Mercer County erected a Veterans Memorial in 1997 at the corner of Main and Logan Streets. It consisted of a large dark granite memorial flanked by a wall with five Roll of Honor plaques and a dedication plaque.
A few years later the memorial was taken down when the streets were widened. The granite portion of the memorial is now located at Lake Shore Park.
The granite memorial reads: IN HONOR OF THE FALLEN HEROES OF MERCER COUNTY, Who at the call of their country entered the service to fight for the highest of American Principles. Dedicated May 26, 1997.
The plaques that were on the original wall contain the names of Mercer County soldiers who were killed in action during various wars.The brass name plaques were furnished by Celina’s VFW and are currently (2014) housed at Celina’s VFW Post 5713, 1118 West Logan Street. The WWI Roll of Honor plaque is older and was once located in the courthouse.
Dedicated to those men and women from our community who honorably served and continue to serve in the armed forces of the United States during peace time. They served and continue to protect what our war veterans fought and died to defend, our American way of life.
Honor Roll
1917-1919
In honor of the fallen heroes of Mercer County, who at the call of their country
entered the service to fight for the highest American principles.
Charles C Adams
William Adams
Clem A Beckman
Robert Birkmeyer
Hubert H Bretz
William F Breymaier
Joseph A Buschur
Clifton Coats
Enis E Cole
Clotaire S Desch
J Coter Dugan
Glen D Echart
Eli Eichar
Harry M Eichar
Charles B Fishbaugh
August A Fleck
Elzie M Florence
Earl Frank
August Froning
George Fullenkamp
Charles E Gebele
Leo J Gast
Ira Goodwin
Herbert F Gottes
Edward Hay
Charles W Hitchens
Arland Kennedy
Leo Knapschaffer
Leo Kothman
W A Leiser
Emmet Mannix
Eldon M McAfee
Emmet J Meeker
Charles W Meyer
Richard W Moeller
Lewis U Moorman
Cecil Nolan
Jerome Obringer
Fred Overman
Albert Pierstorff
Howard Pifer
Grover C Powell
Fred G Rammel
Henry J Rammel
Albert W Rhodes
Harry Rindler
Charles F Schaadt
Gilbert Schoap
William E Searight
Ernest Shock
Leo J H Silk
Dole M Smith
Charles V Snyder
George W Spohn
Jacob Weaver
Roland D Wiley
Aloys J Will
Thomas U Wolfe
Harry H. Reinders
“The right is more precious than peace.
We shall fight for the things we have
Always carried nearest to our hearts,
To such a task we dedicate our lives.” Woodrow Wilson
World War II 1941-1946
Arthur D Alt
James R Anderson
Floyd Andrews
Thomas Anthony
Robert Bailey
Herman Baker
James A Bernard
William Bettinger
Albert Beyke
Ernest Bohman
Kenneth Boise
Joseph Bollenbacher
Paul A Buschur
James Collins
Robert J Collins
Virgil W Colson
Albert R Custer
Albert DeCurtins
Walter Diller
Glen Enyart
Doyt W Faurot
Donald Fell
Carl R Felver
Glen C Gilmore
Lowell Golder
Richard W Gray
Harold Hainline
Howard Hammer
Robert E Harrod
Jerome Harting
Sylvester C Heckman
Herbert Heitkamp
Gale Hileman
Louis Imwalle
Vincent M Jolly
Clyde Kaffenberger
Marcus T King
Charles K Kingsley
Owen P Klentz
Othmar Klosterman
Wilson W. Lehman
Eugene Limes
Elmer Long
Clarence W Martin
Paul F Maryz
Muryl K McCristy
Clifford McGee
Norbert Mescher
Joseph Meyer
Lee Meyer
Donald L Moore
Jack A Murlin
John E Muter
Leo Nerderman
James F Nevergall
John Niblick Jr
Glenn A Piper
Carl E Pond
Harvey Protsman
Neal Putman
Russell R Reed
Robert V Reno
Herbert Sanning
Donald Schmitz
E F Schumm
Edward J Schuster
Robert F Shaffer
Albert Shiverdecker
Luke Shockman
William Shockman
Richard Smalley
Frank Sommers
Corger L Squires
Walter Staugler
Francis Stelzer
Maurice Sullivan
Raymond J Thien
Robert D Vanderhorst
Robert Vantilburg
Cyril F Wehrkamp
Lester V Wurster
Cletus G Bice
Korea 1950-1955
Harold E Birt
Paul B Borgert
Cletus F Brunswick
Ermal M Dorsten
Alvah M Huerkamp
William A Kelly
Charles W. Lemunyon
Donald E Lowry
Charles C McDevitt
Paul M Miesse
George L Miller
Richland A Noll
William A Raudabaugh
Ralph E Siefring
Jerry D Wolfe
Vietnam 1961-1975
Sammy A Barga
Danny Cheadle
David K Deeter
Cary Fosnaugh
Nicholas Franzer
Lawrence D Jackson
Wayne A Painter
Benny J Sapp
John W. Smith
Andrew Horn
LEBANON-GRENADA 1982-1984
PANAMA 1989-1990
PERSIAN GULF 1990
No Mercer County lives lost.
