Description: This flag has a red field with two blue scrolls which are lettered in gold "Department of Ohio G.A.R." Centrally featured is a 5-pointed star metal which represents five branches of the military. The inner seal reads "Grand Army of the Republic Veterans 1861-1866" An eagle clutches a sword above two cannons and two white embroidered stars hang overhead. The flag is made of silk and measures 120 by 170 cm. Benjamin Stephenson founded the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) on April 6, 1866, in Decatur, Illinois. Stephenson intended to form an organization of veterans of the American Civil War that would provide them with political influence and opportunities to meet socially. Any veteran who was honorably discharged from the United States Army, Navy, and Marine Corps qualified for membership. National membership in the organization peaked in 1890 at a little over 409,000, and membership in the state of Ohio peaked at 49,011 in that same year. One GAR retirement home became the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home in 1870. The GAR established the home in 1869, and the state government assumed control of it in 1870 to provide Ohio veterans and their children with assistance. The GAR continued to operate until 1956, when the final member (Albert Woolson) died at the age of 109. The last national encampment had occurred seven years earlier in 1949. The Grand Army of the Republic was responsible for making Memorial Day a national holiday. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: H65514_001
Subjects: Ceremonial artifact; Communication artifact; Military flags; Grand Army of the Republic; Flags--Ohio; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865; Veterans; Textile--silk;
Places: Ohio
 

Description: This portrait of John Henry Grate, former Commander in Chief and Commander of State of the Grand Army of the Republic, was taken on June 11, 1947, when Grate was 101 years old. At the time he died on June 7, 1949, Grate was the last surviving Union veteran in Portage County, Ohio. Born in Edinburg Township, Ohio, in 1845, Grate enlisted in Company F of the Ohio 6th Cavalry Regiment on October 4, 1863. He was mustered out on June 27, 1865, and returned to Portage County where he worked as a buggy maker and farmer. He was an active member in the G.A.R. throughout his life, and served as Commander of the Ohio Department of the organization as well as National Commander from 1946-1947. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC398_01
Subjects: Grand Army of the Republic; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865; Veterans; Military Ohio;
Places: Atwater (Ohio); Portage County (Ohio);
 

Description: This photographic postcard showing surviving members of the Grand Army of the Republic and their families was taken in Columbus, Ohio, in 1915. The Grand Army of the Republic was one of the largest and most influential veterans organizations to be established following the Civil War. It was founded on April 6, 1866, by Benjamin Stephenson, who intended to form an organization that would provide veterans with political influence and opportunities to meet socially. Any veteran who was honorably discharged from the United States Army, Navy, or Marine Corps qualified for membership. National membership in the organization peaked in 1890 at a little over 409,000, and membership in the state of Ohio peaked at 49,011 in that same year. The GAR continued to operate until 1956, when the final member (Albert Woolson) died at the age of 109. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC398_02
Subjects: Grand Army of the Republic; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865; Veterans; Military Ohio
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio);
 

Description: G.A.R. members in Lorain, Ohio, ca. 1915. The Grand Army of the Republic was one of the largest and most influential veterans organizations to be established following the Civil War. It was founded on April 6, 1866, by Benjamin Stephenson, who intended to form an organization that would provide veterans with political influence and opportunities to meet socially. Any veteran who was honorably discharged from the United States Army, Navy, or Marine Corps qualified for membership. National membership in the organization peaked in 1890 at a little over 409,000, and membership in the state of Ohio peaked at 49,011 in that same year. The GAR continued to operate until 1956, when the final member (Albert Woolson) died at the age of 109. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC398_03
Subjects: Grand Army of the Republic; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865; Veterans; Military Ohio
Places: Lorain (Ohio); Lorain County (Ohio)
 

Description: Members of the Grand Army of the Republic from Company F, 33rd O.V.I., taken October 12, 1911, at the 50 year reunion for the group's members in Portsmouth, Ohio. This photograph was taken on the steps of the post office in Portsmouth. Two men involved in Andrews' Raid of 1862--Daniel Dorsey (front row, second from right) and Samuel Llewellyen (second row, second from right)--were reported as being in attendance at this reunion. The Grand Army of the Republic was one of the largest and most influential veterans organizations to be established following the Civil War. It was founded on April 6, 1866, by Benjamin Stephenson, who intended to form an organization that would provide veterans with political influence and opportunities to meet socially. Any veteran who was honorably discharged from the United States Army, Navy, or Marine Corps qualified for membership. National membership in the organization peaked in 1890 at a little over 409,000, and membership in the state of Ohio peaked at 49,011 in that same year. The GAR continued to operate until 1956, when the final member (Albert Woolson) died at the age of 109. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC398_04
Subjects: Grand Army of the Republic; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865; Veterans; Military Ohio; Andrews' Raid, 1862;
Places: Portsmouth (Ohio); Scioto County (Ohio);
 

Description: Fourteen members of the Grand Army of the Republic. ca. 1915. The men are numbered but no identification key is provided. The Grand Army of the Republic was one of the largest and most influential veterans organizations to be established following the Civil War. It was founded on April 6, 1866, by Benjamin Stephenson, who intended to form an organization that would provide veterans with political influence and opportunities to meet socially. Any veteran who was honorably discharged from the United States Army, Navy, or Marine Corps qualified for membership. National membership in the organization peaked in 1890 at a little over 409,000, and membership in the state of Ohio peaked at 49,011 in that same year. The GAR continued to operate until 1956, when the final member (Albert Woolson) died at the age of 109. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC398_05
Subjects: Grand Army of the Republic; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865; Veterans; Military Ohio
Places: Ohio
 

