Hugh W. Bratton was born in 1838. On 22 October 1861, Bratton enlisted with the 64th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was assigned to Company D. Bratton was promoted to Corporal on 1 July 1862 and then to Sergeant on 1 May 1864.
Sgt. Hugh W. Bratton fought with the Union Army until he was captured at Spring Hill, Tennessee, on 20 November 1864. He was eventually sent to Andersonville Prison. He was exchanged and placed aboard the S. S. Sultana. While steaming up the Mississippi River, to return union soldiers to the northern states, the Sultana’s boilers exploded. Sgt. Bratton and several other Marion Soldiers were aboard. Sgt. Hugh Bratton died that day, 27 April 1865.
Sgt. Hugh W. Bratton does not appear to have a local grave. Hugh W. Bratton is remembered on the walls of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Chapel, located at the Marion Cemetery. His name is in Column 21 under Co D.
Washington Clark was born in 1833. His parents are Burrett K. & Mary W. (Peterson) Clark. Washington Clark spent his childhood in Caledonia, Ohio. He married and owned land in Iowa. Here he had two young children. He entered service on 7 July 1862, with the Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He served in G Company, 18th Regiment. Clark later received a letter from the government releasing him from service with the Iowa Volunteers. He was then in the service of the United States Secret Services. He was a spy with the Pinkertons.
While working with the secret service during the war, Clark was captured. He was permitted to write a final later to his wife. This letter and others were donated to the Allen County Museum in Lima, Ohio. The Marion Daily Star published an article on 2 December 1905, giving the account and family reactions to the death of Washington Clark.
The father recognized the handwriting of his son at once, but opening it his failing eyesight prevented him from reading its contents. He therefore requested the postmaster to read it to him. The paper used was a page torn from a rebel officer’s book. Yellow and thick and coarse with lines in blue, running horizontal with the page. It was all that a spy in the enemy’s hands could expect, but the text was written in a strong, firm hand in pencil, which at the end of forty-three years is still legible and plainly shows the strength of character of the writer.
Marion Daily Star dated 2 December 1905
There is also an article in LimaOhio.com. I will not write again what is already composed so well. Washington Clark was executed on 26 October 1862, in Huntsville, Madison County, Arkansas. There is a grave at the Caledonia Cemetery, but I do not know if his body was returned for burial or if this is a memorial.
In a sequel to the story of the hanging, The Lima News wrote that one of Clark’s brothers had become a Confederate soldier. Long after the war, according to The Lima News, Clark’s brother was reminiscing with another Confederate veteran when he happened to show the man a picture of his brother.
According to the newspaper, the man exclaimed, “Why that is the man I stood guard over,” going on to explain how truly sorry he felt for him and “how his last hours were filled with the frantic concern for his wife and babies which to him meant all life.”
LimaOhio.com
Washington Clark is remembered on the walls of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Chapel, located at the Marion Cemetery. His name is on Column 1, 18th Reg. IA V. I., Clark, W.
For Further Reading about Washington Clark go to LimaOhio.com
Donald C. Moore-Danielson was born on 11 March 1955, in Newark, Ohio. His birth parents are James F. Moore & Betty J. (Buck) Donaldson. Donald C. Danielson was later adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Caroll Danielson. Donald married Wendy (Cocanour) Danielson. Donald had one son and one daughter.
Donald Danielson served in the United States Marine Corps. On 6 October 1981, Danielson joined the United States Army Reserves. He then was assigned to the 79th Quartermaster Company (Marion, Ohio), 419th Quartermaster Battalion, 83rd ARCOM. The 83rd ARCOM draws its history from the 83rd Infantry Division “Thunderbolt” or “Ohio Division.”
Danielson was serving as a Sergeant (Sgt.) with the 79th QM, when it was activated on 11 September 1990, for Operation Desert Shield. Operation Desert Shield was an operation of the Persian Gulf War. Sgt. Danielson and the 79th were deployed to the Middle East on 21 October 1990.
The 79th Quartermaster Company (Marion, Ohio) was a water supply company of the Army Reserves. The 79th QM Company was stationed in Marion, at the former 2nd Lt. George F. Pennington Reserve Center. They were responsible for water acquisition, desalinization, treatment, storage and transportation. The focus of the unit’s operation was for arid conditions, in which water was to be stored and transported to support troop operations. They utilized fuel storage bladders, pumping stations and other equipment that was designed, but not used with, petroleum products.
