Marion, New York is a very small rural town about twenty miles east of Rochester. In 1860, at the start of the Civil War, the population was only 1,903. Today there are less than 5,000 people living there. I was surprised when I found out Marion had a Civil War monument at all, and even more surprised at how large it is. The monument is located at 3913 North Main St. in Marion, N.Y. in the Marion Cemetery.
The Marion Enterprise on 22 July 1904 gave a description of the dedication of the monument. The monument weighs over 60 tons, and stands 32 1/2 feet tall. The soldier at the top is at parade rest. All four sides have carvings representing different forces in the Union military. Each side at the base has inscriptions dedicated to the people who served the Union cause. The dedication took place on July 16, 1904. At the parade were veterans from the various towns around Wayne County. The visitors were impressed by the memorial as well as where it was placed. The monument is in the Marion Cemetery on the tallest hill in the resting ground. You can also find an account of the dedication in The Arcadian Weekly Gazette, 20 July 1904.
The Arcadian Weekly Gazette, 20 July 1904 also covered the dedication of the Soldiers’ Monument. Eight hundred members of the Grand Army of the Republic were in attendance. Col. Archie Baxter gave the keynote. As at many dedications in the North, he said the soldiers had fought to prevent the breakup of the Union and to end slavery by saying that those who died had done so “for their country, for liberty, [and] humanity.” Baxter said that while everyone knew about the names of the great commanders of the war, only the women who held the common soldier dear knew their names. Miss Love F. Seymour of Rochester was thanked by the veterans as the donor of the monument.
The monument is in the veterans’ section of the cemetery.
The front of the memorial has the oversized initials G.A.R. for the Grand Army of the Republic, the largest Civil War veterans organization. Marion is in Wayne County and in 1904 there were six posts of the G.A.R. in Wayne.
Love F. Seymour had an inscription for her grandparents Eli and Margaret Green. She visited them in her youth. After they died, Seymour made several donations in their name to the Town of Marion.
The cemetery was opened in 1857, just four years before the war. There were 186 men from Marion who enlisted in the Union forces.
Wayne County lies along Lake Ontario in the north. It was only settled by people of European background in 1789 when Revolutionary War veterans were given land in the county as a repayment for their service. The land had belonged to the Seneca and Cayuga Native American nations, but they were pushed out in the years following the Revolution. Wayne grew when the Erie Canal was opened. By the time of the Civil War, 47,700 people lived in the county.
In 1861, when the Civil War began, the Wayne Democratic Press on April 17, 1861 announced that the leaders of the Confederacy wanted to form two nations, “one slave and the other free.” The local newspapers referred to the adherents of the Confederacy as “Traitors.” Many of the clergy in the county called openly for men to join the army to keep the nation from breaking apart.
Reverend McHarg of Lyons told his congregation that he did not believe in the new doctrine that slavery was a divine institution. He said that treason should be dealt with by firmness and that Northerners should not respect slavery.
Nearly every village in the county had town halls where the people passed resolutions condemning the attack on Fort Sumter, criticizing the Rebels for not respecting the outcome of elections, and expressing extreme concern for the cutting off of Washington from the rest of the Union.
Young men responded by forming locally based companies, or placing existing militia companies like the Lyons Light Guard at the disposal of the Federal government. The Lyons company was the first unit from Wayne County to head for the theatre of war. Companies were then raised at Newark, Palmyra, and Clyde. Several men from Wayne County also joined companies being formed in Rochester and Cayuga County. By the Fall of 1861, county leaders began organizing a Wayne County regiment.
The principal at the school in Lyons put out a call to arms saying “all to whom human rights are dear will welcome us with extended arms…those who have fallen for the rights of man…how does posterity sing their praises…”
On July 19, 1862, Wayne County was permitted to raise the 111th New York Infantry. It left New York on August 21, 1862 and was promptly moved to Harper’s Ferry after the defeat at the Second Bull Run. It, along with the whole Union forces at Harper’s Ferry, was surrendered a short while later. The 111th’s men were then paroled, and were placed in a parole camp at Camp Douglas, Chicago. In December 1862 the 111th was exchanged, allowing the regiment to fight battles again. The regiment distinguished itself on July 2, 1863 at Gettysburg.
In addition to honoring the Grand Army of the Republic. the monument also honors the Women’s Relief Corps with the initials W.R.C. Accounts from the time show that almost every village in Wayne County had an active group of volunteer women in the W.R.C. who helped support the families of soldiers left behind, collected food and money to send to their soldiers, and comforted the hundreds of families that lost a son, husband, or father.
Atwell, Oliver H. Enlisted July, 1863 discharged 1865.
Arnold, Lewis, 194th Infantry Enlisted March, 1865; discharged May, 1865.
