More than a 100 years later, county historian hopes to remember more Civil War veterans on monument
In the photo above, part of the Whitley County Historical Society’s collection, “The Old Standbys,” members of the GAR Post 81 pose for a photo with the Civil War monument they raised funds to build. The photo above was taken November 14, 1903, and from left is I.N. Keller, I.B. McDonald, Henry Worden, David Engle, David N. Hart, H.J. Egolf, Adam Malone, Henry H. Lawrence, John F. Lawrence, F.P. Gruesbeck, E.B. North, John Hess, J.M. Maine, George Sheckler, William Brubaker, William N. Langell and P.V. Gruesbeck. Many of these names appear on the monument today. Below, the monument as it appears today near the north entrance to the Whitley County Courthouse. (Talk of the Town photos, below, by Jennifer Zartman Romano)
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
It was a project that began more than a hundred years ago now.
Civil War veterans, many of whom were yet living, dedicated the large stone monument that now greets visits to the Whitley County Courthouse’s main entrance. 
Years later, with several blank spaces yet to be filled, forgotten Civil War veterans may yet be remembered on the monument.
Two weeks ago, in the latest edition of the Whitley County Historical Society’s The Bulletin, the quarterly publication featuring news and notes of a vintage nature, announced that a rare opportunity is available for those with the interest and cash to make it happen.
As part of a project being managed by Whitley County historian Jeanette Brown, with the endorsement of Whitley County commissioners, those interested descendants of Civil War soldiers may have their ancestor’s name carved into the monument.
The cost to have a name entered onto the 22 remaining spaces is $43 for the first two letters and $5 for each additional letter. In the past, some families put names and regimental or company information while others included birth and death dates.
In addition to the spaces on main area of the moment, there additional spaces on the corners that can be reserved as needed.
Terry Smith of Smith & Sons Funeral home is coordinating the actual carving. The carvings are expected to be done all at one time.
There are a total of 360 spaces on the monument, with at least 22 available for engraving. So how many soldiers are eligible to be included on the monument? According to Brown, there are approximately 1700 Civil War soldiers who were either born or who lived in Whitley County during their lifetime – so that’s quite a few potential candidates for inclusion.
“They must have lived here or be buried here,” Brown said of criteria in determining whether or not a soldier’s name may be entered onto the monument. Brown will personally research each proposed name to ensure their connection to Whitley County before those names are inscribed on the monument.
“We have four maybe six interested so far,” Brown said. “I’ve been approached before,” she said, adding that she has heard from people interested in having names added for several years – demonstrating to her the interest local people have in completing the project began so many years ago.
According to Brown’s research, the monument was spearheaded by the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) in 1897. Numerous changes and adjustments over the years have resulted in the addition and then subtraction of some spaces on the monument. Major changes were made in 1916 and the monument was moved to its current location in 1985.
For more information about the project or to propose names for inclusion, contact Jeanette Brown at 213-1763.