Benton Township in Morgantown in Pike County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Grave of Unknown Union Soldier
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Photographed by Craig Doda, August 2, 2025
1. Grave of Unknown Union Soldier Marker
Eliza Ann Riehle and her husband Anselem (or Anselum) Riehle worked the family farm in the valley until 1864, when Anselem was called to serve in the Union Army. Unfortunately, he fell overboard while voyaging down the Ohio River to join his unit. His body was never found. According to folklore, a few days after his widow Eliza was informed of his passing, an incapacitated Union soldier appeared at her door. He was too ill to tell anyone his name or where he came from. Despite Eliza's efforts to save him, he passed away. Eliza and her neighbors buried him under a maple tree here, where his grave could serve as a memorial to all those lost in the Civil War.
Erected by Ohio Department Of Natural Resources. (Marker Number Site 35.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1864.
Location. 39° 9.532′ N, 83° 13.236′ W. Marker is in Morgantown, Ohio, in Pike County. It is in Benton Township. It is at the intersection of Pike Lake Road (County Route 4) and Egypt Hollow Road (County Route 238), on the
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Regionally, this marker is in the Scioto Valley and in Southern Ohio Hill Country. It is also in the American Midwest, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds 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 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: An Unknown Soldier - Ohio And The Civil War (here, next to this marker); An Unknown Union Soldier (here, next to this marker); You Are On The Buckeye Trail (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Anatomy of a Mound (approx. 5½ miles away); Last Battle in the Scioto Country (approx. 5½ miles away); Bainbridge (approx. 5½ miles away); The Cradle Of Dental Education (approx. 5½ miles away); PP African American Settlement / Eden Baptist Church (approx. 5½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Morgantown.
Photographed by Craig Doda, August 2, 2025
2. Grave of Unknown Union Soldier Marker
Photographed by Craig Doda, August 2, 2025
3. Grave of Unknown Union Soldier Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on August 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 12, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 113 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 12, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
