Altoona in Blair County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument
Fairview Cemetery
Died For Their Country
(South face)
(Top Center Column) Capt. Henry Wayne Capt. T. L. McGlathery Capt. P. T. Keys
(Left Column) Lieut. Geo. W. Burley Lieut. P. Morris J. Kelly G. R. Everson Jr. G. M. Loudon J. S. McLaughlin E. J. Burley D. Foust L. M. Beals J. C. Bowers I. Hill J. McLaughlin J. Bush
(Right Column) Lieut. S. C. Potts Lieut. R. J. Clarke I. Markley G. Williams B. F. Tipton F. Hench G. G. Kress F. C. Ward J. T. Moore W. H. Wilgis M. A. Riggle S. B. Stewart W. J. Reid
(East face)
(Left Column) Jas. Maxwell W. Bottenberg W. H. Buck J. B. Arble T. G. Arble J. Meloy J. Maurer W. Walker D. D. Webber D. M. Burkholder W. Haggerty J. R. Morrow J. Aurandt G. R. Daugherty
(Right Column) W. Moore G. B. Gates H. Burkholder S. F. Stevens A. Fry J. Fry L. Valentine J. D. Hagerty D. W. Oswalt S. L. Hoar F. Wentzell D. Ragan T. T. McClain H. Kentner
(West face)
(Left Column) J. E. Davis L. Davis L. Mabus A. C. Gwin H. Bartlebaugh J. B. Brown L. Fleck L. Fry W. Boyles H. G. Buel D. Kounsman S. Kounsman J. A. Boyles D. Coho
(Right Column) J. R. Morgan J. M. Knox W. F. Knox J. Hurley W. Weirbaugh J. A. Brown J. S. Hamilton J. C. Morrow E. Evers R. P. Engles J. Allison J. B. Kinsel J. L. Kinsel
Erected 1867.
Topics. This monument and memorial is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.
Location. 40° 31.394′ N, 78° 24.144′ W. Marker is in Altoona, Pennsylvania, in Blair County. Memorial can be reached from the intersection of 18th Avenue and 8th Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Altoona PA 16601, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Altoona Volunteer Fire Department Bell (approx. 0.4 miles away); Union Veteran Legion No 17 (approx. 0.4 miles away); Isaac Charles Mishler (approx. half a mile away); William H. Prosser (approx. half a mile away); Stars & Stripes Forever (approx. half a mile away); Memorial Projectile (approx. half a mile away); First Pennsylvania Railroad YMCA (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Altoona.
More about this monument. Underlaid with spears and encircled with laurel, a shield on the west side of the spire is inscribed "DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY." The names of Civil War soldiers from Altoona and vicinty who made the supreme sacrifice are engraved on three tablets at mid-height on the Monument. A marble plaque on the south face of the base describes the circumstances of the Monument's origination. There are no inscriptions on the north side of the Monument.
Within a short span of time, Blair County was cleaved from Huntingdon and Bedford Counties (1846), Altoona was incorporated as a borough (1854), and Fairview Cemetery was founded on March 14, 1857. Not long thereafter, the Civil War began, and the cost of the war came home to Fairview Cemetery.
The highest point in the Cemetery was designated in 1862 as a Soldiers Circle, and lots were to be donated to any veteran. After a regiment well-populated with Blair Countians, the 125th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, fell into fierce combat at the Battle of Antietam, the body of Corporal John A Kelly was brought home by his father and laid to rest on the Inner Circle on Sunday, September 28, 1862.
Joseph S McLaughlin of the 125th PA and George R. Everson, Jr., of the 8th Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry (37th Pennsylvania Regiment) returned from the War to Fairview in December 1862. There are multiple and conflicting reports about the actual order of burials and who remains buried on the Inner Circle.
An excerpt from the Altoona Mirror, Saturday, February 25, 1961, describes the orign of the Circle and its Monument:
"The memorial plot was instituted at a meeting held by the directors of the Fairview Cemetery Association on Monday evening, September 22, 1862, when the following resolution was unanimously adopted.
'Resolved, that the circle plot in the [Fairview] Cemetery be appropriated for the purpose of interring all soldiers of this borough and immediate vicinity who have died or may die during this rebellion.