It is planned to eventually place that Roll of Honor name plaques with the granite memorial at Lake Shore Park, making one memorial once again.
Celina’s American Legion Post 210 has a war memorial in front of their post, located at 2510 State Route 703, Celina. Their memorial shows the names of Mercer County’s WWI and WWII soldiers killed in action. These two plaques contain the same names as those shown above.
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Thank you for publishing this. I was curious as to whatever happened to the monument. My father’s brother Eldon McAfee was killed in WW1.
Author
You are welcome! I hope they put up the whole memorial again someday, with the Honor Roll name plaques.
Thanks for posting. James Russell Anderson was my father’s baby brother and killed in Voklsberg France WW11. My son was lucky enough to go to that town a few years ago and see where the battle took place.
Author
You are welcome. I am glad to have the names on-line in honor of the veterans.
My father-in-law’s name is mentioned . He was killed in WW II on July 13th,1945. His name is Carl R.Felver. Our oldest son is named after his Grandpa.
Author
What an honor to name your son after his grandfather, who died in the service of our country. Thanks for writing.
Thanks Karen! My grandpa Kirby told me how Eldon McAfee died. It saddens me to this day that he lost his life at the age of 19. My oldest son carries his name and he will never be forgotten.
Author
How nice to carry on the his name and to keep his memory alive. We must never forget those who sacrificed so much. That is what Memorial Day is all about. Thanks for writing!
Hi just wondering if you may have some information on my great grandparents from black creek township. He was a sargent in the 61st Ohio .Thomas Benton and Martha Spry .
Author
I do not, but I see that he was enumerated in the 1890 Veterans Schedule, with a Shanes Crossing PO. Information from this indicates he was a private in the 71st OVI, serving 3 years, 5 months, 13 days, from 3 Jan 1862-15 May 1865. Find a Grave.com indicates he is buried at Riverside Cemetery, Rockford. Find a Grave memorial no.104569711, Thomas Benton Spry, 12 Jan 1837-12 Oct 1904, died in Noble County, Indiana. This may be your family: Jonathan Spry in Blackcreek Twp in 1840 with 2 males under 5 in the household. This family appears to be the only Spry family in Blackcreek Township. I wonder if the father Jonathan had died by 1850 because in 1850 there is Hannah Spry, 35, and, among others, Thomas B, 13. This appears to be your family. The youngest child in 1850 is Ruth, 1 year, which could mean that the father died around 1848-1849. Something to consider. I will let you know if I run across something else about the family. Good luck with your research.
I have a Jonathon Spry descendant chart which shows Thomas Benton Spry’s descendants as Byron, Cynthia,Martha, Charles, Iona,Thomas, all born to mother Ellen (Allison) Spry and Jesse, Hiram born to mother Martha Jane Baumgardner (Carr).
I am from Jonathon Spry’s 3rd child with Hannah Henkins, Hiram Shafer Spry, born 16 Oct 1834.
The youngest child of Jonathon is actually Nancy Jane Spry Steven’s, who was 4 years younger than Ruth.