The Dedication Planning

&
 

Dedication
 

 of the Civil War Monument

June 10^th, 1869

Lincoln Courthouse Grounds, Lincoln, IL.

(as reported by the Lincoln Herald)

Pre-1905 (Abraham Presidential Library Photo)

 Instrumental Music by the Mount Pulaski Brass Band

Two years after the close of the Civil War, veterans in Logan County began to plan for the building of a monument to the memory of the soldiers from Logan County who died during the conflict. George H. Dana, Wm. McGalliard, Wm. P. Randolph, Major Thomas J. Larrison and James T. Hoblit, were appointed a building committee. Col. Charles H. Miller was made Treasurer of the association.

(The Lincoln Herald, April 25, 1867)

The Building Committee of the Soldiers’ Monument adopted a style of Monument submitted by Messrs. Bushway & Baldwin, the eventual contractors who constructed the monument. It consists of an octagon marble shaft, 5 feet high, and over 2 feet in diameter, set upon three marble octagon bases, and the whole surmounted by a marble statue of a soldier in the position of shoulder arms, life size, the whole to rest on a limestone base. The design is that a railing should surround the whole, marble posts connected by a chain. (The Lincoln Herald, May 02, 1867) Note: The actual statue was a soldier at parade rest.

At a meeting of the building committee of the Logan county Soldiers’ Monument Association, held at the office of Chas. H. Miller, on the 20th day of August, A. D. 1867, the following resolution was unanimously passed, to-wit:

Resolved: That the building committee of the Logan County Soldiers’ Monument Association, will receive sealed bids for the construction of a Soldiers’ Monument, with the necessary drawings and specifications, from this date, until the first day of September, A. D. 1867. The Monument to be constructed of the best quality of American Marble, the statue of a life sized soldier to be placed on the top of said monument, and said statute to be made of the quality of Carara Statuary Marble, the Monument to be surrounded by a suitable fence, and the ‘die’ to furnish sufficient room to record three hundred names with the date of death, the regiment and company to which the soldier belonged.

James T. Hoblit, Sec’y Logan County Soldier’s Monument Association. Aug., 20, 1867

At a meeting of the Board of Supervisors, the building committee of the Logan County Soldier’s Monument presented an application for an appropriation of $3,000, which was read and on motion, referred to the committee on Finance. The committee on finance, made the following report, to wit:

Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Board of Supervisors:

Your committee to whom was referred the petition of the Logan County Soldiers Monument Association, would beg leave to submit the following report on the matter before them.

That the appropriation of three thousand dollars be made for the above said association to be expended for the purpose set forth in their petition, to be paid when said Monument is completed, to be paid in County Orders.

All of which is respectfully submitted. David G. Evans, Chairman. Report Adopted. (The Lincoln Herald, Oct. 10, 1867) Note: The final cost of the monument was about $6,100. The Board of Supervisors contributed more than the $3,000 asked for by the committee.

The Lincoln City Council has voted one thousand dollars toward the contemplated soldier’s monument in this city. (The Lincoln Herald, Jul. 23, 1867)

Unfortunately, no issues of the Lincoln Herald exist from 1868.

On the twelfth of May 1869 a meeting was held at the courthouse to plan the Arrangements for Dedication of the Soldier’s Monument.

Joseph Ream was called to the Chair and William Toomey elected Secretary.

J. G. Chalfant offered the following resolutions which were adopted:

Whereas, The people of Logan County desire that the Soldier’s Monument should be formally dedicated with appropriate ceremonies; and”

Whereas, The President of the Board of Supervisors of said county has suggested that some day during the June session of said Board would be a convenient time for said dedication, therefore:

Resolved, That the 10th day of June next be observed for the purpose aforesaid, and that the citizens of the whole county be invited to participate with us in said celebration.

Resolved, That the Chairman of this meeting appoint a committee of five to report forthwith to this meeting the names of twelve persons to act as an executive committee; the names of five to act as a finance committee; the names of three to act as a committee on speakers, three on music, and three from each township in the county to superintend and organize their respective towns with a view to participation in the ceremonies of the day.

Resolved, That Gen. R. J. Oglesby be invited to address the people of the county on that day, and that the committee on Speakers are hereby instructed to secure his services as Orator.

Resolved, That the executive committee shall have full power and authority to make all necessary and proper arrangements to carry out the object of these resolutions.

The Chair appointed the following named persons to report forthwith, J. G. Chalfant, C. C. Brackett, A. Allee, Ed Ross, and Hiram Friend. The Chairman of said committee made the following report:

For Executive Committee – Col. R. B. Latham, Hon. A. B. Nicholson, Joseph Ream, W. G. Starkey, Andrew McGalliard, Jas. T. Hoblit, John Kirkpatrick, Capt. A. Allee, Capt. N. S. Aagesen, Dr. J. C. Ross, Jno. T. Jenkins, Ed Lynch.

