Genealogical society holds banquet

WINTERSVILLE - Learning the part Steubenville played in the Civil War and about the 1,200 soldiers from that war who are buried in Union Cemetery was a portion of the Jefferson County Chapter, Ohio Genealogical Society Banquet held Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

The event also included a presentation of awards and a Christmas reading.

Flora VerStraten, genealogical society president, presented awards.

Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla and Edward "Bucky" Argentine, corrections officer, together received the community service award for lending assistance with cemetery cleanups, resetting tombstones and recording the graves through a program involving some incarcerated inmates.

"Bucky has transported inmates from the border of Harrison to Columbiana counties," VerStraten said.

Gordon Grafton received the author of the year award for his book "The Lost Children the Ohio Valley." He recorded interviews with 26 residents of the former McCullough Children's Home and devoted the first 15 pages of the book to the Children's Bethel in Smithfield, from where the children became the first residents of the McCullough home.

Amy Hissom received the Web site designer/manager award, with more than 1,000 pages designed, officials said.

The military achievement award was presented to area resident Frank France, who served in World War II and took part in the Normandy invasion.

France, 90, told about landing on Normandy Beach with the Regiment from the Army's 29th Infantry and running from the boat ramp onto the beach, and the family brought a display from the war and a canteen used by soldiers during that time.

Linda Bake, a genealogical society member, had a display of Civil War items as well.

VerStraten read "A Christmas Poem," and noted her son would be heading to Afghanistan after the holidays.

Tammy Hosenfeld, vice president, then presented VerStraten with a vase of red roses.

Jeff Evans, a former Wintersville resident and a middle school teacher at Old Trail School in Bath, was the guest speaker.

Evans said he has been interested in the Civil War since his youth.

He arrived at the event in a Civil War uniform, carrying the required 30 pounds of gear that a soldier would carry in that day.

Evans started his presentation by relating that although he had served as a national park ranger at Gettysburg, Pa., the Civil War had more meaning for him in Steubenville, where he roamed through Union Cemetery for hours in his youth.

"To be reminded of the cost of what happened during the Civil War, there were 620,000 deaths in four years. This was 2 percent of the U.S. population at that time. If it were a similarity now, it would be 6 million dead in those four years. And most of those losing their lives were 16 to 20 years old," he said.

"Few places can tell the Civil War story more than Jefferson County," he said.

Evans discussed George P. Webster, known as the fighting major, who led the 25th Infantry of Ohio in 1861. He noted the infantry started out with 10 companies, with each company comprised of 100 men, and it was reduced down to 28 men after Gettysburg.

Evans noted the name Union Cemetery, where many of those fighting the Civil War were buried, came from a union of all cemeteries in downtown Steubenville in 1854.

"There is a huge monument with names of those who battled in Gettysburg, Stone River, Appomatix, Bulls Run and all the other battles, listed at Union Cemetery. There are many heroes buried in the place that served as my childhood playground and textbook to the Civil War," he said.

"This monument is falling down and will be gone within 10 years if something is not done. I would hate for our generation to be known as the one to let it fall down," he said.

Regarding the Civil War burials, VerStraten asked anyone knowing of a soldier buried in Union Cemetery should let the group know, so it can be recorded.

The group's media award was presented to Esther McCoy.

(McCoy can be contacted at emccoy@heraldstaronline.com.)