A special project of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) is to identifying the last surviving Union Civil War Soldier in every county in the nation and honor that individual with a bronze plaque recognizing him as that county’s last surviving Union Civil War veteran.

The Ohio Department SUVCW has identified the last surviving Union Civil War veteran in 86 of the state’s 88 counties and has placed plaques honoring many of them.

The last surviving Civil War soldier in Clinton County was Thomas Benton Baldwin. The SUVCW has placed a plaque at his grave site in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Blanchester. The SUVCW has also placed last soldier plaques in several neighboring counties, including Clermont, Fayette and Warren.

The Henry Casey Camp SUVCW is in the process of honoring Charles W. Needles, the last Clark County Civil War veteran, The money raised from this raffle will help pay for the bronze plaque that will be placed at his grave site in the Ferncliff Cemetery in Springfield. A plaque dedication ceremony is being planned for September 25.

The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is a congressionally chartered organization established by the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) in 1881 to perpetuate the memory of the GAR and the heritage of the Civil War, and is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Its members are descendants of Union Civil War veterans.

Doug Rhinehart (right) holds the first-place prize, a new Henry Golden Boy .22-cal. rifle, as the winner of a raffle conducted by Henry Casey Camp 92 Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) to raise funds to pay for a last Civil War soldier memorial bronze plaque. Henry Casey member Mike Sutton (left) conducted the raffle and holds a container of 500 rounds of ammunition that was part of the first-place prize. None of the raffle winners are members of the SUVCW.

https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2022/07/web1_Rhinehart-wins-rifle.jpgDoug Rhinehart (right) holds the first-place prize, a new Henry Golden Boy .22-cal. rifle, as the winner of a raffle conducted by Henry Casey Camp 92 Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) to raise funds to pay for a last Civil War soldier memorial bronze plaque. Henry Casey member Mike Sutton (left) conducted the raffle and holds a container of 500 rounds of ammunition that was part of the first-place prize. None of the raffle winners are members of the SUVCW. Submitted photos

Haskel Combs (right) receives a $100 cash prize from Mike Sutton as third-place winner of the raffle.

https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2022/07/web1_sutton-combs.jpgHaskel Combs (right) receives a $100 cash prize from Mike Sutton as third-place winner of the raffle. Submitted photos

Derek Stilwell (right) receives a $200 cash prize from Mike Sutton as second-place winner of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War raffle.

https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2022/07/web1_sutton-stilwell.jpgDerek Stilwell (right) receives a $200 cash prize from Mike Sutton as second-place winner of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War raffle. Submitted photos