Adopt a Patriot
Mercer County Historical Society's America 250 Memorial Project
In honor of the 250th anniversary of American Independence, the Mercer County Historical Society is proud to present Adopt a Patriot, a community-funded memorial installation at our museum honoring 23 veterans of the American Revolution who served their new nation with valor and are now buried in Mercer County, Ohio.
These men fought in some of the most consequential battles of the Revolutionary War. Yet today, many of them rest in graves that do not commemorate their American Revolution service. Some lie in a mass grave near the site of St. Clair's Defeat in modern-day Fort Recovery, Ohio, one of the deadliest battles ever fought on American soil. Others are buried in small county cemeteries whose grounds have closed over the years, their individual grave markers lost to time. Because we cannot give them a proper tombstone at their burial sites, we are giving them something else: a permanent place of honor here in the heart of Mercer County, where their stories will be told and their sacrifices remembered.
This memorial is not where they are buried, but it is designed to tell the stories of who these men were. Each veteran will have a marker placed, along with a flag holder designating him as a veteran of the Revolution. The memorial will be paired with a page on our website, www.therileyhousemuseum.org, where visitors can read short biographies of each man being memorialized by the museum.
How It Works
You can help make this memorial a reality by sponsoring one of these 23 patriots for a donation of $100 or more. Every dollar goes directly toward funding the memorial installation. Sponsors will be recognized at the memorial dedication ceremony and on the Mercer County Historical Society website. Or, if you prefer, your donation can remain completely anonymous. The choice is yours.
To sponsor a patriot, click on their name below and fill out the form! We will contact you shortly. If you are interested in contributing a general donation to this project, we would dearly appreciate your support.
Browse the patriots below, learn their stories, and choose the one who speaks to you. Whether you have a personal connection to Mercer County, a love of American history, or simply a desire to ensure these men are not forgotten - your support matters. The unveiling date will be announced soon. We hope you'll be there.
Lieutenant Inslee Anderson, Adjutant - sponsored by Tonita Phipps
Captain James Bradford - sponsored by Tonita Phipps
Major General Richard Butler - sponsored by Tonita Phipps
Major William Ferguson, Commandant - sponsored by Tonita Phipps
Captain John Guthrie
Major Jonathan Heart - sponsored by Celina Masonic Lodge #241
Captain Robert Henry Kirkwood - sponsored by Tonita Phipps
Henry Leasor - sponsored by Tonita Phipps
Captain Robert Lemmon
Lieutenant Eliakim Little
Major William Friend McMahon, Surgeon - sponsored by Tonita Phipps
Colonel William Oldham - sponsored by Rachel Schleucher
Captain William Purdy - sponsored by Tonita Phipps
Captain John Reed
Private James Shoonover - sponsored by Anonymous
Lieutenant Edward Spear - sponsored by Tonita Phipps
Private Amos Spencer - sponsored by Ike Coate
Lieutenant Winslow Warren, Adjutant - sponsored by Tonita Phipps
Adopt-A-Patriot is funded in part by the America 250-Ohio Commission.