For Finance Committee – Thos. B. Parker, Capt. W. B. McNeal, Lieut. D. L. Ambrose, C. B. Jackson, Capt. Henry Fox.

Committee on Speakers – Col. R. B. Latham, Hon. S. C. Parks, J. G. Chalfant.

Committee on Music – Prof. Beizzenherz, W. S. Larrison, Capt. W. P. Hackney

The following named persons were appointed a committee from the different Townships:

East Lincoln – Jas. Beers, Maj. Thos. J. Larrison, Lieut. T. B. Pegram.

West Lincoln – Dr. A. R. CrihfieldJoseph Ream, Dr. J. M. Garner.

Lake Fork – Jas. Gasaway, Jno. Bost, Wm. Kreitzenger.

Laenna – Capt. J. L. Ring, Jos. Galloway, Isaac Allee.

Aetna – Joshua Dunnuck, Wm. A. Davis Thos. R. Pattison.

Oran – A. J. Shields, Wm. Curry and Garvin Mills.

Atlanta – James Tuttle, Maj. G. H. Estabrook, Capt. W. P. Hunt.

Mt. Pulaski – S. C. Beam, Major M. Wemple, Alfred H. Tomlinson.

Chester – M. Henrichsen, Lieut. Monroe Shoup, P. C. Bowen.

Eminence – Capt. Wm. Beezley, John Roads, P. J. Hawes.

Elkhart – L. D. Dana, Capt. G. H. Tracey E "Tracey, Capt. G. H." Error! Bookmark not defined., W. B. Lawrence.

Broadwell – Wm. Broadwell, Cal. J. Hurtt, Wm. Shea.

Orvil – Henry Musick, Lieut. Thos. J. Simpson, Thos. J. Scribner.

Hurlbut – A. J. Bronson, Capt. H. Alsop, Henry Drake.

Corwin – Joseph N. Jenkins, G. W. Pleasant, Wesley Long.

Sheridan – W. H. McMurphy, C. M. Grapes, Daniel Baker.

Prairie Creek – Thos. Edes, N. Chestnut, W. B. Huston.

On motion of Hon. S. C. Parks, the Secretary was instructed to furnish a copy of the proceedings of this meeting to each of the city papers, and solicit the publication of the same.

The executive committee is requested to meet at the office of Joseph Ream in the Court House, at 4 o’clock P.M. on Saturday, May 15th, 1869. JOSEPH REAM, Ch’m’n, Wm. Toomey, Sec’y.

 (The Lincoln Herald, 13 May 13, 1869)

At a meeting of the Executive Committee to arrange for the dedication of the Logan County Soldier’s Monument, The following members of the committee were present:

Col. R. B. Latham, Chairman; John T. Jenkins, Edward Lynch, Joseph Ream, A. B. Nicholson, Dr. J. C. Ross, Jas. T. Hoblit, Andrew McGalliard, N. S. Aagesen, Abraham Allee. On motion, A. Allee was appointed Secretary.

On motion, resolved, that the citizens of Lincoln and East and West Lincoln Townships will furnish a free dinner in one of the Public Parks for all who come on that day.

On motion, a committee of 19 was appointed to solicit contributions for the dinner. The following were appointed as said committee. Hon. S. C. Parks, Chairman, 1st Ward: Mark Barrett, Mrs. H. F. Elliott, Mrs. John Evans; 2d Ward: Fr. C. W. Koehnle, Mrs. John A. Lutz, Miss Jennie Duff; 3d Ward: Hon. Silas Beason, Mrs. James Congdon, Miss Mary Kirkpatrick; 4th Ward:  Theodore Mittendorff, Mrs. W. A. K. Cowdrey, Mrs. Price Morris; East Lincoln: Hon. A. B. Nicholson, James Beers, Lieut. S. E. F West Lincoln: M. Barngrover, John Thomas, Hiram L. Pierce.

On motion, a committee of three were appointed to prepare tables, viz: D. L. Braucher, T. F. Ladue, A. Allee.

On motion, a committee of 3 were appointed on seats and speaker’s stand, viz: H. F. Elliott, John P. Haines, A. J. Aldrich.

On motion, Col. R. B. Latham was appointed Marshal of the Day, with power to select his assistants.

On motion, the Military Organizations, Masonic, Odd Fellows and Good Templars’ Lodges of the county are respectfully invited to participate in the procession.

On motion, the Finance Committee was instructed to raise $1,000 to defray the necessary expenses of the occasion.

On motion the Committee on Music was instructed to secure the services of the Lincoln Silver Coronet Band to furnish music on the occasion.

