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It was half past four
o'clock, Friday morning, April 12, 1861, when the first roar of cannon
broke the quiet in which our nation had rested many years. We had
enjoyed peace and prosperity and were unused to war, and its first sound
aroused the nation like an electric shock. Strong men left their
quiet homes to join the ranks of war and every worthy citizen bore a
common share in the sacrifices, toils and cares required to preserve the
integrity of the Union.
Venice township bore her part manfully, and many of her
sons were killed upon the battlefield, died of wounds received in the
defence of their country or in rebel prison pens.
And the women of Venice were as patriotic as the men.
They started aid societies for the relief of the sick and wounded
soldiers, and for that purpose met at the Baptist church in Attica, on the
evening of the 22d of October, 1861, when the organization was completed,
a constitution adopted, Mrs. Sarah Blodgett elected president,
Mrs. Elizabeth Brown secretary and Mrs. Mary Bennett treasurer.
Nearly every family in the community is mentioned in
the secretary's report as having contributed something to the society.
Great quantities of clothing, provisions, hospital stores, etc., were sent
forward from time to time to aid and relieve. The last meeting of
the society took place May 29, 1867, when all the money yet remaining on
hand, was donated to the order of Good Templars.
The following is an incomplete list of the volunteers
from this township for the Union army.
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7TH REGIMENT O. V. I. |
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Stephen Rice, Joshua
Creglough (who were killed in Strassburg), Jacob Hines, Lon
Jones, Ira Grimes, James Smith, J. Harbaugh |
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COMPANY H, 14TH REGIENT O. V. I.
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Sergeant John Brown,
Frank Bartholomew (wounded Sept. 19, 1863), Lyman Carpenter,
Ambrose C. Croxton, John Goodman, R. J. Jamison, George Metcalf,
William H. Miller (who were also wounded on same day. |
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COMPANY B, 49TH REGIMENT O. V. I.
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M. B. Todd, V. J.
Miller, John Bennington, W. H. Miller, John Todd, Mark Shade, George
Bennington, Jehu Weaver, H. B. Courtright, D. M. Miller, James
Courtright. |
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55TH REGIMENT O. V. I.
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Otto Hull, Frank Smeltz and
Stephen Howland |
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66TH REGIMENT O. V. I.
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Samuel Croston, August
Tanner (wounded at Kennesaw Mountain, June 19, 1863),
Lafayette Parmenter and Henry Ames (wounded at Peach Tree creek
and died in consequence in July, 1863). |
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COMPANY I, 123D REGIMENT O. V. I.
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William Bartholomew
(wounded at Farmville, Virginia, April 6, 1865), A. W. Hoffman,
Joseph Hoffman, Sylvester Ostmer, Joseph Spencer, John Spencer, M.
D. Todd, M. W. Mitchner (died from wounds, September 3, 1864),
William B. Henry (died from wounds received June 15, 1864, at
Winchester, Virginia), J. L. Henry, W. .Sheely, Samuel Carpenter,
Wright McKibben, John Hillis, David Hillis, James Hillis, Wilson W.
English, L. Gibson, Isaac Funk (killed July 18, 1864), Henry
Ebersole (killed June 15, 1863, at Winchester Virginia), John
Fink, Isaac Seavault, John W. Rogers, John B. Shaffer, David
Thompson (wounded June 15, 1863), S. S. Carson, Hugh M. Cory,
John H. Carpenter and J. F. Schuyler, lieutenant. This
company was discharged at Columbus, Ohio, June 15, 1865.
Moses, John, Jeremiah, Peter and David
Cassner were also members of said company. |
Quite a number of men
served under Captain W. M. Miller in the O. N. G.
Anson and Harvey Bartholomew, F. M. Seed, E.
Crow, Joseph Harbaugh, Mr. Shade and W. B. Olds were
stationed on Johnson's Island (Sandusky Bay) guarding rebel
prisoners.
Samuel Brown, J. Foster, John Huddleson, William
Millon (killed in battle), Fred Thompson and John
Thompson served in regiments whose numbers are not known.
Many men from Venice also enlisted in other states. |
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FIRST OHIO HEAVY ARTILLERY.
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Clarkson Betts, James
Courtright, H. Courtright, S. Grove, Isaac Seppard, Silas McDougal,
Alex. McKitrick, W. Shoup and James Pangborn.
In November, 1874, the people of Venice sent to the
sufferers by grasshoppers in Kansas, in cash, clothing and
provisions, $387.72, all raised in Attia and vicinity. Mrs.
Moltz was secretary of the association.
A similar society in the town of Attica and vicinity
sent to the sufferers by fire in Chicago, in 1871, $975.99.
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