From The Marion Star
It was reported that on 29 December 1990, that while in ad-Dammam, Saudi Arabia, that Sgt. Donald C. Danielson was killed in an accident while performing his duties. It was further reported that Sgt. Danielson was inside a storage bladder performing cleaning operations, he fell and was entangled in the cooling fan of a desalinization unit. No further details of his accident were sought out by this author. The body of Sgt. Danielson arrived in the United States via Dover, Delaware, then Columbus before being returned to rest in Newark, Ohio. On 8 January 1991, the remains of Sgt. Donald C. Danielson were laid to rest at the Cedar Hill Cemetery, Newark, Ohio. Full military rites were observed at the funeral. Danielson left behind a wife, one son and one daughter.
From The Marion Star
Sgt. Donald C. Danielson’s name does not appear on any memorials in Marion, County, as he was not from Marion. But since he served with the Marion reserve unit and served with many Marion natives, he is honored on this web site.
On 4 July 1992, Marion Veterans Memorial Park dedicated the Gulf War Monument. Members of the 79th QM Company were on hand to remember and honor their comrade in arms, Sgt. Donald C. Danielson.
Joseph Short as born on 8 June 1836 in Scotland; the 1880 Federal Census states he and his parents were born in Ireland. Joseph came to America when he was young. He was said to have been in Marion for many years. Joseph married Elizabeth J. (Snyder) on 19 October 1867, in Marion, Ohio.
Joseph Short enlisted in the Union Army on 27 April 1861. He served as a Private with Co. K., Fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry (O.V.I.).
After the Civil War Joseph returned to Marion where he was listed as occupied as a teamster and in the 1910 Federal Census he was listed as a laborer involved in farming. The Marion Daily Star dated 15 August 1911, listed Joseph Short as one of the original members of K Company, Fourth O.V.I., as still living. The others named were William M. Camp, Frank R. Saiter, Sampson Apt, D. D. Booker, Ansona Benvenuti, John J. Hale, John Hardy, Samuel E. Hain, Edmond Kirny, Hiram Miley, Thomas J. Moon, John O’Brien, Ralph Spring, Isaac Welchhone (or Welchance) and Fred Eskopp.
Joseph Short died on 22 May 1914 and was buried in the Marion Cemetery. Joseph Short is remembered for his service on the walls of the Soldiers and Sailors Chapel, on Column 4, Column 4, 4th Reg OVI, Co H.
Mathew G. Miller was born on 16 May 1839, in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. His parents are John and Hannah (Gelvin) Miller. Mathew arrived in Marion County with his parents, when he was five years old. Mathew was farming with his father when the Civil War began. Mathew volunteered his service in the Ohio Volunteer Infantry. On 28 December 1865, he married Clara A. (Porter). Together they had two sons, John S. and Mathew N. Clara died in 1889. Mathew G. Miller remarried on 4 June 1890, to Ella E. (Clark/Jones). Together they had two daughters, one dying young.
Mathew G. Miller enlisted on 14 November 1861. He served with G Company, 82nd Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Miller was a veteran of battles of Second Bull Run, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. he was injured in the line of duty via gunshot to the hip. He was sent to hospital where he was unfit for duty for five months. He was returned to duty and was reunited with his company when they were stationed at Chattanooga, Tennessee, about November 30, 1863. He was promoted to Sergeant (Sgt.) on 1 February 1864.
Sgt. Mathew G. Miller then participated in the battles of Dallas, Buzzard’s Roost, Resaca, Duck River, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek and Atlanta. While at Bentonville, North Carolina, he was captured by rebel soldiers. Miller then was transferred to Libby Prison where he was detained for two weeks. He later was paroled to Camp Chase, Ohio and mustered out on 12 June 1865.
Mathew G. Miller died on 9 April 1911 and is buried in the Agosta Cemetery, New Bloomington, Ohio. Mathew G. Miller is remembered for his military service on the walls of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Chapel, located at the Marion Cemetery. His name is on Column 32, 82 Reg OVI, Co G.
Honoring Marion Ohio Veterans 