Ossian in Wells County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Lt. Col. William Swaim
1819-1863
Photographed by Trevor L Whited, June 21, 2026
1. Lt. Col. William Swaim Marker
Civil War soldier William Swaim was born in New Jersey and established a farmstead north of Ossian in the late 1850s. At the outbreak of the war in 1861, Swaim enlisted and raised a company of men from Wells County, including his son James. Company A of the 34th Regiment Indiana Volunteers, known as "Morton's Rifles," for Governor Oliver P. Morton, elected Swaim Captain.
Swaim took on leadership roles above his rank before being promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1862. He fought in major battles of the Vicksburg Campaign with the 34th Regiment. A proud abolitionist, Swaim gave his life for the Union cause when he was wounded at the pivotal Battle of Champion Hill in 1863. He died while en route home and was buried in the Ossian Cemetery.
Erected 2026 by Indiana Historical Bureau and the Heckber Family. (Marker Number 90.2026.1.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Indiana Historical Bureau Markers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1863.
Location. 40° 52.682′ N, 85° 10.129′ W. Marker is in Ossian, Indiana,
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Regionally, this marker is in Greater Fort Wayne. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Kingsland Interurban Wreck (approx. 3.3 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 5.1 miles away); War Memorial (approx. 5.1 miles away); Horeb Cemetery (approx. 6.6 miles away); a different marker also named War Memorial (approx. 6.6 miles away); Dr. Joseph Knox / Henry Miller / Elizabeth Miller Harvey (approx. 6.6 miles away); Deam Oak (approx. 7 miles away);
Photographed by Trevor L Whited, June 21, 2026
2. Lt. Col. William Swaim Marker
Photographed by Trevor L Whited, June 21, 2026
3. Lt. Col. William Swaim Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 21, 2026, by Trevor L Whited of Kokomo, Indiana. This page has been viewed 12 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 21, 2026, by Trevor L Whited of Kokomo, Indiana. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