The following committee has been appointed to wait on the relatives and friends of all deceased soldiers to inform them of the above resolution and request them to accept of the proposition: A.A. Smyth, Daniel Langham and G.W. Kessler.'
It was not until 1866 that a Soldiers Monument Association was formed and chartered in the Blair County courts. It is a matter of record that within four days after the charter was received the total amount of $ 4,000, the cost of constructing the monument, had been received through popular subscription.
The contract for the construction of the monument was let to John Baird of Philadelphia who erected the granite base and the Italian marble column of the monument. The work was completed before July 4, 1867, but it was not until this date that the appropriate dedication ceremonies were held. At the time of the dedication more than a score of soldiers had been interred in the burial plot."
Regarding Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument. Details of service
Rank/Name Service Date of Death Circumstances
Capt Henry Wayne Co. B. 3rd Pa. Inf. Co. F. 76th Pa. Inf. 10/22/1862 KIA at Pocotaligo S.C.
Capt Thomas L. McGlathery Co. F. 76th Pa. Inf. 1/15/1865 KIA at Fort Fisher N.C.
Capt Patrick Keyes Co. D. 16th U.S. Inf. 5/3/1863 Died of Wounds Pittsburgh Landing
1st Lt George W. Burley Co. D. 3rd Pa. Vol. Co. C. 110th Pa. Inf 6/26/1862 Died of Disease
Lt Patrick Morris Co. M. 62nd Pa. Vol. 7/11/1863 Died of Wounds at Gettysburg Pa.
Lieut. Steven C. Potts Co. M. 62nd Pa. Inf. Co. H. 3rd Pa. Inf. 12/14/1862 Died of wounds at Fredericksburg Va.
1st Lt Robert J. Clarke Co. F. 31st Pa. Inf. 6/9/1864 KIA at Wilderness Va.
Corp John Kelly Co. D. 125th Pa. Inf. 9/17/1862 KIA at Antietam Md.
Pvt George R. Everson Jr. Co. B. 37th Pa. Inf. 9/14/1862 KIA at South Mountain Md.
Pvt George M. Loudon Co. K. 125th Pa. Inf. 12/25/1862 Died at Harpers Ferry Md.
Pvt Joseph S. McLaughlin Co. D. 125th Pa. Inf. 9/17/1862 KIA at Antietam Md.
Pvt Emanuel J.Burley Co. D. 125th Pa. Inf. 9/17/1862 KIA at Antietam Md..
Pvt Daniel Foust Co. D. 205th Pa. Inf. 4/14/1865 Died at Phila. 4/14/1865 of Wounds received 4/2/1865 at Petersburg Va.
Pvt Lemuel Beals Co. C. 46th Pa. Inf. Co. D. 13th Pa. Cav. 10/14/1864 Died at City Point Va.
Cpl John C. Bowers Co. C. 46th Pa. Mil. Co. D. 184th Pa. Inf. 7/18/1864 Died of wound rec'd 6/3/1864 at Cold Harbor
Pvt Isaac Hill Co. F. 135th Pa. Inf. 4/9/1863 Wounded in Action
Cpl John McLaughlin Co. F. 76th Pa. Inf 6/12/1863 Wounded at Hilton Head N.C.
Cpl Joseph Bush Co. F. 2nd Pa. Cav. 11/29/1864 Fairview Cemetery Altoona Pa.
Pvt Isaac Markley Co. D. 125th Pa. Inf. 9/17/1862 KIA at Antietam Md.
Smn Gains Williams U.S. Navy 5/1865 Fairview Cemetery Altoona Pa.
Pvt Benjamin F. Tipton Co. E. 12th Pa. VRC. 5/1864 Fredericksburg National Cemetery Va.
Pvt Frederick Hench Co. F. 76th Pa. Inf. 10/31/1862 Died at Hilton Head S.C.
Sgt George G. Kress Co. M. 62nd Pa. Inf. Co. H. 3rd Pa. Inf. 5/8/1864 KIA at Wilderness Va.
Pvt Frederick C. Ward Co. K. 125th Pa. Inf 9/19/1862 Died of Wounds at Antietam Md.
