Description: The stone monument and signage captured in this image highlight one of Ohio’s more colorful law-enforcement organizations, the Bentonville Anti-Horse Thief Society. The monument consists of a stone base and shaft with a peaked top. The sign’s text reads: “1853 – 1961 / Bentonville Anti-Horse Thief Society of Adams County.” (It also includes a list of officers and trustees.) Above the sign is a bracketed on the top by the profile image of a horse and on the bottom by a single horseshoe. During the nineteenth century, Ohioans relied on horses and mules for transportation and for farming. The theft of these valuable animals, a serious offense, was relatively common. To help protect their animals and prosecute thieves, residents of Bentonville, Ohio, formed the Bentonville Anti-Horse Thief Society, a vigilante group, in March 1853. Initially a designated group of members would ride in pursuit of suspected horse thieves and the stolen animals. If captured, the offenders were hung without a trial. The Society provided the captors with a ten-dollar reward, which they split among themselves. The Bentonville Anti-Horse Thief Society is the oldest continuously operating group dedicated to preventing the stealing of horses As horses lost their former importance in society in the early 1900s, the organization evolved into a social club. Its annual banquet, held each April, celebrates the continuity of this Adams County tradition. Thousands of people belong to the group, including people from across the U.S. Membership is open to everyone, and people can become a lifetime member of the Society by simply paying a one-time fee of a dollar. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06962
Subjects: Adams County (Ohio); Horses; Societies and clubs; Vigilantes; Crime; Law enforcement
Places: Bentonville (Ohio); Adams County (Ohio)
 

Description: National colors of the 81st Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Text on flag reads: Shiloh, April 6 & 7, 1862. Siege of Corinth. Iuka. Corinth. Town Creek. Resaca. Lay's Ferry. Rome X Roads. Dallas. Kenesaw Mt. Nick O Jack. Atlanta 22d & 28th July, 1864. Jonesboro. Love [Joy]. Savannah. Columbia. Bentonville. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL02045
Subjects: Flags--Ohio; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
 

Description: National Colors of 33rd Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry. Rectangular flag measures 186 cm high by 190 cm wide. Text on flag reads: 33rd Reg. O.V.V.I. Chaplin Hills, Stone River, Hoover's Gap, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Atlanta, Savannah, Averysboro, Bentonville, Raleigh. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL01929
Subjects: United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865; Ohio History--Military Ohio
 

Description: National colors of the 46th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry. Rectangular flag measures 182 cm high by 191 cm wide. Text on flag reads: Siege of Corinth, Siege of Vicksburg, K[text missing] River, Jackson, Mission Ridge, [Re]sa[c]a, Dallas, Newhope Church, Monday Creek, Kennesaw Mountain, July 22nd, Ezra Chapel, C[text missing] Bluff, Griswoldsville, Columbia, Bentonville, Raleigh. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL01969
Subjects: United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865; Ohio History--Military Ohio
 

Description: National Colors of 33rd Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry. Rectangular flag measures 186 cm high by 190 cm wide. Text on flag reads: 33rd Reg. O.V.V.I. Chaplin Hills, Stone River, Hoover's Gap, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Atlanta, Savannah, Averysboro, Bentonville, Raleigh. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL01929
Subjects: Flags--Ohio; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
 

Description: Painting of national colors of 33rd Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry. Rectangular flag measures 186 cm high by 190 cm wide. Text on flag reads: 33rd Reg. O.V.V.I. Chaplin Hills, Stone River, Hoover's Gap, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Atlanta, Savannah, Averysboro, Bentonville, Raleigh. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL02395
Subjects: Flags--Ohio; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
 

Description: Painting of national colors of the 38th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry. Text on flag reads: Wild Cat. Cumberland Ford. Mill Springs. Seige of Corinth. Tuscumbia. Pelham. Mumsfordville. Perryville. Stone River. Hoovers Gap. Tullahoma. Chickamauga. Mission Ridge. Ringgold Gap. 38th Ohio Vet. Vol. Reg't. Buzzards Roost. Resacca. Kennesaw. Chatahoochee. Pine Tree Creek. Utoy Creek. Jonesboro. Atlanta. Waynesboro. Brien Creek. Savannah. Columbia. Fayetteville. Bentonville. Raleigh. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL02402
Subjects: Flags--Ohio; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
 

Description: Painting of national colors of the 46th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry. Rectangular flag measures 182 cm high by 191 cm wide. Text on flag reads: Siege of Corinth, Siege of Vicksburg, K[text missing] River, Jackson, Mission Ridge, [Re]sa[c]a, Dallas, Newhope Church, Monday Creek, Kennesaw Mountain, July 22nd, Ezra Chapel, C[text missing] Bluff, Griswoldsville, Columbia, Bentonville, Raleigh. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL02428
Subjects: Flags--Ohio; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
 

Description: National colors of the 92nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Text on flag reads: 92nd Regt. O.V.[I.] Chickamauga. [?] Mission Ridge. Rock[y] [?] Jonesboro. Atlanta. S[?] Charleston. Bentonville. Rale[igh]. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL02063
Subjects: Flags--Ohio; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
 

Description: Painting of national colors of the 81st Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Text on flag reads: Shiloh, April 6 & 7, 1862. Siege of Corinth. Iuka. Corinth. Town Creek. Resaca. Lay's Ferry. Rome X Roads. Dallas. Kenesaw Mt. Nick O Jack. Atlanta 22d & 28th July, 1864. Jonesboro. Love [Joy]. Savannah. Columbia. Bentonville. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL02503
Subjects: Flags--Ohio; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
 

Description: Painting of national colors of the 92nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Text on flag reads: 92nd Regt. O.V.[I.] Chickamauga. [?] Mission Ridge. Rock[y] [?] Jonesboro. Atlanta. S[?] Charleston. Bentonville. Rale[igh]. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL02522
Subjects: Flags--Ohio; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
 

Description: Painting of national colors of 121st Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Rectangular flag measures 175 cm high by 187 cm wide. Text on flag reads: "121st Ohio Infantry Vol's. Chaplin Hill, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Chattanooga, Rome, Kennesaw, Mt. Jonesboro, Atlanta, Savannah, Bentonville. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL02563
Subjects: Flags--Ohio; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865