Obelisk at the center of township cemetery holds GAR names Billy Begole Post 127 GAR Memorial
Essex Center, Clinton County
This small township cemetery is nearly forgotten, as are those soldiers named on the memorial. It takes a while to read the four sides of the monument, and for a few moments it doesn't sink in, but most of these soliders were from just one or two familes. That was the essence of the Civil War. We often hear that brother fought against brother, but more likely it was brothers marching off with brothers in a sincere effort to make certain they all returned safely to home. Too often that was not the case.
The last of these men to die was known to be the first settlers child born in this area in 1847. James R Fulton died April 6, 1929
Essex Center is located about 1.5 miles south of Maple Rapids and is easy to miss. Ask the locals to get your best directions.
Not all of the 'boys' sent off to war were angels. Some managed to find a little extra time between battlefield engagements - as evidenced by these two newpapers clippings from the Washington, D.C., area in early 1863;
Some scoundrel or scoundrels on Saturday night last entered the Congressional Cemetery and robbed it of two beautiful
marble figures-one from the family lot of Jacob Gideon, Esq., being a statue about three feet high, in a standing
position, with the hands folded across the breast, representing Meditation; the other from the family lot of George
Parker, Esq., being the figure of an infant about twenty inches long, reclining on its right arm and side.
Sergeant Noble S. Hammond and private John K. Howard, of Company G., Fifth Michigan cavalry, have been arrested in
Washington, charged with stealing from the Congressional burying ground, two small pieces of statuary belonging to
George Parker and Jacob Gideon, esqs., and also a bronze statue representing a ten year old child in a devotional
attitude, from the country residence of Clark Mills the sculptor. These articles were boxed up and sent home to the
families of the parties, and letters were found acknowledging their receipt and praising the beauty of the statues.
Robbing a Grave Yard"
Robbing a Grave Yard"
