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The storm tore of the roofs of the laundry, the hospital, and several additional buildings. The tornado completely destroyed the institution’s barn, the wagon shed, and the toolshed. Of the nearly 750 children and employees present at the time of the tornado, only two employees suffered minor injuries. Ohio Governor George Hoadly and Judge John Little donated respectively from their personal funds $5,152.50 and $508.75 to help offset the 7,500 dollar repair bill. On February 28, 1870, representatives from the Ohio General Assembly came to Xenia to meet with local residents, with the board members, and with the children housed in the temporary facility.
Between 1870 and 1901, the Ohio Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Orphans’ Home could not accept all of the children seeking assistance. Additionally, Chaplain George W. Collier is credited with being the first to suggest the idea of a home to the GAR. Originally, the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home provided Ohio children who lost their father in the American Civil War with a place to live. Due to financial difficulties, a veteran and/or his spouse might leave their children at the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home in the care of the State of Ohio. Between 1870 and 1901, the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home could not accept all of the children seeking assistance. In the Home was thus established far in advance of similar public institutions, a Manual Training School supported by public funds for public uses.
History of the OSSO/OVCH
On November 15, 1887, 668 children lived at the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home. Of the students, girls accounted for 242 of the pupils, approximately one-third of the orphans enrolled at the institution. At this time, Major Noah Thomas served as the orphanage’s superintendent, while his wife, Alice Thomas, was the institution’s matron. The Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home employed seventeen teachers, twenty matrons—one in each student cottage—and one additional matron in the hospital.
Service cards for Navy , Marine Corps , out-of-state , and regular service are on films at the FamilySearch Library. World War I was a global war fought on multiple continents with several nations involved. Ohio Civil War Medals - Extensive list of Veterans, their units and dates of service. The Mexican War was caused by the annexation of Texas by the United States in 1845.
Mexican War (1846- [edit | edit source]
Indexes and transcriptions may not include all the data found in the original records. Look at the actual image of the record, if you can, to verify the information and to find additional information. The campus of the former Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home is located in the southeastern corner of the city of Xenia, close to US 35 and US 68. Many of the original buildings from the home remain and are still in use to this day, although in 2013, many abandoned buildings on the property were demolished. In 1978, the Ohio Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Orphans’ Home became known as the Ohio Veterans’ Children’s Home.
The collection consists of images to admission records of veterans to the state soldier home in Sandusky for the years 1888 to 1919. Acquired from the state archives, and historical society in Columbus. Money was collected from taxes levied during the Civil War to care for the dependents of soldiers, but the government mishandled the money. By the war's end, several families were living in county infirmities under deplorable conditions. Seeing this, soldiers still living began contacting government officials, requesting that something be done to help the families of the fallen soldiers. Eventually, the Grand Army of the Republic , a federation the veterans formed after the close of the Civil War to foster comradeship, financed the purchase of a home for veteran's orphans in the city of Xenia.
Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home 1889 Report
The site now contains a retirement community, a Christian school, and the international headquarters of Athletes-in-Action, among other businesses. Every year, the Association of Ex-Pupils, an organization consisting of former pupils of the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home or of the Ohio Veterans' Children's Home, holds a reunion at the home's former grounds. In 1998, the State of Ohio sold the Ohio Veterans’ Children’s Home’s buildings to Legacy Ministries International, which leases the site to different businesses and organizations.
Xenia was chosen because people from Greene County had long been interested in the plight of the veterans' families, and Reverend P.C. Prugh had been raising funds for the project for some time. Rev. Prugh is thus referred to as the "Father" of the movement to establish a home. Additionally, Chaplain George W. Collier is credited with being the first to suggest the idea of a home to the GAR.In 1869, the Grand Army of the Republic established the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home in Xenia, Ohio. Originally, the Ohio Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Orphans’ Home provided Ohio children who lost their father in the American Civil War with a place to live. Eventually, the State of Ohio opened this institution to orphans of all military conflicts and the children of all veterans, including ones who had not died on the battlefield. Due to financial difficulties, a veteran and/or his spouse might leave their children at the Ohio Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Orphans’ Home to become wards of the State of Ohio.
In August 1999, Legacy Ministries International bought the land, in order to expand the campuses of the Xenia Christian Schools. Since then, this historic site has undergone extensive renovation. Collier ChapelCollier Chapel, built in 1873, is one of the oldest buildings that remains standing on campus. It was renovated around 1994, but is currently in need of repairs.
In 1869, Xenia residents provided the GAR with 150 acres of land to build a permanent facility. It is a matter of course that the requirements for admission should be changed with changing conditions. In 1870 no children were entitled to admission but those whose fathers were killed in action, or had since died from the wounds or disabilities of war. During the twentieth century, the State of Ohio opened the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home to orphaned children of any Ohio soldier from any military conflict. Student records include date of birth, date of admission, county of origin, and notations regarding whether records on file contain social service records, medical records, education records, and/or admission card only.
In May 1871, the board of managers authorized the construction of additional cottages to meet the demand. Any child under sixteen years of age of “deceased, indigent and permanently disabled soldiers and sailors who served during the rebellion,” were eligible for admittance to the created homes. The legislation directed that the first home be constructed at White Sulphur Springs in Delaware County, Ohio, unless the area proved to be unsuitable per the board of managers. This location was also home to Ohio’s Industrial School for Girls. Per the bill, any site selected for the initial home should be able to provide housing and care for 250 children. Finally, the legislation authorized thirteen thousand dollars for the home’s construction.
It was renovated and is now in use as an office and conference center for Athletes in Action. Fold3 provided the free index for this collection on FamilySearch. For more information regarding the history and preservation of the Ohio Veterans' Children's Home visit their website and Facebook page. Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found.
Records of Mexican War veterans might exist in a state where the veteran later resided. The home completely closed in 1997 because the number of students living at OVCH had dropped significantly, as had support for the continuation of the school. In 1997, State of Ohio, 122nd General Assembly, passed SB7, conveying the State owned land of the OSSO/OVCH to the Board of Commissioners of Greene County.
A series of books entitled "Young American Patriots", published shortly after the war, documented the service of soldiers from different states including Ohio. The series of books included photos and a short biography of some of the soldiers from the state. By 1890, about 40 percent of the Civil War veterans were members of the Grand Army of the Republic .
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