Ohio

Sanford H. Whitlatch D Company Veteran, Border Campaign and World War One

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Sanford Hobart Whitlatch was born 30 November 1897, in Coal Township, Jackson, Ohio. His parents are Will & Maggie (Culp) Whitlatch. It is not known when Sanford relocated to Marion, Ohio.

Sanford H. Whitlatch enlisted with D Company, Fourth Ohio Infantry, Ohio National Guard on 23 June 1916. Pvt. Whitlatch served with Marion’s D Company during the Border Campaign, which occurred just before the United States entered World War One.

Shortly after Whitlatch and D Company arrived back in Marion, the company was reactivated for service in World War One. Whitlatch was among those soldiers who went to Camp Perry for training in preparation to move with the 42nd Division “Rainbow” to Europe. The Fourth Ohio was reorganized as the 166th Infantry Regiment, 42nd Division.

At some point, Whitlatch was assigned to A Company, Fourth Ohio. While the regiment was at Camp Perry, Whitlatch and D Company soldier, Pearl Morris, returned to Marion on furlough. It was on 23 August 1917, that Morris and Whitlatch got into some trouble. They came to Marion and celebrated by getting intoxicated and got into a fight, that caused the police to arrest them. They were then sent back to Camp Perry, to have their punishment decided by the military. There it was reported by Captain George T. Geran, that the men were fine $40 and placed in the regimental guard house for 30 days.

On 18 October 1917, Pvt. Sanford H. Whitlatch and the 166th Infantry sailed aboard the U. S. S. Henry R. Mallory for Europe. While in Europe Whitlatch saw action in the Champagne-Marne; Aisne-Marne; St Mihiel; Meuse-Argonne; Defensive Sector. He was promoted on 1 February 1919, to Private First Class (PFC) and on 13 February 1919 he was transferred to the 165th Field Hospital, 117 Sanitary Train, until his return to the United States.

On 16 September 1919, PFC Whitlatch departed Brest, France, for the return to the United States. He sailed aboard the Sol Navis and arrived in Hoboken, New Jersey, on 26 September 1919. He was Honorably Discharged from service on 3 October 1919.

Sanford H. Whitlatch returned to Marion, Ohio, where he was employed with the Marion Steam Shovel Company in 1942. He retired as a brakeman with the Erie Railroad in 1949.
Sanford H. Whitlatch died on 9 April 1965, and is buried in Chapel Heights Memory Garden, Marion, Ohio.

Pvt. Frederick Felger Killed in Action, 1862

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Frederick Felger was born in 1839. Felger enlisted on 28 November 1861. He was assigned to serve with the 82nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in Company D.
Private Frederick Felger was killed in action at the Battle of Groveton, Virginia, on 29 August 1862. Pvt. Felger is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. His remains are located at Plot, Section 13 Site 9938.
Frederick Felger is remembered on the walls of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Chapel, located at the Marion Cemetery. His name is in Column 29 under Co. D.

(Note: the photo on the Arlington Site shows the headstone with T. Felger)

Sgt. Hugh W. Bratton Killed in the S. S. Sultana Explosion, 1865

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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 of Caledonia, Ohio, Hung as Spy, Civil War 1862

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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

Richard Napper, Civil War Veteran, Fifth Regiment United States Colored Infantry

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Richard Napper was born in December of 1814, in Virginia. Richard was a slave and answered the call of his country. Richard was married to Mary Jane (Black) in 1856. Richard and Mary arrived in Marion, Ohio, in 1866.

Richard Napper enlisted in the Union Army on 22 June 1863. Pvt. Napper served with the Fifth Regiment United States Colored Infantry, Company H. He served until his discharge in January 1865.

Richard Napper lived on North State Street in Marion. This home suffered fire damage to the roof on 20 May 1913. Richard died on 18 September 1913, at the age of 98 years old. Richard Napper was buried in the Fish Cemetery, south of Marion. There was no marker located when the author visited in 2024.

Fish Cemetery was founded by Samuel Fish. Fish owned some of the largest tracts of land in Marion County. He developed and farmed as much as 700 acres in Pleasant Township. Samuel Fish employed many Black farm workers in the area. Many of these Black farmers lived in cabins on his farm. One of the first known burials in this cemetery is dated in 1828. Originally a cemetery for the burials of the Fish family, there were also other pioneer families and negroes buried in the cemetery.

Richard Napper may have worked for the Fish Farm, as he is reported to be buried in the Fish Cemetery. Another former slave Thomas J. Phez, was buried in the Fish Cemetery, in 1931.

Richard Napper is remembered for his service on the walls of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Chapel, located at the Marion Cemetery. His name is in Column 3.