Plaque to honor Civil War veteran
By Jennifer Archibald Staff writer

Carroll County's last Union soldier The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War will dedicate a plaque Saturday at the Burlington Cemetery in honor of Carroll County's last Union soldier, George W. Beck. He died in 1942 at age 100. Photo provided

The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Kokomo, have a mission of visiting surrounding counties and discovering who was the last surviving Union soldier in each county.

Thomas Crawford, commander, said in Carroll County the honor goes to George W. Beck, who died Feb. 10, 1942, and is buried in Burlington Cemetery.

On Oct. 18, the SUVCW will dedicate a bronze plaque to honor Beck and all other Carroll County veterans of the Civil War. The ceremony will begin at 12:30 p.m. at the Burlington Cemetery. The public is welcome.

The words on the plaque read: "George W. Beck - Carroll County's last surviving Union soldier. 'Let us never forget their sacrifices and deeds.' Provided by Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War."

Beck was with Co. M., 1st Indiana Cavalry. He was over 100 years old when he died.

According to his obituary in the Hoosier Democrat, he had been living with a son, Cleveland Beck, a mile and a half southwest of Burlington. He lived in the Burlington area all his life. He was raised on a farm, and resumed farming after returning from the Civil War.

He was married to the former Eva Gregory, who died 12 years before his death. Besides his son, the obituary listed four daughters, Maude Kile of Frankfort, Nettie Ladow of Kokomo, Anna Roth of New Richmond, and Margaret Slack of Lafayette, along with five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Crawford said the SUVCW is still looking for Beck's living relatives. Anyone who knows of such relatives is asked to call (765) 452-4773.

The SUVCW (Orlando A. Somers Camp No. 1 of Kokomo) has already dedicated plaques in Grant and Howard counties, and next year plans to do the same in Clinton County.

"We are now looking for Cass and Miami counties' last Union soldiers," Crawford said. Anyone who can help provide that information is asked to call the phone number given above.

Crawford said the plaque in Grant County was dedicated to John C. Adams, who also was the last surviving Union soldier in Indiana.

The national SUVCW started the Last Soldier Project in 2003. The purpose is to locate and appropriately mark the final resting place of the last Civil War soldier buried in each county/parish of every state in the country.

Crawford said there are six SUVCW camps in Indiana. A list is being compiled of the last Union soldier in each of Indiana's 92 counties. The names of these soldiers are being posted on the following website: http://suvcw.org/in/lastsoldierproject. htm. Crawford said every soldier discovered will be listed on the website, whether a plaque is placed at the gravesite or not.

The 35 members of the Kokomo camp have been funding the bronze plaques in Howard and adjoining counties. Any organizations or citizens in Carroll County who would like to contribute toward the plaque at the Burlington Cemetery can send the donation to Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, c/o Tom Crawford, 1916 S. Webster St., Kokomo, IN 46902.