to home and country.  Your love and prayers followed him on the march and in the carnage of battle, and he could not have been otherwise than brave.

- Page 71 -
     "Through all the long and weary years of the war you did not lose faith; you wrote messages of cheer, suffered for every shot that pierced a loved one, and those who were spared returned victorious to receive your blessing.  Of hte many bright and happy girls who with their willing hands made and presented the silk flag to your boys within a stone's throw of this spot, July 4th, 1861, not more than half a dozen reside in this community today.
     "The fathers and mothers of that day have all passed away and the boys and girls of 1861 are now of the older generation.  There are some sad hearts here today - widows of soldier husbands who have passed to the other shore, there awaiting the happy reunion, perhaps but a few years hence.
     "But to you, with all its sadness, you rejoice that your loved ones - husband or father - fought the good fight and is so highly honored today by this patriotic service and memorial.
     "And where are the boys who drilled and marched over the meadows and along the streets of this village fifty-two years ago?  Were the First Sergeants of the forty-two organizations in which these boys served here today and would give the command, 'Attention to roll call!' they would not all answer 'Here.'  But on parade he could report to the Adjutant: 'Sir, all present or accounted for.'  Three score and ten died with honor on the field, two hundred sleep in the cemeteries of the North, only a remnant of the old guard survives, but 'all present or accounted for' would be the answer.
     "One parting word, comrades of the Great March.  You are not only veterans in service, but veterans in age now.  Your heads are graying, your steps are halting, but you are young in heart - steadily marching behind the great recruiting officer, Death.  The ranks are thinning - one hundred going down each day.  We will not all meet on this historic ground again, but there are some here today who may live to see the Memorial Day when there will not be a veteran of the great war on earth.
     "There will be eloquent words spoken; there will be patriotic songs by the children; there will be strewing of the sweet-

- Page 72 -
est flowers of springtime over the graves of your departed heroes, but not one will answer 'here' when the roll is called.  My comrades, when we have all been mustered out by the Great Commander, when we have heard the buglle sounding revelle, for the last time calling us to duty, when 'taps' and 'lights out' have been sounded for the last time, let us be ready to join our comrades on the other shore.  It will be 'good night' here and 'good morning' over their.  Salute the flag!  Break ranks!  Farewell!"