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From: "Ernest Everett Blevins" <>
Subject: [SUVCW] SAR grave rededication in the news
Date: Thu, 29 May 2008 09:57:46 -0400
References: <ca9.27084e15.356f89da@aol.com>
In-Reply-To: <ca9.27084e15.356f89da@aol.com>


The veteran was 9 when he served in the American Revolution and died in 1862
with his descendants serving in Illinois regiments.

Ernie Blevins
List admin.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <>
Date: Thu, May 29, 2008 at 12:23 AM
Subject: [SAR-TALK] SAR grave rededication in the news
To:


_http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=197125&src=2_
(http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=197125&src=2) (pictures are at
link)

Rediscovering a hero among us

AURORA, IL (The Daily Herald) May 28, 2008 -- During his long lifetime,
Israel Warner was recognized and honored as a veteran of the Revolutionary
War.
But over the years, the memory of the patriot who joined the Continental
Army at the age of 9 and lived out his later years in DuPage County was
lost.
That is until last year when inquiries from one of Warner's descendants led
to finding his gravesite in Big Woods Cemetery, on Eola Road, just south of
Butterfield Road in Aurora.
At a ceremony set for 3 p.m. Saturday, Warner once again will receive his
proper due in a grave dedication that comes 240 years after his birth.
The ceremony has been planned by members of local historical and civic
groups who joined together to form the Israel Warner Commemorative
Committee. They
have restored his original tombstone, purchased new headstones for Warner
and the four family members buried with him, and installed a bronze
historical
marker giving a 300-word account of the patriot's life.
About 50 Revolutionary War and Civil War re-enactors will be there along
with several active servicemen to give Warner a gun salute. Speakers will
include Lt. Col. John Amberg, director of the Midwest branch of the U.S.
Army's
public relations and an active member of the Naperville American Legion.
Rebecca Hougher, Warner's great-great-great-great granddaughter will come
from Iowa for the ceremony.
"I'm just thrilled that there is this much interest," she said. "It's
really
been a collaborative effort to get this done."
Hougher said her original intention in seeking where Warner was buried was
simply to replace his headstone. But when she wasn't able to find Warner's
gravesite on her own, she reached out to the Fort Payne chapter of the
Daughters
of the American Revolution, which in turn enlisted the Fox Valley chapter
of
the Sons of the American Revolution.
Don Parrish, former president of the Fox Valley SAR, found Warner's
gravestone on June 20, 2007.
"It was broken, laying flat on the ground and almost unreadable," he said.
Buried on the same site with Warner were his daughter, Esther; her husband,
Daniel Kenyon; and their sons, Israel Warner Kenyon and William Jeptha
Kenyon.
Both grandsons served in the 13th Illinois Infantry during the Civil War.
William was killed in the war and Israel died after being discharged for
wounds
he had suffered, according to the Fox Valley SAR Web site.
Israel Warner himself, born May 27, 1768, died at the age of 93 on Jan. 21,
1862, said Jane Haldeman of the Fox Valley Genealogical Society. Haldeman,
who researched the family's history and recruited a couple to restore the
gravestone, said Warner's long life alone made him notable.
"He was one of probably the last Revolutionary War soldiers to die and one
of the few in this area," she said.
Warner had a patriot's pedigree. His father, Seth Warner, was one of the
co-founders and the commander of the famed Green Mountain Boys of Vermont.
A messenger and scout, 9-year-old Israel rode a galloping horse to carry a
critical message from his father to bring in re-enforcements at the Battle
of
Bennington.
Commemorated with a legal holiday in Vermont, the Battle of Bennington is
marked with a 306-foot tall monument and a statute of Seth Warner beside
it.
Israel Warner served the entire duration of the war. He rose to the rank of
private and was discharged honorably at age 15 and granted a pension.
By age 16, he became head of household when his father died early because
of
wounds he had suffered in the war. Israel supported his mother and family
as
a land surveyor in Whitehall, N.Y.
Warner moved with family members to the Naperville/Warrenville area in
1853.
Bryan Ogg, research associate at Naper Settlement, found a mention of him
in
the June 20, 1855, edition of the DuPage Weekly Journal. Naperville founder
Joseph Naper was heading up a committee to plan that year's July 4
celebration and the newspaper report said the group wanted to be sure to
invite
Revolutionary War veteran Israel Warner.
"It was very exciting to learn Revolutionary War veterans had traveled as
far west as they did," Ogg said.
Parrish, who has photographed all the Revolutionary War veterans'
gravesites
in the Chicago area, said he's aware of 15, three of which are in DuPage
County.
"I didn't know anything about him (Warner) until I was contacted," he said.
Hougher, a descendant of Warner's other daughter, Asenath, grew up in
Vermont not far from her gravesite. Hougher's interest in genealogy came
later in
life. She knew Warner was buried in this area and found a copy of
gravestone
transcriptions by a chapter of the DAR in the Wheaton Public Library.
The newspaper article Ogg found on the plans for including her ancestor in
the July 4, 1855, celebration added to her interest, she said.
"Just reading that made me feel closer to him," she said.
Another widely circulated but unsubstantiated anecdote published in
Harper's
Monthly magazine in 1864 said that George Washington so highly regarded
Seth
Warner as a patriot that after Seth's death Washington personally rode to
the Warner family farm to pay the mortgage and save it from foreclosure.
While that story may not be true, the historical relationships were there.
"I'm connected with someone who was on a speaking basis with George
Washington. How cool is that," Hougher said.
The cost for the new markers for Warner family members is about $8,000,
Haldeman said. Those who wish to contribute may send donations to: Big
Woods
Church, Attn: Israel Warner, 3003 Eola Road, Aurora, IL 60502.
If you go
What:Grave dedication for Revolutionary War veteran Israel Warner
When:3 p.m. May 31
Where:Big Woods Cemetery, Eola Road south of Butterfield Road in Aurora
Cost: Free
======================================================
Bruce R. Talbot
V.P. Fox Valley Chapter
Illinois Society
222 Sunshine Drive
Bolingbrook, IL 60490
(630) 253-8404
_http://FoxSAR.org_ <http://foxsar.org_/>; (http://FoxSAR.org<http://foxsar.org/>;
)



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--
Ernest Everett Blevins, MFA • Blevins Historical Research
110 Evergreen Way • Villa Rica, Georgia 30180
• 770-456-1876

Historic Preservation Consultant -- Historical and Architectural Research --
Genealogical (Family) Research -- Preservation Planning and Documentation --
House History

Member: American Planning Association, New England Historic Genealogical
Society, Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Sons
of Union Veterans, and member of numerous other lineage and heritage
societies.


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