Civil War veteran stone dedicated
The Newcomerstown Honor Guard members honored Tuscarawas County resident John Casteel with a headstone dedication.
Tuscarawas County resident John Casteel, born in Coshocton County in 1834, mustered into the military on Aug. 22, 1862. Casteel and his younger brother, Madison Casteel, both served in the Civil War. John Casteel served in Company C in the 99th Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He mustered out as a private on June 12, 1865.
Over 160 years ago, the Civil War began, and the United States was suddenly no longer united. It was the North against the South. Life would change dramatically for many people during those four years from 1861-65.
Ohio was the third state, behind New York and Pennsylvania, with the highest amount of men that served in the Civil War. There were over 320,000 Ohioans in the Civil War; 84 out of every 1,000 perished either from wounds or other effects associated with the Civil War.
Casteel later passed away in April 1891 at the age of 57 and was buried in the Hartwood Cemetery, located in Washington Township.
Incidentally, the Casteel brothers also had an uncle, Thomas Casteel, who served in the War of 1812.
On Wednesday, June 1, 2022, Casteel received the honor of a new headstone, dedicated by the Newcomerstown Honor Guard. Several Casteel family descendants were present for the dedication. The youngest descendent, Carter Casteel, a sixth-generation descendent, played taps for the dedication.
Carter’s grandfather, David Casteel, is a member of the Newcomerstown Honor Guard, having served in Vietnam. Opening and closing prayer was given by Hartwood Methodist Church Pastor Dorsey Davison.
Marty Glazer gave the opening comments for the dedication, and Denny Ross provided a brief history of Civil War statistics and Pvt. Casteel’s military service information.
The new headstone was made possible through Veterans Services, which has a program that replaces illegible, damaged headstones of Civil War veterans.