On motion Dr. J. C. Ross, James T. Hoblit, and A. McGalliard were appointed a committee to prepare the order of exercises.

Dinner from 12 to 1 ½ P.M.

Exercises at Speaker’s stand to commence at 2 o’clock P.M.

Music by the Mt. Pulaski Brass Band.

Invocation – by Rev. A. J. Layenberger

Vocal Music

ORATION – By Hon. R. J. Oglesby

Music by the Band

History of Logan County’s Gallant Dead, by Hon. S. C. Parks

Benediction – by Rev. A. E. Baldwin

The report was adopted.

On motion, the following names were added to the Finance Committee, viz:

John L. Jones, Hon. S. Beason, A. D. Cadwallader.”

On motion, the Finance Committee were instructed to procure 200 posters, and distribute them throughout the county.

On motion, Resolved, that the different Township Committees are requested to meet at their places of holding Town Meetings, on Saturday, May 28th, at 2 o’clock P.M., for the purpose of organizing the delegations from their respective townships.

The following officers were appointed:

HON. R. B. EWING, President of the Day.

Vice Presidents: Mt. Pulaski – Maj. M. Wemple. East Lincoln – Jas. G. Chalfant. Eminence – Capt. Wm. Beezley Broadwell – Cal. I. Hurt. Hurlbutt – R. A. Hurt. West Lincoln – Capt. W. P. Hackney. Elkhart – Mart Buzzard Aetna – Lt. R. R. Pattison. Prairie Creek – H. M. Howell. Lake Fork – Isreal Dyer Chester – Monroe Shoup. Corwine – Jas. D. Evans. Orvil – Oliver A. Shirley. Sheridan – H. B. Stephens. Laeana – Capt. J. L. Ring. Oran – John Boosinger. Atlanta – Maj. G. H. Estabrook.”

On motion, the Lincoln papers were solicited to publish these proceedings.

On motion, adjournment to the call of the Chair. (The Lincoln Herald, May 20, 1869)

Committee met pursuant to adjournment, on Wednesday, the 2d inst, at 1 o’clock, P. M... Present, R. B. Latham, Chairman; A. B. Nicholson, J. T. Jenkins, Ed. Lynch, A. Allee, Joseph Ream and Andrew McGalliard.

On motion, Geo. W. Edgar was made a committee of one to procure ice water.

On motion the executive committee presented the following: That an earnest invitation be extended to the citizens of Lincoln, and East and West Lincoln Townships to contribute something for the dinner on the day of the dedication. It will be impossible for the committee to call upon everyone to ascertain the amount of their contributions. While the committee request only those living in this city and the two townships to contribute for this purpose, yet anything in the line of eatables will be received and properly appreciated if they come from any of the other townships in the county.

On motion, a committee of five was appointed on dishes, viz: G. H. Martling, C. M. Cossitt, Ed. S. Ross, H. Sherman and G. W. Parker.

On motion, a committee of twelve was appointed to arrange the dishes on the table and superintend the dinner, viz: Mrs. C. J. Perry, Mrs. T. J. Larrison, Mrs. James Coddington, Mrs. W. G. Starkey, Mrs. A. Allee, Mrs. Wm. Toomey, Mrs. H. Maltby, Mrs. W. H. Young, Mrs. F. Frorer, Mrs. S. A. Foley, Mrs. W. W. Houser, Mrs. E. D. Blinn.

On motion the City Councils of Lincoln and Atlanta, and all of the Bands in the county were invited to attend and take part in the procession.

On motion, the committee on speaker’s stands, tables, &c., were instructed to procure flags to decorate the stand.

On motion, Resolved, That all bills incurred shall be presented to A. Allee, Sec’y of the Executive Committee to be audited by the committee at their meeting on Saturday the 12th inst. at 2 o’clock, P.M.

On motion, adjournment to Saturday the 12th inst., at 2 o’clock, P.M. R. B. Latham, Chairman

The Chief Marshal appointed the following assistants: Jas. T. Hoblit, A. McGalliard, Capt. A. Allee, Capt. H. Fox, Dr. J. C. Ross, D. H. Harts, Capt. H. Sturges E "Sturges, Capt. H." Error! Bookmark not defined., Ed. Lynch, Hon. S. Beason, Wm. Markworth.

Delegations from the other townships are requested to appoint their marshals. Chief Marshal is to be designated by a red scarf, and his assistants by a blue scarf. Assistant Marshals to report at the Court House at 9 o’clock, A. M. (The Lincoln Herald, June 03, 1869. 

