The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-01-23
GENERAL WOODS MosUnRNr.
A Modern Obslisk from the Larsest
etone Ever Quarried IN the United

6ENEhAL W0ULS AUNUAENTs
! Modern Obslisk from the Largest
stone Ever Quarried IN the United
From the Troy Times.
Only few days before General Woops
leath In 1859, and while he was engaged
n adding codicils to his will, It was sug.
rested to him that he had not made the
necessary provision for improving his
lot In Oakwood cemetery. He then die.
lated as follows: ~ authorize and direct
my executors to pay to my wife such
rum Of money as abe shall desire up 10 |
$50, 900 for the purpose of erecting q
for her and me-" Mrs. Wool |
chose to use the whole amount for q
testimonial to the memory
of her gallant and chivalric husband.
Upon the death of Mrs. Wool, which
occurred May z, 1878, the responsibility
for carrying out tie provision Of the will
relative to the erection of q monument
devolved upon Mrs. Isaac P. Hart and
Chester Griswold, who at once proceeded
TO procure designs, of which there was
subsequently submitted q great variety,
including temples, equestrian Statutes
and many other forms OF monumental
art. The drawing of plain but massive
0belisk was, however, the design which
corresponded with Mrs. Harris idea of
what would be most graceful and impos-
ing, and this was finally selected. The
obelisk plan selected had been submitted
by G. I. Patterson, Of the New England
Granite works, Hartford, Conn, which
already enjoyed the distinction of hav-
ing designed the monuments commemor.
atiDg the victories of Gettysburg and
Antietam. The first proposal OF this
company was to furnish shaft 48
feet 10 inches In height, but on
March |, 1878, the proposition
was amended increasing the measure
ment to So feet. This proved acceptable,
and on that date the company entered
into contract by the terms Of which the
monument was to be completed on OF
before December of the same year,
accident by land or water excepted.
But to secure stone of such huge
dimensions was task more difficult
than the contractors anticipated, and 1t
was not until August, 1879, that the
mOnOlith which now commentaries the
names of Gen. Wool and his worthy
consort was completed and ready for
shipment. The first block quarried for
the purpose was GA feet long, but while
being chisselled into the proper proper.
tions it was found to have fatal blem.
ish. Two similar failures followed,
but on the fourth essay the efforts Of
the contractors were crowned with sue.
cess.
The stone for this shaft was obtained
from the Bodwell granite quarries at
Vinalhaven, Fox Island, Me-, and when
completed the problem was Of how 1t
was to be transported to Troy, a distance
of 400 miles. One arm, experienced in
moving heavy and cumbersome materi-
ais, asked $1,000 for conveying the ODE.
lisk to its destination. The company.
however, decided TO undertake the task
itself, and chartered for the purpose a
large and strongly built barge, which,
laden with the monolith, was given in
charge of Captain William E. Baxton,
and taken In tow by the steam.tug
Knickerbocker. After a tempestuous
voyage, during which the destination of
the obelisk seemed likely to be the bot
tom of the ocean instead of Its present
commanding site In lakewood, the
barge and its precious cargo reached
the foot of Ferry street, West
Troy, on Sunday morning, August
80. A few days afterwards the
boat was lowed to the foot of Hoosic
street, where the work of unloading was
prosecuted without accident. From the
dock to the cemetery the shaft and foun.
dation stones were transported on rollers
by means of capstans and heavy haw.
sers, a process sure but slow, more time
being req uired by the overland trip than
by the sea voyage.
When finally the shaft had reached
the cemetery the work of elevating II
into position was yet to be performed.
This 1t was necessary to proceed with in
the most cautious manner, rs the giving
way of single jack.screw or other sup
port would involve the enterprise in
ruin. But Messrs. Cavanaueh d Son, OF
Boston, contractors, took every possible
precaution, escaped accident and have
now completed their undertaking.
Severe in its simplicity, the graceful
ness of its lines constitutes charm
which no ornamentation could produce
and its massive proportions give to the
entire structure an air of solidity which
suggests that it will endure with the
imperishable deeds of the hero it com
memorates. The obelisk itself is sixty
feet high, weighs 100 tons, and js mount
ed upon pedestal comprising three plair
bases, a moulded base, die and neck
mould. The lower base Is II feet inches
square and 2 feet thick. This and the
two succeeding courses are each com
posed of two stones, while the fourth OF
moulded base, as we'll as each course
above, IL of a single stone. The tota
weight of the pedestal, which, by thu
way, rests upon solid rock, is $50 tons
The weight of the entire structure Is
therefore, $50 tons; the height rs feet
inches. In the curve of the mould are mil
itary emblems cut in alto relituo, consist
ing of field.glass, the sword, scabbsrt
and hat of a majer general, all effective
ly grouped. The die, 6 feet high, Is
feet square at the bottom, tapering Il
s feet 2 inches square at the top, Il
correspond with the lines of the obelisk
which tapess from feet 8 inches squar,
at the base to feet square at the base o.
the pyramid, in which 1t terminates, tn,
altitude of the latter being 8 feet
inches. The angles and upper edges o.
the die, together with the neck.mould
are embellished with carved Egyptian
moulding, and the four sides of the di,
bear the following inscriptions, which
have never been correctly published, cut
in sunken letters:
ObVersc.
| JOHN ELLIS Wool,
| Born February 20, 1884.
Died November 10, 1869.
| SARAH MoULToN,
| his wife,
Born July 4, 1887.
Died May 7, 1873.
Reverse.
| This stone ia erected
to Major General John Ellis Wool,
| the gallant soldier,
the able commander
and the patriotic citizen.
distinguished in many battles;
| and to Sarah Moulton,
his excellent aud worthy consort.
Right.
JOHN ELLIS Wool was commissioned
in the United States army
Captain. April IS, 1912,
Msjor, October Is, 1872,
Lieutenant Colonel, September II, 1914,
Colonel Of cavalry and Insp. General, 1916
Brigadier General, 1S4l,
Brevet Major General, 1s47,
Msjor General. 1862.
Left
Queenstown, October Is, 1879.
Plattsburg, September II, 1914.
| nnana Viuta Eahtulpv 90 and % 1R17.