Alexandria's Veterans #5

Decoration Day   Part I I I

Who were these people who spoke at that first Decoration Day?

Joseph M. Scott was a Civil War officer in the United States Army. Commissioned a Captain, Scott commanded Company B, 76th Regiment, Ohio Infantry. This company was largely recruited by Captain Scott and mustered in on October 5, 1861, at Camp Sherman, Newark, Ohio, under the command of Captain Scott, First Lieutenant Ira French (later promoted to Captain), and Second Lieutenant John R Miller (later promoted to First Lieutenant). Several men from Alexandria and St. Albans filled the ranks. Camp Sherman was named for Ohio Senator John Sherman, brother of the famous General William T. Sherman. The Camp was opened in the Fall of 1861 and, by the Summer of 1862, was closed. Today, we know the old Camp Sherman as Moundbuilders Park. The regiment was assigned to XV Corps, Army of the Tennessee. Captain Scott led his men to the Tennessee River and worked their way to Louisiana, then Missouri and Arkansas for winter camp where they lost personnel to sickness, then to Raleigh, North Carolina. Company B was mustered out of service in Louisville. Scott returned to Fort Hayes where he was honorably discharged on July 24, 1865. Company B participated in a number of campaigns and battles, including Sherman's March to the Sea. Captain Scott joined those who had gone before on December 16, 1919. Today, we might know him more for his house than anything. Yet, we should also remember that Captain Scott's book on the early history of St. Albans Township is invaluable to us today.

Ira Page French was a native of Johnstown. In 1860, we find the 21-year-old Ira as a clerk in one of Alexandria's stores and living with Lyman Rose's family. He would marry the 19-year-old Emily Rose, Lyman's daughter, before heading off with Captain Scott. Ira died three years later and was buried in Alexandria's Maple Grove Cemetery. Emily filed for and received a pension based on Ira's service. Emily's brother, Henry, also served in Company B, and is one of the "Lightning Brothers."

John R. Miller also died in 1863. Nine of the 76th OVI officers died in action while disease claimed another five. I do not know which category Lieutenant Miller fell; I have no additional information at present. Seven of the ten companies of the 76th were formed from Licking County. An infantry company contains about 100 soldiers. Alexandria, St. Albans, and Licking County truly answered the call to arms. Even more so, we had soldiers in other units as well. Of our dead, a little less than half served under Captain Scott.

Reverend Simeon Siegfried, Jr. was the keynote speaker at the event. Walter Castle, an author of St. Albans history had this to say, "Simeon Siegfried was a remarkable man. During his pastorate, the church had a wonderful growth spiritually. After his resignation, however the church's strength ebbed terribly, [...]" Siegfried must have been a remarkable man. Siegfried's father had been preaching as early as 1833 in West Chester, Pennsylvania, where Simeon Siegfried, Jr., was born. Before that Siegfried, Sr., had published a newspaper. Siegfried, Jr.'s grandfather, George Siegfried had been a pioneer preacher when Pennsylvania was frontier country. Reverend Simeon Siegfried, Jr., who served as pastor of the Alexandria Baptist Church from 1865 to 1871, left West Chester, Pennsylvania, then journeyed west to Adamsville, Ohio, where he pastored a church before coming to Alexandria. During the Civil War, we find the record of Simeon Siegfried, Jr., serving in the 160th Regiment of the Ohio Infantry. Siegfried was a Captain and served as the Commander of Company E. The 160th OVI was formed at Zanesville and where Siegfried joined from Adamsville. Siegfried left Alexandria in 1871 and went to New Jersey before returning to Pennsylvania. Siegfried died in 1879 while pastor of the First Baptist Church of Norristown, Pennsylvania.

Newton Parker survived the Civil War. Newt served as a Corporal in Company D, 135th Regiment, Ohio Infantry. In the 1860 Federal Census, we find Newt living in Monroe Township with his wife and son. By 1870, Newton had moved to St Albans Township where he and his 16-year-old son Brainerd worked a farm. Newt's wife, Lorana Whitehead Parker, is listed as 'Keeping house.' Newt passed away on December 13, 1901 at the age of 75. Newt's great-grandfather, Captain Samuel Thrall had served in the American Revolution. We remember Newt's legacy through his son and grandchildren. Brainerd Parker married Alice Cornell and they had four children. Parker Park takes it's name from the family and the efforts of grandson Howard Parker to create the park for us and there remains those of us old enough to remember Newt's granddaughter, Ollie Mae Parker.

By the early 1900s, Decoration Day was a major event in Alexandria's history. Many pictures survive of the preparations for Decoration Day. By then, a revitalization of Maple Grove Cemetery had taken place and the grounds were kept mowed and groomed. Young ladies are shown in white dresses with the flowers they will soon use to decorate the grave of a soldier. The community has always had a strong commitment to those who have served. The Decoration Day event, I believe, gave our community a sense of history and a sense of direction, as well as a sense of closure. Alexandria's history book contains 15 pages of soldiers who served in our county's wars. The list begins with the American Revolution ends with World War II...

Since then, we have fought the Korean War, the Viet Nam War, Gulf Wars I and II, we have fought in Afghanistan and many places throughout the world. You may have never heard of some of these places, or you may never even know.

Every veteran has a story whether they served on the front line or the mail room, whether they served on the land, sea, or air. Every veteran has a reason to serve... and potentially, to die.

"O not in vain ye call us forth..."

Ed Hankison renders honors during the 21-gun Salute.