West Union in Adams County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Pioneer County Seat / Camp Hamer
Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 11, 2019
1. Pioneer County Seat side of marker
A short distance south of Zane’s Trace, West
Union was established by an act of the Ohio
Legislature on April 13, 1803, as the seat of
Adams County. West Union was surveyed in the
spring of the following year, and became
important stagecoach stop on Zane’s Trace.
Thomas Kirker, an Adams County resident who
would later serve as Ohio’s second governor (1807-1808), named West Union. The county commissioners
first met here June 11, 1804. In later years,
residents of the village became actively involved
in the Underground Railroad.
Camp Hamer. The Adams County Fairgrounds, established at this site in October 1853, on seven acres of land donated by Judge George Collings, was converted to a Civil War training camp named in honor of General Thomas Hamer, a Mexican War hero, of Georgetown, Ohio. The old stone Courthouse was made into a hospital to serve the camp. The 70th Ohio Volunteer infantry, organized in October 1861, trained on the old fairgrounds until Christmas day 1861, when it marched from Camp Hamer to Ripley. The 70th participated in the battles of Shiloh, Tennessee; Atlanta, Georgia; the siege at
this page online
Erected 2007 by the Adams County Historical Society, the Jenkins Family, the Philip Hawkins Family, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 19-1.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • Political Subdivisions • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 13, 1803.
Location. 38° 47.58′ N, 83° 32.972′ W. Marker is in West Union, Ohio, in Adams County. Marker is at the intersection of West South Street and South West Street, on the left when traveling west on West South Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 505 W South St, West Union OH 45693, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Lafferty Funeral Collection (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Olde Wayside Inn (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bradford Tavern (approx. 0.2 miles away); Corp. Carey Mc. Moore (approx. 0.2 miles away); Cowboy Copas / The Oklahoma Cowboy (approx. ¼ mile away); Adams County War Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away);
Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 11, 2019
2. Camp Hamer side of marker
Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 11, 2019
3. Pioneer County Seat / Camp Hamer Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 15, 2019. It was originally submitted on June 15, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 319 times since then and 63 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 15, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
