Set in Stone
 Joseph McDougal , a civilian to be excuted of John Morgan and his men in the raid of the 1860's. |
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SET IN STONE - VICTIM OF MORGAN'S RAID TO RECEIVE A NEW GRAVE MARKER
The Pike County Genealogy Society and Treber Memorial joined together on Saturday to commemorate the sacrifice of Joseph McDougal.
Joseph McDougal was the only known civilian to be executed by John Morgan and his men during their raid in 1860's. He was shot and killed on July 16, 1863. Morgan's Raid, as the account is historically named, passed through Pike County, as well as several other counties in Ohio. In the raid, several communities were completely annihilated by Morgan's men. There are many books that tell the stories of the raids of the communities.
In McDougal's case, there is little known about the death and the reason(s) for his death.
McDougal was a family man with five children and a wife. He was a deacon with the Jasper Methodist Church, a school teacher, and a community leader. He was 47 years old when he was executed.
According to some members of the Pike County Genealogy Society, McDougal may have been killed because he was attempting to protect the Methodist Church, that still stands on a hill in Jasper, or because he would not tell Morgan's men information about where to cross the Scioto River.
McDougal's grave site is located behind the old Methodist Church off of Jasper Road. The previous stone that marked the grave had become worn and broken over the years.
The old Methodist Church has not been used as a Methodist Church for 40 years, but has been used as a temporary facility for other churches from time to time.
During the February meeting of the Pike County Genealogy Society, a couple from Maryland who had visited the site made the suggestion that the stone be replaced.
According to Katherine Donohoe, President of the Pike County Genealogy Society, the couple had no knowledge of the history of McDougal and they were not related to McDougal. She stated that at that point Jim Henry, Pike County historian, began researching the history of McDougal in more details than he had before. Once Henry got some of the history together, the genealogy society looked into purchasing a new stone from Treber Memorials.
"Treber Memorial and the Pike County Genealogy Society agreed to join together to get the stone and have it placed," said Donohoe.
The accounts of McDougal's death can be researched in "Call of Conscience, Call of Duty," a book authored by local historian Blaine Beekman, who serves as executive director of the Pike County Chanber of Commerce.
According to Joyce McClay, the reason most people from Pike County do not know about McDougal is because of the the grave and amount of the story that is in print.
"There are only short narratives about it," said Henry.
"It's things like this that makes history so interesting," said Donohoe.
The stone will be placed on a new concrete foundation at the grave site as soon as the foundation is set.
The Waverly News Watchman - April 2005
By Michael Butcher - Staff Writer
Copyright © 2005
Pike Co. Genealogy Society a Chapter of O.G.S.
P. O. Box 224, Waverly, Ohio 45690