Exploring Almost Forgotten Gravesites in the Great State of Ohio

Dedicated to cemetery preservation in the great state of Ohio


"A cemetery may be considered as abandoned when all or practically all of the bodies have been Removed therefrom and no bodies have been buried therein for a great many years, and the cemetery has been so long neglected as entirely to lose its identity as such, and is no longer known, recognized and respected by the public as a cemetery. 1953 OAG 2978."

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Sharing a Civil War Diary Anecdote about Corporal William "Frank" Dwyer of the 81st O.V.I., Co. "C" Buried at the Greenfield Cemetery


Returning to the Greenfield Cemetery once again to help us remember another Ohio Civil War veteran.  He was Corporal William "Frank" Dwyer of the 81st O.V.I., Company "C".

Thanking Scott Andersen who shares this interesting story and gravesite photographs he took during his last visit. 

 


"William "Frank" Dwyer is buried at the Greenfield Cemetery.  
 
During the Civil War he was a Corporal in Company C, 81st Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served alongside my 3rd Great Uncle, Henry DePoy.  
 
Henry kept a diary of his service in the 81st, and here is an anecdote from that diary.  In November of 1861, the 81st O.V.I. was encamped near Hermann, Missouri, defending the area against Confederates and "Bushwackers": 
 
"Nov 30th, 1861, Heavy frost last night, this morning very cold, but we built a fire in my tent, and we are made quite comfortable,  Last evening, Frank Dwyer was Corporal of the guards, and one of the guards called for the Corporal, upon which Frank broke out and ran towards the guard,but ere he reached the place he tumbled  into a pit we had dug in the ground, which served as a slop barrel, it was at the time nearly full, it is about three feet deep, and he got greased almost all over, it also raised quite a laugh among the boys, Frank all made a laughing stock of took it all in good humor"
 
Frank Dwyer was born in Ohio in 1834, and died in 1904.  He was a farmer."

 
 

Remembering Edward H. Miller, Greenfield Banker and Civil War Lieutenant Buried at the Greenfield Cemetery

This weekend Scott Andersen also visited the gravesite of Lieutenant Edward H. Miller buried at the Greenfield Cemetery.  Scott shares some of his knowledge of the history of the life of this Civil War veteran and once prominent citizen of Greenfield, Ohio: 

"Edward H. Miller, 1838-1921, was a banker here in Greenfield.  During the Civil War Edward was a Lieutenant in the 73rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry.  During the 2nd Battle of Bull Run in August of 1862, he was wounded and listed as killed.  His father and Dr. Milton Dunlap traveled together to Washington to recover his body, and bring him back to Greenfield.  When they arrived there, they found him seriously wounded but alive, recovering in a hospital.   Edward would jokingly tell people for the rest of his life, "I was killed in the Battle of Bull Run". "
 
"Edward Miller is the Father in Law of my 1st Cousin 3 times removed."
 
"Edward's wife was Emma Gore 1840-1917, and her headstone is also visible in the photo."