Honoring our veteran ancestors

On Wednesday, Nov. 20, Cuyahoga West Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society will meet at Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road, to honor veteran ancestors. Jon B. Silvis, Past Department Commander (Ohio) Sons of Union Veterans and organizer and past Camp Commander of James A. Garfield Camp #142, will be the guest speaker. (Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War is a lineage society created by the Grand Army of the Republic in 1881.) Currently, Mr. Silvis is a trustee of Cleveland's Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument Commission and an active volunteer at the Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky. 

Jon has had a lifelong interest in history, particularly the American Civil War. He has 11 ancestors that served in the Union forces, most notably the Gessner family, who sent five sons to serve from the Dover/Olmsted area. He is also related to the Wershing family of North Olmsted. Jon will share how he traced his American Civil War ancestors and how he chose to honor them.

The public is invited, at no cost. Social time, with refreshments, is from 6:30-7 p.m. Program starts at 7 p.m. For additional information, email cuyahogawest@gmail.com or visit www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohcwogs.

Jayne Broestl

Publicity Chair for the Cuyahoga West Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society that meets at Westlake Porter Public Library.

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Volume 5, Issue 23, Posted 10:13 AM, 11.12.2013