Westport Camp #64

The pictures shown here were taken on Saturday, 15 September 2007, where Josh Campbell, Eagle Scout candidate, Independence, MO lead a group of nearly 30 scouts, leaders and parents to Carpenter Cemetery, located on the Johnson/Henry county line near Chilhowee, MO. The Scouts placed the monuments of two Confederate and eight Union Army Veterans upon their graves.

Volunteer digging in preparation to set a Union grave marker

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.

Union stone marker being set and prepared by a volunteer for a grave marker dedication ceremony later in Spring 2008

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.

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.

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

A Dedication of all Confederate and Union markers will be held at a later date to be detemined in Spring 2008.

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