Drury GAR Post 372, Neptune, Ohio

This past Tuesday I showed some examples of the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) insignia inscribed on local tombstones.

GAR symbol, Woodlawn Cemetery, Ohio City, Van Wert County, Ohio.

The GAR, founded in 1866, was an organization comprised of Union Civil War Veterans. The organization permanently dissolved when the last member died in 1956. Many of the post records did not survive and those that did were given to various archives.

Below is an undated photo of the members of Neptune’s GAR Drury Post No. 372. One of the members is Corporal Simon Peter Young (1840-1912), who served in Company H, 69th Regiment OVI from 1862-1865. Simon Peter Young is seated (on a chair), the 5th man from the left.  

Drury Post No. 372, Neptune, Ohio, undated photo by Brown, Mendon, Oh. Simon Peter Young, seated, 5th from left.

Simon Peter Young was married to Elnora “Ellen” (Bush) (1846-1913). They are laid to rest in Elm Grove Cemetery, St. Marys, Ohio.

Simon Peter Young & wife Elnora (Bush) Young, c1900.

I prepared a Society of Civil War Families of Ohio lineage application for the family several years ago and they shared these photos with me.

Mercer county had at least four GAR posts at one time, possibly six–the Harold/Harrod McDaniel Post No. 180, Fort Recovery; the McKendree-Murlin Post No. 319, Mendon; the Drury Post No. 372, Neptune; and the Dolph Graves Post No. 429, Shanes Crossing (Rockford). [1] [2] Stevens indicates that Celina had two posts, the DJ Roop Post No. 61 and the Celina Post No. 710. [2] 

[1] Ohio GAR Records Project (http://www.suvcw.org/garrecords/garposts/oh.htm), Posts by Location (https://www.ohiosuv.com/GARProject/GARPOST_by_Location.pdf).

[2] Ohio GAR Posts, compiled by Larry Stevens, (http://ohiocivilwar.com/gar.html).

4 comments

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    • Frank on June 5, 2021 at 4:56 am
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    O my goodness! We were just through Neptune yesterday on our way back from KY. Fascinating.

    1. What a coincidence!

    • Virginia Lake Burroughs on August 12, 2021 at 10:59 pm
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    So interesting to find your posts! My Grandfather’s grandfather was McKendree Murlin; I have a photo of McKendree’s widow at my grandfather Ray Murlin’s wedding, long after she’d re-married, but unfortunately, no photo/tintype of McKendree, who was shot on the first day of the Battle of Nashville, died on the 2nd day. Strange that the GAR post named for him and the “memorial” are in Mendon, as I thought he was from Neptune, as was my grandfather. I know there are many Murlins around, and they’re all related somehow, but none in direct line from McKendree’s grandsons (my grandfather had one brother, Glenn, who had a daughter who married a Murphy, and my grandfather had 3 girls and a son – his son/my uncle, didn’t have any children). My sister-in-law and I were talking tonight, and I’m wondering how many male siblings McKendree had, and how many sons to carry on that name. My grandfather and his brother were the only 2 children of DeVoss Murlin, son of McKendree. This research of yours is fascinating – and painstaking, I’m sure. And yes, I know Chatt, and recall the Barney (Layman or Leighman) and his Chatt Bar.

    1. What an interesting (and sad) story about McKendree. And what an honor that Mendon’s GAR post was named after him. I am familiar with the Murlin name and my husband went to school with some. Thank you for writing!

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