Andrews, Alvin, 9th Heavy Artillery. Enlisted September, 1863; died April 3, 1864.
Adams, Joseph N. Discharged 1865
Atwood, Seth L. Discharged 1865
Allen, Asa, 160th Infantry Enlisted August, 1862; died August 14, 1864.
Allen, Elisha, 111th Infantry Enlisted July, 1862; killed at Gettysburg.
Adams, N. A., 160th Infantry Enlisted August, 1862; promoted to corporal; disch. 1865.
Arnold, John, 160th Infantry. Enlisted October, 1862; discharged 1865.
Allen, E., Company A, 111th Infantry.
Adams, John, Company A, lllth Infantry.
Adams, Reuben A., 160th Infantry.
Arnold, William H.
Brewster, Eugene H.
Barrett, John H. Discharged 1868.
Brown, Gilbert, 9th Heavy Artillery. Enlisted December, 1863 ; discharged 1865.
Brown, William H., 2nd heavy Artillery. Enlisted October, 1864; died October 12, 1864.
Brown, Herman.
Bennett, Charles, 160th Infantry. Enlisted August, 1862; discharged 1865.
Brown, Alfred. Discharged 1865.
Bigelow, Charles, 111th Infantry. Enlisted March, 1864; deserted.
Burrod, John B., captain, 160th Infantry. Enlisted August, 1862; discharged 1865.
Brayman, James E., Navy. Enlisted August, 1864; discharged 1865.
Bull, Albert H., 9th Heavy Artillery. Enlisted December, 1863; discharged 1865.
Bailey, William J., 8th Cavalry. Enlisted September, 1861; discharged September, 1864.
Brightman, Ezra, Company A, 111th Infantry.
Bement, Charles, 160th Infantry.
Brown, George, Company E, 111th Infantry.
Burrod, William G., Company E, 111th Infantry.
Beelard, Frank, Company E, 111th Infantry.
Croucher, William, 98th Infantry. Enlisted July, 1862; discharged 1062.
Case, John A., 160th Infantry. Enlisted August, 1362; pro. corporal; discharged 1064.
Cooper, Canton B., 104th Infantry. Enlisted April, 1865; discharged July, 1665.
Cooper, James B., assistant surgeon, Wisconsin regiment. Discharged 1865.
Copping, John W., 160th Infantry. Enlisted August, 1862 ; pro. to corp.; discharged 1865.
Curtis, Brainard, 160th Infantry.
Class, B. R., 160th Infantry.
Curtis, William B., 50th Engineers. Enlisted August, 1861 ; discharged.
Croucher, Isaac, Jr., 194th Infantry. Enlisted March, 1865; discharged 1865.
Congdon, Lyman A., 194th Infantry.
Contant, Adrian, Company D, 111th Infantry. [Although listed here, he was actually from Williamson, and never even enlisted in Marion. He may have been WIA in Gettysburg.(George Contant)]
Cray, Daniel A., Company E, 111th Infantry.
Dunn, Allen, 17th Infantry. Enlisted May, 1861; re-enlisted in 10th Cavalry; disch. 1865.
Dorman, Stephen.
Durfee, Gideon, Company A, 111th Infantry. Enlisted July, 1862; discharged l865.
Davis, William, 8th Cavalry. Enlisted September, 1861; discharged October, 1863.
Deuce, Albert A, 9th Heavy Artillery. Enlisted May, 1863; promoted; discharged 1865.
Deuce, Leroy P., 9th Heavy Artillery. Enlisted December, 1863; discharged 1865.
Durfee, Sydney F., Navy. Discharged 1865.
Dean, Charles L., Enlisted July, 1863 ; discharged 1865.
Everett, James, Company C, 8th Cavalry. Enlisted October, 1861; discharged Dec.,1864.
Everett, Washington, 33d Infantry. Enlisted May, 1861; discharged May, 1863; wounded.
Eldridge, W. G., Company A, 111th Infantry.
Emerson, L., Company E, 111th Infantry.
Farnsworth, Edward. killed at Bull Run.
Farnsworth, William, 98th Infantry. Died July 25, 1864.
Ferguson, R. E., Navy. Discharged 1865.
Farnsworth, James.
Field, Henry D., 160th Infantry. Enlisted August, 1862; discharged September, 1864.
Farnsworth, John.
Farnsworth, Henry.
Fillmore, John H., Illinois regiment. Enlisted May, 1861; pro. to lieutenant; disch. 1863.
Fillmore, William R., Company C, 8th Cav. Enl’d Sept., 1861; pro. to corp.; disch. Sept., 1864.
French, Lorenzo G., 160th Infantry.
Fletcher, Charles P., 160th Infantry.
Fillmore, Charles W., 168th Infantry.
