Veteran Honorees

2025 Voice From The Stone Honorees: Samuel N. Millington (Civil War KIA) and Levi D. Millington (Civil War KIA) The “Voice From the Stone” honorees for 2025 are brothers Samuel and Levi Millington, killed in action during the Battle of Shiloh in the Civil War. They served alongside their father Otis in the 46th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and he was present at their deaths. Through them we honor all those whose names are on the monument, especially those who served and died during the Civil War, on this the 160th Anniversary of its end. CLICK HERE for a detailed biography about the Millington brothers. Scroll below to view their military service summary details. SAMUEL N. MILLINGTON Veteran First NameSamuel Veteran Middle NameN. Veteran Last NameMillington Date of Birth1840 Highest RankPrivate Branch of ArmyYes Unit(s)46th OVI, Co. G Active Service to Year04/06/1862 Civil WarYes KIAYes KIA/DIS/POW When04/06/1862 KIA/DIS/POW WhereShiloh, TN Other CemeteryShiloh, TN Date of Death04/06/1862 Source 1Beers, Record 477; Civil War Soldiers System; Ancestry- Find a Grave; Obit from News of Our Civil War Veterans by Virginia Smith LEVI D. MILLINGTON Veteran First NameLevi Veteran Middle NameD. Veteran Last NameMillington Date of Birth1842 Highest RankPrivate Branch of ArmyYes Unit(s)46th OVI, Co. G Active Service to Year04/06/1862 Civil WarYes KIAYes KIA/DIS/POW When04/06/1862 KIA/DIS/POW WhereShiloh, TN Other CemeteryShiloh, TN Date of Death04/06/1862 Source 1Beers, Record 477; Civil War Soldiers System; American Civil War Research Database <footer id="

2023 Voice from the Stone Honoree Samuel Layton Hill – Spanish-American War KIA One hundred and twenty five years ago, the United States fought what is known as the Spanish-American War. While the motivation for the war was primarily to free the peoples of Cuba, Porto Rico, Guam and the Philippines from Spanish rule, the outcome propelled the United States onto the world stage. One of the many National Guard units were activated and sworn into federal duty as volunteers was the 14th Ohio Infantry Regiment, which contained Company E, from Union County. When sworn in, the 14th was renamed the 4th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, and Company E became Company D. And one of it’s men was Samuel Layton Hill. Samuel was born on July 3rd, 1875 in Delaware County, and lived for a time with his parents, Israel and Martha Blaney Hill in Concord Township, Delaware County which borders Jerome Township here in Union County. After his father died, he moved with his mother to Paris Township in Union County, where she later remarried. He graduated from Marysville High School on East Sixth Street. In the newspaper write up on his re-burial in Oakdale cemetery, he was described as “a young man of strictest integrity, and a dedicated sense of honor. He was always upright, candid and open-hearted. He was a good boy in his home, a good boy in school, and a good soldier.” On April 26, 1898, two days after war was declared, he joined Company E of the 14th Ohio. On May 9th, he was mustered into federal service with the rest of the company. After their training, Samuel and the men from Union County left for Porto Rico. They landed there on August 3rd at Arroyo, and on August 4th was sent to the front-lines outside Guyama on outpost duty. The Spanish were on the other side of the front. After participating in the battle for Guyama from the 7th to 10th of August, the 4th was again on outpost duty outside the city when Private Hill was struck down by friendly fire. He was originally buried outside Guyama, but in 1899 was brought home to Union County and re-interred in Oakdale cemetery with full military honors on May 3, 1899. <footer id="

