Descendant of Civil War soldier to discuss 103rd OVI

It was 150 years ago that America’s Civil War began when the Confederates fired on Fort Sumter in Charleston, S.C., at 4:30 a.m. on April 12, 1861. It was a war that pitted North against South, brother against brother, and nearly tore our young nation apart. Many who served on either side were mere teenagers. 

One Medina-born youth by the name of John Yetter joined other men from Cuyahoga, Lorain and Medina counties to serve with the 103rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment from 1862-1865. Yetter’s great-grand nephew, Bill Stark, a Fairview Park resident, former teacher and retired Metro Parks Ranger, studied the history of this unit extensively for his Master of Arts degree in history, at Cleveland State University in 1986.

Mr. Stark will be the guest speaker at the March 16 meeting of the Cuyahoga West Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, at Westlake Porter Public Library from 7:00-8:45 p.m. Bill will relate what, and how, he learned about the soldiers of the 103rd OVI. A member of the Sons of the Union Veterans, Civil War (SUVWC), the Cleveland Grays, and Historian and Archivist of the Cleveland Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument, Bill will also talk about how one can work to identify and honor a veteran relative at area cemeteries.  Questions at the conclusion of his talk will be welcomed.

Refreshments and social time is from 6:30-7:00 p.m. For additional information, visit http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohcwogs or email cuyahogawest@gmail.com.

Jayne Broestl

Publicity Chair for the Cuyahoga West Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society that meets at Westlake Porter Public Library.

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Volume 3, Issue 5, Posted 9:49 AM, 03.08.2011