 |
Acton Memorial Library |
Acton Memorial Library and Soldiers' Tablets
"Acton"
from "Memories of the Men Who Died for the Union,"
Boston Globe, May 30, 1892.
In the beautiful public library building is a handsome polished tablet just within the vestibule, which speaks of the honor in which the deeds of Acton men, who lost their lives in the service of their country, in the great war of the rebellion, are held the the town.
The tablets are a gift of Hon. William A. Wilde of Malden.
The memorial tablet is square in form, with ornamental borders, while the centre design is a naked sword. from the hilt of wich are scrolls containing the dates1861-1865. Above the sword are the words: "Our Honored Dead." On either side of the emblem of war are the names of the fallen heroes, as follows:
Cyrus E. Barker, Frank J. Barber [Barker], Elbridge Conant, Eugene L. Hall, Samuel Hanscom, Stillman J. Harris, John A. Howard, Francis Kinsley, George Warren Knight[s], James R. Sentell [Lentell], Daniel A. Lovering, Marwan [Marvin] Miner, Luke Robbins, John H.P. White, James M. Wright, Eben Barker, Luke W. Bowers, Albert Conant, Frank Handley, J.P.P. [James P.] Hanscom, Augustus W. Hosmer, Eri Huggins, Thomas Kinsley, Jr., Henry W. Lazelle, William H. Loker, Mathew McKinney, William B. Reed, Warren R. Wheeler, Samuel E. Wilson.
The tablet was dedicated May 24, 1890.
The first enlisted soldier who went from Acton, and died while in service, was Augustus W. Hosmer, who, while not in action, was in camp duty near Boston; he died of typhoid fever Nov. 30, 1861, and his funeral and interment was at West Acton. As the first soldier to die, his death made a deep impression on the town.
The first Acton man who was killed in service was Eugene L. Hall, killed in battle at Winchester, Va., Sept 19, 1864. Young Hall was a son of Deacon Enoch and Emeline Hall of West Acton, and his death was a sad blow to the community. His brother, Delette Hall, was in the service with him, and is now the commander of the Isaac Davis Post, G.A.R.
The remains of E.L. Hall were brought to West Acton for burial in the family lot.