2022 Voice from the Stone Honoree Simon Shover – War of 1812 POW Simon Shover was born in Loudoun County, Virginia in 1785. His father and mother were Henry and Rosanna Shover. Henry was a veteran of the War for Independence, or American Revolution. Simon had three sisters – Elizabeth, Catharine and Barbara; and two brothers - Frederick and Adam. During the war of 1812 Adam served as a Lieutenant with the first company organized in Union County, with James Curry, the son of the founder of Union County as captain. The family moved to Jerome Township about 1805, and settled on a farm just north of Big Darby Creek. As a young man living in pre-Union County, Simon worked on the family farm. In the summer of 1812, after war had been declared against England, Simon enlisted in Captain Angus Langham’s company in Chillicothe. According to an advertisement for recruits, anyone enlisting would be expected to serve either a five year term or an eighteen month term, and he would receive a bounty of sixteen dollars. The recruiting parties were looking for men of “Patriotism, Courage and Enterprise.” Simon’s service during his eighteen months of service would certainly prove he had these qualities. One way we know this is that he was made Orderly Sergeant of his company, a position of much responsibility. Langham’s company became part of the 19th Regiment of the regular army. The lineage of this regiment continues to this day in the 3rd Infantry Regiment, known as “The Old Guard.” The regiment, along with a number of Kentucky volunteers, was assigned to the Northwest Army under command of General James Winchester. This army replaced the one under General William Hull which had been captured at Fort Detroit in July, 1812. General Winchester and his army were to meet with General William Henry Harrison and the rest of the American forces to recapture Detroit. On January, 18, 1813, General Winchester sent a contingent to attack the British and their native allies at a place called Frenchtown, now Monroe, Michigan on the River Raisin. The Americans drove the British from the town, and General Winchester brought up the rest of US forces. He did not prepare them for a counter-attack though, and when the British and Indians attacked at dawn on January 22nd, the US forces were taken by surprise. The regular US troops were overwhelmed quickly, and as they tried to surrender, many were killed and scalped. Out of 400 men, 220 were killed, 147 were captured, and the rest escaped. The Kentucky troops fought on in Frenchtown, refusing to surrender fearing they would be killed. While they fought hard, their ammunition began to run low and eventually they were forced to surrender to the British. Their wounded were kept in houses in the village. The British commander promised the over 500 POW’s would be taken to a nearby British fort, and the wounded cared for. Unfortunately, his Indian allies had other ideas. On the 23rd, as the main group of POW’s was led away, anyone unable to keep up, mainly those with less serious wounds, was killed and scalped. The Indians then set fire to the buildings which housed the more seriously wounded, and then began killing those that tried to escape. Known as the ‘River Raisin Massacre’, it so horrified Americans as news spread, that it overshadowed the loss of the battle. The rallying cry, “Remember the River Raisin!” would lead many more to enlist for the war, and would inspire similar calls in 1836, “Remember the Alamo!”, and in 1941, “Remember Pearl Harbor!” Simon was captured at Frenchtown, and witnessed the massacre of POWs and the wounded by the Indians. Showing his quick thinking, Simon claimed to have escaped death by jumping around and up on a log, flapping his arms and crowing like a rooster. Apparently his captors thought this was amusing, and also that maybe he was a little insane. So he was taken prisoner, and eventually paroled with the vow not to fight again until exchanged. However, after his return to Jerome Township, he found most of his friends still fighting in the war, so he disregarded his parole and went back to join General Harrison’s army. He continued to serve until the end of the war. Unfortunately, his experiences in the war seem to have affected him with post-traumatic stress. The DeBeers Union County history says he was “one of the most eccentric and reckless characters that lived in Union County.” In addition, he may have been one of those veterans that has trouble re-adjusting to civilian life after what he went through in the war. He was too fond of alcohol, and he was known for letting out “an Indian war whoop” in order to get money for a drink. He would swim his horse across the Darby when the water level was very high. Once he rode his horse into court and let out his Indian war cry at the top of his voice. He was known for