Sgt James T. Moore Co. E. 3rd Pa. Inf. Co. F. 31st Pa. Inf. Co. A. 191st Pa.Inf. Abt.1865 Died After The War Ended
Sgt William H. Wilgis Co. F. 31st Pa. Inf. 11/15/1862 Documented as Died
Pvt Martin A. Riggle Co. F. 31st Pa. Inf. 8/19/1863 Died of Wounds from Gettysburg Pa.
Pvt Samuel B. Stewart Co. F. 31st Pa. Inf. 7/3/1863 KIA Gbg and buried in Gettysburg National Cemetery Pa.
Pvt William J. Reid Co. F. 31st Pa. Inf. Co. A. 191st Pa. Inf. 2/16/1865 Died at Salisbury N.C.
Pvt James H Maxwell Co. A. 72th Pa. Inf. 5/16/1866 Died After The War Ended
Pvt William Bottenberg Ind. Cav. Pa. Mil. Co. D. 13th Pa. Cav. 11/1/1864 Annapolis National Cemetery Md.
Corp William H. Buck Co. E. 45th Pa. Inf. KIA Wilderness 5/6/1864 Fredericksburg National Cemetery Va.
Pvt Thomas G. Arble Co. B. 13th Pa. Cav. Co. K. 125th Pa. Inf. 5/26/1864 Died Andersonville Prison Ga.
Pvt James Bostridge Arble Co. A.& D. 84th Pa. Inf. 6/11/1862 Port Republic, Rockingham Va. Reg. Hosp.
Pvt James Meloy Co. D. 184th Pa. Inf. 6/22/1864 Died at Andersonville Prison Ga.
Pvt Joseph Maurer Co. K. 125th Pa. Inf 7/3/1864 Hampton National Cemetery Va.
Pvt William Walker Co. D. 184th Pa. Inf. 6/17/1864 KIA near Petersburg Va.
Cpl Daniel Webber Co. D. 184th Pa. Inf. 8/1/1864 Died of Wounds at Cold Harbor Va.
Pvt David M. Burkholder Co. D. 184th Pa. Inf. 6/19/1864 Died 6/19/1864 of Wounds rec'd in action 6/12/1864
Pvt William Haggerty Co. D. 184th Pa. Inf. Died 7/14/1864 of Wounds rec'd 6/3/1864 at Cold Harbor Va.
Pvt John R. Morrow Co. D. 184th Pa. Inf. Died 6/21/1864 of Wounds rec'd 6/1/1864 at Cold Harbor Va.
Pvt John Aurandt Co. D. 184th Pa. Inf. Captured 6/22/1864 Died 11/6/1864 at Andersonville Prison Ga.
Pvt George R. Daugherty Co. D. 184th Pa. Inf. 9/4/1864 Died Andersonvillle Prison Ga.
Pvt William Moore Co. D. 184th Pa. Inf. 10/31/1864 Died at Andersonville Prison Ga.
Pvt Gilbert B. Gates Co. D. 115th Pa. Inf. KIA 5/3/1865 at Chancellorsville Va.
Pvt Henry Burkholder Co. F. 76th Pa. Inf. 8/23/1862 Died at Hilton Head S.C.
Pvt Samuel Finley Stevens Co. F. 76th Pa. Inf. 7/11/1863 KIA at Fort Wagner S.C
Pvt Adam Fry Co. F. 76th Pa. Inf. 10/22/1862 KIA at Pocotaligo S.C.
Pvt John L. Fry Co. G. 12th Pa. Cav. 2/7/1865 Died at Charlestown Va.
Pvt Levi Valentine Co. G. 12th Pa. Cav 10/5/1862 Asbury Cemetery Altoona Pa.
Pvt Joseph D. Hagerty Co. F. 76th Pa. Inf. 7/9/1864 KIA near Ft. Stedman Petersburg VA.
Pvt David W. Oswalt Co. D. 125th Pa. Inf. 5/3/1863 KIA at Chancellorsville Va.
Corp Samuel L. Hoar Co. C. 19th Pa. Cav. 11/11/1865 Died at Monroe Lousiana
Pvt Frederick Wentzel Co. M. 62nd Pa. Inf. 7/12/1864 St. Patricks Cemetery Newry Pa.
Pvt Daniel Ragan Co. F. 76th Pa. Inf. Died 7/11/1862 at Hilton Head S.C.
