Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1902-05-30
SOLDIERS MONUMENT.
TCon,lnued from First Page.1


Troup, of Bowling Green, but formerly
of Perrysburg, as master of ceremonies.
Mr. Troup then called on Rev. G.. A.
Adams, of the Perrysburg Presbyterian
church, the oldest minister in that local
ity, to lead in prayer. The invocation was
followed by the singing of the Star Span
gled Banner by the school children ac-
Sompanied by the band.
The first number on the program was
the opening address of Mr.. Troup, who
at the outstart spoke of man so mod
est that he would not consent to sit on
the platform and who insisted that his
name be not mention ed-the man who do
mated the lot on which the monument
stands-Mr. John Hood. However, he
could not keep from mentioning the
name. but said that he would say nothing
of Mr. Hoods good qualities and patriotic
spirit for fear of offending the old gem
tleman's sensitive nature.
Mr.. Troup's Address.
In part Mr.. Troup spoke as follows:
I'VE meet for a ceremony which does
credit to the patriotism of the living and
the dead. We are gathered in locality
of unusual historic interest and sacred
to the memory of great events. To the
southwest. within half modern cannon
shot, lies the battlefield of Fallen Tim
ber. A little further to the nOrthward
Tecumseh, the greatest Of mis- race.
fought for his people and their heritage.
Close by yonder burial place are the
ruined walls of Fort Meigs and across
the river are the ruins of Fort Miami.
This beautiful village has its own his
tory replete with interest. 1t was laid
out by the United States government
soon after the war OF 1872 and became the
center of the commerce of northwestern
Ohio, Indian and southern Michigan. A
line of steamers piled between here and
Buffalo before Toledo was thought Of
The names Of Wilkinson, Roby, Wetmore,
Root. Hollister, Powers. Peck, Griswold,
Houston, Hall and Beach were all promi-
nently connected with the pioneer ma
rine or commercial interests at the head
OF Lake Erie. The early history of the
medical profession is illuminated by the
names of Dustin, Frederick, Robertson
and Peck, while bhe legal profession pro-
duced 80 many men of marked ability
that 1t Is almost invidious to make Sc
lection. / may, however mention the
names of Coflinberry, Sphinx, Way, Muir
ray, Hollenbeck, Reid, Dodge. Tyler and
Cook, and belonging to oru sister village
Maumee the names of Young and Waite.
THE village itself has been the scene
of tragedy and heroism in civil life. On
July 5. 1854, 1t was invaded for 80 days by
an enemy more formidable, more relent-
less and more deadly than a hostile army.
refer to Asiatic cholera. Whole families
were annihilated. One physician, DR.
Robertson, heroically died at his post.
Some are eaid to have fed Only one re-
mained-Dr. Erasmus d. Peck He, with
small and ever-decrea sing band of de-
voted laymen, fought this terrible battle
with death and finally won. Some of the
hSmes 1 cannot give. but among them
were Mcknight, Webb. Bloomfield, Aver
Iii, Hunt, Dodge, Crane and Callard.
Among the most constant and efficient
was Stephen Merry, whose calm faith in
God and earnest love for hi, fellow-men
made BIS presence benedicton wherever
he went.
II have thought it not inappropriate to
mention these things as Introductory 20
lie ceremonies in which we are now en-
gagged. The indomitable courage, energy
and will power of the pioneer men and
women of this valley were the heritage
bequeathed to their sons and which equip
ped them for the part they performed in
the great conflict which RACED from '61 N
oS But i must not further OCCUPY
your time. pleasanter duty has been
assigned me-that of presiding at this
gathering and of presently presenting TO
you one who Is better qualified than my
self to speak of the men and the events
we here commemorate
Then, after the singing of America
by the audience, accompanied by the
pand, Mr.. Troup introduced General l. r.
Sherwood, of Toledo, as the orator of the
day.
General Sherwood Speaks.
General Sherwood spoke in part as fo.-
lows: I'VE have met today on this lovely
hilitop, by the shores OF this htsoric river
to dedicate a soldiers monument We
stand on ground consecrated with the he
role blood Of the early pioneers of the
great northwest and dedicate this stately
granite symbol to yalor patriotism and
hero.c love. We are here to applaud the
soldier of the union and emancipation.
All that is honorable in chlvalry; all that
is inspiring in heroism; all that is re-
ligious in love, should assimilate our
hearts today as We consecrate this he
roic statue to the nob!est of human trim
ities-Patriotism, Valor and Justice.
The soldiers of that grand army that
fought the battles of the rebellion came
from the shops, the farms and the homes.
They rallied to the rescue of the repub!i.
because Liberty had been shot down in
her own citadel and the arbiter of bat
tie was the final result. And here on this
river bank Is fitting place to plant this
eternal tribute. No town or township in
all this war-rent land contributed sucn
an array of heroic boys in blue In pro-
portion TO population as Perrysburg. The
Perrysburg schools alone sent TO the wai
lS students Perrysburg sent as soldiers
no less than nine veterans who became
colonels and commanded regiments. Let
me name them here. Colonies Norton.
shannon. Johnson Price. Jones. Cook.
McGowen, Slevin and Mcmahon Among
her gallant and enduring captains l can
remember Baird. Lindsey, Yeager, AL
berts. Spafford. Wilkison Thompson,
Averill, Blinn, Mcknight, Dusten, French
and Walters, and among the brayest and
most brilliant of the array. Lieutenant
Gus F. Smith. Of the l1lth o. V. l., who
on the Atlanta campaign, led a success
ful charge far more important in results
than Colonel Roosevelts charge up San
Juan hill In 1898.
"Perrysburg township and vicinity had
one or more companies in each of the
following regiments. all of them fighting
regiments, and three of them ranking I'm
history ms among the geatest fighting
regiments of the war: The 2lst the 3rj
Ohio cavalry the Tooth Ohio infantry. the
1llth Ohio infantry and n large number
of recruits In the 72d. Gsth nth. 37th an I
nj l,..i4