Massillon in Stark County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Robert Pinn

Photographed By Mike Hofmann, August 23, 2008

1. Robert Pinn Marker

Inscription. During the Civil War in 1863, twenty-year-old Massillon farmer Robert Pinn enlisted in the 5th Regiment, Company 1, United States Colored Troops (USCT) at his first opportunity, saying "I was very eager to become a soldier, in order to prove by my feeble efforts the black man's rights to untrammeled manhood." At the battle for New Market Heights in the 1864 Richmond campaign, he assumed command of his company after his unit's officers were all killed or wounded - and was himself wounded three times. For his meritorious conduct Pinn received the Congressional Medal of Honor, one of four African Americans so honored from the 5th USCT. Following the war he attended Oberlin College and became a successful Massillon attorney. He died in 1911 and is interred here.

Erected 2003 by The Ohio Bicentennial Commission, The P&G Fund, The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 17-76.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Medal of Honor Recipients, and the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1863.

Location. 40° 46.571′ N, 81° 30.901′

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W. Marker is in Massillon, Ohio, in Stark County. Marker is on Erie Street South, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1827 Erie St S, Massillon, OH 44646, Massillon OH 44646, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Private William R. Richardson (here, next to this marker); Football Pioneer Paul E. Brown (approx. 1.4 miles away); Central Firehouse Fire Alarm Bell (approx. 1.4 miles away); Lillian Gish (1893-1993) · Dorothy Gish (1898-1968) (approx. 1.4 miles away); Young People's Christian Association (approx. 1.4 miles away); The Little Steel Strike of 1937 (approx. 1.4 miles away); Ohio Merchants Building (approx. 1.4 miles away); The Falke Block (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Massillon.

Photographed By Don Morfe, August 11, 2007

2. Robert Pinn Marker

He is buried in Massillon Cemetery, Section 2, Lot 1, Grave 18737. The GPS coordinates are N40.7757 W81.5154. MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION-PINN, ROBERT Rank and organization: First Sergeant, Company I, 5th U.S. Colored Troops. Place and date: At Chapins Farm, Va., 29 September 1864. Entered service at: Massillon, Ohio. Born: 1 March 1843, Stark County, Ohio. Date of issue: 6 April 1865. Citation: Took command of his company after all the officers had been killed or wounded and gallantly led it in battle.

Massillon Cemetery Building with Robert Pinn historical marker in foreground image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Hofmann, August 23, 2008

3. Massillon Cemetery Building with Robert Pinn historical marker in foreground

Robert Pinn - head and shoulders portrait (Image courtesy of the Library of Congress) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Unknown, circa 1900

4. Robert Pinn - head and shoulders portrait (Image courtesy of the Library of Congress)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 29, 2012, by Mike Hofmann of San Francisco, California. This page has been viewed 1,042 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 30, 2012, by Mike Hofmann of San Francisco, California. 2. submitted on January 24, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 3. submitted on December 1, 2012, by Mike Hofmann of San Francisco, California. 4. submitted on December 2, 2012. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.