Theodore T. McClain Co. E. 12th Pa. Cav. Died 9/8/1864 and buried at Andersonville
Pvt Henry T. Kentner Co. D. 13th Pa. Cav. 1865 KIA at Wilmington Battlefield N.C.
Pvt John E. Davis Co. D. 125th Pa. Inf. 9/17/1862 KIA at Antietam Md.
Pvt Leonard Davis Co. D. 125th Pa. Inf. 4/21/1863 Died at Acquia Creek Va.
Pvt Leonard Mabus Co. K. 125th Pa. Inf. 10/21/1862 Died near Maryland Heights Md.
Sgt Alexander C. Gwin Co. B. 3rd Pa. Inf. Co. F. 76th Pa. Inf. KIA 7/18/1863 at Fort Wagner S.C.
Pvt Henry Bartlebaugh Co. F. 76th Pa. Inf 6/29/1864 Died of wounds at Hampton Va.
Pvt James B. Brown Co. F. 76th Pa. Inf. 6/6/1864 KIA at Cold Harbor Va.
Pvt Luther Fleck Co. F. 76th Pa. Inf 6/17/1864 Died of Wounds at Hampton Va.
Pvt Levi Fry Co. F. 76th Pa. Inf. 7/11/1863 KIA at Fort Wagner S.C.
Pvt William Boyles Co. B. 3rd Pa. Inf. Co. F. 76th Pa. Inf. 10/22/1862 KIA at Pocotaligo S.C.
Pvt Henry Buel Co. F. 76th Pa. Inf. 7/11/1863 KIA at Fort Wagner S.C.
Pvt David Kounsman Co. F. 76th Pa. Inf. 7/11/1863 KIA at Fort Wagner S.C.
Pvt Samuel Kounsman Co. F. 76th Pa Inf. 7/11/1863 KIA at Fort Wagner S.C.
Sgt John A. Boyles Co. B. 3rd Pa. Inf. 7/20/1863 Died at Charleston S.C.
Pvt David Coho Co. B. 3rd Pa. Inf. 11/25/1861 Died of Dysentery
Pvt John R. Morgan Co. F. 76th Pa. Inf. 7/11/1863 KIA at Fort Wagner S.C.
Mus John M. Knox Co. F. 76th Pa. Inf 7/28/1862 KIA at Cold Harbor Va.
Pvt William T. Knox Co. F. 76th Pa. Inf. 7/28/1864 KIA at Hilton Head S.C.
Pvt John Hurley Co. F. 76th Pa. Inf. 11/30/1861 Died at Fortress Monroe Va.
Pvt William Weirbaugh Co. F .76th Pa. Inf. 10/18/1864 Died at Portsmouth Grove R.I.
Pvt John. A. Brown Co. D. 125th Pa. Inf. 9/17/1862 KIA at Antietam Md.
Pvt Joseph Smith Hamilton Co. H. 110th Pa. Inf. 6/10/1863 Died of Wounds at Chancellorsville Va.
Sgt/Maj John C. Morrow F&S. 101st Pa. Inf. 10/31/1864 Died & buried at Andersonville Prison Ga.
Pvt Edward Evers Co. E. 8th Pa. Res. Inf. (37th Reg.) 11/8/1861 Died at Camp Pierpoint Va.
Pvt Robert P. Engles Co. K. 125th Pa. Inf. 4/28/1863 Died at Washington D.C.
Pvt James Allison Co. I. 55th Pa. Inf. 12/5/1864 Died at Charleston S.C.
Pvt Jonathon L. Kinsel Co. F. 76th Pa. Inf. 7/11/1863 KIA at Fort Wagner S.C.
Sgt Jacob B. Kinsell Co. D. 11th Pa. Res. (40th Reg.) 1/20/1863 Died of wounds at Fredericksburg Va.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 8, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 17, 2016, by Donald E Coho of York, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,483 times since then and 49 times this year. Last updated on July 16, 2016, by Donald E Coho of York, Pennsylvania. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 23, 2016, by Donald E Coho of York, Pennsylvania. 4. submitted on July 16, 2016, by Donald E Coho of York, Pennsylvania. 5, 6. submitted on April 17, 2016, by Donald E Coho of York, Pennsylvania. 7, 8, 9. submitted on April 25, 2016, by Donald E Coho of York, Pennsylvania. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.