Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

Westport Camp # 64

Kansas City, Missouri

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Ceremonies in 2008

Carpenter Cemetery Dedication
Johnson/Henry County line near Chilhowee, MO
10 May 2008
Dedication of Union and Confederate Soldiers Headstones

A dedication ceremony took place on Saturday, 10 May 2008, where both Union and Confederate Soldiers Headstones have been placeed at Carpenter Cemetery, located on the Johnson/Henry County line near Chilhowee, MO. In attendence included Lee Ward, Jim Beckner and several other guest speakers. Also in attendence was Josh Campbell, Eagle Scout candidate, Independence, MO who lead a group of nearly 30 scouts, leaders and parents, who placed the monuments of two Confederate and eight Union Army Veterans upon their graves.

The graves were researched, marked and monuments ordered from the Veterans Administration by Lee Ward, Independence, MO a member the Sons of Union Veterans, Westport Camp #64. Ward is the Pastoral Care Director at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Independence, also home to the Scout troop. Ward formerly lived in Chilhowee, MO where he owned the Ward Funeral Home for many years before moving to Independence in 1991.

Carpenter Cemetery, formerly Walnut Grove Cemetery, has existed since 1845. Ward’s great-grandfather Lafayette Ward, a Union veteran of the Civil War, is buried there as is his grandfather Oscar Ward and father Orval Ward; both of whom served on the Board of Carpenter Cemetery for more than 75 combined years. Ward’s brother Earl Ward, Windsor, MO now serves as President of the Board.

Entrance to Carpenter Cemetery located on the Johnson/Henry County line near Chilhowee, MO.
Guest speaker Lee Ward from Independence, Missouri provided a touching reflection on the past history of Carpenter Cemetery.
As the Master of Ceremonies, Jim Beckner provided facts on Carpenter Cemetery.
Jim Beckner speaks about Union and Confederate stone markers being set and prepared by a local Boy Scout troop from Independence, MO. Josh Campbell, Eagle Scout candidate, Independence, MO coordinated the grave marker placements.
In conjunction with his Eagle Scout project, Josh Campbell, Eagle Scout Candidate and fellow Boy Scouts, coordinated the work project to place grave markers on both Union and Confederate soldiers at carpenter Cemetery.
Both Union and Confederate reenactors, along with the 'grieving widow', participated in a grave marker dedication ceremony at Carpenter Cemetery.
The 'grieving widow' during the grave marker dedication ceremony at Carpenter Cemetery
Union stone marker of Lafayette Ward, Great-Grandfather to Lee Ward, located at Carpenter Cemetery. Lafayette Ward, Company D, 135th Voluntary Infantry Regiment, Indiana; Enlisted on 6 May, 1864 at Crawfordsville, IN; Honorably Discharged on 15 December, 1864 (By Reason of Medical Discharge.)

Union veterans include Privates Richard B., William A., and Corp.l Mathias Smith Corson, Pvt. Lycurgus Fouch, Corp’l. James H. Vance, Pvt. George Porter and W. H. Porter.

Confederate veterans buried in Carpenter and now marked are Capt. Felix Lotspeich of Co. E, 3rd Battalion, MO Calvary and Jasper M. Anderson of Co. A, 3rd Tenn. Infantry.

Other Civil War veterans discovered were Ervin Crist, William Gilbaugh Smith, Lafayette Ward, Alexander Marion Butcher, and William Harrison Lively.

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