Goodwin, William T., 111th Infantry. Enlisted February, 1863; discharged 1865.
Goodwin, Frederick, 160th Infantry. Enlisted August, 1862; discharged 1885.
Geer, John, 98th Infantry. Enlisted October, 1861 ; pro. to corporal; discharged 1864.
Geer, Charles, 33rd Infantry. Enlisted May, 1861; promoted to corporal; discharged.
Ganz, Henry A., 160th Infantry. Enlisted August, 1862; pro. to sergeant; discharged 1865.
Geer, Thomas, Company A, 111th Infantry. [Corporal; Enlisted July 1862 with Judson Hicks and others from Marion. Promoted to Sgt., 1864; discharged]
Henion, Oliver P., 160th Inf. Enlisted May, 1864; pro. to corp.; died in prison May 6, 1864.
Hill, Frank B. Died December 28, 1863.
Howard, Henry N., 99th Infantry. Died October, 1864.
Hill, William J., 160th Infantry. Enlisted August, 1862 ; died February 12, 1864.
Howell, Gideon, 50th Engineers. Enlisted October, 1861 ; pro. sgt.; discharged 1865. [Brother-in-law- of George N. Sherman.]
Hathaway, Washington, 160th Infantry. Enlisted August, 1862; promoted; discharged 1865.
Hathaway, Isaac R., 160th Infantry. Enlisted January, 1863; discharged 1865.
Hosmer, Martin J. Enlisted August, 1864.
Holling, Jay.
Hill, Parley.
Howell, Vernon H., 9th Heavy Art. Enlisted February, 1864; discharged 1865; wounded.
Hicks, Judson, Company A, 111th Infantry. [Color Sgt.; Enlisted July, 1862; Killed July 2, 1863 at Gettysburg while carrying the regimental colors. (flags)]
Holling, W. G., Company A, 111th Infantry.
Hards, Arthur, 160th Infantry.
Harris, Wm. R., Company E, 111th Infantry.
Jaques, Irving P., 111th Infantry.
Knapp, Harrison H., corporal, Company A, 111th Inf. Enlisted July, 1862; discharged 1865.
Knapp, Benj. L. Enlisted July, 1863; discharged 1865.
Kellogg, Milo B., 17th Infantry. Enlisted September, 1861; promoted; discharged 1865.
Kellogg, Norton P., 98th Inf. Enlisted Sept., 1861; promoted lst leut.; discharged 1865.
Kellogg, Lewis F., 160th Infantry. Enlisted August, 1862; discharged 1865.
Ken[y]on, George, [Corp] Co. A, 111th Infantry. Enlisted July, 1862; promoted; killed at Petersburg.
Ken[y]on, Friend, 180th Infantry.
Le Roy, Isaac, 9th Heavy Artillery. Enlisted September, 1862; discharged 1865.
Lounsberry, Lee, 98th Infantry. Enlisted October, 1861; killed at Cold harbor.
Lyon, Wm. H., 98th Infantry. Enlisted September, 1864; died in rebel prison.
Lyon, Henry.
Luce, Jefferson, 160th Infantry. Enlisted August, 1862; promoted sergeant; discharged 1865.
Lay, Henry.
Laing, John S., 2d lieut., Co. E, 111th Inf. Enlisted Aug., 1862; pro. lst leut.; disch. 1865.
Loveloy, Daniel F.
Lovejoy, Wm. E.
Le Buff, Frank, 160th Infantry.
Le Buff, Joseph.
McBowen, Edwin, 9th Heavy Artillery. Enlisted September, 1864; discharged 1865.
Musselman, Geo. F., 9th Heavy Artillery. Enlisted January, 1864; discharged 1865.
Mackel, Henry, 98th Infantry.
Mott, Gilbert, 2d Mounted Rifles. Enlisted December, 1863; discharged 1865.
McOmber, Israel, 98th Infantry. Enlisted November, 1861; died February 28, 1863.
McOmber, Amos, sergeant, 180th Infantry. Enlisted December, 1863; killed at Winchester.
Munson, Chas. H., 9th Heavy Artillery. Enlisted December, 1863; killed at Wilderness.
Miller, W. H., Company A, 111th Infantry.
Novess, Abner, 17th Infantry. Enlisted May, 1861; discharged.
Norton, Wm. H. 98th Infantry. Enlisted May 1862; died May 11, 1862.
Newton, Alvin B.
Newton, J. A. Company A, 111th Infantry
Ostrand, Frederick. Enlisted July 1863
Ostrand, Charles.
Patterson, James N. 9th Heavy Artillery. Enlisted August, 1862 ; discharged 1865.
Pratt, E. B.
Parks, Rueben B. 111th Infantry. Enlisted September, 1864; discharged 1865.
