While the war was even yet in progress a movement was started for the erection of a monument to the memory of those whose lives had fallen a sacrifice to their country, and a small fund was raised ; but the matter fell into neglect, the subscriptions were returned to the donors, except, perhaps, in Oquawka precinct, and nothing further was done until 1873.
A meeting was called at the courthouse for Saturday, July 19, at which "The Oquawka Soldiers' Monument Association, of Henderson county," was organized, and of both which (meeting and association) D. Caswell Hanna was elected president, G. F. William Froelich secretary, and William H. Stockton treasurer. An executive committee of the association was chosen, consisting of James R. White, Jefferson H. Jennings and Thomas W. Kinsloe ; and another on constitution and by-laws, composed of Robert Moir, J. H. Jennings and. J. S. Linel. Committees were appointed for each precinct to solicit subscriptions.
Dr. Cephas Park, secretary of the old organization, presented a report showing the funds in the hands of the committee belonging to Oquawka precinct to be $688.79. It was reported that a certain fund was held by John McKinney, Jr., treasurer of the late association, to the credit of the same precinct, and the treasurer was directed to collect the amount. Messrs. Moir and Park were elected honorary members, and tendered a unanimous vote of thanks for their zealous efforts in behalf of the extinct society, and the fidelity with which they had protected, and by judicious investment increased, the funds confided to their custody. Subsequently bids and designs for a monument were received by a committee, and the contract was let to W. W. Webster, of Muscatine, Iowa.
At the meeting of June 1, 1874, the following committee was selected to procure grounds : Robert Moir, Dr. Cephas Park, H. F. McAllister; William C. Rice and Col. John B. Patterson. On Thursday, October 22, the " Spectator" said: " On Friday last Mr. W. W. Webster, of Muscatine, designer and builder of the monument, completed the work, veiled the statue, and turned it over to the committee.
The monument is built of pure Italian marble, the design elegant and appropriate, and the workmanship that of a master of his art. The base is eight feet square and four feet deep ; the die is four feet, on which ire inscribed, on its four sides, 200 names Of soldiers of Henderson county who fell in the field or died in the service of their country; upon the die rests a fluted column nine feet high, on which stands the statue of a soldier, life size, finely carved ; the whole monu ment being twenty-nine and a half feet in height." . On each of the four corners of the raised foundation is a trained cannon pointing outward. These pieces were procured through the efforts of Senators John A. Logan and Richard J. Oglesby, who secured the passage of an act of congress donating them (they being condemned ordnance) to the association. The inauguration took place Tuesday, October 20, and the address was delivered by Maj. R. W. McClaughry, formerly. of the 118th reg. Ill. Vol. Inf.
The monument was erected by the private liberality of the people ; subscriptions varied from $5 to $50. The cost of the monument proper was $2,500, but other expenditures brought the outlay for this object up to $3,300. The location .is in the center of a beautiful enclosed park, planted to deciduous and evergreen trees, comprised in lots 1. 4 and 5, block 4. Swath' addition, donated by John McKinney, Sr., for many years a resident and business man of Oquawka. This handsome work is not more a monument to the glorious dead of Henderson county than to the affection, gratitude, generosity and patriotism of the happy and intelligent living.
Mr. Froehlich, the efficient and gentlemanly county clerk, took the leading interest in the erection .of this monument, and devoted much time and labor to the patriotic undertaking. No other man is so fully conversant with whatever pertains to the military history of Henderson county, and his information on the subject is the outgrowth of his indefatigable industry in perfecting the record of her share in the struggle for the Union, and in perpetuating the memory and the shining deeds of her sons in its defense.
As a corollary to. the monument he has designed and had manufactured by Culver, Page, Hoyne (Cr, Co., of Chicago, a Soldiers' Record, giving the name of each soldier, his rank, company, regiment, state, arm of service, when enlisted, residence at enlistment, when discharged, cause of death, when and where died, place of burial and history of soldier.
Mr. Froehlich has been for a long time, and still is, engaged in an exhaustive research and correspondence for material to prepare an epitomized history of every soldier who ever went from Henderson county ; also such a history of every one who went into the military service from any other place, but who is buried in the county ; and in. addition, sketches of veterans of other wars who reside, or whose ashes lie here. Too much praise cannot be awarded him for his painstaking zeal and enthusiastic public spirit.
History of Mercer and Henderson Counties.
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