Mershon Items Go To Old Jail
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
In this season of giving, the Kosciusko County Historical Society received a present - memorabilia belonging to William H. Mershon, "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh."
Bob and June Tess of Warsaw purchased most of Mershon's effects in September 2004 during an Internet auction.
Tess was able to secure photographs, scrapbooks with newspaper clippings and programs, a journal, medals and many other artifacts Mershon collected for more than 80 years.
Mershon was born in Warsaw in 1845 and served in the Union Army as a music historian for Co. I, 30th Regiment of Indiana Volunteers.
Following the Civil War, he pursued a musical career, working at various universities, including North Manchester College. He founded the Mershon School of Music in the Warner Building on Washington Street and organized several musical groups.
His scrapbook shows audiences raved about his drum solos.
Much of the collection is on display, left of the Indiana Room entrance in the Warsaw Community Public Library.
Wednesday, Tess delivered 100-year-old documents, photos and scrapbooks to the Old Jail Museum.
"Fortunately, I was able to get everything I bid on," Tess said. "The main thing is the 240-page memoir. I was hoping he'd list names of people in Warsaw, but most of it was about him." [[In-content Ad]]
In this season of giving, the Kosciusko County Historical Society received a present - memorabilia belonging to William H. Mershon, "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh."
Bob and June Tess of Warsaw purchased most of Mershon's effects in September 2004 during an Internet auction.
Tess was able to secure photographs, scrapbooks with newspaper clippings and programs, a journal, medals and many other artifacts Mershon collected for more than 80 years.
Mershon was born in Warsaw in 1845 and served in the Union Army as a music historian for Co. I, 30th Regiment of Indiana Volunteers.
Following the Civil War, he pursued a musical career, working at various universities, including North Manchester College. He founded the Mershon School of Music in the Warner Building on Washington Street and organized several musical groups.
His scrapbook shows audiences raved about his drum solos.
Much of the collection is on display, left of the Indiana Room entrance in the Warsaw Community Public Library.
Wednesday, Tess delivered 100-year-old documents, photos and scrapbooks to the Old Jail Museum.
"Fortunately, I was able to get everything I bid on," Tess said. "The main thing is the 240-page memoir. I was hoping he'd list names of people in Warsaw, but most of it was about him." [[In-content Ad]]