Haskins in Wood County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
John A. Wilson
Born July 25, 1832, near Worthington, Ohio, John Alf Wilson lived at this site. At the age of 29, he enlisted in C. Company, 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry under General O.M. Mitchell. General Mitchell consented to a dangerous mission led by John Andrews to cripple Confederate supply lines. Alf Wilson was one of 22 men who volunteered to steal a train and destroy track and railroad bridges and cut telegraph wires on the route through Georgia to Chattanooga. The "Andrews Raiders" boarded the train in Marietta, Georgia, and seized the engine, The General, at Big Shanty. Its crew and Confederate soldiers pursued The General until it gave out before reaching Chattanooga. Eventually, all the Raiders were captured. Several, including Wilson, escaped from prison, while Andrews and seven men were tried as spies and hung. Wilson was captured again before returning to Wood County. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1863.
Erected 2003 by Haskins Historical Society and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 16-87.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Heroes • 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 month for this entry is July 1850.
Location. 41° 27.975′ N, 83° 42.325′ W. Marker is in Haskins, Ohio, in Wood County. Marker is on North Findlay Street (Ohio Route 64), on the left when traveling north. This historical marker is located in the small rural community of Haskins, Ohio, on the main north and south artery through the the town, North Findlay Street (State Route 64. It is situated just north of the business district in a residential neighborhood, on the west side of the street, in front of a small white framed house. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 209 North Findlay Street, Bowling Green OH 43402, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Haskins (approx. half a mile away); Fort Miamis Reserve/Miltonville (approx. 1.6 miles away); Ohio Electric Railroad Bridge / Roche De Bout, Roche De Boeuf (approx. 1.9 miles away); Bowling Green Fault (approx. 2 miles away); The First Presbyterian Mission in the Maumee Valley (approx. 2 miles away); Roche de Bout (approx. 2.1 miles away); Fort Deposit / Roche de Bout (approx. 2.1 miles away); The Towpath Trail (approx. 2.1 miles away).
Regarding John A. Wilson. John A. Wilson volunteered to become a member of Andrews Raiders and received the Congressional Medal of Honor as a result of the service that he performed during that military action. He is buried in nearby Union Hill, Ohio, about 3.6 miles away, to the southeast, as the crow flies.
Also see . . . Private John Alfred Wilson (USA). Geni website entry (Submitted on July 24, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 24, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 1, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,812 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 1, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 2. submitted on July 24, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 1, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.