Local Veterans Research
In 2016, students at Prairie Central High School mapped Graceland Cemetery in Fairbury Illinois. Upon completion of that map the students identified twenty two veteran’s graves that were damaged. Most of the damage was the result of time and deterioration of the gravestones. Our goal is to replace any damaged veteran’s grave with a historically accurate new stone. Before this can be accomplished detailed research must be performed on each veteran. Students enrolled in Illinois History class started their research by examining the gravestones for name and military information. Students then performed library and online research to find old muster rolls, census data, local histories, and in one case congressional records.
On September 14, 2017 the students presented their findings to community members and local veterans. Their findings and sources can be found below:
Veterans
W.M Waggoner – 158th Pennsylvania Infantry
Benjamin Wamsley – Private, 2nd Ohio Calvary
Horace E. Taplin – Sergeant, Company D, 8th Vermont Infantry
G. B. Thompson – CO, H 73 Ohio Infantry
Nelson Smith – Co. I. 150th Indiana Infantry
Joshua P. Hamilton – Co. G. 69 Reg. & Co. B.152 Reg. Illinois Infantry Volunteer
Jonathan Wahl – Co. K. 24 Illinois Infantry
Obadiah Green – 172nd Ohio
Joseph Hay – 2nd Reg. 10th Co. North Carolina, War of 1812
Bannister Spray – Co. I 73rd Indiana Infantry
David Pierce – Co. K 3rd Illinois Calvary
Robert Healea – US Navy
Community members with additional information about these veterans are encouraged to contact Andrew Quain at Prairie Central High School.
Geography Class Cemetery Project
Information regarding the Geography Class Cemetery Project can be found at the link below:
Cemetery Project Webpage