DAKOTA CITY, NE (KTIV) -
History was made in Dakota City, Nebraska on Tuesday, November 8th, 2016 .
No, not the presidential election.
"This is really special because this is a Civil War veteran that is a woman," said Dakota City Cemetery Board member, Shirley Sides.
Ten years ago, Shirley Sides was visiting Dakota City Cemetery, when something caught her eye.
"I"m looking at this stone, and I think it said John Hunt, Civil War," said Sides. "And, I'm thinking, I recognize that name. A story or something."
The tale of a woman that fought in America's bloodiest battle.
"She had carried a gun, dressed as a man, in the Civil War beside her husband," said Sides.
And her legacy was forgotten
Until Sides resurrected it.
"I'm thinking well, Sophronia...where is Sophronia's stone?"
Sophronia Hunt fought as a Union soldier until her true identity was discovered.
She continued serving her country by helping aid wounded allies.
150 years later, Bob Luken from Luken Memorials in Sioux City, decided to help her.
"He said, and this is where I quoted, 'Shirley, I'm willing to do the right thing. We will make a stone for Sophronia,'" said Sides.
On Super Tuesday, while everyone was fulfilling their civic duty at the polls,
Hunt's headstone was being laid at the cemetery.
Just before her husband, John.
Just in time for Veteran's Day.
"I quickly called every veteran I could think of and they came down in uniforms and flags and put the legion marker up," said Sides.
A decade-long battle for recognition.
"One of the people from Luken's said, 'Well, we're sorry you've had to wait a while," said Sides. "And I said, 'Do you know how long she's waited?"
A re-write in history, set in stone.
After the war, Sophronia and John Hunt returned to the Dakota City area where they had eight children.
By Mason Mauro, Multimedia Journalist KTIV Channel 4 Sioux City, Iowa
Connect
Posted: Nov 13, 2016 5:17 PM CST
1900 US Census Dakota County, Nebraska:
birth Oct 1842 Illinois
1880 Census Dakota County, Nebraska children
Mary 12 yo b~1867 b. Dakota Territory
Viola 8 yo b~1871 b. Dakota Territory
Charles E. 5 yo b~1874 b. Dakota Territory
John F. 2 yo b~1867 b. Dakota Territory
1870 US Census: Big Sioux Twp, Union County, South Dakota
Mary A. 3 yo b~1867 Dakota Territory
Elizabeth 1 yo b~1868 Dakota Territory
DAKOTA CITY, NE (KTIV) -
History was made in Dakota City, Nebraska on Tuesday, November 8th, 2016 .
No, not the presidential election.
"This is really special because this is a Civil War veteran that is a woman," said Dakota City Cemetery Board member, Shirley Sides.
Ten years ago, Shirley Sides was visiting Dakota City Cemetery, when something caught her eye.
"I"m looking at this stone, and I think it said John Hunt, Civil War," said Sides. "And, I'm thinking, I recognize that name. A story or something."
The tale of a woman that fought in America's bloodiest battle.
"She had carried a gun, dressed as a man, in the Civil War beside her husband," said Sides.
And her legacy was forgotten
Until Sides resurrected it.
"I'm thinking well, Sophronia...where is Sophronia's stone?"
Sophronia Hunt fought as a Union soldier until her true identity was discovered.
She continued serving her country by helping aid wounded allies.
150 years later, Bob Luken from Luken Memorials in Sioux City, decided to help her.
"He said, and this is where I quoted, 'Shirley, I'm willing to do the right thing. We will make a stone for Sophronia,'" said Sides.
On Super Tuesday, while everyone was fulfilling their civic duty at the polls,
Hunt's headstone was being laid at the cemetery.
Just before her husband, John.
Just in time for Veteran's Day.
"I quickly called every veteran I could think of and they came down in uniforms and flags and put the legion marker up," said Sides.
A decade-long battle for recognition.
"One of the people from Luken's said, 'Well, we're sorry you've had to wait a while," said Sides. "And I said, 'Do you know how long she's waited?"
A re-write in history, set in stone.
After the war, Sophronia and John Hunt returned to the Dakota City area where they had eight children.
By Mason Mauro, Multimedia Journalist KTIV Channel 4 Sioux City, Iowa
Connect
Posted: Nov 13, 2016 5:17 PM CST
1900 US Census Dakota County, Nebraska:
birth Oct 1842 Illinois
1880 Census Dakota County, Nebraska children
Mary 12 yo b~1867 b. Dakota Territory
Viola 8 yo b~1871 b. Dakota Territory
Charles E. 5 yo b~1874 b. Dakota Territory
John F. 2 yo b~1867 b. Dakota Territory
1870 US Census: Big Sioux Twp, Union County, South Dakota
Mary A. 3 yo b~1867 Dakota Territory
Elizabeth 1 yo b~1868 Dakota Territory
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