Port William in Clinton County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Gilbert Van Zandt

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., January 18, 2010

1. Gilbert van Zandt Marker

Inscription.
Port William is the birthplace of Gilbert Van Zandt, quite possibly the youngest enlistee in the Union Army during the Civil War. Born on December 20, 1851, "Little Gib" joined the ranks of Company D, 79th Ohio Volunteer Infantry at the age of ten years, seven months, and sixteen days. Barely four feet tall, Van Zandt served initially as the company's drummer boy, and later as a courier for the regiment. Distinguished for his bravery under fire, young Gilbert saw action in the battles for Atlanta, Sherman's March to the Sea, and the Carolina Campaign. He was discharged from service on June 9, 1865, already a seasoned veteran at thirteen. Van Zandt died in Kansas City, Missouri on October 4, 1944 at the age of ninety-two.

Erected 1999 by Ohio Bicentennial Commission, The Longaberger Company, Port William Dam City Days Committee, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 3-14.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1830.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 39° 33.134′

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N, 83° 47.186′ W. Marker was in Port William, Ohio, in Clinton County. It was at the intersection of Main Street (Ohio Route 134) and 2nd Street, on the left when traveling north on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 223 Main St, Port William OH 45164, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Southern Ohio Hill Country.

It was also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Gilbert Van Zant (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bowersville (approx. 3.7 miles away); a different marker also named Bowersville (approx. 4 miles away); Beam Farm Mound (approx. 5.6 miles away); Wilmington War Memorial (approx. 7.3 miles away); J. W. Denver Williams, Jr. (approx. 7.3 miles away); Smith Place School (approx. 7.4 miles away); Wilmington Library (approx. 7½ miles away).

Another marker is no longer nearby. Deserted Camp (was approx. 5.3 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . Gilbert Van Zandt. Ohio Civil War Central website entry (Submitted on June 22, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Additional keywords. child soldiers

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., January 18, 2010

2. Gilbert Van Zandt Marker

Looking NE along Main Street.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 22, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,622 times since then and 67 times this year. Last updated on July 8, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 22, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.