playing all kinds of tricks, but his humor and popularity usually kept him out of trouble. Because of his drinking, he lost his property, and led a wandering life, relying on the charity of old friends. He ended his days in the old County Infirmary that used to stand on Route 4, and when he died in 1863, he was buried in the cemetery on the property. As no record shows he was moved to the Potter’s field at Oakdale cemetery, his remains are still buried somewhere on the land at Route 4 and County Home Road. As sad ending for one of Union County’s courageous soldiers. Simon was known to be brave and honorable, and was one of Union County’s most distinguished soldiers in the War of 1812. His experience is a reminder that our Veterans sometimes need help, and how important the Veterans Service Office, and our other Veterans groups are to the well-being of these brave men and women. Presented by Bo Johnstone – November 6, 2022 Researched by Sue Kinebaum – Reference Librarian at Marysville Public Library Veteran First NameSimon Veteran Last NameShover Date of Birth1785 Highest RankLieutenant Branch of ArmyYes Unit(s)19th Regiment, Captain Angus Lanham's Co. Active Service from Year1812 War of 1812Yes POWYes KIA/DIS/POW When01/23/1813 KIA/DIS/POW WhereMonroe, Michigan Township of residence entering serviceJerome Township of current residence or at time of deathParis CemeteryOTHER Other CemeteryInfirmary Farm Date of Death1863 Source 1Esther Carmany; Beers, Chapter II; Record 434; Beers, Jerome Township History, (273); Union Co. Cem. Rec., Vol. 2, p. 123 Notes 1taken prisoner at General Winchester's defeat; held captive by Indians and reportedly escaped death by "jumping on a log, flapping his arms and crowing like a rooster." (Beers, 273) Notes 2son of Henry Shover, Revolutionary War; Shover family buried in Jerome Cemetery, Ash Section Notes 32022 Voice From the Stone Honoree Record AuthenticatedYes <footer id="

2021 Veteran Honoree Lieutenant Colonel James A. Curry James A. Curry was born near Belfast, Ireland on January 29, 1752. He came to America with is parents and four other siblings in 1762. An outbreak of disease on the ship took the lives of his brothers and sisters. He and his parents settled in Rockingham County, Virginia. As he grew up, James worked on the family farm. In his early 20’s, James became a member of the Virginia Militia. In 1774, the governor of Virginia called up the militia and sent them into the western part of the state to stop Indian raids on the local communities. During a battle between the militia and Indians at Point Pleasant (now in West Virginia) on the Kanawa River, James was severely wounded. He recovered just as the American Revolution broke out. James enlisted in the Virginia Line, as the infantry regiments were called at that time. He quickly rose in rank, and was soon commissioned as a Lieutenant. He eventually rose to the rank of Captain in the Virginia Line of the Continental/U.S. Army. Because of his education, he was moved to staff duty. Most of his duty was with General Washington and the main Continental Army, where he saw action in the major battles of the war, including Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine Creek, Germantown and Monmouth Courthouse. He was also present at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-78, when Major General (Baron) Friedrich von Steuben helped create a real American Army. In 1780, after some duty in Virginia as a recruiting officer, he joined the Virginia troops headed to South Carolina to reinforce General Benjamin Lincoln around Charleston. Unfortunately, the American Army in South Carolina was captured in May of 1780, and Captain Curry was one of the prisoners of war. He was exchanged for a British officer, and continued serving with Gen. Washington, being present at the capture of Yorktown in late 1781. By the end of the war he was a brevet Major. After the war he returned to Virginia and married, and in 1798, he moved his family to the Ohio territory. His first residences were in Ross and Highland counties. In 1811, he moved his family again, to a part of Delaware county that would eventually become a section of Union County. While in Highland County, he served two terms as a state legislator, and eventually served two terms from the new