"Men Seek grave markers for Holmes County brothers who died in the Civil War"

 Sharing this news story from Baltic in Holmes County, Ohio.   From the "Times-Reporter" by Jon Baker and published November 22, 2020.: 

BALTIC:
"In December 1861, three brothers from Holmes County — Tobias, Isaac and Stephen Miller — enlisted in Company C of the 67th Ohio Volunteer Infantry to fight for their country in the Civil War.

Only one of them, Isaac, came back from the war.

Tobias and Stephen both died in combat on the same day on July 18, 1863, in the attack on Fort Wagner, S.C., a battle made famous by the movie "Glory."

Eventually, their bodies were brought back to Ohio and buried in the Shutt-Berger Cemetery just outside of Baltic. 

But their graves were never marked, and two men, Forrest Chanay of the Holmes County Civil War Roundtable and Jeff Schrock of the Sugarcreek American Legion post, are working to make sure the Miller brothers get the honor they deserve.

"We're applying for the stones now and hoping that everything will go through and we'll have them in time to have them installed by Memorial Day," said Chanay, who has spent the past several years getting military gravestones for Holmes.County Civil War veterans.

The three brothers grew up on a farm in Walnut Creek Township, the son of Jeptha Miller. The father was a member of the Amish Mennonite church and was born in Somerset County, Pa., Jeptha was married three times and had 19 children.

Isaac enlisted in the 67th OVI on Dec. 9, 1861, at age 19. Tobias, 23, and Stephen, 17, joined the unit 10 days later.

Their regiment saw hard service in the war, participating in numerous battles in Virginia in 1862 before the unit was shipped to South Carolina in 1863. During the assault on Fort Wagner, the 67th OVI sustained heavy losses.

"Isaac Miller served through the rest of the war with his regiment, being discharged on Dec. 9, 1865, with the rank of first sergeant.

He died Jan. 28, 1900, at age 57."

"Deceased was well and favorably known in eastern Holmes County where he had resided his whole life," his obituary said. "For several years, and at the time of his death, he conducted a general merchandise store in Charm, where his untimely death will be lamented, not only by his family but the public in general."

Isaac made an unsuccessful run for Holmes County commissioner in 1898.

Schrock said the Sugarcreek American Legion post plans to hold a small ceremony at the cemetery when Tobias and Stephen Miller get their grave markers.

In the meantime, he and Chanay are trying to track down relatives of the brothers who might be interested in attending the event.."

"Maybe some family members would come forward," Schrock said. "If we can get the stones, the goal is to have a little ceremony sometime close to Memorial Day next spring."

"Anyone with information on the family can contact Schrock at 330-852-2629 or Chanay at 330-600-4377."