Lexington Horse Center

A Civil War hero with 4 legs

OCEOLA -- Tucked away in the woods on the McLaughlin's family farm in Oceola lays a tombstone. The grave, worn with age, overlooks the running water below from the top of a small hill. Words etched into the red granite marker have faded over time, making them difficult to read:

FRANK

THE WAR HORSE

CO. A 12 REG. O.C.

DIED: 1888 A. 28

FROM ATL. TO THE SEA

"In the books it says Ohio wasn't part of (Atlanta to the Sea), but it really was. The soldiers that were there with Frank put that on the stone," Bill Stanley said, pointing to the grave.

It was in 1917 when Jess McLaughlin, the grandfather of Stanley's wife, Carol, bought the farm off of Capt. John Harter, who took care of Frank for years following the Civil War.

Frank has since become an integral part of the farm, and the Stanleys are used to visitors stopping by to see his grave.

Over the past decade, two authors have visited Frank, including many others. On two occasions, people came to see Frank when the Stanleys weren't home, and their late chocolate Labrador Boz led the visitors to Frank after they told the dog who they were there to see.

"We are thinking about putting up a state marker," Stanley said. "People are always welcome to come back here."

Stories and newspaper articles collected throughout the years show how important Frank was not only to the veterans he fought with, but to the at-large community as well.

"From the Harter family, they say that Frank was in every bar in Bucyrus," Stanley said.

An article from the "Nevada Enterprise" which ran the week after Frank's death gives plenty of details about the horse's role in the Civil War and his life as a veteran.

Frank was drawn with a number of horses from the government by Company A at Lexington, Ky., in February 1865. He was ridden by Abe Conger, a saddler, in Company A of the 12th Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Cavalry during Conger's third enlistment.

The newspaper article, written by Wesley Grubb, said Frank was part of one of the longest cavalry raids of the war, "destroying railroads, burning bridges, capturing forts, prisoners, horses, cows, hogs, chickens and geese, chasing old Jeff Davis in the arms of Wilson, and helping to capture Jeff's rear guard, at two different times."

Conger was discharged in November 1865, along with Grubb, and brought Frank home with him. When Conger could no longer take care of Frank, Harter kept the horse. Harter is buried behind the Oceola gas station in Cemetery 1, while Conger is buried in Walnut Grove Cemetery near Worthington.

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