August 15, 1930 - Dedication of Civil War Monument in Ames, Iowa

LEST WE FORGET
1861 - 1865
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY
OF THE VETERANS OF THE
UNION ARMY AND ALL WHO
GAVE THEIR BEST IN DEFENSE
OF OUR NATION

SPONSORED BY THE W.R.C. AND D.U.V.
1930

From the archives of the Ames History Society

At left, Fred Poole and Ruth Miller are standing behind "Grandpa" Thomas J. Miller. 

At right, an unidentified lady (perhaps Ruth Scott) and Margaret Macy Adams stand behind two veterans, Captain Charles Hamilton and Frederick C. Tilden. The girls wearing the hats were the ones who "unveiled the monument" during the dedication ceremony. 

The monument was purchased and erected through the efforts of the Ames Women's Relief Corps (WRC) and the Daughters of Union Veterans (DUV).

The dedication ceremony, held in connection with the 52nd annual Story County G.A.R. convention,  was attended by the following Civil war veterans: Charles Hamilton, Eli B. Cramblitt, Thomas J. Miller, C.E. Graves, H.O. Hendrickson, Frederick C. Tilden, all of Ames; Oley Nelson and Cyrus Hyland of Slater; J.W. Willett of Tama; J.D. Lucas of Marshalltown; J.P. Risley of Des Moines and W.H. Toms. 

The Misses Ruth Miller and Margaret Macy Adams unveiled the monument while Miss Ruth Scott sang "Faith of Our Fathers." The three girls are granddaughters of veterans. Mrs. Carlotta Day presented the monument and the response was made by Oley Nelson, colonel of the Story County Veterans association. 

The veterans voted Friday to hold a 1931 reunion, although no definite date was set. The disbanding of the Ames post, which may occur within the next year, will not necessarily affect the holding of the reunion. All other posts in the county have already disbanded.

The veterans remained at the cemetery after the service to have their pictures taken. 

The granite memorial was erected over the grave of the unknown Civil war veteran in the Ames cemetery. 

In the early eighties, a sick soldier wandered into Ames. He was cared for by the then new Ellsworth Post No. 30 of the Grand Army of the Republic and was buried with military honors in the Ames cemetery. His grave was called the grave of the Unknown Civil war soldier. There are approximately 125 Civil war veterans buried in the Ames cemetery.

More Union Army nurses came from Iowa than any other state.

Speaking at the dedication of the monument, the Rev. L. Myron Boozers said,

 "We should not only dedicate this monument to the boys in blue, but we should dedicate ourselves to carrying on the task which they have begun."