Description: Department commanders and staff for the Grand Army of the Republic Department of Ohio, 1885. The Grand Army of the Republic was one of the largest and most influential veterans organizations to be established following the Civil War. It was founded on April 6, 1866, by Benjamin Stephenson, who intended to form an organization that would provide veterans with political influence and opportunities to meet socially. Any veteran who was honorably discharged from the United States Army, Navy, or Marine Corps qualified for membership. National membership in the organization peaked in 1890 at a little over 409,000, and membership in the state of Ohio peaked at 49,011 in that same year. The GAR continued to operate until 1956, when the final member (Albert Woolson) died at the age of 109. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC398_06
Subjects: Grand Army of the Republic; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865; Veterans; Military Ohio
Places: Ohio
 

Description: Portrait of an elderly man who is likely a Civil War veteran holding the hand of a little boy waving a United State flag, possibly taken at a 4th of July festivity. This photograph was taken by traveling photographer Albert J. Ewing, ca. 1896-1912. Like most of Ewing's work, it was likely taken in southeastern Ohio or central West Virginia. Born in 1870 in Washington County, Ohio, near Marietta, Ewing most likely began his photography career in the 1890s. The 1910 US Census and a 1912-1913 directory list him as a photographer. A negative signed "Ewing Brothers" and a picture with his younger brother, Frank, indicate that Frank may have joined the business. After 1916, directories list Albert as a salesman. He died in 1934. The Ewing Collection consists of 5,055 glass plate negatives, each individually housed and numbered. Additionally, the collection includes approximately 450 modern contact prints made from the glass plate negatives. Subjects include infants and young children, elderly people, families, school and religious groups, animals and rural scenes. In 1982, the Ohio Historical Society received the collection, still housed in the original dry plate negative boxes purchased by Albert J. Ewing. A selection of the original glass plate negatives were exhibited for the first time in 2013 at the Ohio Historical Center. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06279
Subjects: Ewing, Albert J. (1870-1934); Portrait photography--United States--History; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865; Veterans; Fourth of July celebrations; Children
Places: Ohio; West Virginia
 

Description: Reverse reads: "Jefferson County. Civil War vets." This photograph shows four men, all Civil War veterans, standing on the steps of a building. Three of the men wear Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) ribbons in memoriam of E. M. Stanton. The man second from the right is wearing a hearing device, which looks similar to those invented around 1910 by Akustik Gesellschaft, of Germany. A stamp on the front of the photograph reads: "Ideal Filson Photo. 1931." View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B08F06_023_001
Subjects: Veterans--Ohio; Ohio--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Veterans; Grand Army of the Republic. Dept. of Ohio
Places: Steubenville (Ohio); Jefferson County (Ohio)
 

Description: Handwritten on reverse: "Veterans of Civil, Spanish - American and World War outside the Eagles Home, Steubenville. J. E. Bishop." This photograph shows a large group of people standing and sitting, posed, in front of the Fraternal Order of Eagles building in Steubenville, Ohio. The house is decorated in red, white and blue, with American Flags waving everywhere. A flag hangs at the top of the house which reads: "Steubenville, O. F.O.E. 421." The five Civil War Veterans seated at the front of the photograph, all wearing Grand Army of the Republic ribbons, appear together in another photograph. Just right of center stands a group of men wearing kilts , some holding bagpipes. The light colored uniforms bear "F.O.E. 412" on the collars. An embossed stamp reads: "Ideal Studio. C. M. Caruso." View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B08F06_022_001
Subjects: Veterans--Ohio; Fraternal Order of Eagles; Veterans--Ohio; Ohio--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Veterans; Grand Army of the Republic. Dept. of Ohio
Places: Steubenville (Ohio); Jefferson County (Ohio)
 

Description: Handwritten note of reverse reads: "The last roll call. Civil War vets in front of Stanton's statue. Sort of a striking future all these are dead now. Can get their names if needed - Jene E. Bishop." This photograph shows five men, veterans of the Civil War, standing in front of the Edwin Stanton statue which stands on the steps of the Jefferson County Courthouse in Steubenville, Ohio. All the men wear a badge and ribbon. A photographer's mark on the front of the photo reads: "Ideal Photo" Four of the men wear a ribbon which reads "In Memoriam. E. M. Stanton, G. A. R. (Grand Army of the Republic) Steubenville, Ohio." The man second from the left has only one arm. The man second from the right is wearing an electric hearing device, which were invented in the early 1900s) and his ribbon clearly reads "Henry Hale" (fought in the Civil War Company G, 43rd Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Died May 19, 1862) The engraved plaque on the front of the statue reads: "Edwin McMasters Stanton. Born in this city December 19, 1814. U.S. Attorney General 1860 1861. Secretary of War 1862 1868. U.S. Supreme Court 1869. Died December 24, 1869. Erected 1911." The Edwin M. Stanton Monument stands in front of the Jefferson County Courthouse, at 301 Market Street. The 18 foot bronze likeness of Stanton, unveiled in 1906, was sculpted by Alexander Doyle of Steubenville. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B08F06_001_001
Subjects: Ohio--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Veterans; Grand Army of the Republic. Dept. of Ohio; Stanton, Edwin McMasters, 1814-1869--Statues' Doyle, Alexander, 1857-1922
Places: Steubenville (Ohio); Jefferson County (Ohio)
 

Description: Caption reads: “Negative of – The Monument in the Wilderness. Jefferson County.” Isolated Civil War monument located among the trees on Highway 53 in Jefferson County. The monument is positioned on top of a hill, with towering stair steps leading it and the cannon nearby. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B15F03_005_01
Subjects: Monuments--Ohio; Ohio--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Veterans
Places: Steubenville (Ohio); Jefferson County (Ohio)