Honoring Civil War Soldiers
There are at least 20 new headstones in area cemeteries memorializing men who served in the Civil War. These men were not given a marker at the time of their deaths, but now have headstones recognizing their service.
Cheryl Zill, local genealogist and historian, saw a need and worked to rectify the oversight. Cheryl met with the Chase Township (Lake County) Cemetery sexton, Sid Woods. They worked together on an application for a headstone from the Veterans Administration. Documentation is required; including service records, burial information and vital record details. That application was approved and a headstone arrived to be placed in the cemetery. Over the following three years they have applied for markers in Lake, Newaygo, Osceola and Mecosta counties.
It should be noted that if Civil War soldiers have a headstone of any kind in place, they will not be approved for a headstone. From WWI forward a vet is allowed two markers per grave. In addition to Civil War markers, Cheryl and Sid have obtained one for a Spanish American soldier and also a WWI veteran. For these later conflicts a DD-214 discharge paper is required.
The approval process normally takes about 30 days when applying online. If the application is mailed to Quantico, VA, it may take 45 to 60 days. Following approval, the headstones are created in Mississippi and shipped directly to the cemetery sexton for installation.
Below are a couple of examples from Mecosta County.
Thanks to Cheryl and Sid for making a difference in memorializing these soldiers!
photo courtesy of Cheryl Zill
Amos Tong/Tongs (1841-1916) is buried in Grant Center Cemetery. Amos was born in Ohio. He served in Company A, 151st Ohio Infantry. He was also a part of the 63rd Ohio Infantry. According to the Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio, Amos mustered in to the 151st on 13 May 1864 and mustered out 27 Aug 1864. He enlisted and was mustered in to the 63rd Ohio Infantry 10 Apr 1865 and mustered out 15 May 1865. In contrast, the 1890 census has him in service from 4 Jul 1863-27 Aug 1964 (self-reported). In 1907 he is found in Mecosta County marrying his third wife Elizabeth VanOrden Haner. She died in 1909 in Unadilla Township, Livingston County, MI. Amos died in 1916 in Grant Township, Mecosta County.
