Thousands of artifacts and documents that tell the story of Ohio’s Civil War history lie in museums and local historical societies across the state. Many of them are crumbly away due to the lack of the funds needed to preserve them. The Army of Ohio, organized in 1999 and composed of reenacting units from Ohio and surrounding states, has answered the call to help save some of the most telling artifacts – battle flags.
The group adopted as its first project the flag of the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. They were able to raise $14,755 of the estimated $29,000 needed for the conservation of the 150 year old silk regimental flag. The remaining funding was obtained through several grants and partnerships.
The 23rd Ohio included two future presidents: Rutherford B. Hayes and William S. McKinley.
McKinley, initiated as a Mason on May 1, 1865, was a charter member of Eagle Lodge No. 431 in Canton, which changed its name to William McKinley Lodge following the President’s death in 1901.
The Army of the Ohio has recently adopted the battle flag of the 25th OVI. Once more, an estimated $29,000 will be required for the preservation of this artifact.
Like so many units, both North and South, the 25th Ohio had on its rolls members with Masonic ties. Private Wallace Cooley of Company I was a Mason in Caldwell where he published the Noble County Republican from 1870 to 1898. Edward C. Culp, who rose through the ranks from private to lieutenant colonel, was a 33rd degree Mason and organized the Isis Shrine Temple in Salina, Kansas, where he served as its first potentate. Corporal Henry Moose of Company B, organized in Woodsfield, was raised a Mason and served in Lodges in Ohio, Illinois and Arkansas. He became a charter member of Lodge No. 35 of Guthrie, Oklahoma and later Lodge No. 37 in Edmond, Oklahoma, where he served as the first Master.
For more information about the Army of the Ohio and their preservation efforts you may contact Bob Minton at bminton@embarqmail.com or 419-420-
2673.