Parks. Edgar, 111th Infantry. Enlisted September, 1864; discharged 1865.
Potter, Orvis, navy. Enlisted 1864; discharged 1865.
Potter, Charles C., 188th Inf. Enlisted August, 1862; discharged October, 1864, wounded.
Pulver, Norman.
Percy, E. A., Company A, 111th Infantry.
Patterson, Wm., Company A, 111th Infantry.
Parker, Anion, Company E, 111th Infantry.
Quigley, James, 160th Infantry.
Reeves, H. P.
Russell, Edwin M., 98th Infantry. Enlisted October, 1861; promoted 2d lieut.; disch. 1863;
Russell, Whitney B.
Radder, Charles, 160th Inf. Enlisted August, 1862; promoted sergt.; killed April 9, 1864.
Rice, Harrison S., 111th Inf. Enlisted February, 1864; promoted corporal; discharged 1865.
Ratliff, James, 9th Cavalry. Enlisted March, 1865; discharged 1865.
Reeves, Stephen, 9th Heavy Artillery. Enlisted August, 1882 discharged 1865.
Reeves, Joseph C., Company C, 8th Cav. Enlisted September, 1861; pro. sergt.; disch. 1865.
Randall, Nathan. Enlisted August, 1863; discharged 1865.
Ratliff, Wm., 194th Infantry. Enlisted March, 1865; discharged.
Rathbun, Charles J., Company E, 111th Infantry. Enlisted August, 1862; discharged 1865.
Sanford, Joseph.
Shaw, Frederick, Navy. Enlisted August, 1864; discharged 1865.
Sherwood, James, Navy. Enlisted August, 1864; discharged 1865.
Short, Albert B, 97th Infantry. Discharged 1865.
Smith, Chester B., 194th Infantry. Enlisted November, 1864; disch. Jan, 1865, disability.
Smith, Gideon C.
See, Peter, 111th Infantry. Enlisted July, 1862; discharged May, 1868.
Smith, Ephraim.
Sherman, George. N., [Co. A] 111th Infantry. [Pvt.,] Enlisted July [23], 1862; discharged 1865. [Wounded at Gettysburg July 2, 1863.]
Scutt, Caleb.
Starks, Geo., 160th Infantry. Enlisted October, 1864; discharged 1865.
Spooner, Lewis H., Regular Infantry. Enlisted June, 1861; discharged June, 1865.
Spooner, Geo. W., 98th Infantry. Enlisted November, 1861; discharged November, 1864.
Skinner, Byron J., 9th Heavy Artillery. Enlisted December, 1863; discharged 1865.
Simmons, Alonzo H., 98th Inf. Enlisted November, 1861; discharged 1862, disability.
Soper, John H., 9th Heavy Artillery. Discharged 1865.
Soper, Sylvester. Enlisted August, 1861; discharged September, 1863.
Smith, John.
Sarner, Lawrence, Company A, 111th Infantry.
Sweezey, George W., Company A, 111th Infantry.
Sweezey, Chester, Company A, 111th Infantry.
See, Truman, 160th Infantry.
Stiggins, Thomas, 160th Infantry.
Smith, George W., Company E, 111th Infantry.
Skinner, Samuel E., 98th Infantry. Enlisted November, 1861 discharged 1865.
Trumbull, Charles H., 9th Heavy Artillery. Enlisted December, 1868 ; discharged 1865.
Taylor, J. E., Company A, 111th Infantry.
Vaughn, James B.
Van Dervear, Henry E.
Vaughn, V., corporal, 160th Infantry. Enlisted August, 1862; killed April 9, 1864.
Vanhee, Adrian, 9th Heavy Artillery. Enlisted June, 1864.
Wilcox, Myron S., 104th Infantry. Enlisted August, 1864; killed at Petersburg.
White, Alfred T., 1st Artillery. Enlisted September, 1864; discharged 1865.
White, Alvin, 1st Artillery. Enlisted September, 1862; discharged 1865.
Williams, Alvin D, 98th Infantry. Enlisted Oct., 1861; promoted to sergeant; disch. 1865
Williams, Francis A., 121st Infantry. Enlisted March, 1865; discharged 1865.
West, James, Company A, 111th Infantry. Enlisted July, 1862; promoted; discharged 1863.
Wood, Charles, 194th Infantry. Discharged 1865.
Wood, George, 194th Infantry. Discharged 1865.
Wallace, A., Company A, 111th Infantry.
Welch, Morris, Company A, 111th Infantry.
Young, Thomas H.
Young, Oliver B.
Young, John N., 160th Infantry.
Sources:
The Marion Enterprise, 22 July 1904
The Arcadian Weekly Gazette, 20 July 1904
Note: All color photos in this post were taken by Patrick Young except as noted.