Union County also. It was through his efforts that Union County came to be established, with the official date being April 1, 1820. While in Highland County, he became Lieutenant Colonel James Curry, serving as the regimental commander of the 2nd Ohio Regiment, and also as an inspector of state troops. He retired from service prior to the War of 1812. His oldest son, also called James A. Curry served during that war, both in the infantry and cavalry. During the Civil War, Lt. Col. Curry’s sons David and William W., and his grandson’s James, James A., Otway and William L. Curry all served with the Union Army. Otway was a captain with Company C, 121st Ohio Infantry; and William L. was a captain with Company K, 1st Ohio Cavalry. His grandson James A. died during the war while in the service. Lt. Col. Curry died in Jerome Township, Union County on February 15, 1855, and never saw how his service in the War for Independence led to a tradition of military service by his grandchildren. He no doubt would have been proud of them. Veteran First NameJames Veteran Last NameCurry Date of Birth01/29/1752 Highest RankColonel Unit(s)Virginia Line Revolutionary WarYes Township of residence entering serviceJerome CemeteryJerome Twp: Curry Date of Death07/05/1834 Source 1Beers, Record 428 and Chapter IV, Jerome Township, Biographical Sketches (291); Ohio Vital Records; D.A.R., p.98; Union County Engineer survey records Notes 1father to Capt. James A. Curry, War of 1812; grandfather to Adison, James, and William Curry, Civil War; served in Ohio State Legislature, 1813-1820; served as Associate Judge, 1822-1828 Notes 2given military warrant for 1,000 acres in Jerome Township in 1807 (Survey 1440) settled there in 1811 Record AuthenticatedYes <footer id="

2020 Voice From The Stone Honorees: Virgil R Webb (WW2 KIA) and Virgil R Webb, Jr (Vietnam KIA) VIRGIL R. WEBB (WORLD WAR II VETERAN) PaverPaver - Section B Veteran First NameVirgil Veteran Middle NameRalph Veteran Last NameWebb Picture Date of Birth08/22/1916 Highest RankCorporal Branch of ArmyYes Unit(s)361st Infantry, Tank Unit Active Service from Year12/10/1941 Active Service to Year06/29/1944 World War IIYes Overseas Service Input Box 1Africa Purple HeartYes Other DecorationsYes Other Decoration Names 1Good Conduct Medal, 3 Battle Stars, Purple Heart KIAYes KIA/DIS/POW When06/29/1944 KIA/DIS/POW WhereItaly Township of residence entering serviceClaibourne SchoolRichwood High School CemeteryParis Twp: Oakdale Date of Death06/29/1944 Source 1DD-214, Union Co. Recorder's Office, Vol. 6, p. 89; Sharon Webb; G.W. Claar; National Archives; Union Co. Cem. Rec., Vol. 6, p. 89; Young American Patriots, p. 1087 Notes 1serial #35270657; buried in Section H, Row 20, Oakdale Cemetery; Young American Patriots lists DOB as 9/21/1916; KIA . VIRGIL WEBB, JR (VIETNAM VETERAN) PaverPaver - Section B Veteran First NameVirgil Veteran Last NameWebb, Jr. Picture Date of Birth09/05/1942 Highest RankCorporal Branch of ArmyYes Branch of Air ForceYes Unit(s)6102nd Supply Squadron; 173rd Airborne Brigade, Light Weapons Infantry Active Service from Year04/01/1960 Active Service to Year09/27/1968 Vietnam WarYes Overseas Service Input Box 1South Vietnam Bronze StarYes Purple HeartYes Presidential Unit CitationNo Other DecorationsNo Other Decoration Names 1Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; Good Conduct Medal KIAYes KIA/DIS/POW When09/27/1968 KIA/DIS/POW WhereMilitary Region 2, Binh Dinh, South Vietnam Township of residence entering serviceParis Township of current residence or at time of deathParis ChurchUnited Methodist Church CemeteryParis Twp: Oakdale Date of Death09/27/1968 Source 1Mark Hoffhines; National Archives; Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Virtual Wall; DD-214, Union Co. Recorder's Office, Vol. 10, p. 507 Notes 1Serial #15626540; enlisted 04/01/1960, Columbus, Ohio; honorably discharged 12/10/1963 with 3 years, 8 months, and 10 days of active duty; later returned to active duty status from Reserves; Notes 2Type of Casualty: Hostile - Killed; Reason: explosive device; body recovered; age 26; posthumously promoted; NARA Ref. #17461; honored on Panel 42W, Row 33, of the Vietnam Wall; KIA (father was also KIA, WWII) Notes 32-21-2013 Patty Brown 642-3206, Annalee Webb 642-3033 <footer id="