Adams County, Ohio Military History
Wilson Soldier's Monument
Honorable John T. Wilson, of Tranquility, left a bequest of $5,000 to the Commissioners of Adams County to erect a momument at West Union in memory of the soldiers of Adams County who were killed or died in the War of the Rebellion. County Commissioners Philip Hughes, Robert Collins and Thomas Shelton, on 10 June 1892, let the contract for the erection of said monument to Staniland, Merkle and Staniland, of Dayton OH. The monument was to be 10 feet 4 inches square at base and 50 feet 5 inches in height, containing 904 cubic feet, to be completed by September 1892. However, a strike in the granite quarries in the East prevented the completing of the work until June 10, 1893. The monument stands on the right of the front entrance to the grounds of the Wilson Children's Home, a very poor location, being overshadowed by the massive and imposing Home building.
The monument was unveiled Saturday, June 10, 1893, in the presence of more than 10,000 of the citizens of Adams County. Judge D.C.W. London, of Georgetown OH, Colonel of the 70th Regiment, was chairman of the meeting, and Judge Samuel F. Hunt, one of the most polished orators of the State, delivered the oration. Colonel John A. Cockerill, known as the "Drummer Boy of Shiloh" a native of Adams County. and a son of Colonel J.R. Cockerill, who organized the 70th Regiment OVI, was present, and at the conclusion of Judge Hunt's oration unveiled the monument.
In the parade preceding the oration and unveiling ceremonies, were 600 white-haired Adams County veterans of the War of the Rebellion.
The donor, Honorable John T. Wilson, was Captain of Company E, 70th Regiment, under Colonel J.R. Cockerill.
From A HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY, OHIO
from its earliest settlement to the present time including character sketches of the prominent persons identified with the first century of the county's growth and containing numerous engravings and illustrations
Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers [1900, West Union OH]