Living in the County Archive: Indigent Soldier’s Burial Relief Records
Happy Independence Day from your county archive! In honor of the holiday, we are remembering those who fought for their country by digging in to the records that are “Living in the County Archive”, and examining Indigent Soldier’s Burial Relief Records. These records document the burials of honorably discharged Union veterans of the Civil War, who at their time of death were unable to afford burial costs. Authorized by the County Commissioners, these records seem to have been eventually classified as records of the County Auditor. Entries of the record indicate the name of the deceased veteran and the name of their widow if applicable, residence of the deceased, military unit of the veteran, date and place of death, burial place, occupation of the deceased, cost of burial, and names of persons who testified to the inability of family members to pay for the burial despite title of records. Transcribed, the record reads: “The State of Ohio. To the Board of County Commissioner