Yesterday the dedication of the Logan County Soldier’s Monument took place. The day was clear and fine a large number of citizens of this county were here to participate in the ceremonies. At an early hour in the morning, the wagons came pouring into town loaded with their freight of human beings. The procession was formed in front of the Court House at (unreadable) A. M., under the direction of the Chief Marshal, Col. R. B. Latham, and his assistants. The Board of Supervisors, the Masonic and Odd Fellows Lodges, and a large number in wagons and on horseback participated in the procession. After marching through the principal streets the crowd was led to the Park on North Kickapoo Street where a bountiful repast had been prepared. The number of the people partaking thereof was variously estimated, the whole Park being a perfect swarm of human beings. In the connection we will state that the managers of the dedication would return their thanks to all those ladies and gentlemen, who, by their assiduous efforts, rendered the dinner a success. The exercises at the speaker’s stand commenced at 2 o’clock P.M. After an invocation by the Rev. A. J. Layenberger, and Music by the Mt. Pulaski Band, the President of the day, Mr. J. G. Chalfant, introduced to the audience the Hon. R. J. Oglesby. The General had prepared his address and delivered it from the manuscript. On it he had seemingly spent much time and thought, for it was indeed a noble effort. For over an hour the speaker held the vast audience spell-bound, as it were, by the powers of his eloquence. He dwelt with much pathos upon the history of our nation dating the years of strife, and paid splendid tributes to the memory of the martyrs who died in defense of liberty. At the close of the address a resolution was adopted requesting of Gov. Oglesby a copy of his address for publication in the papers of the city, which on account of our limited space and the lateness of the hour we must delay until next week. The exercises were closed by the pronouncing of the Benediction by the Rev. A. E. Baldwin.

The whole affair was very successful, and the day was one long to be remembered by all who participated. (The Lincoln Herald, June 10, 1869)

On June 10, 1869, Governor Richard Oglesby was the primary speaker in Lincoln, Illinois for dedication of the Logan County memorial for the men who died during the Civil War. His oration, in part, follows:

We come today to honor the dead. You have reared to their memory, near their graves, a costly and beautiful monument. Those we would honor by our presence and this monument of marble are already crowned with honors above our powers to bestow. We remember them gratefully; all admire them for their deeds; we love them dead, for their devotion to our country while living, for the contributions of blood they brought to the sacrifice liberty demanded. But we cannot honor those who have so greatly honored themselves. I cannot tell how much is due the dead who have died for liberty. Liberty that lifts up the living, moving on in the tread of the dead to the full realization in the soul, the mind, the heart of man, unfettered in its grand domain of intelligent, constitutional, human freedom. We all love life and cling to it to the last. – We can scarcely conceive what earthly considerations will give our consent to give it away; we are bound to it by attachments we are loath to sever… When, then, we come to stand by the graves of those who have died for us – who have broken the silver cord, facing an enemy who sought our lives – who said, dying, “We died for our country.” What shall we say, and how shall we honor them. I look upon it as the strongest bond of union, as the tie that shall bind us to the nation we love, this willingness you show to honor these dead men. From many battlefields we have gathered them; they lie in the graveyards of every county in our State. Some came home to die – some came dead. Wherever we go we shall find them, and a sad and mourning people trying as you are to-day to place above them some enduring memorial of affection and respect. A people who honor themselves by trying to honor the dead, must love that country for which they died. The monument you erect and dedicate today, is creditable both to the living and the dead; the letters, the names engraved upon it, and the monument to their memory, will remain for years. But if there be no spot in the affections of our country, where these brave men shall find a resting place, their memories will not be perpetuated.

CONCLUSION

In your grave sleep on, honored dead. No field of earthly glory longer awaits you. Separated in death from brothers in arms with whom on distant fields you fell, whose graves may be unmarked, but whose names shall be cherished as long as memory lasts; here at the home of your friends returned to lie, rest in peace. Some will come to drop a silent tear of affection, some with words of praise, but all will venerate you. When the warm, blood of life was coursing its channels around the soul, and happy days met you through the peaceful march of life, buoyant and hopeful under the smiles and affection of those who loved you, under the fair promise of a future full of hope; when there was no one living who could say you had done ought to disturb the universal quiet that reigned throughout our peaceful and happy land – the harsh, unwelcome notes of fearful war fell upon your ears; you arose from your former life, stood for a moment while yet the martial notes summoned you to your country’s honor, then bravely into battle you went, your country’s defenders. From it you returned, enrolled on the scroll of your country’s immortal dead.

(The Lincoln Herald, June 17, 1869)

About 1906 (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Photo)

About 1904, when the Courthouse was to be razed and replaced by the current courthouse, the Civil War Monument was dismantled and stored out of harm’s way. When the monument was to be re-erected, upon completion of the current courthouse, it was cleaned and a new base was constructed for the monument.

August, 2007 (Bill Donath)